Wireless Power Coil Array Switching for Thin Efficient Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless power transmission systems of the coil array type face challenges in reducing the thickness or size of the power transmission device while maintaining high-efficiency power transmission without precise positioning.

Innovation Solution

The power transmission device features power transmission coils arranged in a line with each principal surface parallel to the device surface, a power transmission circuit connected to the coils, and control circuitry that switches electrical connections, detects relative positions, selects adjacent coils, and supplies AC power to a specific number of coils, ensuring the length of each coil in the array direction is shorter than the power receiving coil.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the number of turns or stacked layers in each coil is increased to maintain high-efficiency power transmission, then the power transmission efficiency is improved, but the thickness or size of the power transmission device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission efficiencyVSAvoidthickness or size of power transmission device
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The power transmission device divides the coil array into multiple independently controllable coil groups. Instead of using a single large coil with many turns, the system segments the magnetic field generation into multiple smaller coil units that can be selectively activated based on the position of the power receiving device, thereby maintaining transmission efficiency without increasing overall device thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects and activates specific coil groups based on the real-time position of the power receiving device. This dynamic adaptation allows the power transmission device to maintain high coupling efficiency with the receiver without requiring all coils to be permanently active or densely packed, thus reducing the required device thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a coil array type is used to eliminate positioning requirements, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning requirementVSAvoidcoil array configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coil array is segmented into multiple independent coil groups that can be individually controlled. This segmentation simplifies the control logic by allowing the system to activate only the relevant coil groups based on receiver position, rather than managing a single complex array, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuitry continuously monitors the position of the power receiving device and provides feedback to dynamically adjust which coil groups are active. This feedback mechanism automates the positioning adaptation, eliminating the need for manual alignment while keeping the control system relatively simple through rule-based selection of active coils.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This configuration allows for a reduction in the size of the power transmission device while maintaining high-efficiency power transmission, as the number of turns or stacked layers in each coil is minimized, and the system adapts to varying positions of the power receiving coil.

Implementation Method 1

The wireless power transmission system of the electromagnetic induction scheme includes a power transmission device provided with a power transmission coil and a power receiving device provided with a power receiving coil. The power receiving coil complements the magnetic field generated by the power transmission coil, whereby it is possible to transmit power without bringing electrodes into direct contact with each other.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The wireless power transmission system of the magnetic field resonance scheme includes a power transmission device provided with a power transmission coil and a power receiving device provided with a power receiving coil. The power receiving coil complements the magnetic field generated by the power transmission coil, whereby it is possible to transmit power without bringing electrodes into direct contact with each other.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field resonance coupling: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS12206254B2Power transmission device and wireless power transmission system
Publication Date: 2025.01.21 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • US12206254B2 patent drawing
  • US12206254B2 patent drawing
  • US12206254B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A power transmission device includes power transmission coils arranged in a line, a power transmission circuit connected to the power transmission coils, and control circuitry that switches an electrical connection between the power transmission circuit and each power transmission coil, detects a relative position between the power receiving coil and each power transmission coil, selects two or more power transmission coils adjacent to each other based on the detected relative position, and causes the power transmission circuit to supply the AC power to the selected two or more power transmission coils. In a direction perpendicular to an array direction of the power transmission coils, width Dlt of each power transmission coil is equal to or longer than width Dlr of the power receiving coil. In the array direction, width Dwt of each power transmission coil is shorter than width Dwr of the power receiving coil and satisfies 0.2≤Dwt/Dwr.