Multiple Coil Data Transmission System

• US 20120139358A1
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triune Systems, LLC (Semtech Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Triune Ip, LLC (Semtech Corporation)
• Inventors: Teggatz, Ross, Chen, Wayne, Atrash, Amer, Blaszczak, Andrew, Knight, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 10,079,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Multiple coil systems and methods are disclosed in which transmitter and receiver inductors, or coils, are coupled in a configuration for wirelessly transferring data and/or power among them. In preferred implementations, the systems and methods are used for transmitting data using pairs of coupled coils. One preferred aspect of the invention is that the coils are not permanently affixed in physical proximity to one another, but can be moved and/or interchanged.

Claims

1. A system for wireless data transmission comprising:

a plurality of primary coils operably coupled to be driven independently with a signal;

one or more secondary coil positioned in proximity to the primary coils and suitable for receiving the signal inductively;

wherein

the signal may be inductively transferred from one or more primary coil to one or more secondary coil.

2. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of primary coils are operably coupled with circuitry for sensing secondary coil proximity and for responsively transmitting a signal to detected secondary coils.

3. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein at least one primary coil is operably coupled to a driver circuit adapted for driving the primary coil with a data signal.

4. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein at least one secondary coil is operably coupled with data receiving circuitry.

5. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein at least one primary coil is operably coupled to a driver circuit adapted for driving the primary coil with a power transmission signal.

6. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein at least one secondary coil is operably coupled with power receiving circuitry.

7. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein at least one coil further comprises one or more switchable taps selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.

8. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein at least one coil is operably coupled to one or more switchable capacitor network selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.

9. A multiple coil data transfer system comprising:

at least one primary coil operably coupled to a circuit for transmitting data;

at least one secondary coil operably coupled to a circuit for receiving data;

wherein at least one primary coil and at least one secondary coil are adapted for inductively coupling for data transfer; and

primary side circuitry configured for selecting at least one primary coil for transmitting data based on sensed proximity to a secondary coil.

10. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 9 wherein a plurality of primary coils are operably coupled with circuitry for sensing secondary coil proximity and for responsively transmitting a signal to detected secondary coils.

11. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 9 wherein at least one primary coil is operably coupled to a driver circuit adapted for driving the primary coil with a data signal.

12. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 9 wherein at least one secondary coil is operably coupled with data receiving circuitry.

13. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 9 wherein at least one primary coil is operably coupled to a driver circuit adapted for driving the primary coil with a power transmission signal.

14. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 9 wherein at least one secondary coil is operably coupled with power receiving circuitry.

15. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 9 wherein at least one coil further comprises one or more switchable taps selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.

16. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 9 wherein at least one coil is operably coupled to one or more switchable capacitor network selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.

17. A multiple coil data transfer system comprising:

at least one primary coil operably coupled to a circuit for transmitting data;

at least one secondary coil operably coupled to a circuit for receiving data;

wherein at least one primary coil is operably coupled with circuitry adapted for sensing secondary coil proximity and for selecting at least one primary coil for transmitting data based on sensed proximity to a secondary coil; and

wherein at least one primary coil is dynamically configurable for operation at selectable frequencies for transmitting the data to one or more secondary coil.

18. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 17 wherein at least one primary coil is operably coupled to a driver circuit adapted for driving the primary coil with a power transmission signal.

19. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 17 wherein at least one secondary coil is operably coupled with power receiving circuitry.

20. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 17 wherein at least one coil further comprises one or more switchable taps selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.

21. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 17 wherein at least one coil is operably coupled to one or more switchable capacitor network selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.