Inductive power supply system with battery type detection

• US 8,847,546 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W., Norconk, Matthew J., Nguyen, Hai D., Schwannecke, Joshua K., Zylstra, Brad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VINH P
• Application Number:
  US13/364,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20120133324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

An inductive power supply system to wirelessly charge a remote device based on detected battery characteristics. The system includes an inductive power supply with a primary coil capable of inductively providing power to a secondary coil in a remote device. The inductive power supply and remote device include communication means for wirelessly communicating. The system further includes a remote device, having a battery with detectable battery characteristics. In operation, the remote device is capable of detecting the battery characteristics by applying a qualification charge to the battery. The inductive power supply system is capable of identifying the battery installed in the remote device by analyzing the detected battery characteristics. The inductive power supply system selects an appropriate charging algorithm based on the analyzed characteristics.

Claims

1. An inductive power supply system capable of charging a battery comprising:

an inductive power supply including a primary circuit and a primary for wirelessly transferring power;

a remote device separable from said inductive power supply, said remote device including a secondary for wirelessly receiving power from said inductive power supply and a secondary circuit that includes a battery characteristic detection system for detecting a characteristic of said battery indicative of said battery type, said characteristic of said battery including at least one of a battery voltage characteristic, a battery current characteristic, and a battery temperature characteristic;

a memory located in said remote device, said memory including a plurality of battery charging algorithms;

a controller adapted to communicate with said memory, said controller located in said remote device, wherein said controller is programmed to select a battery charging algorithm from said plurality of battery charging algorithms in said memory based at least in part on said detected battery characteristic indicative of said battery type; and

a communication system for wireless communication between said remote device and said inductive power supply, said communication system including;

a remote device communication system for wirelessly communicating with said inductive power supply including at least one of a signal resistor for communicating using said secondary and a wireless transmitter; and

an inductive power supply communication system for wirelessly communicating with said remote device including at least one of a current sensor for communicating using said primary and a wireless receiver.

2. The inductive power supply system of claim 1 wherein said battery is replaceable with a different battery having a different battery type.

3. The inductive power supply system of claim 2 wherein said controller selects a different battery charging algorithm for said different battery based at least in part on said battery characteristic detection system detecting a characteristic of said different battery indicative of a different battery type.

4. The inductive power supply system of claim 1 wherein said memory includes a plurality of battery types, wherein each of said battery types is associated with one or more battery charging algorithms.

5. The inductive power supply system of claim 1 wherein said remote device selects said battery charging algorithm based at least in part on at least one of 1) said detected battery characteristic;

and

     2) a determined battery type, said determined battery type determined by said controller based at least in part on said detected battery characteristic.

6. The inductive power supply system of claim 1 wherein said characteristic of said battery further includes at least one of battery chemistry, battery cells, battery capacity, battery size, battery shape, charge rate, charge curve battery terminal layouts, cycles, and span of cycles.

7. The inductive power supply system of claim 1 wherein said controller is programmed to control operation of a battery disconnect in order to control power to said battery.

8. The inductive power supply system of claim 7 wherein said controller is programmed to control power to said battery in order to charge said battery according to said selected battery charging algorithm.

9. The inductive power supply system of claim 1 wherein said battery charging algorithm includes a wireless charging algorithm.

10. A remote device separable from an inductive power supply and capable of having a battery with a battery type, said remote device comprising:

a secondary for wirelessly receiving power from said inductive power supply;

a battery characteristic detection system for detecting a characteristic of said battery indicative of said battery type of said battery, said characteristic of said battery including at least one of a battery voltage characteristic, a battery current characteristic, and a battery temperature characteristic;

a controller adapted to communicate with a memory including a plurality of battery charging algorithms, said controller programmed to at least one of;

1) select a battery charging algorithm from said plurality of battery charging algorithms in said memory based at least in part on said detected battery characteristic indicative of said battery type detected by said battery characteristic detection system;

2) control charging of said battery according to said selected battery charging algorithm; and

wherein said controller is programmed to select said battery charging algorithm from said plurality of battery algorithms based on a comparison between said detected battery characteristic and a threshold.

11. The remote device of claim 10 wherein said battery is replaceable with a different battery having a different battery type.

12. The remote device of claim 11 wherein said controller selects a different battery charging algorithm for said different battery based at least in part on said battery characteristic detection system detecting a characteristic of said different battery indicative of a different battery type.

13. The remote device of claim 10 wherein said memory includes a plurality of battery types, wherein each of said battery types is associated with one or more battery charging algorithms.

14. The remote device of claim 10 further comprising a communication system for wirelessly communicating with said inductive power supply, wherein said communication system communicates, to said inductive power supply, information dictating the supply of wireless power to said remote device.

15. The remote device of claim 14 wherein said information includes instructions to change at least one of the amount of power being provided, an operating frequency, and a resonant frequency of the inductive power supply.

16. The remote device of claim 14 wherein said communication system for wirelessly communicating with said inductive power supply includes at least one of a signal resistor for communicating using said secondary and a wireless transmitter.

17. The remote device of claim 10 wherein said characteristic of said battery further includes at least one of battery chemistry, battery cells, battery capacity, battery size, battery shape, charge rate, charge curve battery terminal layouts, cycles, and span of cycles.

18. The remote device of claim 10 wherein in response to said detected battery characteristic being greater than said first threshold, said controller selects a battery charging algorithm for a lithium ion battery.

19. The remote device of claim 10 wherein based on said detected battery characteristic being between said first threshold and a second threshold, said controller selects a battery charging algorithm for a nickel metal hydride battery.

20. The remote device of claim 10 wherein based on said detected battery characteristic being less than said first threshold, said controller determines that said battery is non-chargeable.

21. The remote device of claim 10 wherein said first threshold is based on a number of cells present in said battery.

22. The remote device of claim 10 wherein said controller is programmed to supply a qualification charge to said battery, wherein said detected battery characteristic changes in response to said qualification charge, and wherein said controller selects said battery charging algorithm from said plurality of battery charging algorithms based on said change in said detected battery characteristic.

23. The remote device of claim 10 wherein said controller is programmed to control operation of a battery disconnect in order to control power to said battery.

24. The remote device of claim 23 wherein said controller is programmed to control power to said battery in order to charge said battery according to said selected battery charging algorithm.

25. The remote device of claim 10 wherein said battery charging algorithm includes a wireless charging algorithm.

26. A method for operating a remote device adapted to function with a plurality of different types of batteries, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving wireless power from an inductive power supply;

detecting a characteristic of a battery installed in said remote device, wherein said characteristic of said battery is indicative of a battery type, said characteristic of said battery including at least one of a battery voltage characteristic, a battery current characteristic, and a battery temperature characteristic;

selecting a battery charging algorithm based at least in part on said detected battery characteristic indicative of said battery type, wherein said selecting said battery charging algorithm includes comparing said detected battery characteristic to a first threshold; and

charging said battery according to said selected battery charging algorithm.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said characteristic of said battery further includes at least one of battery chemistry, battery cells, battery capacity, battery size, battery shape, charge rate, charge curve, battery terminal layouts, cycles, and span of cycles.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein in response to said detected battery characteristic being greater than said first threshold, selecting a battery charging algorithm for a lithium ion battery.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein in response to said detected battery characteristic being between said first threshold and a second threshold, selecting a battery charging algorithm for a nickel metal hydride battery.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein in response to said detected battery characteristic being less than said first threshold, determining that said battery is non-chargeable.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein said first threshold is based on a number of cells present in said battery.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising supplying a qualification charge to said battery, wherein said detected battery characteristic changes in response to said qualification charge, and wherein said selecting said battery charging algorithm from said plurality of battery charging algorithms is based on said change in said detected battery characteristic.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising operating a battery disconnect to control power to said battery.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said charging includes controlling power to said battery according to said selected battery charging algorithm.