High efficiency wireless charging system and its control method

• US 9,419,469 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
• Original Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
• Inventors: Hsieh, Chou-Yu, Chiang, Chao-Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelton, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/138,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20150180265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/137
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation

Abstract

A control method for a wireless charging system has steps of performing impedance matching on an antenna of the wireless charging system; tracing an optimal frequency point by sending a sensing signal with a default transmission frequency, and calculating a transmission efficiency of the sensing signal; determining whether the transmission efficiency meets a transmission requirement. When the transmission efficiency does not meet the transmission requirement, repeats the previous steps with another default transmission frequency until the transmission efficiency meeting the transmission requirement. When the transmission efficiency meeting the transmission requirement, the default transmission frequency is defined as the optimal frequency point for charging. Setting the optimal frequency point as an operating frequency of the wireless charging system for charging The optimal frequency point defined by the above steps can maintain high efficiency of the wireless charging system against the variable transmitting distances.

Claims

1. A control method for a high efficiency wireless charging system, comprising the steps of:

keeping a resonant frequency point of a wireless charging system in an operating frequency range of the wireless charging system by performing impedance matching on an antenna of the wireless charging system;

tracing an optimal frequency point by sending a sensing signal with a default transmission frequency, and calculating a transmission efficiency of the sensing signal;

determining whether the transmission efficiency meets a transmission requirement;

when the transmission efficiency does not meet the transmission requirement, repeats the previous steps with another default transmission frequency until the transmission efficiency meeting the transmission requirement;

when the transmission efficiency meeting the transmission requirement, the default transmission frequency is defined as the optimal frequency point;

setting the optimal frequency point as an operating frequency of the wireless charging system for charging;

wherein the step of tracing the optimal frequency point is to determine whether the transmission efficiency meets the transmission requirement comprises steps of;

determining whether a ratio of an efficiency variation to a frequency variation of the sensing signal is less than or equal to 0, when the ratio of the efficiency variation to the frequency variation of the sensing signal is greater than 0, the sensing signal is resent with the default transmission frequency by increasing a frequency value, and then recalculates the transmission efficiency of the sensing signal;

when the ratio of the efficiency variation to the frequency variation of the sensing signal is less than or equal to 0, the default transmission frequency is defined as the optimal frequency point.

2. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of performing impedance matching on the antenna of the wireless charging system comprises steps of:

sending a testing signal;

calculating a transmission efficiency of the testing signal;

determining a tuned value of a capacitance for impedance matching;

tuning the capacitance with the tuned value for impedance matching.

3. The control method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the capacitance for impedance matching is based on a comparison table of transmission efficiency to transmission distance.

4. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of tracing the optimal frequency point to determine whether the transmission efficiency meets the transmission requirement comprises steps of:

determining whether a ratio of an efficiency variation to a frequency variation of the sensing signal is greater than or equal to 0, when the ratio of the efficiency variation to the frequency variation of the sensing signal is less than 0, the sensing signal is resent with the default transmission frequency by decreasing a frequency value, and then recalculates the transmission efficiency of the sensing signal;

when the ratio of the efficiency variation to the frequency variation of the sensing signal is greater than or equal to 0, the default transmission frequency is defined as the optimal frequency point.

5. The control method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of tracing the optimal frequency point to determine whether the transmission efficiency meets the transmission requirement comprises steps of:

determining whether a ratio of an efficiency variation to a frequency variation of the sensing signal is greater than or equal to 0, when the ratio of the efficiency variation to the frequency variation of the sensing signal is less than 0, the sensing signal is resent with the default transmission frequency by decreasing a frequency value, and then recalculates the transmission efficiency of the sensing signal;

when the ratio of the efficiency variation to the frequency variation of the sensing signal is greater than or equal to 0, the default transmission frequency is defined as the optimal frequency point.

6. The control method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of tracing the optimal frequency point to determine whether the transmission efficiency meets the transmission requirement comprises steps of:

determining whether a ratio of an efficiency variation to a frequency variation of the sensing signal is greater than or equal to0, when the ratio of the efficiency variation to the frequency variation of the sensing signal is less than 0, the sensing signal is resent with the default transmission frequency by decreasing a frequency value, and then recalculates the transmission efficiency of the sensing signal;

when the ratio of the efficiency variation to the frequency variation of the sensing signal is greater than or equal to 0, the default transmission frequency is defined as the optimal frequency point.

7. A high efficiency wireless charging system comprising:

a wireless transmitter having

a first controller; and

a transmission circuit electrically connected to the first controller and having

a first impedance matching unit having variable capacitance, wherein the capacitance of the first impedance matching unit is controlled by the first controller; and

a transmission unit electrically connected to the first impedance matching unit;

wherein after the first controller controls the capacitance of the first impedance matching unit, the first controller further executes a tracing process for an optimal frequency point; and

a wireless receiver having

a second controller; and

a receiving circuit electrically connected to the second controller and having

a second impedance matching unit having variable capacitance, wherein the capacitance of the second impedance matching unit is controlled by the second controller; and

a receiving unit electrically connected to the second impedance matching unit;

wherein after the second controller controls the capacitance of the second impedance matching unit, the second controller further executes the tracing process for the optimal frequency point;

wherein the tracing process for the optimal frequency point comprises steps of;

sending a sensing signal with a default transmission frequency and calculating a transmission efficiency of the sensing signal;

determining whether the transmission efficiency of the sensing signal meets a transmission requirement, when the transmission efficiency of the sensing signal does not meet the transmission requirement, repeat the previous steps with another default transmission frequency;

when the transmission efficiency of the sensing signal meets the transmission requirement, the default transmission frequency is defined as an optimal frequency point.

8. The high efficiency wireless charging system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transmission unit comprises

a first fixed capacitor;

an first induction coil; and

a first resistor;

wherein the first fixed capacitor, the first induction coil and the first resistor are electrically connected to form a first circuit loop, and the first impedance matching unit is electrically connected to the first circuit loop of the transmission unit;

the receiving unit comprises

a second fixed capacitor;

an second induction coil; and

a second resistor;

wherein the second fixed capacitor, the second induction coil and the second resistor of the receiving unit are electrically connected to form a second circuit loop, and the second impedance matching unit is electrically connected to the second circuit loop of the receiving unit.

9. The high efficiency wireless charging system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first impedance matching unit is a variable capacitor able to modulate continuously;

the second impedance matching unit is a variable capacitor able to modulate continuously.

10. The high efficiency wireless charging system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first impedance matching unit comprises

multiple first regulated capacitors in parallel;

and

multiple first circuit switch, wherein each first circuit switch is connected in series with a corresponding one of the multiple first regulated capacitors, and a conduction of each first circuit switch is controlled by the first controller;

the second impedance matching unit comprises

multiple second regulated capacitors in parallel; and

multiple second circuit switch, wherein each second circuit switch is connected in series with a corresponding one of the multiple second regulated capacitors, and a conduction of each second circuit switch is controlled by the second controller.

11. The high efficiency wireless charging system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wireless transmitter further has

a first power conversion module electrically connected to the transmission circuit;

the wireless receiver further has

a second power conversion module electrically connected to the receiving circuit.

12. The high efficiency wireless charging system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first power conversion module comprises

an AC-to-DC converter having an input terminal and an output terminal;

and

an amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the input terminal and the output terminal of the amplifier are electrically connected to the output terminal of the AC-to-DC converter and the transmission circuit respectively;

the second power conversion module comprises

a rectifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the input terminal of the rectifier is electrically connected to the receiving circuit; and

a DC-to-DC converter having an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the input terminal of the DC-to-DC converter is electrically connected to the output terminal of the rectifier.

13. The high efficiency wireless charging system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first power conversion module is an AC-to-AC converter.