System and/or method for charging or powering devices, including mobile devices, machines or equipment
In accordance with various embodiments, described herein are systems and/or methods for enabling efficient wireless power transfer and charging of devices and/or batteries, including in some embodiments freedom of placement of the devices and/or batteries in one or multiple (e.g. one, two or three) dimensions, and/or improved features such as ease of use and compatibility. Exemplary applications include beam inductive or magnetic charging and power for use in, e.g., mobile, electronic, electric, lighting or other devices, machines, batteries, power tools, kitchen, military, medical, industrial tools or systems, robots, trains, buses, trucks and/or vehicles, and other environments.
1. A system for wireless power transfer or charger, comprising:
a communication and control section;
a charger coil assembly including a charger coil and a ferromagnetic material layer and a full bridge or half bridge topology power section; and
an impedance matching network circuit comprising one or more fixed, switchable or variable capacitors and inductors in series and/or parallel with the charger coil, wherein
the charger coil transfers power to a receiver system comprising a receiver communication and control section, receiver coil and receiver power section including a fixed, switchable or variable matching network circuit,
whereby the receiver system is incorporated into a vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system including a rechargeable battery,
charging is carried out using alternating electrical current rather than direct current powering the charger coil, and
the charger and receiver communication sections communicate through WiFi, Bluetooth, RFID and/or other wireless technology to provide control over the charging process and/or to guide a driver or the vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system to align the charger and receiver coils to provide optimum power transfer.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger coil and ferromagnetic material layer is designed such that the electromagnetic emission from the charger coil is generally confined to the area above or near the charger coil and is generally kept below the allowed limits in areas where human exposure can occur during use.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a wireless communication between the wireless charger and the receiver uses Near Field Communication, Bluetooth, WiFi, wireless USB, Felica, Zigbee, Wireless Gigabit, DSRC, RFID, WPC, or other custom communication technology.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system performs transferring power to allow charging of a moving vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system, including use of one or more charger coils along a length upon which the moving vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system to be powered or to be charged can move.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless charger and the receiver can communicate information regarding one or more of output voltage, current, power, or battery status, validation ID, end of charge or various charge status information, and/or Application Data or user data comprising information about a user, verification of ability to account and charge a customer for a charging/power service, or other data that can be used to perform system or firmware updates, diagnostics, billing or other tasks.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power to the receiver coil and power section is adjusted by changing the frequency, duty cycle or voltage of the signal applied to the charger coil or by varying the capacitance and/or inductor of the impedance matching network of the charger and/or receiver.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more transport system is an electric vehicle, robot, train, bus, truck, electric bicycle, motorcycle, Segway type of device and/or other electric vehicles or other moving equipment.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein an initiation of charging can be signaled to a receiver or other device included in a vehicle or transport system by providing a visual signal and/or an auditory signal to a user thereby disabling the vehicle or transport system movement during charge, or other actions.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein a communication between the wireless charger and the receiver can follow one or a number of protocols including a wireless charging specific or automotive-specific procedures or protocols including DSRC, WiFi and/or Bluetooth.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein approach of a vehicle, robot or transport system to be charged has been detected and verified through a communication using RFID, Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless USB, NFC, Felica, Zigbee, Wireless Gigabit (WiGig), WPC, A4WP, DSRC or has been accomplished by the driver through visual, auditory or physical signals prior to any activation of the charger power section and coil.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless charger can communicate with a local area network, a wide area network, a cellular network, a satellite network, a fiber network, a DSL network or other wireless or wired network, to exchange information or update information remotely regarding the charging of the vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system or the user.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver and/or charger or the system to be charged include capacitive, Doppler, resistive, laser or diode, optical, photocell, thermal, radar, sonar, ultrasonic, weight or magnetic methods, cameras or detectors to provide methods for alignment of coils and safe operation.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the process of charging of the vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system can include billing/tolling of the electricity used during charging in public locations including public or office parking garage/lots, hotel, restaurant, roadway or other structures.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless charger or a vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system can communicates with an owner of the vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system or a designated person by text, email, telephone message, custom application or other means of communication about a state of charging of the vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system, error conditions or other important information.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless charger, a vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system being charged can also be programmed to contact utility service providers and optimize a charge commencement time and/or a termination time or a charge rate for an optimum network load, a minimum electricity cost or other desirable performance attributes.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein, once a rough or approximate alignment is reached between the wireless charger and the vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system, a wireless communication link between the wireless charger and the vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system can be established and diagnostic tests, verifications, further alignment checks or other actions performed.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein a proximity sensor including a capacitive, resistive, laser or diode or rangefinder, optical, thermal, photocell, radar, sonar, ultrasonic, weight or cameras or infrared sensors or another method of detection can be used to determine a presence of a live animal or a person in a region of high magnetic field close to the charger coil or between the charger coil and the vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system and take an appropriate action.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the impedance matching network circuit consist of the one or more fixed, switchable or variable capacitors and inductors in series, and the receiver system consist of the receiver communication and control section, receiver coil and receiver power section including the fixed, switchable or variable matching network circuit.
19. A method for wireless power transfer or charging using a communication and control section, a charger coil assembly including a charger coil and a ferromagnetic material layer and a full bridge or half bridge topology power section, and an impedance matching network circuit comprising one or more fixed, switchable or variable capacitors and inductors in series and/or parallel with the charger coil, the method comprising:
having the charger coil, effective to generate alternating current electricity, transfer power to a receiver system comprising a receiver communication and control section, receiver coil and receiver power section including a fixed, switchable or variable matching network circuit,
wherein the receiver system is incorporated into a vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system including a rechargeable battery, and
the charger and receiver communication sections communicate through WiFi, Bluetooth, RFID and/or other wireless technology to provide control over the charging process and/or to guide a driver or the vehicle, bus, train, robot or other transport system to align the charger and receiver coils to provide optimum power transfer without use of direct current via the charger coil.