Wireless power transmission via inductive coupling using di/dt as the magnetic modulation scheme

• US 9,762,089 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oceaneering International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Oceaneering International Incorporated
• Inventors: Boyle, Greg Robert, Robertson, William Claude, Johnigan, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASSA, ZEWDU A
• Application Number:
  US14/095,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20160226309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 375258, 375257, 375316, 375219, 375295
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2038/143 for signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/42 Circuits specially adapted for the purpose of modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of transformers, reactors, or choke coils circuits for controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P13/00; impedance networks H03H
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The disclosed couplers operate in a “near field” mode, meaning energy, whether used to transmit data or power, is transferred through magnetic induction using a ∂i/∂t circuit (meaning a change in current over a change in time), such as by using inductive transmission and receive coils in which resistors and/or other components such as diodes are placed into series and/or in parallel with the coils and used to control the shape of the pulse, e.g. its voltage and/or frequency. In embodiments, the connectors are use to couple a power source to a power receptor.

Claims

1. A non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in power transmission, comprising:

a. a first connector, comprising;

i. a first transmission path adapted to be used with a power signal;

ii. a first transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path, the first transformer comprising a first inductance;

iii. a first alternating voltage source operatively connected to the first transformer, the first alternating voltage source adapted to operate at a first non-radio frequency power transmission frequency; and

b. a second connector adapted to be disposed in close proximity to the first connector, comprising;

i. a second transmission path adapted to be used with the power signal; and

ii. a second transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path, the second transformer adapted to be inductively and cooperatively coupled to the first transformer, the second transformer comprising a second inductance substantially equal to the first inductance.

2. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in power transmission of claim 1, wherein the power signal comprises an alternating current power signal.

3. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in power transmission of claim 1, wherein the close proximity comprises a distance of no more than around one-half inch.

4. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in power transmission of claim 1, wherein the first transformer and the second transformer are further adapted to be located remotely using a coax cable.

5. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in power transmission of claim 1, wherein the second inductance comprises a turns ratio of around 1.7 of the first inductance to deliver the desired voltage on the secondary inductance.

6. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in power transmission of claim 1, further comprising:

a. a first capacitor connected in parallel with the first transformer; and

b. a second capacitor connected in parallel with the second transformer.

7. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in power transmission of claim 6, wherein the values of the first and second capacitors result in inductor-capacitor (LC) tanks tuned to an operative frequency of the power signal.

8. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in power transmission of claim 7, wherein the operative frequency of the power signal comprises a frequency of around 60 Hz.

9. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in power transmission of claim 6, wherein the values of the first and second capacitors result in inductor-capacitor (LC) tanks tuned to a harmonic of an operative frequency of the power signal.

10. A system for electrical power transmission, comprising:

a. a source of electrical power adapted to transmit power at a first power transmission frequency;

b. a first connector operatively in communication with the source of electrical power, the first connector comprising;

i. a first low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with an electrical power signal operating at a first frequency;

ii. a first housing;

iii. a first transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path at the low impedance and disposed at least partially within the housing, the first transformer comprising a first inductance;

iv. a first tank circuit operatively connected to the first transformer and disposed at least partially within the first housing, the tank circuit comprising a capacitor connected in parallel with the first transformer;

v. a first alternating voltage source operatively connected to the first transformer and disposed at least partially within the first housing; and

c. a second connector separate from the first connector, the second connector comprising;

i. a second low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with the electrical power signal operating at a frequency substantially the same as the first frequency;

ii. a second housing adapted to cooperatively receive the first connector at a first coupled separation distance in close proximity to the first connector in a predetermined environment;

iii. a second transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path at a low impedance and disposed at least partially within the second housing, the second transformer adapted to be inductively and cooperatively coupled to the first transformer, the second transformer comprising a second inductance; and

iv. a second tank circuit operatively connected to the second transformer and disposed at least partially within the second housing, the tank circuit comprising a capacitor connected in parallel with the second transformer.

11. The system for electrical power transmission of claim 10, wherein predetermined environment comprises at least one of air, fresh water, seawater, dark water, sand, mud, grit, oil, or vacuum.

12. The system for electrical power transmission of claim 10, wherein the coupled separation distance is at or less than around one-half inch.

13. An electrical power connector system for use subsea, comprising:

a. a selectively retrievable module, comprising;

i. a first housing adapted for use subsea; and

ii. a first connector disposed at least partially within the first housing, the first connector comprising;

1. a first low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with an electrical power signal operating at a first frequency;

2. a first housing;

3. a first transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path at the low impedance and disposed at least partially within the housing, the first transformer comprising a first inductance;

4. a first tank circuit operatively connected to the first transformer and disposed at least partially within the first housing, the tank circuit comprising a first capacitor connected in parallel with the first transformer;

5. a first alternating voltage source operatively connected to the first transformer and disposed at least partially within the first housing; and

b. a module receiver adapted for use subsea, comprising;

i. a second housing adapted for use subsea and dimensioned to cooperatively receive the first housing; and

ii. a second connector adapted to be in close proximity to the first connector when the first housing is received into the second housing, the second connector comprising;

1. a second low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with the electrical power signal operating at a frequency substantially equal to the first frequency;

2. a second housing adapted to cooperatively receive the first connector at a first coupled separation distance in close proximity to the first connector in a predetermined environment;

3. a second transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path at a low impedance and disposed at least partially within the second housing, the second transformer adapted to be inductively and cooperatively coupled to the first transformer, the second transformer comprising a second inductance; and

4. a second tank circuit operatively connected to the second transformer and disposed at least partially within the second housing, the tank circuit comprising a second capacitor connected in parallel with the second transformer.

14. A method of electrical power transmission, comprising:

a. operatively connecting a first connector to a source of electrical power, the first connector comprising;

i. a first low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with an electrical power signal operating at a first frequency;

ii. a first transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path at the low impedance, the first transformer comprising a first inductance;

iii. a first tank circuit operatively connected to the first transformer and disposed at least partially within the first housing, the tank circuit comprising a capacitor connected in parallel with the first transformer; and

iv. a first alternating voltage source operatively connected to the first transformer;

b. coupling the first connector to a separate second connector at a separation distance in a predetermined environment, the second connector adapted to cooperatively receive the first connector in close proximity to the second connector, the separation distance defining a near field communication distance where a magnetic field present at the first transformer is at a first predetermined strength and an electrostatic field present at the first transformer is at a second predetermined strength, the second connector comprising;

i. a second low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with the electrical power signal operating at a frequency substantially the same as the first frequency;

ii. a second housing adapted to cooperatively receive the first connector at a first coupled separation distance in close proximity to the first connector in a predetermined environment;

iii. a second transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path at a low impedance and disposed at least partially within the second housing, the second transformer adapted to be inductively and cooperatively coupled to the first transformer, the second transformer comprising a second inductance;

iv. a second tank circuit operatively connected to the second transformer and disposed at least partially within the second housing, the tank circuit comprising a capacitor connected in parallel with the second transformer; and

c. sending electrical power from the source of electrical power through the first transformer and second transformer.

15. The method of electrical power transmission of claim 14, wherein the separation distance comprises a distance of no more than around one-half inch.

16. The method of electrical power transmission of claim 14, wherein the first predetermined strength comprises a predetermined maximum achievable magnetic field strength.

17. The method of electrical power transmission of claim 14, wherein the second predetermined strength comprises a predetermined minimum achievable electrostatic field strength.

18. The method of electrical power transmission of claim 14, wherein the power is passed between the first transformer and the second transformer using Faraday'"'"'s Law of induction using a magnetic field.

19. The method of electrical power transmission of claim 14, further comprising choosing the values of the first capacitor and the second capacitor so that the resulting inductor-capacitor (LC) tanks are tuned to the first frequency.

20. The method of electrical power transmission of claim 14, further comprising choosing the values of the first capacitor and the second capacitor so that the resulting inductor-capacitor (LC) tanks are tuned to a harmonic of the first frequency.