Adaptive inductive power supply with communication

• US 9,368,976 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ BORROTO, ALFONSO
• Application Number:
  US14/471,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20140368054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 307/149, 307/151, 340/10.4, 455/41.1, 455571-573, 455/127.1, 363/16, 363/24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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: H02M 3/015 with means for adaptation of resonance frequency, e.g. by modification of capacitance or inductance of resonance circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/001 : Current supply source at the exchanger providing current to substations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 : Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/25 : Circuit arrangements for protecting against overcurrent
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 : Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 : the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.

Claims

1. A contactless power supply for inductively providing power to a plurality of remote devices, said contactless power supply comprising:

a resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to the plurality of remote devices by an inductive coupling, said resonant circuit having a variable resonant frequency;

an inverter coupled to said resonant circuit, said inverter configured to drive said resonant circuit at a frequency of operation such that power is transferred inductively from said primary to one or more of the plurality of remote devices; and

a contactless power supply controller coupled to said resonant circuit and said inverter, said contactless power supply controller configured to determine a resonant frequency setting for said resonant circuit to transfer power to the plurality of remote devices.

2. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said contactless power supply controller is configured to adjust said variable resonant frequency of said resonant circuit based on at least one of addition, removal, and status change of one or more of the plurality of remote devices.

3. The contactless power supply of claim 1 further comprising a sensor coupled to said resonant circuit, said sensor configured to monitor an operating parameter of said resonant circuit, and wherein said contactless power supply controller is programmed to determine said resonant frequency setting for said resonant circuit based on an output of said sensor indicative of said operating parameter.

4. The contactless power supply of claim 1 further comprising a communication receiver for receiving information wirelessly from the plurality of remote devices, and wherein said contactless power supply controller is programmed to use said information as a basis for determining said resonant frequency setting for said resonant circuit.

5. The contactless power supply of claim 4 wherein said information received from the plurality of remote devices is indicative of a power requirement associated with each of the plurality of remote devices.

6. The contactless power supply of claim 1 further comprising a power supply having a rail voltage, said power supply configured to supply power at said rail voltage to said inverter.

7. The contactless power supply of claim 6 wherein said contactless power supply controller is configured to adjust at least one of said frequency of operation and said rail voltage.

8. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said contactless power supply controller is configured to continually adapt to changes in said inductive coupling with said primary.

9. The contactless power supply of claim 8 wherein said resonant circuit includes at least one variable impedance element, and wherein said contactless power supply controller is configured to adjust said resonant frequency of said resonant circuit by changing an impedance of said variable impedance element.

10. The contactless power supply of claim 9 wherein said at least one variable impedance element includes a variable capacitance element and a variable inductance element.

11. A method of operating a contactless power supply for transferring power wirelessly to a plurality of remote devices, said method comprising:

determining a resonant frequency setting for a resonant circuit to transfer power wirelessly to the plurality of remote devices;

varying a variable impedance element of the resonant circuit to adjust a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit such that the resonant frequency substantially corresponds to the resonant frequency setting; and

powering the resonant circuit to transmit power wirelessly to the plurality of remote devices.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining at least one of addition, removal, and status change of one or more of the plurality of remote devices, and varying the variable impedance element based on at least one of the determined addition, the determined removal, and the determined status change of the one or more of the plurality of remote devices.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising sensing a characteristic of operation of the resonant circuit, and determining the resonant frequency setting based on the sensed characteristic of operation.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving wirelessly communicated information from the plurality of remote devices, and determining the resonant frequency setting based on the wirelessly communicated information.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the wirelessly communicated information is indicative of a power requirement associated with each of the plurality of remote devices.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising dynamically adapting transmission of power by repeating the steps of said determining the resonant frequency setting and said varying the variable impedance element.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the variable impedance element is at least one of a variable capacitance element and a variable inductance element.

18. A contactless power supply for inductively providing power to a plurality of remote devices, said contactless power supply comprising:

a resonant circuit having at least one of a variable capacitor with a variable capacitance and a variable inductor with a variable inductance, said resonant circuit having a variable resonant frequency that varies based on changes in at least one of said variable inductance and said variable capacitance, said resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power wirelessly to the plurality of remote devices;

an inverter coupled to said resonant circuit, said inverter configured to drive said resonant circuit at a frequency of operation such that power is transferred inductively from said primary to one or more of the plurality of remote devices; and

a wireless power supply controller coupled said inverter, wherein said wireless power supply controller is programmed to vary said variable resonant frequency of said resonant circuit by at least one of (i) varying said capacitance of said variable capacitor of said resonant circuit; and

(ii) varying said variable inductance of said variable inductor of said resonant circuit.

19. The contactless power supply of claim 18 further comprising a power supply having a rail voltage, said power supply configured to supply power at said rail voltage to said inverter, wherein said inverter is operated according to a duty cycle to drive said resonant circuit at said frequency of operation, and wherein said wireless power supply controller is programmed to vary at least one of said frequency of operation, said duty cycle, and said rail voltage.

20. The contactless power supply of claim 18 further comprising a communication receiver for receiving information wirelessly from the plurality of remote devices, and wherein said wireless power supply controller is programmed to use said information as a basis for determining a resonant frequency setting for said variable resonant frequency.