Inductive power transfer system

• US 9,653,207 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Original Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Inventors: Thrimawithana, Duleepa Jayanath, Madawala, Udaya Kumara
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Danny
• Application Number:
  US13/807,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,147 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• 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 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/025 using non-contact coupling, e.g. inductive, capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/797 using semiconductor devices only

Abstract

An inductive power transfer (IPT system) includes an AC-AC full-bridge converter (T_p1-T_p4) provided between the primary conductive path (L_pt) and an alternating current power supply (V_in). The system may include a controller for controlling the pick-up device to shape the input current drawn from the alternating current power supply (V_in).

Claims

1. An inductive power transfer (IPT system) comprising:

a primary conductive path adapted to provide a magnetic field for reception by a pick-up device; and

an AC-AC full-bridge converter provided between the primary conductive path and an alternating current power supply to provide a controlled current to the primary conductive path for provision of the magnetic field,

wherein the primary conductive path has a frequency which is greater than a frequency of the alternating current power supply when power is being transferred to the pick-up device.

2. An IPT system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling the pick-up device to shape an input current drawn from the alternating Current power supply.

3. An IPT system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the controller modulates the pick-up device to shape the input current drawn from the alternating current power supply.

4. An IPT system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pick-up includes a full-bridge converter having two pairs of complementary switches, and the controller controls the pick-up device by controlling a phase angle between the pairs of complementary switches.

5. An IPT system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alternating current power supply comprises a mains utility power supply.

6. An IPT system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the IPT system comprises a bi-directional IPT system.

7. An IPT system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AC-AC full-bridge converter connects the primary conductive path to the alternating current power supply to provide a current to the alternating current power supply having a frequency which is less than a frequency of the current in the primary conductive path when power is being transferred to the alternating current power supply.

8. A primary circuit for an IPT system, the primary circuit comprising:

a primary conductive path adapted to provide a magnetic field for reception by a pick-up device; and

an AC-AC converter provided between the primary conductive path and an alternating current power supply,

wherein the primary conductive path has a frequency which is greater than a frequency of the alternating current power supply when is being transferred to the pick-up device.

9. A primary circuit for an IPT system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the alternating current power supply comprises a mains utility power supply.

10. A primary circuit for an IPT system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the primary circuit comprises part of a bi-directional IPT system.

11. A primary circuit for an IPT system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the AC-AC converter connects the alternating current power supply to the primary conductive path to provide a current in the primary conductive path having a frequency which is greater than a frequency of the alternating current power supply when power is being transferred to an IPT pick-up device.

12. A primary circuit for an IPT system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the AC-AC converter connects the primary conductive path to the alternating current power supply to provide a current to the alternating current power supply having a frequency which is less than a frequency of a current in the primary conductive path when power is being transferred from an IPT pick-up device to the alternating current power supply.

13. A method for controlling an inductive power transfer (IPT) system having an AC-AC full-bridge converter provided between an AC power supply and a primary conductive path, the method comprising:

controlling a pick-up device of the IPT system to shape an input current drawn from an alternating current power supply,

wherein the primary conductive path has a frequency which is greater than a frequency of the alternating current power supply when power is being transferred to the pick-up device.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising modulating operation of the pick-up device to shape an input current drawn from the alternating current power supply.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the pick-up device includes a full-bridge converter having two pairs of complementary switches, and the method comprises controlling the pick-up device by controlling a phase angle between the pairs of complementary switches.

16. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the alternating current power supply comprises a mains utility power supply.

17. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the IPT system comprises a hi-directional IPT system.

18. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising controlling the AC-AC full-bridge converter to connect the alternating current power supply to the primary conductive path to provide a current in the primary conductive path having a frequency which is greater than a frequency of the alternating current power supply when power is being transferred to the pick-up device.

19. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising controlling the AC-AC full-bridge converter to connect the primary conductive path to the alternating current power supply to provide a current to the alternating current power supply having a frequency which is less than a frequency of a current in the primary conductive path when power is being transferred to the alternating current power supply.