Method and apparatus for control of inductively coupled power transfer systems
First Claim
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1. An inductively coupled power transfer pick-up comprising:
- a pick-up resonant circuit comprising a capacitive element and an inductive element adapted to receive power from a magnetic field associated with a primary conductive path to supply a load, one of the capacitive element and the inductive element comprising a controlled reactive element;
a phase device configured to sense the phase of a voltage or current in the pick-up resonant circuit;
a sensor configured to sense a power requirement of the load; and
a controller configured to selectively tune or de-tune the pick-up resonant circuit in response to the load power requirement sensed by the sensor by selectively electrically connecting or disconnecting the controlled reactive element to or from the pick-up resonant circuit in each cycle of the voltage or current dependent on the sensed phase to vary the effective capacitance or inductance of the controlled reactive element of the pick-up resonant circuit to control the transfer of power to the pick-up resonant circuit dependant on the sensed load power requirement.
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Abstract
A power pick-up for an Inductively Coupled Power Transfer (ICPT) system is provided having a resonant pick up circuit. The natural frequency of the pick-up circuit may be varied by controlling the conductance or capacitance of a variable reactive in the resonant circuit. The load being supplied by the pick-up circuit is sensed, and the effective capacitance or inductance of the variable reactive component is controlled to vary the natural resonant frequency of the pick-up circuit to thereby control the power flow into the pick-up to satisfy the power required by the load.
126 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An inductively coupled power transfer pick-up comprising:
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a pick-up resonant circuit comprising a capacitive element and an inductive element adapted to receive power from a magnetic field associated with a primary conductive path to supply a load, one of the capacitive element and the inductive element comprising a controlled reactive element; a phase device configured to sense the phase of a voltage or current in the pick-up resonant circuit; a sensor configured to sense a power requirement of the load; and a controller configured to selectively tune or de-tune the pick-up resonant circuit in response to the load power requirement sensed by the sensor by selectively electrically connecting or disconnecting the controlled reactive element to or from the pick-up resonant circuit in each cycle of the voltage or current dependent on the sensed phase to vary the effective capacitance or inductance of the controlled reactive element of the pick-up resonant circuit to control the transfer of power to the pick-up resonant circuit dependant on the sensed load power requirement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An inductively coupled power transfer system comprising:
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a power supply comprising a resonant converter to provide alternating current to a primary conductive path of the inductively coupled power transfer system; one or more inductively coupled power transfer system pick-up devices, each of said pick-up devices comprising a pick-up resonant circuit comprising; a capacitive element; and an inductive element adapted to receive power from a magnetic field associated with a primary conductive path to supply a load; a phase device configured to sense the phase of a voltage or current in the pick-up resonant circuit; a sensor configured to sense a power requirement of the load; and a controller configured to selectively tune or de-tune the pick-up resonant circuit in response to the load power requirement sensed by the sensor by selectively electrically connecting or disconnecting the controlled reactive element to or from the pick-up resonant circuit in each cycle of the voltage or current dependent on the sensed phase to vary the effective capacitance or inductance of the controlled reactive element of the pick-up resonant circuit to control the transfer of power to the pick-up resonant circuit dependant on the sensed load power requirement. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for controlling power drawn by an inductively coupled power transfer pick-up, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing the phase of a voltage or current in a pick-up resonant circuit; sensing a power requirement of a load supplied by the pick-up resonant circuit; and selectively tuning or detuning the pick-up resonant circuit in response to the power requirement sensed by the sensor by selectively electrically connecting or disconnecting the controlled reactive element to or from the pick-up resonant circuit in each cycle of the voltage or current dependent on the sensed phase to vary the effective capacitance or inductance of a controlled reactive element of the pick-up resonant circuit to thereby control the transfer of power to the pick-up resonant circuit dependant on the sensed load power requirement. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification