Wireless power transfer system for simultaneous transfer to multiple devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12278501-B2
Application number	US-202318502738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2023
Priority date	Jan 3, 2020
Publication date	Apr 15, 2025
Grant date	Apr 15, 2025

Abstract

The present application relates to an apparatus which comprises a wireless power transmission system. This system comprises features which allow it to transfer more power wirelessly to multiple devices simultaneously, each at extended distances than other systems operating in the same frequency range. The system including heat dissipation features, allowing the system to operate effectively in elevated-temperature environments and to transfer power at higher levels and/or greater distances than a typical power-transfer system. The system also may include design features to withstand mechanical shocks, stresses, and impacts for use in a rugged environment. The system may include features to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or specially shaped components with magnetic/ferrimagnetic properties that enhance performance. Other potential features include power conditioning by combining, within one circuit or one board, multiple elements that protect against excessive current, over-voltage, and/or reverse voltage.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wireless power transmission system configured for simultaneous wireless power transfer to at least two wireless power receiver systems, the wireless power transmission system comprising:
a first wireless power transmitter comprising:
a first power transmitting coil configured to transmit electrical power to a first wireless power receiver system; and
a first wireless power transfer circuit electrically connectable to the first power transmitting coil and including a first controller and a first driving circuit;

a second wireless power transmitter comprising:
a second power transmitting coil configured to transmit electrical power to a second wireless power receiver system; and
a second wireless power transfer circuit electrically connectable to the second power transmitting coil and including a second controller and a second driving circuit, wherein a configuration of the first power transmitting coil is different from a configuration of the second power transmitting coil; and

a housing including a plurality of alignment features, wherein the first wireless power transmitter and second wireless power transmitter reside within the housing, wherein the plurality of alignment features includes a first alignment feature operatively associated with the first wireless power transmitter and a second alignment feature operatively associated with the second wireless power transmitter, and wherein the second alignment feature provides alignment between the second power transmitting coil and the second wireless power receiver system, and wherein the second wireless power receiver system has a different configuration from the first wireless power receiver system.

2. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the second alignment feature is defined by a non-flat surface of the housing that comprises a docking structure for the second wireless power receiver system.

3. The wireless power transmission system of claim 2 , wherein the configuration of the second wireless power receiver system comprises at least one of different size, shape, profile, contour, form, outline, identity, model, power, frequency, or operation.

4. The wireless power transmission system of claim 3 , wherein the first wireless power transmitter is operable over a first frequency range and capable of transferring power in a range of 1 nW (nanowatts) - 30 W (watts), and the second wireless power transmitter is operable over a second frequency range and capable of transferring power in a range of 1 nW-30 W.

5. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the first controller and the first driving circuit are constructed on a first circuit board and the second controller and the second driving circuit are constructed on a second circuit board.

6. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 further comprising:
a third wireless power transmitter comprising:
a third power transmitting coil configured to transmit electrical power to a third wireless power receiver system; and
a third wireless power transfer circuit electrically connectable to the third power transmitting coil and including a third controller and a third driving circuit.

7. The wireless power transmission system of claim 6 , wherein the first wireless power transmitter is operable over a first frequency range and capable of transferring power in a range of 1 nW-30 W, the second wireless power transmitter is operable over a second frequency range and capable of transferring power in a range of 1 nW-30 W, and the third wireless power transmitter is operable over a third frequency range and capable of transferring power in a range of 1 nW-30 W.

8. The wireless power transmission system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of alignment features includes a third alignment feature operatively associated with the third wireless power transmitter.

9. The wireless power transmission system of claim 7 , wherein the first frequency range, the second frequency range, and the third frequency range are different.

10. The wireless power transmission system of claim 6 , wherein the first wireless power transfer circuit, the second wireless power transfer circuit, and the third wireless power transfer circuit are constructed on a single circuit board.

11. The wireless power transmission system of claim 6 , wherein the first wireless power transfer circuit is constructed on a first circuit board, the second wireless power transfer circuit is constructed on a second circuit board, and the third wireless power transfer circuit is constructed on a third circuit board.

12. The wireless power transmission system of claim 7 , wherein a configuration of the third power transmitting coil is different from the configuration of the first power transmitting coil and the configuration of the second power transmitting coil.

13. The wireless power transmission system of claim 6 , wherein one or more of the first, second, or third wireless power transfer circuits are constructed on a first circuit board and at least one of the first, second, or third wireless power transfer circuits is constructed on a second circuit board.

14. The wireless power transmission system of claim 6 , wherein each of the first, second, and third wireless power transmitters further includes a magnetic material comprising at least a magnetic backing.

15. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless power transmitter further includes a t-shaped magnetic material comprising a magnetic core and a magnetic backing and the second wireless power transmitter further includes a magnetic material comprising at least a magnetic backing.

16. A wireless power transmission system configured for simultaneous wireless power transfer to a plurality of wireless power receiver systems, the wireless power transmission system comprising:
a first wireless power transmitter comprising a first power transmitting coil and a magnetic material comprising at least a magnetic backing, the first wireless power transmitter configured to transmit electrical power to a first wireless power receiver system of the plurality of wireless power receiver systems;
a second wireless power transmitter comprising a second power transmitting coil and a magnetic material comprising at least a magnetic backing, the second wireless power transmitter configured to transmit electrical power to a second wireless power receiver system of the plurality of wireless power receiver systems;
a third wireless power transmitter comprising a third power transmitting coil and a magnetic material comprising at least a magnetic backing, the third wireless power transmitter configured to transmit electrical power to a third wireless power receiver system of the plurality of wireless power receiver systems,
wherein the first power transmitting coil, the second power transmitting coil, and the third power transmitting coil are each configured differently;
a wireless power transfer circuit electrically connectable to each of the first, second, and third wireless power transmitters, the wireless power transfer circuit including at least one controller and at least one driving circuit; and
a housing including a plurality of alignment features, wherein each of the first, second and third wireless power transmitters reside within the housing, wherein the plurality of alignment features includes one or more different alignment features operatively associated with each of the first, second, and third wireless power transmitters,
wherein each of the one or more different alignment features operatively

Assignees

• Nucurrent Inc

Inventors

• Shostak Pavel
• Luzinski Jason
• Alam Md Nazmul
• Melone Mark D
• Zamborsky Matt
• Peralta Alberto

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H02J50/90

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

• H02J50/402

  the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas · CPC title

• H02J50/005

  Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices · CPC title