ENERGY TRANSMISSION APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20180083492A1
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: BAE, Su Ho, LEE, Ki Min
• Granted Patent: US 10,374,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An apparatus and method for wirelessly transmitting electromagnetic energy are provided. The apparatus includes a power source, a transmission unit, and a measurement unit. The power source supplies a power according to a certain frequency. The transmission unit receives the power to wirelessly transmit the received power through self resonance. The measurement unit measures a phase difference between a voltage and current of the transmission unit. The certain frequency is controlled according to the phase difference. Accordingly, the apparatus and method control only the frequency of the power supply when a resonance frequency is changed by the change of an ambient environment, thus enhancing energy transmission efficiency.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitting apparatus comprising:

a power supply configured to generate AC power;

a transmitting coil configured to transmit wireless power to a wireless power receiving apparatus, based on the AC power; and

a measuring unit configured to sense an input impedance of the transmitting coil,

wherein the input impedance includes a real component and an imaginary component,

wherein the wireless power transmitting apparatus controls the imaginary component of the input impedance to maintain a certain range.

2. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitting apparatus controls the real component of the input impedance to maintain a certain range.

3. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitting apparatus compares a change in the imaginary component of the input impedance with a critical value.

4. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitting apparatus compares a change in the real component of the input impedance with a critical value.

5. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitting apparatus controls a resonance condition with the wireless power receiving apparatus to be satisfied.

6. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitting apparatus transmits power to a plurality of wireless power receiving apparatuses.

7. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitting apparatus determines an environmental change of the wireless power transmitting apparatus, based on a change in the input impedance.

8. A wireless power transmitting method comprising:

generating AC power;

transmitting wireless power to a wireless power receiving apparatus through a transmitting coil, based on the AC power; and

sensing an input impedance of the transmitting coil,

wherein the input impedance includes a real component and an imaginary component,

wherein the wireless power transmitting method comprises controlling the imaginary component of the input impedance to maintain a certain range.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising controlling the real component of the input impedance to maintain a certain range.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising comparing a change in the imaginary component of the input impedance with a critical value.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising comparing a change in the real component of the input impedance with a critical value.

12. The method of claim 8, comprising controlling a resonance condition with the wireless power receiving apparatus to be satisfied based on the sensed input impedance.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless power is transmitted to a plurality of wireless power receiving apparatuses.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein an environmental change of the wireless power transmitting apparatus is determined through a change in the input impedance, based on the sensed input impedance.