Inductive Power Transmission with Adaptive Coil Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inductive power transmission methods for electric devices like laptops and smartphones struggle to provide optimal power supply, especially when multiple coils are arranged over large areas, while adhering to power limit values, and face challenges with devices having small base areas relative to the coils.

Innovation Solution

A method that regulates power transmission by initially sending a minimum power to activate the device's controller, allowing data packet exchange to determine the device's power class and adjust transmission accordingly, using multiple coils in arrays and planes to optimize energy transfer, and employing shielding if necessary to ensure compliance with inductive current limits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple transmitting coils are arranged over large areas to ensure power supply coverage, then the power supply coverage is improved, but the difficulty of selecting optimal coils and complying with power limit values increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply coverage areaVSAvoidcoil selection and power control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The large-area power transmission system is segmented into multiple discrete transmitting coils arranged in arrays. Each coil can be independently controlled and selected based on the receiver's position and power requirements, allowing the system to cover large areas while maintaining manageable complexity through modular operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects and switches between different transmitting coils based on real-time detection of receiver position, power class, and coupling conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows optimal coil selection and power adjustment to comply with limit values while maintaining coverage across large areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If minimum power is transmitted initially to activate the receiver controller, then the adaptability to different device power classes is improved, but the transmission time increases due to preliminary communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to different power classesVSAvoidpower transmission activation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by transmitting minimum power first to activate the receiver controller and establish communication. During this phase, data packets are exchanged to identify the device type and determine the appropriate power class, enabling subsequent optimal power transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver controller provides feedback through data packets containing device identification information during the initial communication phase. This feedback allows the transmitter to adaptively determine the correct power class and adjust transmission parameters accordingly, ensuring optimal power delivery for different device types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If transmitting coils are switched to optimize energy transfer, then the energy transfer efficiency is improved, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver device actively participates in the optimization process by providing feedback information about its power class and coupling conditions. This self-service approach allows the system to achieve optimal energy transfer without requiring extremely complex centralized control, as the receiver contributes to the decision-making process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control system optimizes energy transfer by dynamically changing parameters such as selecting different transmitting coils, adjusting power levels, and modifying transmission frequency based on detected coupling conditions and receiver feedback, achieving high efficiency through adaptive parameter optimization.

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

This method ensures efficient and adaptive power supply to devices of varying power classes and sizes, maintaining compliance with power limits and optimizing energy transfer by dynamically selecting the most effective coils and adjusting power levels, even with devices having small base areas.

Implementation Method 1

inductive power transmission for an electrically operated device such as, in particular, a laptop, a smartphone, a tablet or the like, are integrated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3248297B1Inductive power transmission method
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 WITECH
  • EP3248297B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to an inductive power transmission method using a transmitter, which has at least one transmission coil, and a receiver, which has at least one receiver coil, of an electrically operated device. The transmitter is equipped with a control unit for the output to be transmitted. A minimum output is transmitted from the transmitter by the control unit at the beginning of a power transmission, and the minimum transmitted output is measured so as to be sufficient for activating a controller of the receiver of the electrically operated device. In response, the controller delivers data packets containing information on the electrically operated device to the control unit by influencing the field of the transmission coil, and the transmitter then transmits an optimal output which is adapted to the output class of the device.