ADAPTIVE INDUCTIVE POWER SUPPLY WITH COMMUNICATION

• US 20110273026A1
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• 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 8,301,080 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 5/79 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 method for controlling operation of an inductive power supply system, comprising the steps of:

establishing an inductive coupling between the inductive power supply and a remote device having a secondary inductor in electrical communication with a load, the inductive power supply having a controller and a tank circuit;

receiving information from the remote device;

adaptively adjusting a variable impedance element of the inductive power supply when the remote device is inductively coupled with the inductive power supply;

adjusting an operating frequency of the inductive power supply, wherein adjusting the operating frequency of the inductive power supply includes adjusting a drive circuit with the controller.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting a variable impedance element includes adjusting with the controller at least one of a variable capacitance or a variable inductance of the tank circuit.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting a power level of the inductive power supply.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing an inductive coupling between the inductive power supply and a plurality of remote devices having a secondary inductor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting an operating frequency includes adjusting the operating frequency in response to a feedback signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting an operating frequency includes adjusting the operating frequency based on the received information from the remote device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating said step of actively adjusting at least one of an operating frequency of the inductive power supply.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting an operating parameter of the tank circuit;

and determining whether an operational parameter of the tank circuit in the inductive power supply is within a nominal range, wherein said adjusting is in response to determining that said operational parameter is not within the nominal range.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said adaptively adjusting variable impedance element includes adjusting a resonant frequency of the tank circuit.

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

a primary configured to transfer power to said remote device

a receiver for receiving information from said remote device; and

a controller in communication with said primary, said controller programmed to;

adaptively adjust a variable impedance element of said inductive power supply when said remote device is inductively coupled with said inductive power supply; and

adjust an operating frequency of said inductive power supply.

11. The inductive power supply of claim 10 further including a tank circuit having said primary, and wherein said variable impedance element is at least one of a variable capacitance or a variable inductance of said tank circuit.

12. The inductive power supply of claim 10 wherein said controller is programmed to adjust a power level of said inductive power supply.

13. The inductive power supply of claim 10 wherein said inductive power supply supplies power to a plurality of remote devices.

14. The inductive power supply of claim 10 wherein said controller adjusts said operating frequency in response to a feedback signal.

15. The inductive power supply of claim 10 wherein said controller is programmed to repeatedly adjust said operating frequency of said inductive power supply.

16. The inductive power supply of claim 10 wherein said controller is programmed to detect an operating parameter of said primary;

and determine whether an operational parameter of said primary in said inductive power supply is within a nominal range, wherein said operating frequency is adjusted in response to a determination that said operational parameter is not within said nominal range.

17. The inductive power supply of claim 10 wherein a resonant frequency of said tank circuit is changed in response to an adjustment of said variable impedance element.

18. The inductive power supply of claim 10 wherein said controller is programmed to adjust the operating frequency based on the received information from the remote device.

19. The inductive power supply of claim 10 wherein said receiver receives information from said remote device via an inductive coupling between said primary and said remote device.