System and method for device identification

• US 9,247,588 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• 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., Lord, John J., Stien, Nathan P., Bachman, Wesley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATHEW, HEMANT MATHAI
• Application Number:
  US12/048,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20080217999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,874 Days
• Field of Search: 219/620, 219/626, 219/663, 219/665, 219/506, 219/451, 219/325, 219/451.1, 219/635, 219/625, 219/627, 307/104, 320/108, 3405721-5729, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/10.31, 340/10.32, 340/10.33, 340/10.34, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 340/10.42, 340/10.5, 340/10.51, 340/10.52, 340/10.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• 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 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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: H05B 2213/06 Cook-top or cookware capable of communicating with each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/062 for cooking plates or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1236 adapted to induce current in a coil to supply power to a device and electrical heating devices powered in this way
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

An inductive power supply system includes a non-contact power supply for energizing a device. The inductive power supply system includes a communication system for enabling communication between a device and the system. The device transmits an identifier to the system. If the device does not have a transmitter, the system attempts to determine the type of device from a characterization of the power consumption by the device. If the device cannot be characterized, the inductive power supply system can be operated manually.

Claims

1. A device identification system for identifying one of a plurality of devices capable of receiving inductive power, the system comprising:

an inductive power supply including an inductive primary coil for transferring wireless power to a device having a power receiving coil configured for receiving operating wireless power, wherein said inductive power supply is capable of driving said inductive primary coil at a plurality of operating frequencies;

a processor for determining a frequency response from the power receiving coil of the device by monitoring said inductive primary coil as said inductive power supply is driven at said plurality of operating frequencies, said frequency response being a passive response from the power receiving coil of the device in the absence of active communication from the device;

a memory for storing a frequency profile that identifies the device; and

wherein said processor is configured to determine whether said frequency response from the power receiving coil of the device substantially matches said frequency profile, and wherein said processor controls said inductive power supply in response to a determination that said frequency response from the power receiving coil of the device substantially matches said frequency profile to control transfer of operating wireless power to the device.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an alignment means for retaining the device in alignment with said inductive primary coil, said alignment means including a magnet.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said frequency response includes an output voltage at each of the plurality of driven operating frequencies.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said frequency response includes monitored current values.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein in response to determining said frequency profile from the power receiving coil of the device substantially matches said frequency profile, said processor retrieves information regarding the device from a database and controls said inductive power supply based on said information.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said information includes an operating parameter.

7. A method for identification of a device capable of receiving inductive power, the method comprising:

driving an inductive primary coil of an inductive power supply to transfer operating wireless power to a device having a power receiving coil configured for receiving operating wireless power, including driving the inductive primary coil at a plurality of operating frequencies in the presence of the device;

determining a frequency response from the power receiving coil of the device by monitoring the inductive primary coil as the inductive power supply is driven at the plurality of operating frequencies, the frequency response being a passive response from the power receiving coil of the device in the absence of active communication from the device;

storing a frequency profile that identifies the device; and

determining whether the frequency response of the device substantially matches the frequency profile; and

controlling the inductive power supply in response to a determination that the frequency response from the power receiving coil of the device matches the frequency profile to control the transfer of operating wireless power to the device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising retaining the device in alignment with the inductive primary coil using a magnet.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the frequency response includes an output voltage at each of the driven operating frequencies.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the frequency response includes current values.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein in response to determining the frequency profile of the device substantially matches the frequency profile:

retrieving information regarding the device from a database; and

controlling the inductive power supply based on the information.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the information includes an operating parameter.

13. A device identification system for identifying a device capable of receiving inductive power, the system comprising:

an inductive power supply including an inductive primary coil for transferring wireless power to a device having a power receiving coil configured for receiving operating wireless power, wherein said inductive power supply is capable of driving said inductive primary coil at a plurality of operating frequencies;

a processor for determining a frequency response from the power receiving coil of the device by monitoring said inductive primary coil as said inductive power supply is driven at said plurality of operating frequencies, said frequency response being a passive response from the power receiving coil of the device in the absence of active communication from the device;

memory for storing a frequency signature that identifies the device; and

wherein said processor determines whether said frequency response from the power receiving coil of the device matches said frequency signature, and wherein said processor controls said inductive power supply in response to a determination that said frequency response from the power receiving coil of the device matches said frequency signature to control transfer of operating wireless power to the device.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a magnet for retaining the device in alignment with said inductive primary coil.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said frequency response includes voltage values.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein said frequency response includes current values.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein in response to determining said frequency response from the power receiving coil of the device substantially matches said frequency signature, said processor retrieves information regarding the device from a database and controls said inductive power supply based on the information.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said information includes an operating parameter.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein said frequency response includes a frequency trough.

20. A method of identifying a known remote device, said method comprising:

disposing a load in proximity to an inductive power supply, the inductive power supply including an inductive primary coil for transferring wireless power to the load having a power receiving coil configured for receiving operating wireless power;

applying power to the primary coil at a plurality of operating frequencies selected to enable identification of the load in proximity to the power supply;

characterizing the load by obtaining a frequency response from the power receiving coil of the load by monitoring the inductive primary coil as power is applied to the primary coil at the plurality of operating frequencies, the frequency response being a passive response from the power receiving coil of the load in the absence of active communication from the load;

determining whether the load is the known remote device based on the frequency response; and

controlling the inductive power supply to supply operating wireless power in response to said determining the load is the known remote device.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising retaining the known remote device in alignment with the inductive primary coil using a magnet.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the frequency response includes an output voltage at each of the plurality of driven operating frequencies.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the frequency response includes current values.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein in response to determining the load is the known remote device:

retrieving information regarding the known remote device from a database; and

controlling the inductive power supply based on the information.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the information includes an operating parameter.

26. A system for identifying a known remote device, said system comprising:

an inductive power supply including an inductive primary coil for transferring wireless power to a power receiving coil connected to an electrical load configured for receiving operating wireless power, wherein said inductive power supply is capable of driving said inductive primary coil at a plurality of operating frequencies selected to enable identification of the load in proximity to said inductive power supply;

a processor for characterizing the load by obtaining a frequency response of the load as said inductive primary coil is driven at said plurality of operating frequencies, the frequency response being a passive response of the load in the absence of active communication from the load;

a memory for storing a frequency signature associated with the known remote device; and

wherein the processor determines whether the load is the known remote device based on a comparison between said frequency response and said frequency signature.

27. The system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said processor determines whether said load is the known device based on said frequency response of the load substantially matching said frequency signature of the known remote device.

28. The system as claimed in claim 27 wherein in response to determining said frequency response of the load substantially matches said frequency signature, said processor retrieves information regarding the known remote device from a database and controls said inductive power supply based on said information.

29. The system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said information includes an operating parameter.

30. The system as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a magnet for retaining the known remote device in alignment with said inductive primary coil.

31. The system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said frequency response includes voltage values.

32. The system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said frequency response includes current values.