Adjustable inductive power transmission platform

• US 8,766,488 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• 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, Greenwald, Oola, Leibovitz, Alfred, Rofe, Arik
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US13/886,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/402 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 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An adjustable inductive power transmission platform includes inductive power outlets embedded into adjustable modules having multiple configurations. The inductive power outlets are configured to couple with inductive power receivers to provide power to electrical loads wired thereto. The multiple configurations of the adjustable modules allow the position of the inductive power outlets to be adjusted to match the locations of inductive receivers to suit changing requirements.

Claims

1. An energy management system for managing the power drawn by a power module from a power source, said power module comprising a plurality of inductive power outlets, each said inductive power outlet comprising at least one driver and at least one primary inductor, wherein said energy management system comprises:

at least one power monitor operable to monitor the power drawn by said power module and to produce a power signal, said power signal comprising information relating to the power drawn by the power module;

at least one load detector operable to detect the presence of at least one electric load inductively coupled to said at least one primary inductor and further operable to produce a detection signal upon detection of said at least one electric load;

at least one controller operable to receive said power signal and said detection signal, select said at least one inductive power outlet and to control power delivered to said at least one inductive power outlet by;

sending an activation signal to the driver associated with selected inductive power outlet such that said driver drives the associated primary inductor, and

sending a deactivation signal to the driver associated with selected inductive power outlet such that said driver stops driving the associated primary inductor said energy management system additionally comprising;

at least one energy reservoir; and

a reservoir monitor, the reservoir monitor being operable to monitor the level of energy stored in said at least one energy reservoir and to produce a reservoir signal comprising information relating to the energy level of each of said at least one energy reservoir,

wherein the controller is operable to selectively couple the energy reservoir to the power source based on the energy reservoir power level provided by reservoir signal, and

wherein said electric load further comprises a transmitter operable to provide data regarding the power level transmitted from the incorporated energy reservoir to the reservoir monitor.

2. The energy management system of claim 1, said controller being configured to sequentially connect a plurality of said primary inductors to said power source.

3. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein said energy reservoir is selected from at least one of the group comprising a voltaic cell, a capacitor, a fuel cell, a supercapacitor, a flow battery and a superconducting magnetic energy store.

4. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein said at least one energy reservoir is incorporated within the power module and is connectable to said power source and connectable to at least one of said plurality of primary inductors.

5. The energy management system of claim 4, wherein the power module comprises at least one energy reservoir, said at least one energy reservoir being connectable to the power source and connectable to all of said plurality of primary inductors.

6. The energy management system of claim 4, wherein the power module comprises a plurality of said energy reservoirs, each energy reservoir being connectable to one of said plurality of primary inductors.

7. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein said each of said one or more energy reservoirs is incorporated within each of one or more of said electric load.

8. The energy management system of claim 7, the electric load being a computer and the energy reservoir being one or more onboard rechargeable power cells.

9. A method for managing the power drawn by a power module from a power source, said power module comprising at least one power monitor, at least one load detector, at least one controller, and a plurality of inductive power outlets, each said inductive power outlet comprising at least one driver and at least one primary inductor, said method comprising:

the at least one power monitor monitoring the power drawn by said power module and producing a power signal, said power signal comprising information relating to the power delivered to the power module;

the at least one load detector detecting at least one electric load inductively coupled with said at least one primary inductor and producing a detection signal thereupon;

the at least one controller receiving the power signal and the detection signal;

the at least one controller selecting said at least one inductive power outlet to control power delivered to said at least one inductive power outlet by;

the at least one controller sending an activation signal to the at least one driver associated with selected inductive power outlet such that said at least one driver drives the associated primary inductor;

the at least one controller determining a duty cycle for connecting the selected inductive power outlet;

the at least one controller connecting the selected inductive power outlet to the power source according to said duty cycle; and

the at least one controller sending a deactivation signal to the at least one driver associated with selected inductive power outlet such that said at least one driver stops driving the associated primary inductor;

providing at least one energy reservoir;

providing a reservoir monitor;

the reservoir monitor monitoring the level of energy stored in said at least one energy reservoir and producing a reservoir signal comprising information relating to the energy level of each of said one or more energy reservoirs;

the controller receiving said reservoir signal and selectively coupling the at least one energy reservoir to the power source based on the information provided by the reservoir signal;

providing a transmitter incorporated in the at least one electric load; and

the transmitter transmitting data regarding the power level of the incorporated energy reservoir to the reservoir monitor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one inductive power outlet is activated, and said duty cycle connects selected inductive power outlet to the power source individually and sequentially.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one energy reservoir is incorporated within the power module and is connectable to said power source and connectable to at least one of said plurality of primary inductors.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising the additional step:

connecting said at least one energy reservoir to at least one activated inductive power outlet when said activated inductive power outlet is disconnected from said power source.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the power module comprises one energy reservoir, said energy reservoir being connectable to the power source and connectable to said at least one inductive power outlet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the power module comprises a plurality of said energy reservoirs, each energy reservoir being connectable to one of said plurality of primary inductors.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said each of said one or more energy reservoirs is incorporated within each of said at least one electric load.

16. The method of claim 15, the electric load being a computer and the energy reservoir being one or more onboard rechargeable power cells.