INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM

1 . An inductive power transfer transmitter comprising:

a transmitting coil;

a main flyback switch in series with the transmitting coil; and

an active snubber circuit connected in parallel with the main flyback switch;

wherein the main flyback switch and the active snubber circuit are configured to provide substantially zero voltage switching.

2 . The transmitter in claim 1 further comprising a resonant capacitor connected in parallel with the main flyback switch configured to form a series resonant circuit with the transmitting coil.

3 . The transmitter in claim 2 further comprising a capacitor switch connected in series with the resonance capacitor.

4 . The transmitter in claim 3 wherein the active snubber comprises a snubber switch in series with a snubber capacitor.

5 . The transmitter in claim 4 wherein the snubber capacitor has a substantially lower capacitance than the resonant capacitor.

6 . The transmitter in claim 5 wherein the snubber switch is configured to switch off when the capacitor switch is on.

7 . A inductive power receiver comprising:

a resonant tank including a receiving coil and a resonance capacitor;

a power regulating circuit, and

a regenerative snubber connected to the power regulating circuit.

8 . The receiver in claim 6 wherein resonant tank comprises the receiving coil connected in series with the resonance capacitor.

9 . The receiver in claim 6 wherein the power receiving circuit comprises a short circuit controlled switch in parallel with a load.

10 . The receiver in claim 8 wherein the regenerative snubber comprises a switch in series with a capacitor.

11 . The receiver in claim 9 wherein the regenerative snubber is connected in parallel with the short circuit controlled switch.