Adaptive inductive power supply
AssigneeAccess Business Group International LLC
InventorDavid W. Baarman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A contactless power supply has a dynamically configurable tank circuit powered by an inverter. The contactless power supply is inductively coupled to one or more loads. The inverter is connected to a DC power source. When loads are added or removed from the system, the contactless power supply is capable of modifying the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the inverter frequency, the inverter duty cycle or the rail voltage of the DC power source.
Claims20
A method for controlling operation of an inductive power supply system, comprising the steps of:
- establishing an inductive coupling between an inductive power supply and a remote device, the inductive power supply having a controller;
- dynamically adjusting a resonant frequency of the inductive power supply, when the remote device is inductively coupled with the inductive power supply, to achieve an optimal operating configuration for the inductive power supply, wherein the controller is configured to control dynamic adjustments in the resonant frequency.
An inductive power supply for supplying power to a remote device that can be placed in proximity to the inductive power supply to wirelessly receive power from the inductive power supply comprising:
- a primary circuit for wirelessly transferring power to the remote device by an inductive coupling, said primary circuit having a resonant frequency;
- an inverter for applying power to said primary circuit, said inverter applying power to said primary circuit at an operating frequency and a duty cycle;
- a DC power source coupled to said inverter to supply DC power to said inverter, said DC power source having a rail voltage;
- a drive circuit coupled to said inverter, said drive circuit for driving said primary circuit at said operating frequency and said duty cycle;
- and
- a controller configured to dynamically vary said resonant frequency of said primary circuit to achieve an optimal operating configuration for the inductive power supply.
An inductive power supply for supplying power to a remote device that can be placed in proximity to the inductive power supply to wirelessly receive power from the inductive power supply comprising:
- a primary circuit for wirelessly transferring power to the remote device by an inductive coupling, said primary circuit having a resonant frequency;
- a plurality of impedance components and a variable impedance switching system;
- an inverter for applying power to said primary circuit, said inverter applying power to said primary circuit at an operating frequency and a duty cycle;
- a DC power source coupled to said inverter to supply DC power to said inverter, said DC power source having a rail voltage;
- a drive circuit coupled to said inverter, said drive circuit for driving said primary circuit at said operating frequency and said duty cycle;
- and
- a controller configured to dynamically vary said resonant frequency of said primary circuit to achieve an optimal operating configuration for the inductive power supply by controlling said variable impedance switching system to switch said plurality of impedance components in and out of said primary circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.