Method and system for maximum achievable efficiency in near-field coupled wireless power transfer systems

• US 9,583,950 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto (University of Toronto)
• Original Assignee: Glenn Gulak, Meysam Zargham
• Inventors: Gulak, Glenn, Zargham, Meysam
• Primary Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US14/480,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20150145338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/02 Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant by measuring phase angle only G01R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/16 Measuring susceptibility G01R33/1238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2804 Printed windings
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

Methods and systems for maximum achievable efficiency in near-field coupled wireless power transfer systems may comprise, for example, configuring coil geometry for a transmit (Tx) coil and a receive (Rx) coil based on a media expected to be between the coils during operation. A desired susceptance and conductance may be determined and an impedance of an amplifier for the Tx coil may be configured based on the determined susceptance and conductance. A load impedance for the Rx coil may be configured based on the determined susceptance and conductance. A matching network may be coupled to the amplifier. The Rx coil may be integrated on a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip. One or more matching networks may be integrated on the CMOS chip for the configuring of the load impedance for the Rx coil.

Claims

1. A method for wireless power transfer, the method comprising:

configuring coil geometry for a transmit (Tx) coil and a receive (Rx) coil based on a media expected to be between the coils during operation;

determining a desired susceptance and conductance corresponding to the configured coil geometry and expected media;

configuring a load impedance for an amplifier for the Tx coil based on the determined susceptance and conductance; and

configuring a load impedance for the Rx coil based on the determined susceptance and conductance.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising operatively coupling a matching network to the amplifier for said configuring said load impedance for the amplifier.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Rx coil is integrated on a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein one or more matching networks are integrated on the CMOS chip for said configuring the load impedance for the Rx coil.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more matching networks comprise a configurable impedance bank comprising capacitors and/or inductors.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising adaptively configuring the load impedance for the Rx coil utilizing the configurable impedance bank.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein a portion of a matching network for configuring the load impedance for the Rx coil is mounted to a surface of the CMOS chip.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Tx coil is integrated on a printed circuit board (PCB) or other insulating substrate.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein matching networks are integrated on said PCB or insulating substrate for said configuring the load impedance for the amplifier for the Tx coil.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating control commands and/or data utilizing the Tx and Rx coils.

11. The method according to claim 1, comprising operatively coupling a matching network to the Rx coil for said configuring a load impedance for the Rx coil.

12. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring the desired susceptance and conductance for a maximum power transmission efficiency.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coil geometry and expected media comprises a general two-port model.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coil geometry comprises one or more of:

coil area, metal layer thickness, metal layer width, and metal layer spacing.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the expected media comprises one or more of:

biological liquid, organic or inorganic substances, biological material, biological agents, biological tissue, chemical compositions, buffer solutions.

16. The method according to claim 1, comprising dynamically configuring the load impedance for the amplifier for the TX coil to compensate for coil misalignment.

17. A system for wireless power transfer, the system comprising:

a coil geometry for a transmit (Tx) coil and a receive (Rx) coil configured based on a media expected to be between the coils during operation;

a determined susceptance and conductance corresponding to the configured coil geometry and expected media;

a load impedance for an amplifier for the Tx coil, said impedance configured based on the determined susceptance and conductance; and

a load impedance configured for the Rx coil based on the determined susceptance and conductance.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein a matching network is operatively coupled to the amplifier for said configured impedance of the amplifier.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the Rx coil is integrated on a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein one or more matching networks are integrated on the CMOS chip for said configuring the load impedance for the Rx coil.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the one or more matching networks comprise a configurable impedance bank comprising capacitors and/or inductors.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the load impedance for the Rx coil is adaptively configured utilizing the configurable impedance bank.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein a portion of a matching network for configuring the load impedance for the Rx coil is mounted to a surface of the CMOS chip.

24. The system according to claim 17, wherein the Tx coil is integrated on a printed circuit board (PCB) or other insulating substrate.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein matching networks are integrated on said PCB or insulating substrate for said configuring the load impedance for the amplifier for the Tx coil.

26. The system according to claim 17, wherein a matching network is operatively coupled to the Rx coil for said configured load impedance for the Rx coil.

27. The system according to claim 17, wherein the determined susceptance and conductance are configured for a maximum power transmission efficiency.

28. The system according to claim 17, wherein the coil geometry and expected media comprises a general two-port model.

29. The system according to claim 17, wherein the coil geometry comprises one or more of:

coil area, metal layer thickness, metal layer width, and metal layer spacing.

30. The system according to claim 17, wherein the expected media comprises one or more of:

biological liquid, organic or inorganic substances, biological material, biological agents, biological tissue, chemical compositions, buffer solutions.

31. The system according to claim 17, wherein the load impedance for the amplifier for the TX coil is dynamically configured to compensate for coil misalignment.

32. A system for wireless power transfer, the system comprising:

a coil geometry for a transmit (Tx) coil on a printed circuit board and a receive (Rx) coil on a complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip, said Tx coil and Rx coil configured based on a biological media expected to be between the coils during operation, said Rx coil integrated on a chip with the configurable load impedance;

a determined susceptance and conductance corresponding to the configured coil geometry and expected media;

a load impedance for an amplifier for the Tx coil, said impedance configured based on the determined susceptance and conductance; and

a load impedance configured for the Rx coil based on the determined susceptance and conductance.