Capacitive Wireless Charging Matrix for Position-Independent Power Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless charging systems, both inductive and capacitive, face challenges in positioning devices for efficient energy transfer, leading to low energy efficiency and electromagnetic pollution, and cannot charge multiple devices simultaneously or handle random orientations and positions without excessive loss or unwanted emissions.

Innovation Solution

A capacitive wireless charging system with a control system that uses a high number of small-dimension transmitting armatures arranged in a matrix structure, allowing devices to be charged regardless of position or orientation, and selectively activating armatures to minimize emissions and maximize power density, while using resonant circuit designs to reduce losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a high number of small-dimension transmitting armatures are used to enable charging at various positions and orientations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging capability at various positions and orientationsVSAvoidnumber of transmitting armatures
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The charging system is divided into multiple independent transmitting armatures arranged in a matrix, where each armature can be independently controlled to face a specific receiving armature. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to various device positions and orientations by selectively activating only the necessary armatures, rather than requiring a single large complex system to cover all scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If transmitting armatures are selectively activated to minimize emissions, then electromagnetic pollution is reduced, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic pollutionVSAvoidcontrol system for selective activation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly activating all transmitting armatures or using a single large transmitter, the system applies local quality by selectively activating only the specific transmitting armatures that face receiving armatures with detected devices. This localized activation minimizes electromagnetic emissions to only the areas where charging is actually needed, reducing overall electromagnetic pollution while maintaining effective charging coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If resonant circuit designs are used to reduce losses, then energy efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy losses in wireless transferVSAvoidresonant frequency matching
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs resonant circuit designs where the transmitting and receiving armatures are tuned to operate at matching resonant frequencies. By operating at resonance, the system achieves maximum energy transfer efficiency and minimizes energy losses. The parameter of resonant frequency is carefully selected and matched between transmitter and receiver to optimize performance, requiring precise manufacturing and tuning of the resonant circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables efficient charging of multiple devices at various positions and orientations with reduced electromagnetic pollution and increased power density, achieving better performance than traditional systems by minimizing losses and optimizing energy transfer.

Implementation Method 1

systems based on a capacitive coupling, transmitting armatures are sued, for example made with conductive areas possibly insulated from the environment by means of dielectric material, which face like receiving armatures, thus constituting at least two electrical capacitances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The assembly of reactive electrical components can be tuned to resonate at a same or similar piloting frequency as at least one of the switches of each excitant module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP3161934B1A method and an apparatus for transferring electrical power
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 EGGTRONIC ENG SRL
  • EP3161934B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3161934B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3161934B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus (100) for transferring power to an electrical load (115), comprising: a charging device (105) comprising an assembly of at least three transmitting armatures (120), and a primary electrical circuit (135) able to connect each transmitting armature (120) to a tension generator (130); a user device (110), separate and independent from the charging device (105), which comprises the electrical load (115), at least a pair of receiving armatures (140, 141 ), and a secondary electrical circuit (145) able to connect the receiving armatures (140, 141 ) to the electrical load (115), the pair of receiving armatures being faceable to at least a pair of transmitting armatures (120) of the charging device (105) realizing there-with at least two distinct electrical capacitors (165, 166); an electronic system (170) for monitoring and selecting, connected to the primary circuit (135) of the charging device (105), which electronic system (170) is configured so as to identify a first sub-assembly of transmitting armatures (120) which face an armature (140) of the receiving armatures of the user device (110), and so as to identify a second sub-assembly of transmitting armatures (120) which face the other receiving armature (141) of the user device (110), and an electronic command system (175) connected to the primary circuit (135) of the charging device (105), which is configured so as to command the primary circuit to apply, between the transmitting armatures (120) of the first and the second sub-assembly, a difference in electrical tension that is periodically variable over time.