CONTACTLESS CHARGING DEVICE AND CONTACTLESS CHARGING METHOD

• US 20100123429A1
• Filed: 12/26/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: HUANG, Chin-Tao, CHEN, Po-Shen
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence

Abstract

A contactless charging device and contactless charging method is provided. The contactless charging device includes an energy-storing device for providing a DC signal as an input power, a power module electrically connected to the energy-storing device for generating an output signal in response to the DC signal and a control signal. The power module includes a transformer primary winding for coupling the output signal to a transformer secondary winding located external to the contactless charging device. The charging device further includes a feedback controller electrically connected to the power module for generating the control signal in response to the output signal, a predetermined power and a predetermined phase. When the contactless charging device is in close proximity to a plurality of loads, the output signal at the transformer primary winding will be coupled to the transformer secondary windings of the plurality of loads so as to simultaneously charge the loads.

Claims

1. A contactless charging device, comprising:

an energy-storing device for providing a direct current (DC) signal as an input power;

a power module, electrically connected to the energy-storing device for generating an output signal in response to the DC signal and a control signal, wherein the power module further comprises a transformer primary winding for coupling the output signal to a transformer secondary winding located external to the contactless charging device; and

a feedback controller, electrically connected to the power module for generating the control signal in response to the output signal, a predetermined power and a predetermined phase;

wherein when the contactless charging device is in close proximity to a plurality of loads, the output signal at the transformer primary winding of the contactless charging device will be coupled to the transformer secondary winding of the plurality of loads so as to simultaneously charging the loads.

2. The contactless charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy-storing device comprises a portable energy-storing device.

3. The contactless charging device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the portable energy-storing device comprises a battery.

4. The contactless charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power module further comprises a booster for raising DC signals and a converter for converting DC signals to alternating current (AC) signals.

5. The contactless charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feedback controller further comprises a phase lock control unit for adjusting the control signal in response to the phase of the output signal and a predetermined phase.

6. The contactless charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feedback controller further comprises a power control unit for adjusting the control signal in response to the power of the output signal and a predetermined power.

7. The contactless charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output signals comprises an AC voltage signal and an AC current signal.

8. A contactless charging method, comprising:

generating an output signal;

determining whether a contactless charging device is in close proximity to any chargeable load according to the output signal to determine whether to perform charging;

performing phase lock control according to the output signal and a predetermined phase;

performing power control according to the output signal and a predetermined power; and

coupling the output signal to transformers secondary windings of a plurality of loads through the transformer primary winding of the contactless charging device to simultaneously charge the plurality of loads.

9. The contactless charging method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the determining whether a contactless charging device is in close proximity to a charged load comprises checking the magnitude of the current signal for the output signal, and if the magnitude is smaller than a predetermined value, determining that there is no chargeable load in close proximity to the contactless charging device.

10. The contactless charging method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the performing phase lock control comprises adjusting the phase of the output signal in response to the phase of the output signal and a predetermined phase.

11. The contactlessly charging method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the performing power control comprises adjusting the power generated at the primary winding in response to the power at the primary winding calculated by the output signal and a predetermined power.