Crossed Transmitting Coils for Automatic Magnetic Field Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless power transfer devices cannot control the direction of the magnetic field, making it cumbersome to align the magnetic field with the secondary coil for efficient energy transfer, requiring physical movement of coils which is inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

A wireless power transfer device with first and second transmitting coils that can rotate the direction of the magnetic field by differentially driving the coils with controlled AC currents, allowing for independent generation and alignment of magnetic fields without physical reorientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the primary coil is physically moved or reoriented to align with the secondary coil, then the energy transfer efficiency is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the cumbersome manual adjustment required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy transfer efficiencyVSAvoidease of coil alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physically moving and reorienting coils with an electromagnetic control system. By using controllable magnetic field direction through electronic means (adjusting current phase and amplitude in multiple transmitting coils), the system eliminates the need for manual mechanical adjustment of coil positions while maintaining optimal alignment with the receiving coil, thus improving ease of operation without sacrificing energy transfer efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic control of the magnetic field direction by continuously adjusting the phase and amplitude of currents in multiple transmitting coils based on feedback from the receiving coil's position and orientation. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal energy transfer efficiency regardless of the receiving coil's location, eliminating the need for static physical repositioning and significantly improving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple transmitting coils are used to control magnetic field direction, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field direction controlVSAvoidcoil configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the transmitting coil system into multiple independent coil segments (at least two transmitting coils) that can be individually controlled. Each coil can be independently driven with specific phase and amplitude, allowing the combined magnetic field to be directed toward the receiving coil. This segmentation enables flexible magnetic field direction control while keeping each individual coil relatively simple in structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the transmitting coil system multi-functional by enabling it to generate magnetic fields in multiple directions and with varying intensities through electronic control of multiple coils. The same coil configuration can serve different receiving coil positions and orientations without requiring physical reconfiguration, achieving high adaptability while maintaining a fixed, relatively simple device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables efficient and automatic alignment of the magnetic field with the receiver coil, improving energy transfer efficiency and eliminating the need for manual adjustment of coil positions.

Implementation Method 1

A primary coil may be driven with AC current to generate an oscillating magnetic field, and the magnetic field can generate a current in a secondary coil in proximity to the primary coil via electromagnetic induction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a wireless power transfer device with first and second transmitting coils that can rotate the direction of the magnetic field by differentially driving the coils with controlled AC currents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation and orientation control: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4241359B1Automatically-aligning magnetic field system
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 ALFRED E MANN FOUND FOR SCI RES
  • EP4241359B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4241359B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4241359B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless power transfer system includes a wireless power transfer device. The wireless power transfer device includes a first transmitting coil oriented along a first axis; a second transmitting coil on the first transmitting coil and oriented along a second axis different from the first axis; and a nonmagnetic material magnetically decoupling the first transmitting coil from the second transmitting coil in an area of overlap between the first and second transmitting coils.