Efficiency monitor for inductive power transmission

1. An efficiency monitor for monitoring power transmission by an inductive power outlet, the inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary coil wired to a power supply, for inductively coupling with a secondary coil wired to an electric load, the efficiency monitor comprising:

at least one input power monitor for measuring input power received by the primary coil from the power supply;

at least one output power monitor for measuring output power received inductively by the secondary coil from the primary coil;

at least one processor for determining an index of power-loss indicative of the efficiency of an inductive coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil; and

at least one communication channel for communicating the input power and the output power to the processor

wherein the index of power-loss comprises at least one of:

an efficiency quotient Q, defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power, and

an efficiency differential Δ, defined as the difference between the output power and the input power.

2. The efficiency monitor of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one circuit-breaker configured to disconnect the primary coil from the power supply.

3. The efficiency monitor of claim 1 wherein the input power monitor is incorporated into the inductive power outlet.

4. The efficiency monitor of claim 1 wherein the output power monitor is incorporated into an inductive power receiver unit.

5. The efficiency monitor of claim 4 wherein the inductive power receiver unit comprises at least one signal transmitter for transmitting a signal to a receiver incorporated in the power outlet, the signal carrying data pertaining to the output power.

6. The efficiency monitor of claim 5 wherein the signal transmitter is selected from a group consisting of: light emitting diodes, radio transmitters, optocouplers, and transmitter circuits.

7. The efficiency monitor of claim 5 wherein the transmitter comprises:

an ancillary load selectively connectable to the secondary inductive coil,

a modulator for modulating a bit-rate signal with an input signal to create a modulated signal, and

a switch for intermittently connecting the ancillary load to the secondary inductive coil according to the modulated signal.

8. The efficiency monitor of claim 1 additionally comprising hazard detectors in communication with the processor.

9. The efficiency monitor of claim 8 wherein the hazard detectors are selected from a group consisting of: magnetic sensors, heat sensors, electromagnetic radiation sensors and Hall probes.

10. A method for monitoring the efficiency of power transmission by an inductive power outlet, the inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary coil wired to a power supply, for inductively coupling with a secondary coil wired to an electric load, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring the input power received by the primary coil from the power supply;

measuring the output power received inductively by the secondary coil from the primary coil;

communicating the input power to a processor;

communicating the output power to the processor; and

the processor determining an index of power-loss indicative of the efficiency of an inductive coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil;

wherein the index of power-loss comprises at least one of:

an efficiency quotient Q, defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power; and

an efficiency differential Δ, defined as the difference between the output power and the input power.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the index of power-loss is the efficiency quotient Q the input power, the method comprising the further step of:

disconnecting the primary coil from the power supply if the efficiency quotient Q is below a threshold value.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the index of power-loss is the efficiency differential Δ the method comprising the further step of:

disconnecting the primary coil from the power supply if the efficiency differential Δ is above a threshold value.

13. An inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary coil, for inductively coupling with a secondary coil wired to an electric load, the inductive power outlet further comprising an efficiency monitor comprising:

at least one input power monitor configured to measure input power received by the primary coil from the power supply;

at least one signal detector configured to detect signals carrying data pertaining to output power received by the secondary coil;

at least one processor configured to receive data pertaining to the input power and the output power, the processor further configured to determine an index of power-loss indicative of the efficiency of an inductive coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil;

wherein the index of power-loss comprises at least one of:

an efficiency quotient Q, defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power; and

an efficiency differential Δ, defined as the difference between the output power and the input power.

14. The inductive power outlet of claim 13 additionally comprising at least one circuit-breaker configured to disconnect the primary coil from the power supply.

15. An inductive power receiver comprising at least one secondary coil for inductively coupling to a primary coil and supplying power to an electric load, the inductive power receiver further comprising

at least one output power monitor for measuring output power received inductively by the secondary coil from the primary coil, and

at least one signal transmitter configured to transmit signals carrying data pertaining to the output power to the inductive power outlet of claim 13 .

16. The inductive power receiver of claim 15 wherein the signal transmitter is selected from a group consisting of: light emitting diodes, radio transmitters, optocouplers, and transmitter circuits.

17. The inductive power receiver of claim 15 wherein the transmitter comprises:

an ancillary load selectively connectable to the secondary inductive coil, a modulator for modulating a bit-rate signal with an input signal to create a modulated signal, and

a switch for intermittently connecting the ancillary load to the secondary inductive coil according to the modulated signal.

18. The inductive power receiver of claim 15 wherein the output power monitor is incorporated into an electric device.

19. The inductive power receiver of claim 18 wherein the electric device is selected from a group consisting of: computers, telephones, personal digital assistance (PDAs), cameras, media players, computers, keyboards and mice.