SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDUCTIVE POWER PROVISION OVER AN EXTENDED SURFACE

• US 20100259401A1
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Powermat Ltd.
• Inventors: Greenwald, Oola, Ben-Shalom, Amir, Azancot, Yossi, Rofe, Arik
• Granted Patent: US 8,624,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/657
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/003 Printed circuit coils
• 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 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A power providing system for transferring power from an inductive power outlet to an inductive power receiver. The power providing system includes a targeting apparatus capable of detecting the location of the inductive power receiver adjacent to said extended surface and driving a primary inductor in the vicinity of the inductive power receiver. Optionally, the inductive power outlet includes a moving primary inductor which may move into alignment with the receiver. Alternatively, the inductive power outlet includes an array of primary inductors and a primary inductor may be selected in the locality of the inductive power receiver.

Claims

1. A power providing system configured to transfer power from an inductive power outlet to an inductive power receiver, said inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary inductor located behind an extended surface and said inductive power receiver comprising at least one secondary inductor, wherein

said inductive power providing system comprises a targeting apparatus configured to couple at least one local primary inductor to said at least one secondary inductor when said inductive power receiver is adjacent to said extended surface.

2. The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said extended surface is selected from a group consisting of:

walls, floors, ceilings, sinks, baths, doors and work surfaces.

3. The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said targeting apparatus comprises a positioning mechanism for moving said primary inductor behind said extended surface.

4. The power providing system of claim 3 further characterized by at least one feature selected from a group consisting of:

a. said positioning mechanism comprising a carriage;

b. said primary inductor being mounted upon at least one of a group consisting of roller-balls, wheels, skis and levitating magnets;

c. said primary inductor being affixed to at least one guiding cable;

d. said positioning mechanism being motorized;

e. said positioning mechanism being remotely controllable by a user;

f. said primary inductor being affixed to a first magnetic element configured to be pulled by a second magnetic element;

g. said positioning mechanism further comprising a clutch for engaging said primary coil to the back face of said extended surface, and

h. said positioning mechanism further comprising a release mechanism for disengaging said primary inductor from said back face of said extended surface.

5. The power providing system of claim 3 wherein said positioning mechanism additionally comprises at least one rail upon which said primary inductor is slideably mounted.

6. The power providing system of claim 5, wherein said rail is slideably supported by at least one of a group consisting of tracks and pulleys.

7. The power providing system of claim 1, said primary inductor being concealed behind a substantially opaque layer;

said system further comprising at least one indicator for indicating the location of said primary inductor.

8. The power providing system of claim 7 further characterized by at least one feature selected from:

a. said indicator being incorporated within said bounding surface;

b. said indicator comprising a visual display representing a map of said surface, the location of said primary inductor being indicated upon said map;

c. said indicator further comprising a control panel for adjusting the location of said primary inductor, the location of said primary inductor being indicated upon said control panel;

d. said indicator comprising at least one transmitter configured to transmit a locator beam, said locator beam being detectable remotely;

e. the location of said primary inductor being determinable by external sensors; and

f. the location of said primary inductor being determinable by external sensors selected from a group consisting of;

proximity sensors, volume sensors, infra-red sensors, ultrasonic sensors, magnetic sensors, Hall probes, inductance sensors and capacitance sensors.

9. The power providing system of claim 7 said indicator comprising an emitter of radiation of a type and intensity capable of penetrating the substantially opaque layer and for allowing detection thereof from in front of the substantially opaque layer.

10. The power providing system of claim 9 being further characterized by at least one feature selected from a group consisting of:

a. said emitter being incorporated within said primary inductor and said radiation being selected such that said substantially opaque surface translucent to said radiation;

b. said emitter comprising a light emitting diode;

c. said emitter comprising said primary inductor;

d. said radiation being detectable by a photodiode;

e. said radiation comprising at least one of a group consisting of;

electromagnetic radiation, sound waves and ultrasonic waves;

f. said radiation comprising infra-red radiation;

said infra red radiation being detectable by a digital camera; and

g. the location of said primary inductor being encoded into a location signal and said location signal being transmitted by said radiation.

11. The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said targeting apparatus comprises a location monitor configured to indicate the location of said inductive power receiver.

12. The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said targeting apparatus comprises:

a location monitor configured to monitor the location of said inductive power receiver; and

a driver configured to provide an oscillating voltage supply to said at least one local primary inductor in the vicinity of said secondary inductor.

13. The power providing system of claim 12 wherein said inductive power outlet comprises an array of primary inductors distributed behind said extended surface and said driver is further configured to select said local primary inductor from said array said local primary inductor being in the vicinity of said secondary inductor.

14. The power providing system of claim 12 wherein said inductive power outlet comprises a positioning mechanism for moving a movable primary inductor behind said extended surface and said driver is further configured to direct said movable primary inductor into the vicinity of said secondary inductor.

15. The power providing system of claim 12 wherein said location monitor comprises an array of tracking-signal detectors associated with said inductive power outlet, said tracking-signal detectors configured to detect a signal emitted by at least one tracking-signal emitter carried by said inductive power receiver, and a processor configured to calculate the location of said inductive power receiver using triangulation.

16. The power providing system of claim 15 wherein said location monitor further comprises a timing-detector configured to receive a fast-traveling tracking-signal emitted by a second tracking-signal emitter carried by said inductive power receiver.

17. A method for transferring power from an inductive power outlet to an inductive power receiver adjacent to an extended surface, said method comprising:

providing at least one primary inductor behind said an extended surface;

locating said inductive power receiver; and

providing an oscillating voltage supply to at least one primary inductor coupled to a secondary inductor integral to said inductive power receiver.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein providing at least one primary inductor comprises providing an array of primary inductors distributed behind said extended surface, said method further comprising:

selecting at least one local primary inductor from said array, said local primary inductor being in the vicinity of said secondary inductor.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein providing at least one primary inductor comprises providing at least one movable primary inductor behind said extended surface, said method further comprising:

directing said movable primary inductor into the vicinity of said secondary inductor.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein locating comprises:

emitting at least one tracking-signal from said inductive power receiver;

detecting said tracking-signal by an array of tracking-signal detectors; and

calculating the location of said inductive power receiver using triangulation.