WIRELESS ENERGY TRANSFER FOR ENERGIZING POWER TOOLS

• US 20120091949A1
• Filed: 10/06/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Campanella, Andrew J., Hall, Katherine L., Kesler, Morris P., Kulikowski, Konrad, Li, Qiang, Giler, Eric R.
• Application Number:
  US13/267,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20120091949A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance

Abstract

A wireless energy transfer system for energizing power tools includes at least one source resonator, configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field, and at least one power tool component attached to at least one device resonator, wherein the at least one device resonator is configured to wirelessly receive energy from the at least one source resonator via the oscillating magnetic field, and wherein the at least one power tool component can receive energy at multiple positions relative to the at least one source.

Claims

1. A wireless energy transfer system for energizing power tools, the system comprising:

at least one source resonator, configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field; and

at least one power tool component attached to at least one device resonator,

wherein the at least one device resonator is configured to wirelessly receive energy from the at least one source resonator via the oscillating magnetic field, and

wherein the at least one power tool component can receive energy at multiple positions relative to the at least one source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power tool component is a removable battery pack adapted to be removably attached to said at least one power tool component.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power tool component is a built-in battery pack mounted at least one of on and within a power tool.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power tool component is an energy storage unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power tool component is powered directly.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power tool component is trickle charged.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power tool component is charged by the at least one source resonator via the oscillating magnetic field at substantially the same rate as when plugged into a power supply using a power cord.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the at least one power tool component and the at least one source is approximately 5 cm.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the at least one power tool component and the at least one source is approximately 10 cm.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the at least one power tool component and the at least one source is approximately 20 cm.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the at least one power tool component and the at least one source can vary while the at least one device resonator is receiving energy.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power tool component receives energy while at least one other resonator also receives energy from the at least one source.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one other resonator energizes a battery.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one other resonator energizes a computer.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one other resonator energizes a communication device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one other resonator energizes a light.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one other resonator energizes a game controller.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one other resonator energizes a radio.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one source resonator is integrated in a work bench.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one source resonator is integrated in a tool box.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one source resonator is integrated in a wireless extension cord.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one source resonator energizes a work area.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one source resonator is behind a panel.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one source resonator is in a vehicle.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one source resonator is outdoors.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one source resonator is underground.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one device resonator both transmits and receives power wirelessly.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one device resonator comprises wire.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one device resonator comprises a trace on a printed circuit board.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein the source resonator has a resonant frequency of approximately 6.78 MHz.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein the source resonator has a resonant frequency of approximately 13.56 MHz.

32. The system of claim 1 further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the amount of wireless power received by the at least one device resonator.

33. The system of claim 1 further comprising any of an amplifier circuit, a rectifier circuit, a filter circuit, and a feedback circuit.