Methods and apparatus for regulating a magnetic flux in an inductive power supply

An inductive power supply, comprising:

• a magnetic core that facilitates coupling to a conductor that conducts an alternating current;
• a winding wrapped around a cavity of the magnetic core;
• a storage device;
• one or more switches coupled to the winding and the storage device;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
• determining a characteristic of the alternating current by measuring a voltage across a resistive load of the winding;
• and
• selectively configuring, according to the characteristic of the alternating current, the one or more switches to generate an alternating voltage periodic waveform that is supplied to the winding to regulate an alternating magnetic flux in the magnetic core, wherein, during a first period of the alternating voltage periodic waveform, the alternating magnetic flux varies, as a function of time, in accordance with a first pattern of variations.

A system, comprising:

• a waveguide system coupled to a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium facilitates a transmission of electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;
• and
• an inductive power supply that facilitates supplying power to the waveguide system, wherein the inductive power supply comprises:
• a magnetic core coupled to the transmission medium;
• a winding wrapped around a cavity of the magnetic core;
• a storage device that facilitates storing electrical energy;
• one or more switches coupled to the winding and the storage device;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
• measuring, via the winding, a characteristic of an alternating current flowing through the transmission medium;
• and
• selectively configuring, according to the characteristic of the alternating current, the one or more switches to generate an alternating voltage periodic waveform that is supplied to the winding to regulate an alternating magnetic flux in the magnetic core, wherein, during a first period of the alternating voltage periodic waveform, the alternating magnetic flux varies, as a function of time, in accordance with a first pattern of variations.