Inductive power transfer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11631995-B2
Application number	US-202117522408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2021
Priority date	Mar 7, 2019
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

One embodiment provides a non-contact power transmitter device including a sealed housing provided at least partially within a surface, and a transmitter coil within the sealed housing configured to inductively transfer power to a power receiver device. The power transmitter device also includes a transmitter control unit coupled to the transmitter coil, a transceiver configured to communicate with the power receiver device, and an electronic processor coupled to the transmitter control unit and the transceiver. The electronic processor is configured to establish, using the transceiver, communication with the power receiver device, and negotiate power transfer requirements between the power transmitter device and the power receiver device. The electronic processor is also configured to control the transmitter control unit to transfer power to the power receiver device.

First claim

We claim:

1. A non-contact power transmitter device comprising:
a structure configured to form a floor;
a sealed housing integrated into the structure and including a flat base portion;
a transmitter coil provided within the flat base portion and configured to inductively transfer power to a power receiver device, wherein the flat base portion is configured to be aligned with a flat portion of the power receiver device, wherein a receiver coil of the power receiver device is provided in the flat portion, wherein the flat base portion and the flat portion are aligned to axially align the transmitter coil and the receiver coil without an air gap between the flat base portion and the flat portion;
a transmitter control unit coupled to the transmitter coil;
a transceiver configured to communicate with the power receiver device; and
an electronic processor coupled to the transmitter control unit and the transceiver and configured to,
establish, using the transceiver, communication with the power receiver device,
negotiate power transfer requirements between the non-contact power transmitter device and the power receiver device, and
control the transmitter control unit to transfer power to the power receiver device

a raised ledge portion around the flat base portion having an opening on an inner side of the raised ledge portion,
wherein the raised ledge portion and the flat base portion are configured to receive a raised portion of the power receiver device, and wherein the receiver coil of the power receiver device is provided in the raised portion.

2. The non-contact power transmitter device of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter control unit is configured to
provide a first alternating current to the transmitter coil; and
generate, using the transmitter coil, an oscillating magnetic field, wherein the oscillating magnetic field generates a second alternating current in the receiver coil of the power receiver device.

3. The non-contact power transmitter device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first magnet provided in the flat base portion, the first magnet provided in a center of the transmitter coil; and
a second magnet provided in the raised portion, the second magnet provided in a center of the receiver coil,
wherein when the raised portion is received in the opening formed by the raised ledge portion, the first magnet is coupled to the second magnet due to a magnetic force between the first magnet and the second magnet.

4. The non-contact power transmitter device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second transmitter coil within the sealed housing configured to inductively transfer power to a second power receiver device;
wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:
establish, using the transceiver, communication with the power receiver device and the second power receiver device,
determine priority and power requirements of the power receiver device and the second power receiver device based on the communication with the power receiver device and the second power receiver device, and
control the transmitter control unit to divide power between the transmitter coil and the second transmitter coil based on the priority and power requirements.

5. The non-contact power transmitter device of claim 1 , wherein establishing communication with the power receiver device includes establishing an out-of-band communication, wherein the power transfer requirements are negotiated using the out-of-band communication.

6. The non-contact power transmitter device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:
transmit, using the transceiver, one or more selected from the group consisting of temperature, power draw, information about connected loads, and health of the non-contact power transmitter device to a gateway device.

7. The non-contact power transmitter device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:
transmit, using the transceiver, one or more selected from the group consisting of temperature, power draw, information about connected loads, and health of the non-contact power transmitter device to a user device.

8. The non-contact power transmitter device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to
determine, using a current draw sensor, a current draw of the power receiver device; and
cut-off, using a power cut-off device, power output to the power receiver device when the current draw exceeds an allotted power draw for the power receiver device.

9. A non-contact power transfer system comprising:
a power transmitter device including
a structure configured to form a floor,
a sealed housing integrated into the structure and including a flat base portion,
a raised ledge portion around the flat base portion having an opening on an inner side of the raised ledge portion,
a transmitter coil provided in the flat base portion,
a transmitter control unit coupled to the transmitter coil,
a transmitter transceiver, and
a transmitter electronic processor coupled to the transmitter control unit and the transmitter transceiver; and

an electrical appliance including a power receiver device configured to be coupled in a power transfer relationship with the power transmitter device, the power receiver device including
a second sealed housing provided at least partially within the electrical appliance and including a flat portion,
a receiver coil within the flat portion, wherein the transmitter coil is configured to inductively transfer power to the receiver coil, wherein the flat base portion and the flat portion are aligned to axially align the transmitter coil and the receiver coil without an air gap between the flat base portion and the flat portion, wherein the flat portion is provided on a projecting portion of the electrical appliance, wherein the raised ledge portion and the flat base portion are configured to receive the projecting portion of the electrical appliance,
a power conversion unit coupled to the receiver coil,
a receiver transceiver, and
a receiver electronic processor coupled to the power conversion unit and the receiver transceiver,

wherein the transmitter electronic processor is configured to
establish, using the transmitter transceiver, communication with the power receiver device,
negotiate power transfer requirements between the power transmitter device and the power receiver device, and
control the transmitter control unit to transfer power to the power receiver device.

10. The non-contact power transfer system of claim 9 , wherein the transmitter control unit is configured to
provide a first alternating current to the transmitter coil, and
generate, using the transmitter coil, an oscillating magnetic field, wherein the oscillating magnetic field generates a second alternating current in the receiver coil.

11. The non-contact power transfer system of claim 10 , wherein the power conversion unit is configured to
convert the second alternating current to a direct current; and
provide the direct current to a load of the power receiver device.

12. The non-contact power transfer system of claim 10 , wherein the power conversion unit is configured to
convert the second alternating current to output power; and
provide the output power to a load of the power receiver device.

13. The non-contact power transfer system of claim 12 , wherein the second alternating current is a single phase alternating current and wherein converting the second alternating current to the output power including converting the single phase alternating current to three-phase alternating current.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Brower John
• Samojeden Matthew
• Abughazaleh Shadi
• Simon Robert

Classifications

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01F38/38

  for polyphase AC · CPC title

• H01F38/14

  Inductive couplings {(for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10)} · CPC title

• H02J50/90

  involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment · CPC title

• H02J50/80

  involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices · CPC title