ADAPTIVE INDUCTIVE POWER SUPPLY WITH COMMUNICATION

• US 20100033023A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/015 with means for adaptation of resonance frequency, e.g. by modification of capacitance or inductance of resonance circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 : for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/001 : Current supply source at the exchanger providing current to substations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 : Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/25 : Circuit arrangements for protecting against overcurrent
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 : Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 : the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.

Claims

1. A contactless power supply for inductively providing power to a remote device comprising:

a resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to the remote device by an inductive coupling;

a receiver for receiving information from the remote device independently of said inductive coupling;

a circuit sensor operatively coupled to said resonant circuit, said circuit sensor generating a sensor output indicative of a characteristic of power being affected by a characteristic of the remote device reflected through said inductive coupling; and

a controller coupled to said receiver and said circuit sensor wherein said controller is programmed to control operation of the power supply in response to said sensor output and said information from the remote device received by said receiver.

2. The contactless power supply of claim 1 where the controller varies a frequency in response to said information received from the remote device.

3. The contactless power supply of claim 2 wherein said circuit sensor is a current sensor.

4. A contactless power supply system comprising:

an inductive power supply and a remote device, said remote device capable of inductively receiving power from said power supply via an inductive coupling;

wherein said power supply includes;

a tank circuit having a primary for inductively transferring power to said remote device;

a receiver for receiving information from said remote device independently of said inductive coupling;

a circuit sensor operatively coupled to said tank circuit, said circuit sensor generating a sensor output indicative of a characteristic of power being affected by a characteristic of the remote device reflected through said inductive coupling; and

a controller coupled to said receiver and said circuit sensor wherein said controller is programmed to control operation of the power supply in response to said sensor output and said information from the remote device received by said receiver; and

wherein said remote device includes a secondary for inductively receiving power from said primary and a transmitter for transmitting information to said power supply independently of said inductive coupling.

5. The contactless power supply system of claim 4 where the receiver is part of a transceiver.

6. The contactless power supply system of claim 4 where the controller varies the rail voltage, the resonant frequency or the duty cycle in response to the power information.

7. The contactless power supply system of claim 4 where the controller varies a resonant frequency in response to the power information.

8. The contactless power supply system of claim 4 wherein said circuit sensor is a current sensor.

9. A method of operating an inductive power supply for a remote device, the method including the steps of:

inductively coupling the inductive power supply to the remote device;

receiving in the inductive power supply power information from the remote device, the information being communicated to the inductive power supply independently of the inductive coupling;

sensing in the inductive power supply a characteristic of power in the inductive power supply, the sensed characteristic of power being affected by a characteristic of the remote device reflected through the inductive coupling; and

controlling operation of the inductive power supply in response to the sensed characteristic of power and the power information received in the inductive power supply from the remote device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said sensing step includes sensing a current in the inductive power supply.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein inductive power supply includes a tank circuit;

and

said sensing step includes sensing a characteristic of power in the tank circuit.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said sensing step is further defined as sensing current in the tank circuit.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said controlling step includes adjusting a frequency in the power supply as a function of the power information.