Wireless Power Charger With Movable Transmitter Coil
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless power systems face challenges in delivering high power efficiently over a large charging area, leading to user frustration due to the need for precise alignment of transmitter and receiver coils, and existing standards either prioritize efficiency or area size, making them costly and not scalable.
Innovation Solution
A wireless power charger that integrates a location sensing mechanism and transport mechanism to detect and relocate the transmitter coil to align with the receiver coil, ensuring maximum magnetic flux coupling over a large area, while being standards compliant and aesthetically integrated into furniture or surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless power is delivered at high power levels to charge batteries fast, then charging speed is improved, but efficiency deteriorates due to heat generation from power delivery inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable transmitter coil assembly that can dynamically reposition itself along the charging surface. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to maintain optimal alignment with the receiver coil regardless of device placement, thereby sustaining high power delivery efficiency even at high power levels. The movable coil assembly responds to alignment signals and adjusts its position to maximize magnetic coupling, resolving the contradiction between high power delivery and efficiency maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If the charging area is made large to enable hassle-free charging, then ease of operation is improved, but alignment efficiency deteriorates due to difficulty in maintaining proper coil alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter coil assembly is designed to be movable along the charging surface rather than fixed. When a device is placed on the charging surface, the system detects the receiver coil position and dynamically repositions the transmitter coil to achieve optimal alignment. This dynamic adaptation maintains high alignment efficiency across a large charging area, eliminating the need for users to precisely position devices while preventing energy loss from misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects device placement and repositions the transmitter coil without user intervention. The alignment mechanism autonomously adjusts the coil position based on detected receiver coil signals, and the system self-corrects alignment issues without requiring user adjustment attempts. This self-service capability maintains efficiency while providing hassle-free charging across the entire charging surface.
3Area of stationary object
If multi-coil structures are used to increase charging area in WPC/Qi specification, then charging area is improved, but cost and complexity increase due to requirements for very high overlap levels to avoid dead zones
Solution Approach 1:
The charging surface is divided into multiple discrete coil positions rather than using overlapping continuous coils. The movable transmitter coil assembly can occupy different segmented positions along the charging surface, each position providing effective coverage. This segmentation approach achieves large charging area without requiring complex overlapping coil structures, reducing system complexity while maintaining full coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple static overlapping coils, the system employs a single movable coil that dynamically transitions between discrete positions. This dynamic approach replaces complex static multi-coil structures with a simpler movable single-coil system, achieving the same large charging area coverage without the complexity of high-level coil overlaps and dead zone management.
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 fast, hassle-free, and efficient wireless charging of multiple devices over a large area, reducing user effort and maintaining high efficiency, with the system returning to a home-base location when not in use.
Implementation Method 1
Power is delivered wirelessly from the charger to the wireless power receiver. The receiver receives and conditions the power.
Implementation Method 2
detecting the location of the device via RF signaling and relocating the wireless power transmitter to align with the wireless power receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless power charger (WPC) integrated into a charging pad (CP) includes a wireless power transmitter (WPT), a location sense mechanism (LSM), a transport mechanism (TM) and a Central Control Unit (CCU). The LSM discovers and conveys the position of a portable device to the CCU when the device is placed on the CP to have its battery wirelessly charged. The LSM uses RF signaling and other capabilities in wireless connectivity standards to detect location of device. With information from the LSM, the CCU, via the TM, moves the WPTM in close proximity to the device. Once at the device position, the WPTM senses the location of the receiver coil in the device, adjusts its position via the TM to gain strong alignment and provides power wirelessly. When charging is complete or if the device is removed from the charging pad, the WPTM returns to its home-base location.