Inductive power transfer control
First Claim
1. A control method for an inductive power transfer (IPT) pick-up comprising an AC input from a resonant circuit, the AC input being electrically coupled to a diode bridge adapted to rectify an AC current from the AC input and supply a DC current to a DC output, the method comprising:
- selectively shunting a first diode of the diode bridge to cause the AC current to recirculate to the resonant circuit during a positive period of the AC current; and
selectively shunting a second diode of the diode bridge to cause the AC current to recirculate to the resonant circuit during a negative period of the AC current;
wherein shunting of said first and second diodes is synchronised with the AC current whereby a predetermined proportion of said positive and negative periods of the AC current arc rectified to supply the DC current to the DC output, and a remaining proportion of said positive and negative periods of the AC current are recirculated to the resonant circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inductive power transfer (IPT) control method is disclosed for controlling the output of an IPT pick-up. The invention involves selectively shunting first and second diodes of a diode bridge to selectively rectify an AC current input for supply to a load, or recirculate the AC current to a resonant circuit coupled to the input of the controller. By controlling the proportion of each positive-negative cycle of the AC input which is rectified/recirculated, the output is regulated. Also disclosed is an IPT controller adapted to perform the method, an IPT pick-up incorporating the IPT controller, and an IPT system incorporating at least one such IPT pick-up.
18 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A control method for an inductive power transfer (IPT) pick-up comprising an AC input from a resonant circuit, the AC input being electrically coupled to a diode bridge adapted to rectify an AC current from the AC input and supply a DC current to a DC output, the method comprising:
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selectively shunting a first diode of the diode bridge to cause the AC current to recirculate to the resonant circuit during a positive period of the AC current; and selectively shunting a second diode of the diode bridge to cause the AC current to recirculate to the resonant circuit during a negative period of the AC current; wherein shunting of said first and second diodes is synchronised with the AC current whereby a predetermined proportion of said positive and negative periods of the AC current arc rectified to supply the DC current to the DC output, and a remaining proportion of said positive and negative periods of the AC current are recirculated to the resonant circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An inductive power transfer (IPT) pick-up controller comprising:
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an input for receiving an AC current from a resonant circuit; an output for supplying a DC current to a load; and a control circuit electrically coupling the input and the output, the control circuit comprising; a first circuit configuration wherein a proportion of a positive period of the AC current is recirculated to the resonant circuit; a second circuit configuration wherein a proportion of a negative period of the AC current is recirculated to the resonant circuit; a third circuit configuration in which the AC current is rectified and supplied to the load; and wherein the control circuit can be switched between each of the configurations to control the supply to the load. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification