Wireless energy transfer for mobile device applications

• US 9,917,479 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2015
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Bronson, Daniel, Sharp, Bryan T., Sealy, Kylee D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Puentes, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/688,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20150303706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2027/2809 on stacked layers
• 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 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields

Abstract

A current sensing system and method for wireless energy transfer may include a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board may include at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. A loop of conductive material may be included, wherein the loop of conductive material may include a diameter D3 on the second layer. A coil of conductive material may be included, wherein the coil of conductive material may have at least 2 turns, wherein a majority of the coil of conductive material may occupy the first layer and the third layer with an outer diameter D1 and an inner diameter D2, connected through each of the first, second, and third layers. The loop of conductive material may be coupled to the coil of conductive material.

Claims

1. A wireless power source comprising:

a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board includes at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer;

a current sensor created on the printed circuit board, the current sensor comprising

a loop of conductive material, wherein the loop of conductive material includes a diameter D3 on the second layer, and

a coil of conductive material, wherein the coil of conductive material has at least two turns, wherein the coil of conductive material occupies the first layer and the third layer with an outer diameter D1 and an inner diameter D2, connected through each of the first, second, and third layers, such that the at least two turns of the coil of conductive material wrap around the loop of conductive material, and wherein the loop of conductive material is coupled to the coil of conductive material;

a conductor routed through the inner diameter D2 of the coil of conductive material; and

circuitry coupled with the current sensor, the circuitry being configured to use the current sensor to measure one or more values of current flowing through the conductor;

wherein the circuitry comprises circuitry configured to remove harmonic content from a signal received from the current sensor, a differential amplifier with a voltage output, and peak detector circuitry including an operational amplifier to track a peak of the voltage output and determine a measured current value of the conductor.

2. The wireless power source of claim 1, comprising a resonator coil comprising the conductor.

3. The wireless power source of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a fourth layer proximate to the second and third layers, wherein the current sensor comprises an additional loop of conductive material occupying the fourth layer, the additional loop of conductive material being coupled to at least one of the loop of conductive material and the coil of conductive material, wherein the additional loop of conductive material has a diameter D3 on the fourth layer, and wherein the at least two turns of the coil of conductive material wrap around the additional loop of conductive material.

4. The wireless power source of claim 1, wherein the coil of conductive material is configured with at least one of a straight return and a balanced winding.

5. The wireless power source of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to measure currents with frequencies within a range of 85 kHz to 20 MHz using the current sensor.

6. The wireless power source of claim 1, wherein the coil of conductive material has at least 15 turns.

7. A wireless power source comprising:

a printed circuit board comprising three or more layers, including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer;

a Rogowski coil that occupies each of the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer of the printed circuit board, wherein the Rogowski coil comprises at least one conductive trace on or within each of the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer of the printed circuit board;

a source resonator coil that occupies at least one of the three or more layers of the printed circuit board, wherein the source resonator coil comprises or is electrically coupled with a conductor routed through the Rogowski coil; and

circuitry coupled with the Rogowski coil, the circuitry being configured to use the Rogowski coil to measure one or more values corresponding to current flowing through the conductor routed through the Rogowski coil.

8. The wireless power source of claim 7, wherein the circuitry comprises circuitry configured to remove harmonic content from a signal received from the Rogowski coil.

9. The wireless power source of claim 8, wherein the circuitry comprises a differential amplifier with a voltage output.

10. The wireless power source of claim 9, wherein the circuitry comprises peak detector circuitry including an operational amplifler to track a peak of the voltage output and determine a measured current value of the conductor.

11. The wireless power source of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is configured to measure currents with frequencies within a range of 85 kHz to 20 MHz using the Rogowski coil.

12. The wireless power source of claim 7, wherein the Rogowski coil comprises:

multiple conductive traces on each of the first layer and the third layer; and

vias that pass through the second layer and electrically couple the multiple conductive traces of the first layer with the multiple conductive traces of the third layer;

wherein the multiple conductive traces and the vias are, together, effectively toroidal in shape, and the effectively toroidal shape of the multiple conductive traces and the vias wrap around the at least one conductive trace on or within the second layer.

13. The wireless power source of claim 12, wherein the Rogowski coil comprises a straight return comprising the at least one conductive trace on or within the second layer.

14. The wireless power source of claim 12, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a fourth layer between the second layer and the third layer, the vias also pass through the fourth layer, the Rogowski coil comprises at least one conductive trace on or within the fourth layer, and the effectively toroidal shape of the multiple conductive traces and the vias wrap around the at least one conductive trace on or within the fourth layer.

15. The wireless power source of claim 12, wherein the Rogowski coil comprises a balanced winding.

16. The wireless power source of claim 7, wherein the Rogowski coil has at least fifteen turns.

17. A current sensor for wireless power transfer systems, the current sensor comprising:

a printed circuit board comprising a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer; and

a Rogowski coil that occupies each of the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer of the printed circuit board;

wherein the Rogowski coil comprises

multiple conductive traces on each of the first layer and the fourth layer of the printed circuit board,

vias that pass through the second layer and the third layer and electrically couple the multiple conductive traces of the first layer with the multiple conductive traces of the fourth layer, and

at least one conductive trace on or within each of the second layer and the third layer of the printed circuit board,

wherein the multiple conductive traces and the vias are, together, effectively toroidal in shape, and the effectively toroidal shape of the multiple conductive traces and the vias wrap around both the at least one conductive trace on or within the second layer and the at least one conductive trace on or within the third layer.

18. The current sensor for wireless power transfer systems of claim 17, wherein the printed circuit board comprises six layers, which include a center four layers being the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer, and the current sensor comprises:

a current carrier that occupies all of the six layers and passes vertically through the center four layers of the six layers of the printed circuit board;

wherein the Rogowski coil occupies the center four layers of the six layers of the printed circuit board, and the Rogowski coil winds around the current carrier.

19. The current sensor for wireless power transfer systems of claim 17, wherein the conductive traces on or within the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer of the printed circuit board are copper traces.

20. The current sensor for wireless power transfer systems of claim 17, wherein the Rogowski coil has at least fifteen turns.

21. The current sensor for wireless power transfer systems of claim 20, wherein the Rogowski coil has seventeen turns, an inner diameter of 200 millimeters, and an outer diameter of 400 millimeters.