Apparatus for supplying energy to a load and a related system

• US 20070076459A1
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George Limpkin
• Original Assignee: George Limpkin
• Inventors: Limpkin, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/157
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/12 Flameproof or explosion-proof arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/00 Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources structurally associated with the incandescent lamps H01K1/62
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/245 for a plurality of lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant

Abstract

Apparatus for supplying energy to a load, comprises a power supply unit (102) e.g. a switched mode electronic transformer or electronic ballast having an input for receiving current at mains frequency and a means for stepping-up said mains frequency to a higher frequency e.g. 30-50 kHz and an output for delivering energy at the higher frequency. A two part connector (108) has a first core portion (106) that has a primary winding (104) connected to the output of the power supply unit and a mating second core portion (112) that has a secondary winding (110) for delivery of energy to a load (114), the core portions being of a high resistivity material, e.g. a ferrite having a resistivity of at least 10⁴ Ωcm. The apparatus may be used to power e.g. low voltage halogen or other incandescent lighting, fluorescent lighting, or an electric motor, a power supply for a computer, radio, television or like electronic device, a heater or the like.

Claims

1-43. -43. (canceled)

44. An apparatus for supplying energy to a load, comprising:

a power supply unit having an input for receiving current at mains frequency, means for increasing said frequency to a higher frequency, and an output for delivering energy at said higher frequency;

a two part induction connector having a first core portion that has a primary winding connection connected to said output of said power supply unit and a second core portion that has a secondary winding connection for delivering energy to a load; and

wherein said first and second core portions being of a high resistivity material.

45. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said first and second core portions of said induction connector are adapted to mate and be disengaged one from another.

46. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said means for increasing said frequency to a higher frequency is arranged to step-up said mains frequency to a frequency of 23 kHz-10 MHz.

47. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said means for increasing said frequency to a higher frequency is arranged to step-up said mains frequency to a frequency of 25-60 kHz.

48. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said means for increasing said frequency to a higher frequency is arranged to step-up said mains frequency to a frequency of 30-50 kHz.

49. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said means for increasing said frequency to a higher frequency further comprising an electronic transformer and a means for delivering a modulated DC supply at a predetermined voltage.

50. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 49 further comprising an over-current protection system.

51. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 49 further comprising a load short-circuit protection system.

52. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said means for increasing said frequency to a higher frequency includes a power supply selected from the group consisting of switched mode power supply and quasi mode power convertor.

53. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said means for increasing said frequency to a higher frequency is an electronic ballast.

54. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said first and second core portions of said induction connector are of a material having a bulk resistivity of at least 10³ Ω

cm.

55. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said first and second core portions of said induction connector are of a material having a bulk resistivity of at least 10⁴ Ω

cm.

56. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said first and second core portions are of a nickel-zinc ferrite.

57. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said first and second portions of said two-part induction connector further comprising pins and sockets that removably push together for mating together said first and second portions of said connector.

58. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said first and second portions of said two-part induction connector further comprising clips and recesses that removably snap together for mating said first and second portions of said connector.

59. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said first and second portions of said two-part induction connector further comprising bayonet formations and recesses that removably twist together for mating said first and second portions of said connector.

60. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said load is at least one lamp selected from the group consisting of mains incandescent lamps, low-voltage incandescent lamps, light-emitting diodes and fluorescent lamps.

61. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said load is a plurality of lamps in parallel.

62. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said load is a plurality of lamps in series.

63. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said load is a plurality of lamps on a wire or track.

64. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said load is selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, a power supply for a computer, radio, television, and a heater.

65. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said primary connection has a multi faceted primary induction connector adapted to couple energy to at least one secondary connectors.

66. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said secondary connection has a multi faceted secondary induction connector adapted to couple energy from at least one primary connectors.

67. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said two-part induction connector being adapted to receive a two-core cable, there being a primary core for providing a primary induction connection having a wire wound around said core, said wire being connected to said two-core cable by an insulation displacement connector device.

68. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 67, wherein said two-part induction connector further comprising a third wire for providing an additional earth connection.

69. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said two-part induction connector being capable of providing a voltage in dependence upon the number of windings on said secondary core.

70. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said two-part induction connector has an output voltage from said secondary connection selected from the group consisting of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC).

71. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said two-part induction connector are rotatable with respect one to another thereby varying the amount of energy coupled from said primary core portion to said secondary core portion.

72. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said core portions are rotatable with respect one to another thereby providing a dimmer switch.

73. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44 further comprising a switching effect achievable by increasing the air gap between surfaces of said primary core and said secondary core portions.

74. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said two-part induction connector further comprising a low reluctance material.

75. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said two-part induction connector characterized in that said primary and secondary portions are formed in a shape selected from the group consisting of a toroid, rhomboid, cube, parallelepiped, hemisphere, frusto-conical, and circular symmetric solids.

76. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 75, wherein said two-part induction connector is factory wound and supplied complete to meet specific loading requirements.

77. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 75, wherein said two-part induction is a user wound primary and secondary inductive connector has a preformed profile, to ensure that a correct number of windings are applied.

78. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44 further comprising a lamp having formed in a housing of said secondary core of said two-part induction connector, said lamp being in electrical connection with a winding on said secondary core in order to energize said lamp.

79. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 78, wherein said housing having at least a first and second pole pieces of said secondary core.

80. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 44, wherein said load is selected from the group of consisting of computers, computer peripheral devices, telecommunications equipment including handheld devices, office equipment, medical equipment, domestic electrical appliances, dish washers, washing machines, micro-wave ovens, food mixers, radios, televisions, hi-fi equipment, audio equipment, mining equipment, industrial equipment, aerospace equipment, marine and sub-marine equipment, automotive equipment, commercial and domestic furniture, school equipment, retail point of sale and advertising equipment, road signs, road markings, street furniture, petrochemical equipment, lighting, transport airfield and runway, road signs, road markings, electronic surveillance equipment, printed circuit boards, military equipment, transport equipment and security systems.

81. An apparatus for supplying energy to a load, comprising:

a power supply unit having an input for receiving current at mains frequency, means for increasing said frequency to a higher frequency, and an output for delivering energy at said higher frequency;

a socket having a first core portion that has a primary winding connection connected to said output of said power supply unit, said first core portion being of a high resistivity material;

a plug connectable to said socket, said plug having a second core portion within a housing, said second core portion has a secondary winding connection for delivering energy to a load, said second core portion being of a high resistivity material; and

wherein said housing having a fastening means for use with said load.

82. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 81, wherein said fastening means is selected from the group consisting of bayonet formations, a screw formation, clips, catches, and a slidable engagement mechanism.

83. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 81, wherein said power supply unit being adapted for use with renewable electricity generators selected from the group consisting of wind, solar, wave, and hydroelectric generators.

84. An apparatus for supplying energy to a load, comprising.

a power supply unit having an input for receiving current at mains frequency, means for increasing said frequency to a higher frequency, an output for delivering energy at said higher frequency, and a primary core and winding of an inductive coupler;

at least one load having a secondary core and winding of an inductive coupler; and

a coupler for removably connecting said power supply unit and said load, said coupler functioning as a transformer.

85. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 84, wherein said primary and secondary cores are made of a ferrite that avoids eddy currents and low hysteresis loss.

86. The apparatus for supplying energy to a load as set forth in claim 84, wherein said primary and secondary cores are made of a metallic oxide-based ceramic that avoids eddy currents and low hysteresis loss.