Proximity wireless power system using a bidirectional power converter
First Claim
1. A proximity wireless power transfer system comprising:
- a proximity wireless power transmitter operable to periodically test for the presence of a proximity wireless power receiver and provide power to the proximity wireless power receiver when within range of the proximity wireless power transmitter, said proximity wireless power transmitter comprising;
a bidirectional power converter operable to provide alternating current (AC) power at an AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter when in a transmit mode of the bidirectional power converter and enabled via a transmitter enable signal or a hysteresis control signal;
a direct current (DC) power source configured to provide power to a DC input terminal of the bidirectional power converter and a directional control signal to a direction control input of the bidirectional power converter, wherein the directional control signal indicates a transmit mode of the bidirectional power converter;
a tuning capacitor;
a wire coil connected in series with the tuning capacitor to the AC terminal of bidirectional power converter, wherein the wire coil is configured to receive the AC output signal from the bidirectional power converter and emit a corresponding electromagnetic field;
an automatic turn on assembly configured to provide the transmitter enable signal to the bidirectional power converter, wherein the automatic turn on assembly, when enabled, is configured to selectively enable and disable the bidirectional power converter via the transmitter enable signal;
a voltage detect circuit configured to determine a voltage across the tuning capacitor and reset the automatic turn on assembly whenever the voltage across the tuning capacitor exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the automatic turn on assembly disables the bidirectional power converter for a predetermined period of time via the transmitter enable signal when the automatic turn on assembly is reset; and
a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive a radio frequency signal from an RF transmitter of a cart bidirectional power converter receiver receiving power from the proximity wireless power transmitter and provide the hysteresis control signal to the bidirectional power converter as a function of the received radio frequency signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bidirectional power converter circuit is controlled via a hysteresis loop such that the bidirectional power converter circuit can compensate in near real time for variations and even changes in transmit and receive coil locations without damaging components of the system. Because the bidirectional power converter is capable of both transmitting and receiving power (at different times), one circuit and board may be used as the main component in multiple wireless power converter designs. The bidirectional power converter circuit is used in a proximity wireless power transmitter and a proximity wireless power receiver, such that the transmitter and receiver may be misaligned in any direction while providing power from the transmitter to the receiver without damaging any circuitry of either the bidirectional power converter transmitter or the bidirectional power converter receiver.
15 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A proximity wireless power transfer system comprising:
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a proximity wireless power transmitter operable to periodically test for the presence of a proximity wireless power receiver and provide power to the proximity wireless power receiver when within range of the proximity wireless power transmitter, said proximity wireless power transmitter comprising; a bidirectional power converter operable to provide alternating current (AC) power at an AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter when in a transmit mode of the bidirectional power converter and enabled via a transmitter enable signal or a hysteresis control signal; a direct current (DC) power source configured to provide power to a DC input terminal of the bidirectional power converter and a directional control signal to a direction control input of the bidirectional power converter, wherein the directional control signal indicates a transmit mode of the bidirectional power converter; a tuning capacitor; a wire coil connected in series with the tuning capacitor to the AC terminal of bidirectional power converter, wherein the wire coil is configured to receive the AC output signal from the bidirectional power converter and emit a corresponding electromagnetic field; an automatic turn on assembly configured to provide the transmitter enable signal to the bidirectional power converter, wherein the automatic turn on assembly, when enabled, is configured to selectively enable and disable the bidirectional power converter via the transmitter enable signal; a voltage detect circuit configured to determine a voltage across the tuning capacitor and reset the automatic turn on assembly whenever the voltage across the tuning capacitor exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the automatic turn on assembly disables the bidirectional power converter for a predetermined period of time via the transmitter enable signal when the automatic turn on assembly is reset; and a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive a radio frequency signal from an RF transmitter of a cart bidirectional power converter receiver receiving power from the proximity wireless power transmitter and provide the hysteresis control signal to the bidirectional power converter as a function of the received radio frequency signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification