INDUCTIVE POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE COIL PRIMARY

• US 20090230777A1
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W., Schwannecke, Joshua K., Mollema, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,338,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2871 Pancake coils
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An inductive power supply including multiple tank circuits and a controller for selecting at least one of the tank circuits in order to wirelessly transfer power based on received power demand information. In addition, a magnet may be used to align multiple remote devices with the inductive power supply. In one embodiment, different communication systems are employed depending on which coil is being used to transfer wireless power.

Claims

1. An inductive power supply for supplying wireless power to a remote device including power demand information, said inductive power supply comprising:

a plurality of tank circuits, wherein each tank circuit includes a primary and a capacitor electrically connected in series, wherein each of said plurality of tank circuits are capable of being energized to transfer power wirelessly to the remote device;

a receiver for receiving power demand information from the remote device; and

a controller in electrical communication with said receiver and said plurality of tank circuits, said controller programmed to select at least one of said plurality of tank circuits to transfer power wirelessly to the remote device, wherein said selection is determined as a function of said power demand information received from the remote device.

2. The inductive power supply of claim 1 wherein said plurality of tank circuits includes a tank circuit with a low power primary coil, a tank circuit with a medium power primary coil, and a tank circuit with a high power primary coil.

3. The inductive power supply of claim 1 wherein said primary of each of said plurality of tank circuits is a different gauge.

4. The inductive power supply of claim 1 wherein said receiver includes at least one of a wireless communication system, at least one of said tank circuits, or any combination thereof.

5. The inductive power supply of claim 1 including a coil selector circuit for selectively energizing one or more of said plurality of tank circuits.

6. The inductive power supply of claim 1 wherein said power demand information includes a remote device ID, wherein said inductive power supply includes a memory, wherein said memory includes a look-up table, said look-up table maps remote device IDs to at least one of said plurality of primaries.

7. An inductive power supply for supplying wireless power to a remote device including power demand information, said inductive power supply comprising:

a first tank circuit including a plurality of primaries, wherein each of said plurality of primaries is capable of being energized to transfer power wirelessly to the remote device;

a receiver for receiving power demand information from the remote device, wherein said power demand information includes a power adjustment; and

a controller in electrical communication with said receiver and said tank circuit, said controller programmed to select at least one of said plurality of primaries of said tank circuit to transfer power wirelessly to the remote device, wherein said selection is determined as a function of said power adjustment received from the remote device.

8. The inductive power supply of claim 7 including a second tank circuit and a third tank circuit, each including a plurality of primaries, wherein each of said plurality of primaries of said first and second tank circuits are capable of being energized to transfer power wirelessly to the remote device, wherein said first tank circuit includes a low power primary coil, said second tank circuit includes a medium power primary coil, and said third tank circuit includes a high power primary coil.

9. The inductive power supply of claim 8 wherein said first, second, and third tank circuits are driven with a half bridge driver.

10. The inductive power supply of claim 7 wherein said receiver includes at least one of a wireless communication system, at least one of said primaries, or any combination thereof.

11. The inductive power supply of claim 7 wherein said tank circuit includes a coil selector circuit for selectively energizing one or more of the plurality of primaries.

12. The inductive power supply of claim 7 wherein said controller is programmed to determine an amount of power to be transmitted as a function of said power adjustment received from said remote device.

13. The inductive power supply of claim 12 including a memory, wherein said memory includes a threshold, said controller is programmed to select one of said plurality of primaries in response to said amount of power to be transmitted being below said threshold, and said controller is programmed to select a different one of said plurality of primaries in response to said amount of power to be transmitted being above said threshold.

14. The inductive power supply of claim 13 wherein said power demand information includes at least one of a minimum power level threshold, a maximum power level threshold, or a combination thereof.

15. The inductive power supply of claim 14 wherein said controller adjusts said threshold as a function of said at least one of said minimum power level threshold, said maximum power level threshold, or said combination thereof.

16. The inductive power supply of claim 7 wherein said remote device includes a standby mode where it demands a lower amount of power, said power demand information includes an indication that said remote device is in standby mode, and said controller selection is based at least in part on whether said remote device is in said standby mode.

17. An inductive power supply for supplying wireless power to a first remote device or a second remote device, said inductive power supply comprising:

a tank circuit including a first primary coil and a second primary coil, wherein said first primary coil and said second primary coil are arranged concentrically, wherein each of said first primary coil and said second primary coil are capable of being energizing to transfer power wirelessly;

a magnet arranged coaxially with said first primary coil and said second primary coil, wherein said magnet provides a magnetic force to assist in alignment, wherein said magnetic force of said magnet assists in aligning the first remote device with said first primary coil and wherein said magnetic force of said magnet assists in aligning the second remote device with said second primary coil.

18. The inductive power supply of claim 17 for supplying wireless power to at least one of a first remote device, a second remote device, and a third remote device:

wherein said tank circuit includes a third primary coil, wherein said third primary coil is arranged concentrically with said first and said second primary coils, wherein said third primary coil is capable of being energized to transfer power wirelessly; and

wherein said magnet is arranged coaxially with said first primary coil, said second primary coil, and said third primary coil, wherein said magnetic force of said magnet assists in aligning the third remote device with the third primary coil.

19. An inductive power supply for supplying wireless power to at least one of a first remote device demanding a lower amount of power, a second remote device demanding a lower amount of power, a third remote device demanding a higher amount of power, and a combination thereof, said inductive power supply comprising:

a tank circuit including a lower power primary coil and a higher power primary coil, wherein said lower power primary coil is capable of being energized to transfer power wirelessly to at least one of the first remote device demanding a lower amount of power and the second remote device demanding a lower amount of power, wherein said higher power primary coil is capable of being energized to at least one of

     1) transfer power wirelessly simultaneously to both the first remote device demanding a lower amount of power and the second remote device demanding a lower amount of power, and

     2) transfer power wirelessly to the third remote device demanding a higher amount of power;

a receiver for receiving power demand information; and

a controller in electrical communication with said tank circuit and said receiver, said controller programmed to select at least one of said lower power primary coil and said higher power primary coil to transfer power wirelessly, wherein said selection is determined as a function of said power demand information received from the remote device;

20. An inductive power supply for supplying wireless power to a remote device, said inductive power supply comprising:

a tank circuit including a plurality of primaries, wherein each of said plurality of primaries is capable of being energized to transfer power wirelessly to the remote device;

a first receiver for receiving power demand information from the remote device;

a second receiver for receiving power demand information from the remote device; and

a controller in electrical communication with said first communication system, said second communication system, and said tank circuit, said controller programmed to select at least one of said plurality of primaries of said tank circuit to transfer power wirelessly to the remote device, wherein said selection is determined as a function of said power demand information received from at least one of said first receiver said second receiver.

21. The inductive power supply of claim 20 wherein said first receiver includes a primary of said plurality of primaries and said second receiver includes a wireless communication system.

22. The inductive power supply of claim 20 wherein said remote device includes a power class, wherein said first receiver receives power demand information relating to remote devices with lower power classes and said second receiver receives power demand information relating to devices with higher power classes.