Inductive power supply with device identification

A method for operating an inductive power supply comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of identification profiles and at least one operating parameter associated with each identification profile in a memory associated with an inductive power supply;
• applying inductive power to a remote device at one or more frequencies to determine the identification profile of the remote device contained within the inductive field;
• comparing the determined profile with the stored identification profiles to determine an identity of the remote device;
• retrieving an operating parameter from the memory upon determination of the identity of the remote device;
• and
• operating the inductive power supply in accordance with the retrieved operating parameter.

A method for securely controlling an inductive power supply, comprising the steps of:

• determining a common identification profile for remote devices to be powered by the inductive power supply, the common identification profile including one or more resonant frequencies;
• providing each remote device to be powered by the inductive power supply with the common identification profile;
• applying an inductive field to a remote device at the one or more resonant frequencies of the common identification profile;
• determining whether said remote device has a resonant frequency profile corresponding with the common identification profile;
• and
• operating the inductive power supply to power the remote device if the remote device has a resonant frequency profile corresponding with the common identification profile.

An inductive power supply comprising:

• inductive field generating circuitry;
• frequency control circuitry electrically connected to said inductive field generating circuitry, said control circuitry capable of operating said inductive field generating circuitry at a plurality of different frequencies;
• reflected impedance sensing circuitry to sense a characteristic of power in the inductive power supply, said characteristic being indicative of a reflected impedance of a remote device;
• identification circuitry to determine an identification profile of a remote device as a function of output of said reflected impedance sensing circuitry;
• and
• power supply control circuitry for supplying power to the remote device as a function of the identification profile of the remote device.

An inductive power supply and remote device combination comprising:

• a remote device having an identification profile, said identification profile including one or more resonant frequencies;
• and
• an inductive power supply having:
• a driver;
• a tank circuit having a primary;
• a sensor in said tank circuit adapted to sense a characteristic of power in said tank circuit indicative of a reflected impedance of said remote device;
• identification circuitry to determine said identification profile of said remote device as a function of output of said sensor;
• and
• control circuitry for controlling operation of said inductive power supply as a function of said identification profile of said remote device.