Wireless power architecture with series-coupled power converters
A system may include a wireless receiver module configured to receive electrical energy from a wireless transmission module, a first power converter electrically coupled to the wireless transmission module and configured to convert a charging voltage generated by the wireless transmission module into an intermediate voltage, and a second power converter configured to be electrically coupled between a battery and the first power converter and configured to convert the intermediate voltage into a battery voltage for charging the battery.
1 . A system comprising:
a wireless receiver module configured to receive electrical energy from a wireless transmission module;
a first power converter electrically coupled to the wireless receiver module and configured to convert a charging voltage generated by the wireless transmission module into an intermediate voltage;
a second power converter configured to be electrically coupled between a battery and the first power converter and configured to convert the intermediate voltage into a battery voltage for charging the battery, wherein the intermediate voltage is configured to power one or more components other than the battery, the first power converter, the second power converter, and the wireless receiver module, and wherein the one or more components are electrically coupled between the first power converter and the second power converter; and
control circuitry configured to operate the first power converter and the second power converter to maintain a combined reflected impedance presented by the battery, the wireless receiver module, the first power converter, and the second power converter to the wireless transmission module at a desired level.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to control operation of the first power converter and the second power converter based on an impedance of the battery in order to maintain the combined reflected impedance at the desired level.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to control operation of the first power converter and the second power converter based on inverter frequency of the wireless transmission module, a coupling factor between the wireless transmission module and the wireless receiver module, and a complex load of a rectifier integral to the wireless receiver module.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the wireless receiver module comprises a rectifier; and
the control circuitry is further configured to control operation of the rectifier in order to maintain the combined reflected impedance at the desired level.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first power converter comprises a rectifier of the wireless receiver module.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first power converter comprises a switched-capacitor power converter.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second power converter comprises an inductive buck converter.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second power converter is lower in power efficiency than the first power converter.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the second power converter is enabled to provide for finer power tuning of power conversion than the first power converter.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second power converter is enabled to provide for finer power tuning of power conversion than the first power converter.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the charging voltage is greater than the intermediate voltage and the intermediate voltage is greater than the battery voltage.
12 . A method comprising:
receiving, at a wireless receiver module electrically coupled to a first power converter, electrical energy from a wireless transmission module;
converting a charging voltage generated by the wireless transmission module into an intermediate voltage with the first power converter;
converting the intermediate voltage into a battery voltage for charging a battery with a second power converter electrically coupled between the battery and the first power converter, wherein the intermediate voltage is configured to power one or more components other than the battery, the first power converter, the second power converter, and the wireless receiver module, and wherein the one or more components are electrically coupled between the first power converter and the second power converter; and
operating the first power converter and the second power converter to maintain a combined reflected impedance presented by the battery, the wireless receiver module, the first power converter, and the second power converter to the wireless transmission module at a desired level.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling operation of the first power converter and the second power converter based on an impedance of the battery in order to maintain the combined reflected impedance at the desired level.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the circuitry is configured to control operation of the first power converter and the second power converter based on inverter frequency of the wireless receiver module, a coupling factor between the wireless transmission module and the wireless receiver module, and a complex load of a rectifier integral to the wireless receiver module.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the wireless receiver module comprises a rectifier; and
the method further comprises controlling operation of the rectifier in order to maintain the combined reflected impedance at the desired level.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first power converter comprises a rectifier of the wireless receiver module.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first power converter comprises a switched-capacitor power converter.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second power converter comprises an inductive buck converter.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second power converter is lower in power efficiency than the first power converter.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the second power converter is enabled to provide for finer power tuning of power conversion than the first power converter.
21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second power converter is enabled to provide for finer power tuning of power conversion than the first power converter.
22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the charging voltage is greater than the intermediate voltage and the intermediate voltage is greater than the battery voltage.
23 . An apparatus configured to:
receive, at a wireless receiver module electrically coupled to a first power converter, electrical energy from a wireless transmission module;
convert a charging voltage generated by the wireless transmission module into an intermediate voltage;
convert the intermediate voltage into a battery voltage for charging a battery, wherein two or more components other than the battery, the first power converter, the second power converter, and the wireless receiver module are electrically coupled between the first power converter and the second power converter, wherein each of the two or more components are in parallel with each other and each of the two or more components are in parallel with the second power converter, and wherein the intermediate voltage is configured to power the two or more components; and
operate the first power converter and the second power converter to maintain a combined reflected impedance presented by the battery, the wireless receiver module, the first power converter, and the second power converter to the wireless transmission module at a desired level.