Shielded power coupling device

• US 10,607,771 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2016
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analogic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Analogic Corporation
• Inventors: Dobbs, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Tszfung J
• Application Number:
  US15/345,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20170053735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 336 65, 336 83, 336115, 336120-121, 336130-136, 336 84 R, 336 84 C
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/36 Electric or magnetic shields or screens movable for varying inductance H01F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/363 made of electrically conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 30/06 characterised by the structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 30/16 Toroidal transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/18 Rotary transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

Axisymmetric solid of revolution derivable from section at FIG. 5 is generally toroidal with electric current(s) in windings preferably flowing circumferentially along major circle(s) during power coupling device operation. Current(s) in windings, current(s) in half-shields, and the volume of space swept out by shield airgap(s) emerge from plane of paper perpendicularly at FIG. 5, but as these emerge therefrom, they curve to follow toroidal major circle(s). Core regions preferably shunt and align magnetic flux such that magnetic field lines escape therefrom primarily only in region(s) of core airgap(s) and such that magnetic flux loops lie in planes of toroidal minor circle(s). Half-shield(s) preferably have electrically conductive material(s) distributed therein as is sufficient to substantially cancel magnetic flux lines impinging thereon before effects of such impinging magnetic flux lines would reach shield airgap(s) and/or outer surface(s) of half-shields.

Claims

1. A power coupling device for a computed tomography (CT) system, comprising:

a substantially annular first member defining a recess;

a first magnetic core disposed within the recess, the first magnetic core comprising;

a first core segment defining a first recess and a second recess;

a second core segment defining a third recess and a fourth recess; and

a space between the first core segment and the second core segment defined by;

a portion of an outer-circumferential edge of the first magnetic core;

a first edge of the first core segment, the first edge extending from the outer-circumferential edge of the first magnetic core to an inner-circumferential edge of the first magnetic core;

a second edge of the second core segment, the second edge extending from the outer-circumferential edge of the first magnetic core to the inner-circumferential edge of the first magnetic core,

wherein the first core segment and the second core segment are arranged such that a first distance between the first edge and the second edge at the inner-circumferential edge is smaller than a second distance between the first edge and the second edge at the outer-circumferential edge; and

a first winding comprising;

a first winding portion disposed within the first recess and the third recess, the first winding portion defining a path for current in a first direction, and

a second winding portion disposed within the second recess and the fourth recess, the second winding portion defining a path for current in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The power coupling device of claim 1, comprising:

a substantially annular second member defining a recess;

a second magnetic core disposed within the recess of the substantially annular second member, wherein the second magnetic core defines a recess; and

a second winding disposed within the recess of the second magnetic core.

3. The power coupling device of claim 2, wherein:

an airgap is defined between the substantially annular first member and the substantially annular second member,

the second winding is disposed between the second magnetic core and the airgap, and

the first winding is disposed between the first magnetic core and the airgap.

4. The power coupling device of claim 2, wherein a distance between the substantially annular first member and the substantially annular second member is greater than a distance between the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core.

5. The power coupling device of claim 1, wherein each of the first core segment and the second core segment is E-shaped.

6. The power coupling device of claim 1, wherein the first winding portion extends continuously over a plurality of core segments.

7. The power coupling device of claim 1, wherein the first winding is a fractional-turn winding.

8. The power coupling device of claim 1, wherein the substantially annular first member is electrically conductive.

9. The power coupling device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first edge closest to the inner-circumferential edge and a portion of the second edge closest to the inner-circumferential edge abut.

10. The power coupling device of claim 1, wherein the space between the first core segment and the second core segment is further defined by a portion of the inner-circumferential edge of the first magnetic core.

11. The power coupling device of claim 1, wherein the path for current in the first direction is generally circular and the path for current in the second direction is generally circular.

12. A power coupling device for a computed tomography (CT) system, comprising:

a substantially annular first member defining a recess;

a first magnetic core comprising a plurality of core segments disposed within the recess, the plurality of core segments including a first core segment defining a first recess and a second recess and a second core segment defining a third recess and a fourth recess, wherein the first core segment is separated from the second core segment by a wedge-shaped gap; and

a first winding comprising;

a first winding portion disposed within the first recess and the third recess, the first winding portion defining a path for current in a first direction, and

a second winding portion disposed within the second recess and the fourth recess, the second winding portion defining a path for current in a second direction opposite the first direction.

13. The power coupling device of claim 12, wherein:

the first recess is defined in part by a first surface of the first core segment, and

a second surface of the first core segment, extending perpendicular to the first surface of the first core segment, defines a u-shaped passageway in which the first winding portion enters the first recess.

14. The power coupling device of claim 13, wherein:

the third recess is defined in part by a first surface of the second core segment, and

a second surface of the second core segment, extending perpendicular to the first surface of the second core segment, defines a u-shaped passageway in which the first winding portion exits the third recess.

15. The power coupling device of claim 12, wherein a surface of the first core segment facing the substantially annular first member is rectangular.

16. The power coupling device of claim 12, comprising:

a substantially annular second member defining a recess;

a second magnetic core disposed within the recess of the substantially annular second member, wherein the second magnetic core defines a recess; and

a second winding disposed within the recess of the second magnetic core, wherein an airgap is defined between the substantially annular first member and the substantially annular second member.

17. The power coupling device of claim 16, wherein a surface of the first core segment that is facing the substantially annular first member and that is facing away from the airgap is rectangular.

18. The power coupling device of claim 12, wherein the wedge-shaped gap comprises a triangular-shaped gap or a trapezoidal-shaped gap.

19. The power coupling device of claim 12, wherein the path for current in the first direction is generally circular and the path for current in the second direction is generally circular.

20. A power coupling device for a computed tomography (CT) system, comprising:

a substantially annular first member defining a recess;

a substantially annular magnetic core comprising a plurality of core segments disposed within the recess of the substantially annular first member, the substantially annular magnetic core comprising;

a first core segment of the plurality of core segments defining a first recess and a second recess;

a second core segment of the plurality of core segments defining a third recess and a fourth recess; and

a space between the first core segment and the second core segment defined by;

a portion of an outer-circumferential edge of the substantially annular magnetic core;

a first edge of the first core segment, the first edge extending from the outer-circumferential edge of the substantially annular magnetic core to an inner-circumferential edge of the substantially annular magnetic core;

a second edge of the second core segment, the second edge extending from the outer-circumferential edge of the substantially annular magnetic core to the inner-circumferential edge of the substantially annular magnetic core,

wherein the first core segment and the second core segment are arranged such that a first distance between the first edge and the second edge at the inner-circumferential edge is smaller than a second distance between the first edge and the second edge at the outer-circumferential edge; and

a winding, comprising;

a first winding portion disposed within the first recess and the third recess, the first winding portion defining a path for current in a first direction; and

a second winding portion disposed within the second recess and the fourth recess, the second winding portion defining a path for current in a second direction opposite the first direction.

21. The power coupling device of claim 20, wherein the winding is a fractional-turn winding.

22. The power coupling device of claim 20, wherein a portion of the first edge closest to the inner-circumferential edge and a portion of the second edge closest to the inner-circumferential edge abut.

23. The power coupling device of claim 20, wherein the space between the first core segment and the second core segment is further defined by a portion of the inner-circumferential edge of the substantially annular magnetic core.

24. The power coupling device of claim 20, wherein the path for current in the first direction is generally circular and the path for current in the second direction is generally circular.