Bidirectional power converter
First Claim
1. A bidirectional power converter operable to provide alternating current (AC) power at an AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter in a transmit mode of the bidirectional power converter and provide direct current (DC) power at a DC output terminal of the bidirectional power converter in a receive mode, said bidirectional power converter comprising:
- an oscillator configured to provide a drive signal at a base frequency when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode;
an amplifier configured to receive power from a power source via a DC input terminal of the bidirectional power converter and provide an AC output signal to the AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter in response to receiving the drive signal when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode;
a modulator configured to selectively provide the drive signal from the oscillator to the amplifier as a function of a hysteretic control signal when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode;
a hysteretic receiver circuit configured to receive a transmitted control signal at the bidirectional power converter and provide the hysteretic control signal to the modulator as a function of the received, transmitted control signal when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode;
a transmit relay configured to electrically connect the amplifier to the AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode and electrically disconnect the amplifier from the AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the receive mode;
a rectifier configured to receive an alternating current power signal from the AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter and provide a DC output to the DC output terminal of the bidirectional power converter when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the receive mode;
a receive relay configured to enable the rectifier to provide the DC output to the DC output terminal of the bidirectional power converter when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the receive mode and prevent the rectifier from providing the DC output to the DC output terminal when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode; and
a hysteretic control circuit configured to monitor the DC output and transmit a control signal as a function of the monitored DC output when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the receive mode.
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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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A bidirectional power converter operable to provide alternating current (AC) power at an AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter in a transmit mode of the bidirectional power converter and provide direct current (DC) power at a DC output terminal of the bidirectional power converter in a receive mode, said bidirectional power converter comprising:
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an oscillator configured to provide a drive signal at a base frequency when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode; an amplifier configured to receive power from a power source via a DC input terminal of the bidirectional power converter and provide an AC output signal to the AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter in response to receiving the drive signal when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode; a modulator configured to selectively provide the drive signal from the oscillator to the amplifier as a function of a hysteretic control signal when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode; a hysteretic receiver circuit configured to receive a transmitted control signal at the bidirectional power converter and provide the hysteretic control signal to the modulator as a function of the received, transmitted control signal when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode; a transmit relay configured to electrically connect the amplifier to the AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode and electrically disconnect the amplifier from the AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the receive mode; a rectifier configured to receive an alternating current power signal from the AC terminal of the bidirectional power converter and provide a DC output to the DC output terminal of the bidirectional power converter when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the receive mode; a receive relay configured to enable the rectifier to provide the DC output to the DC output terminal of the bidirectional power converter when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the receive mode and prevent the rectifier from providing the DC output to the DC output terminal when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the transmit mode; and a hysteretic control circuit configured to monitor the DC output and transmit a control signal as a function of the monitored DC output when the bidirectional power converter is operating in the receive mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification