ADJUSTABLE INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSMISSION PLATFORM

• US 20140285008A1
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: AZANCOT, Yossi, BEN-SHALOM, Amir, ROFE, Arik, GREENWALD, Oola, LEIBOVITZ, Alfred, OZ, Ami
• Granted Patent: US 10,068,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/24
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/003 for task lighting, e.g. for reading or desk work, e.g. angle poise lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A hybrid power load balancing system configured to manage the amount of power transfer via a plurality of inductive coils is provided. The system comprises one or more power supplies, a plurality of inductive outlets associated with and configured to be supplied power by each of the power supplies for providing power to loads connected thereto, and a load balancer associated with each of the outlets. A power supply and its associated outlets and load balancers constitute a cluster. The load balancers are configured to grant power classes to the outlets to supply at least a minimum required power class to each of the attached loads.

Claims

1. A hybrid power load balancing system configured to manage the amount of power transfer via a plurality of inductive coils, the system comprising:

one or more power supplies;

a plurality of inductive outlets associated with and configured to be supplied power by each of the power supplies for providing power to loads connected thereto; and

a load balancer associated with each of the outlets;

wherein a power supply and its associated outlets and load balancers constitute a cluster, and

wherein the load balancers are configured to grant power classes to the outlets to supply at least a minimum required power class to each of the attached loads.

2. The hybrid power load balancing system according to claim 1, further comprising a mesh network configured to facilitate communication between the load balancers.

3. The hybrid power load balancing system according to claim 1, wherein the load balancers are configured to determine, upon request of a power class by an outlet associated with a power supply, the amount of power available to other outlets associated with the power supply if the request is granted.

4. The hybrid power load balancing system according to claim 3, wherein the load balancers are further configured to determine the amount of power available to other outlets associated with the power supply if a minimum power class necessary to operate a load attached to the outlet is granted.

5. The hybrid power load balancing system according to claim 4, wherein the load balancers are further configured to deny power to an outlet if the minimum power class necessary to operate the load is not available.

6. The hybrid power load balancing system according to claim 3, wherein the load balancers are configured to update other load balancers in its cluster with information regarding the cluster when it grants a power class to an outlet.

7. The hybrid power load balancing system according to claim 6, wherein the information regarding the cluster comprises the number of free outlets.

8. The hybrid power load balancing system according to claim 6, wherein the information regarding the cluster comprises the amount of power available for supply by the power supply.

9. The hybrid power load balancing system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to manage the load balancers.

10. The hybrid power load balancing system according to claim 9, further comprising a mesh network configured to facilitate communication between the load balancers and the controller.

11. A method for management of power provisioning by an inductive outlet provided power by a power supply, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a full power class for the outlet;

determining a minimum required power class for the outlet;

determining the amount of power available to the power source if the full power class is granted;

if a minimum power class for each available associated outlet can be met after granting the full power class, provisioning power at the full power class;

if the minimum power class for each available associated outlet cannot be met after granting the full power class, determining the amount of power available to the power source if the minimum required power class is granted; and

if the minimum power class for each available associated outlet cannot be met after granting the full power class, and can be met after granting the minimum required power class, provisioning power at the minimum required power class.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the inductive outlet is one of a plurality of associated outlets provided power by the power supply.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the minimum required power class is provided by the outlet.

14. A method for providing power to an inductive outlet, the outlet being one of a plurality of associated outlets provided power by a power supply, the method comprising:

requesting a full power class for the outlet;

determining a minimum required power class for the outlet;

determining the amount of power available to the power source if the full power class is granted;

if a minimum power class for each available associated outlet can be met after granting the full power class, granting the full power class;

if the minimum power class for each available associated outlet cannot be met after granting the full power class, determining the amount of power available to the power source if the minimum required power class is granted; and

if the minimum power class for each available associated outlet cannot be met after granting the full power class, and can be met after granting the minimum required power class, granting the minimum required power class.