Underwater Power and Data Transfer System

• US 20180006506A1
• Filed: 01/22/2016
• Published: 01/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Baer, Christopher M., Granger, Richard P., Labosky, John J., Pyle, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,608,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

According to the embodiments provided herein, power and data transfer system may include a primary inductive, a secondary inductive coupler, a power source, and a controller. The primary inductive coupler may forms a flat front face. The primary inductive coupler may include a primary winding wound around a primary core. The primary core may be adjacent to the flat front face. The secondary inductive coupler may be separated from the flat front face of the primary inductive coupler by a fluid. The secondary inductive coupler may include a secondary winding. The power source may generate a current in the primary winding of the primary inductive coupler and a magnetic field in the secondary winding of the secondary inductive coupler. The controller may execute machine readable instructions to receive charging data via a feedback loop and adjust the current based upon the charging data.

Claims

1. A power and data transfer system, the power and data transfer system comprising:

a primary inductive coupler that forms a flat front face, the primary inductive coupler comprising a primary winding wound around a primary core, wherein the primary core is adjacent to the flat front face;

a secondary inductive coupler separated from the flat front face of the primary inductive coupler by a fluid, the secondary inductive coupler comprising a secondary winding;

a power source operatively connected to the primary winding of the primary inductive coupler, wherein the power source generates a current in the primary winding of the primary inductive coupler and a magnetic field in the secondary winding of the secondary inductive coupler; and

a controller operatively connected to the power source, wherein the controller executes machine readable instructions to;

receive charging data via a feedback loop, wherein the charging data is indicative of the secondary inductive coupler; and

adjust the current generated by the power source based upon the charging data.

2. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, comprising primary resonant components operatively connected to the power source and the primary inductive coupler, wherein the primary resonant components are configured to drive the primary inductive coupler.

3. The power and data transfer system of claim 2, wherein the primary resonant components comprise an LCC (inductor-capacitor-capacitor) resonant circuit topology.

4. The power and data transfer system of claim 2, wherein the primary resonant components comprise capacitors collocated with the primary core.

5. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, comprising primary antenna operatively connected to the controller, wherein the feedback loop is provided by the primary antenna.

6. The power and data transfer system of claim 5, wherein the primary antenna is configured to communicate according to an 802.11 protocol.

7. The power and data transfer system of claim 5, wherein the primary antenna is a patch antenna array.

8. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, wherein the feedback loop is provided via the primary inductive coupler and the secondary inductive coupler.

9. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, comprising an electrical sensor operatively connected to a load charged by the secondary inductive coupler, wherein the electrical sensor detects the charging data.

10. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, comprising a mating detection sensor operatively connected to the controller, wherein the mating detection sensor detects that the primary inductive coupler and the secondary inductive coupler are within an operating range of one another.

11. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, wherein the primary winding is formed as a spiral coil on a printed circuit board.

12. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, wherein the primary winding is formed from multiple layers of thin foil.

13. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, wherein the primary core comprises at least one flat coupling face.

14. The power and data transfer system of claim 13, wherein the primary core is formed into an E core topology.

15. The power and data transfer system of claim 13, wherein the at least one flat coupling face of the primary core is parallel to the flat front face of the primary inductive coupler.

16. The power and data transfer system of claim 13, wherein the at least one flat coupling face of the primary core exposed directly to the front face of the primary inductive coupler without any intervening conductive elements.

17. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, wherein the primary inductive coupler and the secondary inductive coupler are symmetric.

18. The power and data transfer system of claim 1, wherein the primary inductive coupler is potted in epoxy, such that the primary inductive coupler is waterproof and pressure tolerant.

19. An underwater power and data transfer system, the underwater power and data transfer system comprising:

a primary inductive coupler that forms a front face, the primary inductive coupler comprising a primary winding wound around a primary core, wherein the primary core is adjacent to the front face;

a secondary inductive coupler separated from the front face of the primary inductive coupler by water, the secondary inductive coupler comprising a secondary winding wound around a secondary core;

primary resonant components operatively connected to the primary winding of the primary inductive coupler, wherein the primary resonant components output a current to the primary winding of the primary inductive coupler such that a magnetic field is generated in the secondary winding of the secondary inductive coupler;

secondary resonant components operatively connected to the secondary winding of the secondary inductive coupler and a load, wherein the secondary resonant components are tuned to the primary resonant components, and

a controller operatively connected to the power source, wherein the controller executes machine readable instructions to;

receive charging data via a feedback loop, wherein the charging data is indicative of an electrical signal of the load; and

adjust the current provided by the primary resonant components based upon the charging data.

20. The underwater power and data transfer system of claim 19, wherein the primary inductive coupler is provided on a docking station comprising a primary component, and the secondary inductive coupler is provided on an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle.