Dual-Frequency Wireless Charger Module with Multi-Stranded Coil
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional charging methods for portable electronic devices require physical connections, which can lead to dust and moisture intrusion and are limited by the need for physical tethering, whereas wireless charging technologies face inefficiencies due to alignment dependencies and limited frequency compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A modular dual-frequency wireless charger module with a transmitter coil made of multi-stranded wire, capable of operating at either low (300 kHz to 400 kHz) or high (1 MHz to 2 MHz) frequencies, integrated into accessories, along with a control module for generating alternating current, ensuring efficient charging across different devices and form factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If wireless charging operates at high frequency (1 MHz to 2 MHz), then magnetic coupling efficiency is improved, but compatibility with legacy devices operating at low frequency (300 kHz to 400 kHz) is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter coil is segmented into multiple independent windings, each optimized for a specific frequency range. The coil includes a first winding for low frequency operation (300-400 kHz) and a second winding for high frequency operation (1-2 MHz), allowing the system to segment the frequency spectrum and address different device types with dedicated coil segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitter coil is designed with multi-functionality to operate across both low and high frequency ranges. By incorporating multiple windings with different turn counts and configurations, a single coil structure can serve multiple functions: charging legacy devices at low frequency and modern devices at high frequency, eliminating the need for separate coils for different frequency requirements.
2Device complexity
If a single frequency is used for wireless charging, then device compatibility is simplified, but charging efficiency varies across different devices
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless charging system dynamically adapts its operating frequency based on the receiver device characteristics. The control circuitry detects the resonant frequency of the receiver coil and adjusts the transmitter coil operation accordingly, switching between low and high frequency modes to optimize charging efficiency for different device types while maintaining a unified coil structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (frequency and current distribution across windings) based on device requirements. By modifying the excitation frequency and adjusting which windings are actively used, the system optimizes power transfer efficiency for different receiver devices without requiring physical reconfiguration of the coil structure.
3Loss of energy
If compound multi-stranded wire is used in the transmitter coil, then high frequency performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter coil uses compound multi-stranded wire composed of multiple thin insulated strands twisted together. This composite structure reduces skin effect and proximity effect at high frequencies, improving efficiency. The wire combines multiple conductive strands with insulating materials, creating a composite that optimizes electrical performance while maintaining manufacturability through standard wire drawing and twisting processes.
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 solution provides a consistent and efficient charging experience across various accessories and devices, with improved magnetic coupling efficiency at high frequencies, reducing charging time and maintaining compatibility with legacy devices.
Implementation Method 1
A transmitter coil disposed below the charging surface is driven with an alternating current that produces a time-varying magnetic flux that induces a current in a corresponding receiver coil in the portable electronic device.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmitter coil module for inclusion in an accessory device can include a transmitter coil capable of operating at either of two different operating frequencies. The low frequency can be in a range from about 300 kHz to about 400 kHz, and the high frequency can be in a range from about 1 MHz to about 2 MHz. To provide efficient charging at both frequencies, the transmitter coil can be formed from a compound, or multi-stranded, wire. A control module can also be provided that is external to the transmitter coil module The control module can include, for example, a printed circuit board having control circuitry to generate alternating current in the transmitter coil at either the high frequency or the low frequency.