Auto-tunable Wireless Charger Impedance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless charging systems experience a decrease in transmit efficiency as the battery of the receiving device charges and device geometries or alignments change during the charging cycle, leading to reduced power transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An auto-tunable wireless charger system that includes a tuner with a directional coupler and a controller to monitor reflections on the transmit line and adjust the tuning cap to optimize impedance, ensuring consistent power transfer efficiency throughout the charging cycle by minimizing reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a fixed impedance system is used in wireless charging, then the device structure is simple, but transmit efficiency decreases as battery charges or device alignment changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed impedance system to a dynamic impedance adjustment system. The tuner component continuously modifies impedance values during the charging cycle based on detected reflections, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions such as battery charge level and device alignment, thereby maintaining high transmit efficiency throughout the charging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using a directional coupler to detect reflections on the transmit line and feeding this information back to the controller. The controller then adjusts the tuner's impedance settings based on the detected reflection levels, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes power transfer efficiency by minimizing reflections in real-time.
2Productivity
If impedance is adjusted dynamically throughout charging cycle, then transmit efficiency is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a directional coupler to monitor reflections and feeds this information back to the controller, which automatically adjusts the tuner's impedance settings. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain optimal charging efficiency throughout the charging cycle by continuously adapting to changing conditions such as battery charge level and device alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller automatically manages the impedance adjustment process without requiring external intervention. The system self-regulates by detecting reflections through the directional coupler and autonomously adjusting the tuner parameters to minimize losses, enabling the wireless charging system to optimize its own performance throughout the charging cycle.
3Loss of energy
If reflections are minimized through impedance tuning, then power transfer efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The directional coupler detects reflections on the transmit line and provides feedback to the controller, which adjusts the tuner's impedance settings accordingly. This feedback loop enables the system to minimize reflection losses by continuously optimizing impedance matching between the power amplifier and the wireless power transfer system throughout the charging cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The tuner component changes impedance parameters dynamically based on detected reflection levels. By adjusting impedance values in response to varying operating conditions such as battery charge level and device alignment, the system minimizes reflection losses and maximizes power transfer efficiency without requiring a complete system redesign.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system dynamically adjusts to maintain high transmit efficiency by altering the impedance in real-time, even as the battery charges and device geometries or alignments change, thereby improving overall charging efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a directional coupler connected between a frequency generator and a tuning cap to receive reflections on a transmit line
Implementation Method 2
a wireless charger can utilize an antenna or induction coil to produce the electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 3
the tuner can be utilized to adjust an impedance to increase transmit efficiency between a wireless charger and a device receiving a charge
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, methods, systems, and computer-readable media for an auto-tunable wireless charger are described herein. One or more embodiments include a tuner comprising a directional coupler connected between a frequency generator and a tuning cap to receive reflections on a transmit line of the directional coupler, and a controller coupled to the directional coupler and the tuning cap to monitor the reflections on the transmit line and to adjust the tuning cap based on the monitored reflections on the transmit line.