Contactless energy transmission converter

• US 7,826,873 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2007
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Telefus, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/810,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20070287508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/23, 455/113, 455/59, 455/61, 455/573, 455/17, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.34, 320/108, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

The present invention is an efficient method of transferring energy wirelessly and an apparatus which efficiently transfers energy wirelessly. A high transmission frequency is modulated by a lower frequency in order to reduce the intensity of the resulting electromagnetic interference. The present invention creates a high magnetic flux density by employing a large number of small induction coils which generates a strong electromagnetic field in a wide range of directions. The present invention is a “true wireless system” in that it overcomes the range limitations and requirement for precise alignment present in the field of art. A number of apparatuses and practical implementations for contactless energy transfer exist.

Claims

1. A wireless energy transmission system comprising:

a charging device configured to simultaneously charge a plurality of types of electronic devices, the charging device comprising;

a signal generator for generating a signal at a first frequency;

at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair for receiving the signal at a first frequency, wherein the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair is alternatively turned on and off, forming multiple carrier frequencies, wherein the first frequency is modulated by the multiple carrier frequencies, forming multiple modulated signals; and

at least one inductive coil transmission antenna for receiving the multiple modulated signals, forming a transmission signal; and

at least one electronic device comprising;

at least one inductive coil receiver antenna for receiving the transmission signal, forming a received signal; and

a receiver circuit for converting the received signal into a current.

2. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the first frequency is 500 Kilohertz.

3. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair is a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor pair.

4. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair is a Junction Field-Effect Transistor pair.

5. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair is controlled by a computer.

6. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the carrier frequencies formed by the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair is a square wave pulse train.

7. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 6, wherein the square wave pulse train has a wavelength of 20 Kilohertz.

8. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the carrier frequencies formed by the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair is a dynamic carrier frequency.

9. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 8, wherein the dynamic carrier frequency is tunable.

10. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the carrier frequencies formed by the at least one controllable field-effect resistor is randomly generated by a random frequency generator.

11. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 10, wherein the random frequency generator generates frequencies of 50 Kilohertz or less.

12. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1, wherein more than one controllable field-effect transistor pairs receives the signal at the first frequency forming the multiple carrier frequencies.

13. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the current charges at least one battery cell.

14. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 12, wherein each inductive coil transmission antenna receives a particular signal from the multiple modulated signals, and wherein the transmission signal comprises signals from each inductive coil transmission antenna.

21. The wireless energy transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the signal generator is a multiphase transmitter that is coupled to the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair.

15. An apparatus for wireless charging of a battery cell comprising:

a charging device configured to simultaneously charge a plurality of types of electronic devices, the charging pad comprising;

a signal generator for generating a signal at a first frequency;

at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair for receiving the signal at a first frequency, wherein the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair is alternatively turned on and off, forming multiple carrier frequencies, wherein the first frequency is modulated by the multiple carrier frequencies, forming multiple modulated signals;

at least one transmission antenna for receiving the multiple modulated signals, forming a transmission signal; and

a power source for delivering current to the signal generator; and

at least one electronic device comprising;

rechargeable battery cells;

at least one receiver antenna for receiving the transmission signal, forming a received signal; and

a receiver circuit for converting the received signal into a current, wherein the current recharges the rechargeable battery cells.

16. The apparatus for wireless charging of a battery cell according to claim 15, wherein the charging device is a mouse pad, and wherein the at least one electronic device is a wireless optical mouse.

17. The apparatus for wireless charging of a battery cell according to claim 15, wherein the charging device is a table-top charging pad, and wherein the at least one electronic device is a remote control.

18. The apparatus for wireless charging of a battery cell according to claim 15, wherein the at least one electronic device is placed on the charging device.

19. A method of wireless power transfer comprising:

producing a first current in a frequency generator of a charging device configured to simultaneously charge a plurality of types of electronic device, forming a first frequency;

directing the first frequency to at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair;

alternatively turning the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair on and off, forming multiple carrier frequencies, wherein the first frequency is modulated by the multiple carrier frequencies, forming multiple modulated signals;

directing the multiple modulated signals to at least one transmitter antenna of the charging device, wherein the at least one transmitter antenna produces a transmission signal;

positioning at least one receiver antenna of an electronic device in proximity to the transmitter antenna, wherein the receiver antenna picks up the transmission signal, forming a received transmission; and

converting the received transmission into a second current.

20. A method of transmitting electrical energy inductively from a first device to a second device comprising:

positioning a charging device configured to simultaneously charge a plurality of types of electronic devices, the charging pad having a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal by;

producing a first current in a frequency generator, forming a first frequency;

directing the first frequency to at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair;

alternatively turning the at least one controllable field-effect transistor pair on and off, forming multiple carrier frequencies, wherein the first frequency is modulated by the multiple carrier frequencies, forming multiple modulated signals; and

directing the at least one modulated signals to at least one transmitter antenna, wherein the at least one transmitter antenna produces the transmission signal; and

positioning at least one target device in proximity to the charging device wherein at least one receiver antenna picks up the transmission signal from the at least one transmitter antenna, forming a received transmission;

converting the received transmission into a second current; and

using the second current to charge a battery cell in the at least one target device.

22. A wireless energy transmission system comprising:

a charging device configured to simultaneously charge a plurality of types of electronic devices, the charging device comprising;

a signal generator for generating a signal at a first frequency;

a plurality of controllable field-effect transistor pairs for receiving the signal at a first frequency to form multiple carrier frequencies, wherein the first frequency is modulated by the multiple carrier frequencies, forming multiple modulated signals; and

at least one inductive coil transmission antenna for receiving the multiple modulated signals, forming a transmission signal; and

at least one electronic device comprising;

at least one inductive coil receiver antenna for receiving the transmission signal, forming a received signal; and

a receiver circuit for converting the received signal into a current.