HIGH-FREQUENCY POWER DEVICE, POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE, AND POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM

• US 20130002048A1
• Filed: 08/07/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Keiichi, Bondar, Henri
• Granted Patent: US 9,281,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/149
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/10 using transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A power transfer system includes a power transmission device and a power reception device which are capacitively coupled to allow electrical conduction therethrough in the manner of alternating current. The power transmission device includes an active electrode, a passive electrode, a step-up transformer, and a high-frequency voltage generating circuit. The power reception device includes an active electrode, a passive electrode, and a load circuit. A divider for voltage division based on load capacitances (C1 and C2) is provided between the active electrode and the passive electrode. The active electrode and the passive electrode have respective equivalent capacitances to ground (Ca and Cp) relative to the ground potential. A ground leakage current Ig is minimized by adjusting the values of the respective capacitances in an equivalent circuit so as to satisfy the relationship: C2/C1=Cp/Ca.

Claims

1. A high-frequency power device comprising:

a transformer;

a high-frequency voltage generating circuit configured to feed a high-frequency voltage to a primary coil of the transformer so that the primary coil forms an electric feeder section; and

a divider configured to divide a voltage across opposite terminals of a secondary coil of the transformer or opposite terminals of an element of a circuit associated with the secondary coil at a predetermined voltage ratio, wherein;

the divider is a series circuit in which a first impedance element and a second impedance element are connected in series;

the first impedance element is an impedance element connected to the opposite terminals of the secondary coil of the transformer or to a first potential side of the circuit associated with the secondary coil, while the second impedance element is an impedance element connected to the opposite terminals of the secondary coil or to a second potential side of the circuit associated with the secondary coil, the first potential side being higher than the second potential side;

the first impedance element has an impedance represented by Za and the second impedance element has an impedance represented by Zp, a second equivalent capacitance to ground on the second potential side is represented by Cp, a first equivalent capacitance to ground on the first potential side is represented by Ca, and a ratio of Za/Zp is substantially equal to a ratio of Cp/Ca.

2. A power transfer system comprising:

the high-frequency power device according to claim 1; and

a power transmission device and a power reception device which are inductively coupled to each other, wherein the primary coil of the transformer is a power transmission coil disposed in the power transmission device, and the secondary coil of the transformer is a power reception coil disposed in the power reception device.

3. A power transmission device for use in a power transfer system including the high-frequency power device according to claim 1, and a power transmission device and a power reception device which are capacitively coupled to each other, wherein

a power transmission device side active electrode configured for capacitive coupling is connected to the first potential side, while a power transmission device side passive electrode for capacitive coupling is connected to the second potential side.

4. The power transmission device according to claim 3, wherein:

the first impedance element is a first load capacitance between the active electrode and the electric feeder section; and

the second impedance element is a second load capacitance between the passive electrode and the electric feeder section.

5. The power transmission device according to claim 4, wherein:

the first load capacitance is either a composite capacitance composed of a capacitive element connected between the active electrode and the electric feeder section and a parasitic capacitance or the parasitic capacitance itself;

the second load capacitance is either a composite capacitance composed of a capacitive element connected between the passive electrode and the electric feeder section and a parasitic capacitance or the parasitic capacitance itself; and

at least one of the capacitive elements which are respectively connected between the active electrode and the electric feeder section and between the passive electrode and the electric feeder section includes a variable capacitive element.

6. The power transmission device according to claim 5, further comprising a capacitance control circuit configured to detect a current passing between the electric feeder section and a circuit ground of the high-frequency voltage generating circuit and control a capacitance of the variable capacitive element based on a result of the detection.

7. The power transmission device according to claim 3, wherein:

the secondary coil of the transformer is provided with a tap;

the first impedance element is a first inductor provided between the tap of the secondary coil and a terminal of the secondary coil on a side thereof proximal to the active electrode;

the second impedance element is a second inductor provided between the tap of the secondary coil and a terminal of the secondary coil on a side thereof proximal to the passive electrode; and

the first inductor has an inductance represented by La and the second inductor has an inductance represented by Lp, the ratio of La/Lp being substantially equal to the ratio of Cp/Ca.

8. The power transmission device according to claim 7, further comprising a subsidiary divider configured to divide a voltage across opposite terminals of the second inductor and which has a divided voltage output terminal that is grounded.

9. The power transmission device according to claim 8, wherein:

the subsidiary divider is a series circuit comprising a first resistive element connected between the tap and the divided voltage output terminal and a second resistive element connected between the terminal of the secondary coil on the side thereof proximal to the passive electrode and the divided voltage output terminal;

the first inductor has the inductance represented by La and the second inductor has the inductance represented by Lp;

the first resistive element has a resistance value represented by Ra and the second resistive element has a resistance value represented by Rp; and

the ratio of Lp(Rp/(Ra+Rp)) to La+Lp(Ra/(Ra+Rp)) is substantially equal to the ratio of Ca/Cp.

10. The power transmission device according to claim 8, wherein:

the subsidiary divider is a series circuit comprising a first capacitor connected between the tap and the divided voltage output terminal and a second capacitor connected between the terminal of the secondary coil on the side thereof proximal to the passive electrode and the divided voltage output terminal;

the first inductor has the inductance represented by La and the second inductor has the inductance represented by Lp;

the first capacitor has a capacitance represented by CDa and the second capacitor has a capacitance represented by CDp; and

the ratio of Lp(CDa/(CDa+CDp)) to La+Lp(CDp/(CDa+CDp)) is substantially equal to the ratio Ca/Cp.

11. The power transmission device according to claim 8, further comprising a current detection circuit configured to detect a current passing between the electric feeder section and a circuit ground of the high-frequency voltage generating circuit, wherein

the subsidiary divider includes a voltage division ratio control circuit configured to control the voltage division ratio based on a result of the detection by the current detection circuit.

12. A power transfer system comprising the power transmission device according to claim 3, and a power reception device, wherein

the power reception device includes a load circuit which receives electric power induced between an active electrode of the power reception device and a passive electrode of the power reception device.