Electromagnetic interference suppression

• US 9,225,312 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2014
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lemmens, Willy Henri
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US14/507,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 307 89- 91, 307/104, 320/108, 363/47
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/44 Circuits or arrangements for compensating for electromagnetic interference in converters or inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0123 comprising distributed impedance elements together with lumped impedance elements

Abstract

An inductive power transmitter for transmitting electrical power to a device by electromagnetic induction, the transmitter being configured to receive power conductively by way of a current via an electrical conduit from an external power source, the transmitter including a field generator configured to generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field having a fundamental frequency; and at least one impedance element connected along an electrical path of the transmitter configured to carry said current, the impedance element or a combination of the impedance elements having a high enough impedance at the fundamental frequency such that, in use, electromagnetic noise experienced at the power source is substantially suppressed, such noise arising from coupling between the electromagnetic field and a circuit having said path and linking the power source to the transmitter.

Claims

1. An electrical conduit configured to convey power conductively by way of a current from a power source to a field generator of an inductive power transmitter, the field generator being operable to generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field having a fundamental frequency for transmitting electrical power to a device by electromagnetic induction, the conduit comprising:

at least one impedance element connected along an electrical path of the conduit configured to carry said current, the at least one impedance element having a high enough impedance at the fundamental frequency such that, in use, electromagnetic noise experienced at the power source is substantially suppressed, such electromagnetic noise arising from coupling between the electromagnetic field and a circuit having said path and linking the power source to the transmitter, wherein the at least one impedance element includes first and second inductors, wherein a voltage induced by the field generator in the first inductor opposes a voltage induced by the field generator in the second inductor.

2. The electrical conduit of claim 1, wherein:

said fundamental frequency is a first fundamental frequency;

said current has a second fundamental frequency different from said first fundamental frequency; and

the at least one impedance element has a low enough impedance at the second fundamental frequency such that the power is predominantly conveyed to the field generator without loss in that impedance.

3. The electrical conduit of claim 1 wherein the electrical conduit is a detachable from the field generator.

4. The electrical conduit of claim 1 wherein the at least one impedance element is shielded from the electromagnetic field.

5. The electrical conduit of claim 1 wherein the first and second inductors are located along side each other and are electrically connected in series.

6. The electrical conduit of claim 1 wherein an induced EMF in the first inductor is of an opposite polarity than an induced EMF in the second inductor.

7. An electrical conduit for electrical connection between a mains supply and an inductive power transmitter, the electrical conduit comprising:

an electrical path adapted to convey power from the mains supply to the inductive power transmitter; and

an impedance element in the electrical path, the impedance element including first and second inductors, wherein a voltage induced by the inductive power transmitter in the first inductor opposes a voltage induced by the inductive power transmitter in the second inductor, and wherein the impedance element includes an impedance such that a back conduction of electromagnetic noise from the inductive power transmitter to the mains supply is suppressed.

8. The electrical conduit of claim 7 wherein the inductive power transmitter is adapted to generate an electromagnetic field at a first frequency, and wherein the impedance of the inductor at the first frequency is selected to suppress electromagnetic noise from the inductive power transmitter to the mains supply.

9. The electrical conduit of claim 8 wherein the mains supply provides electrical power at a second frequency less than the first frequency of the electromagnetic field, and wherein the impedance of the inductor at the second frequency is selected to permit the transfer of electrical power to the inductive power transmitter.

10. The electrical conduit of claim 7 wherein the first and second inductors are located along side each other.

11. The electrical conduit of claim 7 wherein the first and second inductors are electrically connected in series.

12. The electrical conduit of claim 7 wherein an induced EMF in the first inductor is substantially similar to the magnitude of an induced EMF in the second inductor.

13. The electrical conduit of claim 7 wherein an induced EMF in the first inductor is of an opposite polarity than an induced EMF in the second inductor.

14. The electrical conduit of claim 7 further including electromagnetic shielding along the electrical path.

15. The electrical conduit of claim 7 wherein the electrical conduit is detachable from the inductive power transmitter.

16. Equipment for use in the vicinity of an inductive power transmitter, the transmitter being configured to transmit electrical power to a device by electromagnetic induction and comprising a field generator configured to generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field and having a fundamental frequency, the equipment being configured to receive power conductively by way of a current via an electrical conduit from an external power source, the equipment comprising:

an impedance element connected along an electrical path of the equipment configured to carry said current, the impedance element having a high enough impedance at the fundamental frequency such that, in use, electromagnetic noise experienced at the power source is substantially suppressed, such noise arising from coupling between the electromagnetic field and a circuit having said path and linking the power source to the equipment, wherein the impedance element includes first and second inductors, and wherein a voltage induced by the field generator in the first inductor opposes a voltage induced by the field generator in the second inductor.

17. The equipment of claim 16, wherein:

said fundamental frequency is a first fundamental frequency;

said current has a second fundamental frequency different from said first fundamental frequency; and

the impedance element has a low enough impedance at the second fundamental frequency such that the power is predominantly conveyed to the field generator without loss in that impedance.

18. The equipment of claim 16 wherein the at least one impedance element is shielded from the electromagnetic field.

19. The equipment of claim 16 wherein the first and second inductors are located along side each other and are electrically connected in series.

20. The equipment of claim 16 wherein an induced EMF in the first inductor is of an opposite polarity than an induced EMF in the second inductor.