Coupled inductor power transfer system

• US 9,444,517 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triune Systems, LLC (Semtech Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Triune Systems, LLC (Semtech Corporation)
• Inventors: Teggatz, Ross, Chen, Wayne, Atrash, Amer
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHILLON, JAGDEEP S
• Application Number:
  US13/309,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 307/140, 307/80, 307/82, 320/137, 320/108, 330/310, 706/412, 706/67
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials

Abstract

Coupled inductor systems are disclosed in which transmitter and receiver inductors, or coils, are coupled in a configuration for wirelessly transferring power and/or data among them. In preferred implementations, the systems are used for transmitting both power and data in pairs of coupled coils. Primary side circuits in preferred embodiments of the systems of the invention employ Class D or Class G amplifiers.

Claims

1. A coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer comprising:

a primary side having a driver operably coupled to a primary side inductor, the driver comprising a sine wave generator and adapted to adjust the frequency and amplitude of the driver output to tune the driver to a system resonant frequency and maximize power transfer and a plurality of half H bridge drivers coupled to the primary side inductor;

a secondary side having a secondary side inductor;

wherein the secondary side is adapted for receiving a sine wave power signal transmitted by the driver through the primary side inductor.

2. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 wherein the driver further comprises a Class G amplifier and a low drop out regulator coupled between the Class G amplifier and the primary side inductor.

3. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 wherein the driver further comprises a Class D amplifier.

4. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 wherein the driver further comprises a differential amplifier.

5. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 wherein the secondary side further comprises circuitry for providing feedback to the primary side.

6. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 further comprising feedback circuitry adapted to determine a selected frequency characteristic of the primary side and to operate the driver at the selected frequency.

7. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 further comprising feedback circuitry adapted to determine the resonant frequency of the primary side and to operate the driver at the resonant frequency.

8. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 wherein the primary side further comprises startup circuitry coupled between the sine wave generator and the primary side inductor, the startup circuitry configured to achieve a bias level prior to driving the primary side inductor.

9. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 wherein the secondary side further comprises data receiving functionality.

10. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 wherein the driver further comprises pulse width modulation data transmission functionality.

11. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 wherein the primary side is adapted to control power transfer to the secondary side by adjusting the output amplitude of the driver.

14. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 1 further comprising feedback circuitry adapted to determine the resonant frequency of the primary side and to operate the driver at the resonant frequency.

12. A coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer comprising:

a primary side having a sine wave generator operably coupled to a driver, two or more power amplifiers, each operably coupled to the sine wave generator, logic operably coupled to the power amplifiers and half H bridge drivers coupled to the logic and the primary side inductor;

the driver operably coupled to a primary side inductor;

a secondary side having a secondary side inductor;

wherein the secondary side is adapted for receiving a sine wave power signal transmitted by the driver through the primary side inductor; and

circuitry whereby feedback from the secondary side is provided to the primary side for controlling the driver to adjust the frequency and amplitude of the driver output to tune the driver to a system resonant frequency and maximize power transfer.

13. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 12 wherein the feedback circuitry s adapted to determine a selected frequency characteristic of the primary side and to operate the driver at the selected frequency.

15. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 12 wherein the driver further comprises a Class G amplifier.

16. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 12 wherein the driver further comprises a Class D amplifier.

17. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 12 wherein the driver further comprises a differential amplifier.

18. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 12 wherein the secondary side further comprises data receiving functionality.

19. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 12 wherein the driver further comprises pulse width modulation data transmission functionality.

20. A coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer comprising:

a primary side having a sine wave generator operably coupled to a Class G amplifier driver, the Class G amplifier operably coupled to a primary side inductor, logic operably coupled to the Class G amplifier, and half H bridge drivers coupled to the logic and the primary side inductor;

a secondary side having a secondary side inductor;

wherein the secondary side is adapted for receiving a sine wave power signal transmitted by the driver through the primary side inductor; and

circuitry whereby feedback from the secondary side is provided to the primary side for controlling the driver to adjust the frequency and amplitude of the driver output to tune the driver to a system resonant frequency and maximize power transfer.

22. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 20 wherein the feedback circuitry is adapted to determine a selected frequency characteristic of the primary side and to operate the driver at the selected frequency.

21. A coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer comprising:

a primary side having a sine wave generator operably coupled to a Class D driver, the Class D amplifier operably coupled to a primary side inductor, logic operably coupled to the Class D amplifier, and half H bridge drivers coupled to the logic and the primary side inductor;

a secondary side having a secondary side inductor;

wherein the secondary side is adapted for receiving a sine wave power signal transmitted by the driver through the primary side inductor; and

circuitry whereby feedback from the secondary side is provided to the primary side for controlling the driver to adjust the frequency and amplitude of the driver output to tune the driver to a system resonant frequency and maximize power transfer.

23. The coupled inductor system for wireless power transfer according to claim 21 wherein the feedback circuitry is adapted to determine a selected frequency characteristic of the primary side and to operate the driver at the selected frequency.