Systems and methods for improving thermal performance of wireless power transfer systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12573879-B2
Application number	US-202218718322-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2022
Priority date	Dec 20, 2021
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

A transmit resonator for use in a wireless power transfer system is provided. The transmit resonator includes a core defining an annular groove, a coil element disposed within the annular groove, and a housing surrounding the core and the coil element. The housing includes a casing. and a metal plate, wherein the metal plate is positioned on a side of the transmit resonator that is opposite a receive resonator during operation of the wireless power transfer system, and wherein the metal plate facilitates reducing far-field electromagnetic emissions and improving cooling of the wireless power transfer system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A transmit resonator for use in a wireless power transfer system for supplying power to an implantable medical device, the transmit resonator comprising:
a core defining an annular groove; a coil element disposed within the annular groove; and a housing surrounding the core and the coil element, the housing comprising:
a casing; and
a metal plate, wherein the metal plate is positioned on a side of the transmit resonator that is opposite a receive resonator during operation of the wireless power transfer system, and wherein the metal plate facilitates reducing far-field electromagnetic emissions and improving cooling of the wireless power transfer system, wherein the metal plate forms a side of the housing.

2 . The transmit resonator of claim 1 , wherein the metal plate is an aluminum plate.

3 . The transmit resonator of claim 1 , wherein the metal plate is an aluminum alloy plate.

4 . The transmit resonator of claim 1 , wherein the casing is plastic.

5 . The transmit resonator of claim 1 , wherein the casing is a thermally conductive material.

6 . A wireless power transfer system for supplying power to an implantable medical device comprising:
a receive resonator; and a transmit resonator comprising:
a core defining an annular groove;
a coil element disposed within the annular groove; and
a housing surrounding the core and the coil element, the housing comprising:
a casing; and
a metal plate, wherein the metal plate is positioned on a side of the transmit resonator that is opposite a receive resonator during operation of the wireless power transfer system, and wherein the metal plate facilitates reducing far-field electromagnetic emissions and improving cooling of the wireless power transfer system, wherein the metal plate forms a side of the housing.

7 . The wireless power transfer system of claim 6 , wherein the metal plate is an aluminum plate.

8 . The wireless power transfer system of claim 6 , wherein the metal plate is an aluminum alloy plate.

9 . The wireless power transfer system of claim 6 , wherein the casing is plastic.

10 . The wireless power transfer system of claim 6 , wherein the casing is a thermally conductive material.

11 . A transmit resonator for use in a wireless power transfer system for supplying power to an implantable medical device, the transmit resonator comprising:
a core defining an annular groove; a coil element disposed within the annular groove; and a housing surrounding the core and the coil element, the housing made of a thermally conductive material to facilitate improving thermal performance of the wireless power transfer system, wherein the housing comprises a metal plate, the metal plate forming a side of the housing; wherein a gap is defined between the housing and the core, and wherein the gap is filled with a thermally conductive gap material.

12 . The transmit resonator of claim 11 , wherein the thermally conductive material is a high-purity aluminum ceramic.

13 . The transmit resonator of claim 11 , wherein the thermally conductive gap material is alumina.

14 . The transmit resonator of claim 11 , and wherein the metal plate is positioned on a side of the transmit resonator that is opposite a receive resonator during operation of the wireless power transfer system.

15 . A wireless power transfer system for supplying power to an implantable medical device comprising:
a receive resonator; and a transmit resonator comprising:
a core defining an annular groove;
a coil element disposed within the annular groove; and
a housing surrounding the core and the coil element, the housing made of a thermally conductive material to facilitate improving thermal performance of the wireless power transfer system, wherein the housing comprises a metal plate, the metal plate forming a side of the housing; wherein a gap is defined between the housing and the core, and wherein the gap is filled with a thermally conductive gap material.

16 . The wireless power transfer system of claim 15 , wherein the thermally conductive material is a high-purity aluminum ceramic.

17 . The wireless power transfer system of claim 15 , wherein the thermally conductive gap material is alumina.

18 . The wireless power transfer system of claim 15 , wherein the metal plate is positioned on a side of the transmit resonator that is opposite a receive resonator during operation of the wireless power transfer system.

Assignees

• Tc1 Llc

Inventors

• Hansen John Freddy
• Keen Rachel
• Baval Alexander
• Harjes Daniel I
• Iudice Jeffrey
• Anderson Russell Eugene

Classifications

• H02J2105/46

  Medical devices, medical implants or life supporting devices · CPC title

• H01F27/22

  Cooling by heat conduction through solid or powdered fillings · CPC title

• H02J50/70

  involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields · CPC title

• H02J50/12

  of the resonant type · CPC title

• H04B5/24

  Inductive coupling · CPC title