Inductive power supply with device identification

• US 9,318,912 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• 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., Mollema, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US13/323,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20120104868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

An inductive power supply system to identify remote devices using unique identification frequencies. The system can inductively provide power to a remote device at different frequencies, and can sense reflected impedance of the remote device. The system further includes a plurality of different remote devices, each having a unique resonance frequency. In operation, the AIPS is capable of identifying the type of remote device present in the inductive field by applying power to a remote device at a plurality of unique identification frequencies until the remote device establishes resonance in response to one of the identification frequencies. The AIPS can recognize when resonance has been established by evaluating sensor data, which is representative of the reflected impedance of the remote device. The AIPS may pull operating parameters for the remove device from memory to ensure efficient operation and to assist in recognizing fault conditions.

Claims

1. A remote device for receiving wireless power from an inductive power supply, said remote device comprising:

a secondary circuit with a secondary for receiving operating wireless power from the inductive power supply for the remote device at one or more resonant power transfer frequencies;

resonant frequency signature circuitry including an identification capacitance in parallel to the secondary coil selected to provide the remote device with a predetermined resonant frequency signature including one or more resonant identification frequencies different from the one or more resonant power transfer frequencies, wherein the resonant frequency signature identifies at least one of the remote device, a type of the remote device, a class of the remote device, and a manufacturer of the remote device; and

whereby the resonant frequency signature allows the remote device to be identified.

2. The remote device of claim 1 including charging circuitry for charging a battery in the remote device with the operating wireless power.

3. The remote device of claim 1 including power conditioning circuitry for directly powering the remote device with the operating wireless power.

4. The remote device of claim 1 wherein the resonant frequency signature circuitry includes an identification capacitor connected in parallel to the secondary.

5. The remote device of claim 1 wherein the resonant frequency signature circuitry includes a plurality of identification capacitors connected in parallel to the secondary, each providing resonance at a different frequency.

6. The remote device of claim 1 including a load enable delay circuit for delaying power for a period of time sufficient for the resonant frequency signature circuitry to establish resonance and for the resonance to be conveyed to the inductive power supply through reflected impedance.

7. The remote device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined resonant frequency signature includes a predetermined resonant frequency different from an inherent resonant frequency of the remote device without the resonant frequency signature circuitry.

8. A method of manufacturing a remote device for receiving wireless power from an inductive power supply, said method comprising:

providing a secondary circuit including a secondary for receiving operating wireless power from the inductive power supply for the remote device at one or more resonant power transfer frequencies;

electrically connecting resonant frequency signature circuitry including an identification capacitance in parallel the secondary, wherein the resonance frequency circuitry is selected to provide the remote device with a predetermined resonant frequency signature including one or more resonant identification frequencies different from the one or more resonant power transfer frequencies, wherein the predetermined resonant frequency signature identifies at least one of the remote device, a type of the remote device, a class of the remote device, and a manufacturer of the remote device; and

whereby the resonant frequency signature allows the remote device to be identified.

9. The method of claim 8 including electrically connecting charging circuitry to the secondary for charging a battery in the remote device with the operating wireless power.

10. The method of claim 8 including electrically connecting power conditioning circuitry for directly powering the remote device with the operating wireless power.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein electrically connecting resonant frequency signature to the secondary includes electrically connecting an identification capacitor in parallel to the secondary.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein electrically connecting resonant frequency signature to the secondary includes electrically connecting a plurality of identification capacitors to the secondary, each providing resonance at a different frequency.

13. A remote device for receiving wireless power from an inductive power supply, said remote device comprising:

a secondary for receiving operating wireless power from the inductive power supply at one or more operating power transfer frequencies;

resonant frequency signature circuitry including an identification capacitance in parallel the secondary that provides one or more predetermined resonant identification frequencies different from the one or more resonant power transfer frequencies, wherein the resonant frequency signature circuitry provides a resonant frequency signature that identifies at least one of the remote device, a type of the remote device, a class of the remote device, and a manufacturer of the remote device; and

whereby the resonant frequency signature allows the remote device to be identified.

14. The remote device of claim 13 including charging circuitry for charging a battery in the remote device with the operating wireless power.

15. The remote device of claim 13 including power conditioning circuitry for directly powering a main circuit of the remote device with the operating wireless power.

16. The remote device of claim 13 wherein the resonant frequency signature circuitry includes an identification capacitor connected in parallel to the secondary.

17. The remote device of claim 13 wherein the resonant frequency signature circuitry includes a plurality of identification capacitors connected in parallel to the secondary, each providing resonance at a different frequency.

18. The remote device of claim 13 including a load enable delay circuit for delaying power for a period of time sufficient for the resonant frequency signature circuitry to establish resonance and for the resonance to be conveyed to the inductive power supply through reflected impedance.

19. The remote device of claim 13 wherein the resonant frequency signature includes at least one common resonant frequency and at least one unique resonant frequency.

20. The remote device of claim 13 wherein the secondary contributes to an operating resonant frequency of the remote device that is near the one or more operating power transfer frequencies.

21. A remote device for receiving wireless power from an inductive power supply, said remote device comprising:

a secondary for receiving wireless power at an operating power transfer frequency and for receiving wireless power at a predetermined identification frequency, wherein the wireless power received at the operating power transfer frequency is used as operating wireless power and the wireless power received at the predetermined identification frequency is used for identification;

resonant frequency signature circuitry including an identification capacitance in parallel to the secondary, the resonant frequency signature including one or more predetermined resonant identification frequencies different from the operating power transfer frequency, wherein the resonant frequency signature identifies at least one of the remote device, a type of the remote device, a class of the remote device, and a manufacturer of the remote device; and

wherein in response to the remote device receiving wireless power at the resonant frequency signature, resonance is established at the one or more predetermined resonant identification frequencies and conveyed through reflected impedance.

22. The remote device of claim 21 including charging circuitry for charging a battery in the remote device with the operating wireless power.

23. The remote device of claim 21 including power conditioning circuitry for directly powering a main circuit of the remote device with the operating wireless power.

24. The remote device of claim 21 wherein the resonant frequency signature circuitry includes an identification capacitor connected in parallel to the secondary.

25. The remote device of claim 21 wherein the resonant frequency signature circuitry includes a plurality of identification capacitors connected in parallel to the secondary, each providing resonance at a different frequency.

26. The remote device of claim 21 including a load enable delay circuit for delaying power for a period of time sufficient for the resonant frequency signature circuitry to establish resonance and for the resonance to be conveyed to the inductive power supply through reflected impedance.

27. The remote device of claim 21 wherein the resonant frequency signature includes at least one predetermined common resonant frequency and at least one predetermined unique resonant frequency.

28. The remote device of claim 21 wherein the secondary contributes to a system resonance frequency that is near the operating power transfer frequency.

29. The remote device of claim 21 wherein the one or more predetermined resonant identification frequencies are different from an inherent resonant frequency of the remote device without the resonant frequency signature circuitry.