Wireless Inductive Power Transfer Bidirectional Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Qi wireless power transfer standard faces challenges in implementing bidirectional communication while maintaining backwards compatibility, efficiency, and minimizing the impact on power transfer operations, particularly due to restrictive technical restrictions and the need for additional hardware.
Innovation Solution
A power transfer system that modulates a single bit of data across multiple intervening time intervals, allowing for bidirectional communication by modifying the power signal with a predetermined modulation pattern, which reduces the impact on the power signal and facilitates efficient demodulation, thereby enabling reliable communication without degrading power transfer performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If bidirectional communication is implemented in existing Qi wireless power transfer systems, then communication functionality is improved, but device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication function with the existing power transfer infrastructure by utilizing the same transmitter coil and control circuitry for both power transmission and data communication. The bidirectional communication is implemented by modulating the power signal itself, eliminating the need for separate communication hardware channels and reducing overall system complexity despite adding communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitter coil and control system are designed to perform multiple functions: power transmission, unidirectional communication (receiver to transmitter via load modulation), and bidirectional communication (transmitter to receiver via signal modulation). This multi-functionality allows existing hardware to support enhanced communication without requiring dedicated communication components.
2Loss of information
If bidirectional communication is implemented by modulating the power signal, then communication capability is improved, but power transfer performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic modulation of the power signal at specific intervals during the power transfer process. By applying communication modulation only during designated time windows rather than continuously, the system maintains power transfer efficiency while enabling bidirectional communication. The periodic approach allows the power signal to return to its unmodulated state during critical power transmission phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication modulation is applied partially to the power signal rather than fully modifying it. The modulation depth and duration are controlled to be sufficient for reliable communication detection while minimizing disruption to the overall power transfer. This partial action approach ensures that communication functionality is achieved without excessively impacting power transfer performance.
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 approach allows for the introduction of bidirectional communication in existing systems with minimal hardware changes and firmware updates, ensuring backwards compatibility and maintaining the reliability and efficiency of power transfer operations.
Implementation Method 1
a power transmitter for transferring power to a power receiver using a wireless inductive power signal
Implementation Method 2
power is inductively transferred from a transmitter coil in a power transmitter device to a receiver coil in the individual devices
Data Source
AI summary
A power transmitter (101) transfers power to a power receiver (105) using a wireless inductive power signal. The power transmitter (101) comprises an inductor (103) for providing the power signal and a power signal generator (207) for driving the inductor (103) to provide the power signal. The power receiver (105) comprises an inductor (107) for receiving the power signal and a transmitter (305) which transmits data messages to the power transmitter (101). The data are communicated by load modulation of the power signal in repeating load modulation intervals which are separated by intervening time intervals. The power transmitter (101) transmits data to the power receiver (105) by modulating the power signal with a message during the intervening time intervals and the power receiver demodulates the data in these time intervals. The power transmitter (101) transmits single bit of the message by modulating it across a plurality of intervening time intervals and the power transmitter (101) receives it by demodulating over these time intervals.