Inductive power transfer coupler array

An inductive power transfer coupler system, comprising:

• at least two coupler modules connected in parallel to a common power source, each coupler module comprising a resonant circuit including at least one transmitter coil and a capacitive element,
• wherein the resonant circuit is connected to terminals of the power source in a push-pull configuration or in a half-bridge configuration by at least two switching elements connected across the resonant circuit,
• wherein each coupler module is linked with at least one other coupler module at a shared at least one switching element;
• a control module configured to selectively control the operation of each of the coupler modules between an active state in which the respective transmitter coil is energised, and a passive state in which the respective transmitter coil is not energised,
• wherein the control module is configured to effect control between the active state and the passive state by controlling a phase angle of the corresponding switching elements connected across the respective resonant circuit.

An inductive power transfer coupler array, comprising

• at least two coupler modules connected in parallel to a common power source, each coupler module comprising a resonant circuit including at least one transmitter coil and a capacitive element,
• wherein a first and a second pair of switching elements are connected across the resonant circuit to terminals of the power source in a half-bridge configuration,
• wherein each coupler module is linked with at least one other coupler module at a shared pair of switching elements, each shared pair of switching elements including one switching element of the respective first and second pairs of switching elements;
• a control module configured to selectively control the operation of each of the coupler modules between an active state in which the respective transmitter coil is energised, and a passive state in which the respective transmitter coil is not energised,
• wherein the control module is configured to effect control between the active state and the passive state by controlling a phase angle of the corresponding first and second pairs of switching elements.