Inductive battery power transfer for powering wireless sensors for construction and agricultural equipment

• US 9,780,604 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2012
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions Inc. (Danfoss A/S)
• Original Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions Inc. (Danfoss A/S)
• Inventors: Zeng, Jack, Bloms, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries, Dru
• Application Number:
  US13/625,018
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

A wireless sensor assembly that includes a battery pack and a wireless sensor. The battery pack is placed in spaced relation to the wireless sensor and inductively powers the wireless sensor utilizing primary and secondary resonant coils presented within the battery pack and wireless sensor. The wireless sensor additionally has super capacitors therein to continue to operate the wireless sensor during the changing of the battery pack.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor assembly comprising:

a battery pack detachably placed on machinery having a primary resonant coil;

a wireless sensor detachably placed on machinery having a wireless sensor power receiver with a secondary resonant coil that is in electric communication with the first resonant coil;

said wireless sensor having a super capacitor;

wherein the battery pack inductively powers the wireless sensor;

wherein the wireless sensor assembly is detachably connected to a member selected from the group consisting of an agricultural machine, a construction machine, and a construction equipment.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the battery pack has an actuating device that when actuated detects a load on the wireless sensor to transfer power to the wireless sensor.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a battery charger that includes a wireless charging pad.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the battery pack transmits a state of battery charge to the wireless sensor by interrupting a power transfer signal to the wireless sensor.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the length of the interruption of the power signal is proportional to the state of battery charge.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the super capacitor operates the wireless sensor when the battery pack is removed.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the wireless sensor is configured to measure an angle.

18. The assembly of claim 1 having a wireless sensor housing that houses a wireless sensor power receiver.

19. The assembly of claim 1 having a battery pack housing that houses the battery pack.

20. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the battery pack is placed on the member of the group in spaced relation to the wireless sensor to form a gap.

7. A wireless sensor assembly, comprising:

a battery pack having primary powering resonant coil circuitry; and

a wireless sensor configured to measure an angle having secondary powering resonant coil circuitry, wherein the battery pack inductively powers the wireless sensor

wherein the wireless sensor assembly is detachably connected to a member selected from the group consisting of an agricultural machine, a construction machine, and a construction equipment.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the battery pack has a load detector.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the battery pack powers the wireless sensor based upon a load sensed by the load detector.

10. A wireless sensor assembly, comprising:

a battery pack detachably placed on machinery having a micro-controller connected to a load detector;

a wireless sensor detachably placed on machinery;

wherein the micro-controller wirelessly transfers current from the battery pack to the wireless sensor based upon a signal sent from the load detector;

wherein the wireless sensor assembly is detachably connected to a member selected from the group consisting of an agricultural machine, a construction machine, and a construction equipment.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the wireless sensor includes sensor circuitry and powering resonant coil circuitry.

12. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a battery charger connected to the battery pack.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the battery charger includes a primary charging resonant coil circuitry.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the battery pack has a fuel gauge connected to a plurality of batteries and the micro-controller.

15. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the battery charger is connected to a rectifier that is connected to a secondary charging resonant coil circuitry.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the battery charger is connected to a plurality of batteries and current is transferred from the primary charging resonant coil circuitry to the secondary charging resonant coil circuitry to the rectifier, to the battery charger and onto the plurality of batteries.