US20090160261A1 - Wireless energy transfer - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus comprising monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a resonant frequency of a supply source, a receiving component, and a control unit configured to vary a resonant frequency of said receiving component, wherein the apparatus is configured to vary the resonant frequency of said receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to wireless energy transfer, particularly, but not exclusively, to wireless energy transfer between a supply source and a receiving component.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• It is common practice for a portable electronic device, for example a mobile telephone or a laptop computer, to be powered by a rechargeable chemical battery. Generally speaking, such a battery is releasably connected to the body of a portable device.
• The use of a battery for supplying power to a portable electronic device is not ideal because the energy storage capacity of a chemical battery is limited. As such, it is necessary for the chemical battery to be recharged at regular intervals.
• In order to provide a means for recharging the battery, the portable device is normally supplied with a charging means for allowing electrical energy to flow from a mains power supply to the rechargeable battery. The charging means is usually in the form of a charger unit, which conventionally comprises an electrical plug for connecting to a mains power supply socket and an electrical cable for connecting the electrical plug to the portable device.
• This is disadvantageous because, if there is no convenient mains power supply socket, as is the case in most outdoor and public environments, the rechargeable battery will run out of power and the portable device will need to be switched off.
• The use of such a charger unit is further disadvantageous in that it requires a physical connection between the portable device and a mains power supply socket. This severely restricts the movement of the portable device during charging, thereby negating the portability of the device.
• Another type of charger unit makes use of the principle of conventional, short-range inductive coupling, which involves the transfer of energy from a primary inductor in a charger unit to a secondary inductor in the portable device. Such charger units are commonly used, for example, for charging rechargeable batteries in electric toothbrushes.
• Chargers utilising this type of conventional inductive coupling are able to transfer power wirelessly and hence do not require a physical connection between the mains supply and the portable device. However, the maximum distance over which effective power transfer can be achieved is limited to distances of the same order of magnitude as the physical dimensions of the inductors. For portable electronic devices, the dimensions of the inductor are limited by the size of the portable electronic device. Accordingly, in general, at distances of anything greater than a few centimetres, the efficiency of energy transfer between primary and secondary inductors is too small for this type of power transfer to be viable.
• Therefore, as with the electrical cable discussed above, power transfer using conventional inductive coupling requires the charger unit and the portable device to be in very close proximity, meaning that the movement of the portable device is severely restricted.
• In addition to the above problems associated with recharging, the use of a chemical battery as a power supply presents a number of further disadvantages. For example, rechargeable chemical batteries have a limited lifespan and tend to experience a decrease in their maximum storage capacity as they get older. Furthermore, chemical batteries are relatively heavy, meaning that the inclusion of a chemical battery in a portable device generally adds a significant percentage to the device's overall weight. If the device's reliance on the chemical battery could be reduced, then it would be possible for portable electronic devices such as mobile telephones to become significantly lighter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• According to a first example of the invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a resonant frequency of a supply source, a receiving component, and a control unit configured to vary a resonant frequency of said receiving component, wherein the apparatus is configured to vary the resonant frequency of said receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source
• The receiving component of the apparatus described in the immediately preceding paragraph may be adapted to receive energy wirelessly from the supply source by resonant inductive coupling.
• The receiving component of the apparatus described in either of the immediately preceding paragraphs may comprise an adaptive receiving component having a variable resonant frequency.
• The apparatus described in any of the three immediately preceding paragraphs may be configured to match the resonant frequency of said receiving component with the resonant frequency of said supply source.
• A voltage may be induced in the receiving component of the apparatus described in any of the four immediately preceding paragraphs by a magnetic field generated by the supply source, and the control unit may be configured to vary the resonant frequency of the receiving component to match the resonant frequency of the supply source.
• The apparatus described in any of the four immediately preceding paragraphs may further comprise a plurality of electrical components, and the apparatus may be configured to supply electrical energy to at least one of these electrical components.
• The apparatus described in the immediately preceding paragraph may further comprise a battery for supplying electrical energy to at least one of the electrical components when energy is not being received from the supply source.
• The apparatus described in any of the preceding paragraphs may comprise a portable electronic device.
• The apparatus described in any of the preceding paragraphs may comprise a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or laptop computer.
• According to a second example of the invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for detecting a presence of a supply source, means for monitoring a resonant frequency of said supply source, and means for varying a resonant frequency of a receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.
• According to a third example of the invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a receiving component having variable resonance characteristics for receiving energy wirelessly from a supply source, wherein the resonance characteristics of the receiving component may be varied to match resonance characteristics of the supply source to increase the efficiency at which energy is received from the supply source.
• The apparatus described in the immediately preceding paragraph may further comprise monitoring circuitry for detecting and monitoring the resonance characteristics of the supply source.
• The receiving component of the apparatus described in either of the two immediately preceding paragraphs may comprise an adaptive receiving component having variable resonance characteristics and the apparatus may further comprise a control unit configured to automatically vary the resonance characteristics of the adaptive receiving component to match the resonance characteristics of the supply source.
• The apparatus described in any of the three immediately preceding paragraphs may further comprise one or more electrical components and the receiving component may be coupled to power supply circuitry to supply power to at least one of these electrical components.
• The apparatus described in the immediately preceding paragraph may further comprise a battery for supplying electrical energy to at least one of the electrical components when energy is not being received from the supply source.
• The apparatus described in any of the five immediately preceding paragraphs may comprise a portable electronic device.
• The apparatus described in any of the six immediately preceding paragraphs may comprise a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or laptop computer.
• According to a fourth example of the invention, there is provided a system comprising a supply source, and an apparatus comprising monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a resonant frequency of the supply source, a receiving component, and a control unit configured to vary a resonant frequency of said receiving component, wherein the apparatus is configured to vary the resonant frequency of said receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.
• According to a fifth example of the invention, there is provided a method comprising detecting a presence of a supply source, monitoring a resonant frequency of said supply source, and varying a resonant frequency of a receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.
• The method described in the immediately preceding paragraph may further comprise matching the resonant frequency of said receiving component with the resonant frequency of said supply source.
• The method described in either of the two immediately preceding paragraphs may further comprise receiving energy wirelessly at the receiving component from the supply source by resonant inductive coupling.
• The receiving component of the method described in any of the three immediately preceding paragraphs may comprise an adaptive receiving component having a variable resonant frequency and the method may further comprise inducing a voltage in the adaptive receiving component using a magnetic field generated by the supply source, and varying the resonant frequency of the adaptive receiving component to match the resonant frequency of the supply source.
• The method described in any of the four immediately preceding paragraphs may further comprise supplying electrical energy to an electrical apparatus.
• The method of the immediately preceding paragraph may further comprise supplying energy to at least one component of an electrical device from a battery when energy is not being received at the receiving component from the supply source.
• The method of the paragraph six paragraphs above this one may further comprise receiving energy at the receiving component from the supply source by resonant inductive coupling, and supplying energy received by resonant inductive coupling to at least one component of an electrical device.
• According to a sixth example of the invention, there is provided a computer program stored on a storage-medium which, when executed by a processor, is arranged to perform a method comprising detecting a presence of a supply source, monitoring a resonant frequency of said supply source, and varying a resonant frequency of a receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• In order that the invention may be more fully understood, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flow of energy from a feeding device to a portable electronic device.
• FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of primary and secondary RLC resonator circuits with coupling coefficient K.
• FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an equivalent transformer circuit for the first and second RLC resonator circuits shown inFIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a reduced circuit of the equivalent transformer circuit shown inFIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 shows the impedances of the individual components of the equivalent transformer circuit shown inFIG. 3.
• FIG. 6 is a graphical illustration of the relationship between the efficiency of power transfer between two resonators and the difference between the resonators' resonant frequencies.
• FIG. 7 is an illustration of a wireless transfer of energy from a feeding device to a portable electronic device at mid-range using conventional inductive coupling.
• FIG. 8 is an illustration of a wireless transfer of energy from a feeding device to a portable electronic device at mid-range using resonant inductive coupling.
• FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a portable electronic device, including a reactance and monitoring circuitry.
• FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing components of a wireless power transfer apparatus in a portable electronic device.
• FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an adaptive receiving component in a wireless power transfer apparatus of a portable electronic device.
• FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing steps associated with the initiation of wireless power transfer by resonant inductive coupling.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Referring toFIG. 1, afeeding device100 comprises asupply source110 for supplying power wirelessly to a portableelectronic device200. Thesupply source110 comprises a primary reactance, for example comprising aprimary inductor111, adapted to receive an electrical current from anelectrical circuit112. Theelectrical circuit112 may be optionally connected to a power supply, for example comprising amains power supply300, for supplying electrical current to theelectrical circuit112. Theprimary inductor111 has an inductance L₁₁₁, Q-factor Q₁₁₁and resonant frequency f₀₍₁₁₁₎.
• As will be understood by a skilled person, a flow of electrical current through theprimary inductor111 causes amagnetic field400 to be created around theprimary inductor111. As is shown byFIG. 1, themagnetic field400 created around theinductor111 penetrates the exterior of thefeeding device100, meaning that the effects of themagnetic field400 may be experienced in the surrounding environment. For instance, themagnetic field400 may be used to induce a voltage in a receiving component comprising a secondary reactance, such as a secondary inductor in an electrical device. This is the principle upon which wireless energy transfer through conventional short-range inductive coupling is based. However, efficient wireless energy transfer by such conventional short-range inductive coupling is limited to distances of the same order of magnitude as the physical dimensions of the inductors involved in the energy transfer.
• As is fully described below, the portableelectronic device200 is adapted to receive energy wirelessly by an alternative type of inductive coupling. This alternative type of inductive coupling will be referred to as resonant inductive coupling.
• Using resonant inductive coupling, is it possible to efficiently transfer energy over longer distances than over those possible with conventional inductive coupling. This means that resonant inductive coupling provides a greater degree of freedom and flexibility than conventional inductive coupling when used for the transfer of energy. As is described in more detail below, resonant inductive coupling is based on inductive coupling in which the resonant frequency f₀of a supply source and the resonant frequency f₀of a receiving component are equal to one another.
• More specifically, if the resonant frequency f₀associated with a primary reactance, for example the resonant frequency f₀₍₁₁₁₎associated with theinductor111 in thefeeding device100, is equal to the resonant frequency f₀associated with a secondary reactance, for example a receiving component comprising a secondary inductor in a portableelectronic device200, placed in a magnetic field generated by the primary reactance, efficient wireless energy transfer between the primary and secondary reactances can be achieved at longer ranges than is possible with conventional inductive coupling.
• For example, wireless energy transfer with an efficiency of tens of percent may be achieved by resonant inductive coupling over distances at least one order of magnitude greater than the physical dimensions of the inductors being used for the transfer.
• A general example of wireless energy transfer between two inductors by resonant inductive coupling is given below.
• Referring toFIG. 2, there are shown primary and secondaryRLC resonator circuits500,600. Theprimary RLC circuit500 comprises a first inductor (L₁)510, a first capacitor (C₁)520 and a first resistor (R₁)530. Thesecondary RLC circuit600 comprises a second inductor (L₂)610, a second capacitor (C₂)620 and a second resistor (R₂)630. In this example, L₁=L₂and C₁=C₂.
• Theprimary RLC circuit500 is connected to a power source, comprising a time-dependent current source (i_SUPPLY(t))540. The time-dependency of thecurrent source540 is such that the current may take the form of a sine wave, tuned to the resonant frequency
• $f_0=\frac{1}{2\pi \sqrt{L_1{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; label="C"\; filenames="US20090160261A1-20090625-D00003.png,US20090160261A1-20090625-D00005.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">C</figure-callout>}}_1}}=\frac{1}{2\pi \sqrt{L_2{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; label="C"\; filenames="US20090160261A1-20090625-D00010.png,US20090160261A1-20090625-D00011.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">C</figure-callout>}}_2}}$
• of both the first andsecond RLC circuits500,600.
• Thesecond RLC circuit600 is connected to a load, represented inFIG. 2 as a DC current source (i_LOAD)640. The current from the DCcurrent source640 is zero when energy is not being transferred between the first andsecond RLC circuits500,600.
• The Q-values associated with the first andsecond resonator circuits500,600 are represented by the first andsecond resistors530,630. As is explained in more detail below, the magnitude of the Q-values of theresonator circuits500,600 is proportional to the efficiency of energy transfer between thecircuits500,600.
• In this general example, theinductors510,610 are separated by a distance approximately one order of magnitude greater than the physical dimensions of theinductors510,610 themselves. At this range, the coupling coefficient K between theinductors510,610 is small, for example 0.001 or less, meaning that any attempt to transfer energy between theresonator circuits500,600 by conventional inductive coupling would be extremely inefficient.
• FIG. 3 shows an equivalent transformer circuit for the first and secondRLC resonator circuits500,600. When the frequency of the time-dependentcurrent source540 is not equal to the resonant frequency f₀of the secondRLC resonator circuit600, the second resonator circuit is bypassed due to negligible inductance LK. As such, very little or no power is transferred to the load. However, when the conditions for resonant inductive coupling are met, this situation is reversed as is explained below.
• A first condition for energy transfer by resonant inductive coupling is that the Q-values (represented by the resistors530,630) of theresonator circuits500,600 are very high, for example one hundred or more. A second condition for energy transfer by resonant inductive coupling is that the resonant frequencies f₀of thecircuits500,600 are equal to one another. When these conditions are met, and current is supplied by thecurrent source540 at
• $f_0=\frac{1}{2\pi \sqrt{L_1{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; label="C"\; filenames="US20090160261A1-20090625-D00003.png,US20090160261A1-20090625-D00005.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">C</figure-callout>}}_1}},$
• current in thefirst inductor510 is routed via thesecond inductor610. Under these conditions, the inductance LK in the equivalent transformer circuit shown inFIG. 3 is tuned with the secondary resonator circuit. As such, the equivalent transformer circuit shown inFIG. 3 can be reduced to the circuit of a single electrical resonator, as shown byFIG. 4. There is no limit on the number of secondary resonator circuits which could receive current from a primary resonator circuit in this way.
• The impedances of the individual components of the equivalent transformer circuit shown inFIG. 3 are shown inFIG. 5. The impedance Z of the reduced circuit can thus be calculated as follows:
• $Z=\frac{\mathrm{j\omega }LK·Z_{\mathrm{secondary}}}{\mathrm{j\omega }LK+Z_{\mathrm{secondary}}}$
• Assuming the Q-value of thesecondary resonator circuit600 is high, Z_secondarymay be written as:
• $Z_{\mathrm{secondary}}=\mathrm{j\omega }L\left(1-K\right)+1/\mathrm{j\omega }C\therefore \begin{array}{c}Z=\frac{j\omega LK·\left(\mathrm{j\omega }L\left(1-K\right)+1/\mathrm{j\omega }C\right)}{\mathrm{j\omega }LK+\left(\mathrm{j\omega }L\left(1-K\right)+1/\mathrm{j\omega }C\right)}\\ =\frac{\mathrm{j\omega }LK·\left(\mathrm{j\omega }L\left(1-K\right)-\mathrm{j\omega }L\right)}{\mathrm{j\omega }LK+\left(\mathrm{j\omega }L\left(1-K\right)-\mathrm{j\omega }L\right)}\\ =\frac{\mathrm{j\omega }LK·\left(-\mathrm{j\omega }LK\right)}{\mathrm{j\omega }LK-\mathrm{j\omega }LK}\end{array}$
• ∴|Z|→∞ as the conditions for resonant inductive coupling are reached.
• In this way, a secondary resonator circuit may be tuned so as to receive energy by resonant inductive coupling from any primary resonator circuit.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a general relationship between the efficiency of wireless energy transfer η through inductive coupling between primary and secondary reactances separated by a distance one order of magnitude larger than the physical dimensions of the reactances. The efficiency of wireless energy transfer η is plotted on the vertical axis using a logarithmic scale, and the difference in resonant frequency f₀between the reactances is plotted on the horizontal axis. This relationship is applicable to, for example, wireless energy transfer between theprimary inductor111 of thefeeding device100 and asecondary inductor211 of aportable device200 shown inFIG. 7.
• As can be seen, the efficiency of wireless energy transfer η between the reactances is at a maximum when the resonant frequencies f₀associated with the reactances are equal to one another. Moreover, the efficiency of wireless energy transfer η between the reactances decreases markedly as the difference between the resonant frequencies f₀associated with the reactances increases. Accordingly, as discussed above, in order to transfer energy at the maximum possible efficiency it is preferable for the reactances to have resonant frequencies f₀which are as close to each other as possible. Ideally, the resonant frequencies f₀should be identical.
• In addition, as previously discussed, the efficiency of energy transfer between primary and secondary reactances is proportional to the magnitude of the Q-values associated with the reactances; for a high efficiency of energy transfer, the magnitude of the Q-values should be large. For example, in the case of the primary andsecondary inductors111,211 discussed above in relation to the transfer of energy from thefeeding device100 to theportable device200, efficient energy transfer may be achieved with Q-values Q₁₁₁, Q₂₁₁in the order of100. Furthermore, the relative difference between the resonant frequencies f₀₍₁₁₁₎, f₀₍₂₁₁₎associated with theinductors111,211 should be less that the reciprocal of their associated Q-values. At relative differences greater than the reciprocal of the Q-values, the efficiency of energy transfer decreases by 1/Q².
• FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the difference between conventional inductive coupling and resonant inductive coupling when the distance between reactances, for example the primary andsecondary inductors111,211, is one order of magnitude greater than the reactances' physical dimensions. Referring toFIG. 7, with conventional inductive coupling, i.e. when the difference between the resonant frequencies associated with theinductors111,211 is outside of the limits discussed above, only a negligible amount of energy in themagnetic field400 is passed from theprimary inductor111 to thesecondary inductor211 in theportable device200. In contrast, referring toFIG. 8, when the resonant frequencies f₀associated with theinductors111,211 are matched, energy is able to tunnel by resonant inductive coupling from theprimary inductor111 in thefeeding device100 to thesecondary inductor211 in the portableelectronic device200 via themagnetic field400.
• For the purposes of simplicity and clarity, the above example discusses the transfer of energy from aprimary inductor111 to a singlesecondary inductor211. However, alternatively, energy can be transferred from theprimary inductor111 to a plurality ofsecondary inductors211 all being associated with the same resonant frequency f₀, potentially enabling multipleportable devices200 to receive energy wirelessly from asingle feeding device100.
• In this way, feedingdevices100 are able to supply energy to portableelectronic devices200 over mid-ranges, for example several metres, in environments in which it is not convenient to install mains power sockets. As an example, in a similar manner to the installation of wireless LANS in cafés and restaurants, anetwork700 of feedingdevices100 could be installed throughout a public space to provide members of the public with a power supply for their portableelectronic devices200. Such a public space could be, for example, a café, restaurant, bar, shopping mall or library. Alternatively, feeding devices may be installed in private spaces such as, for example, the interior of a person's car or home.
• In order to maximise the potential of such anetwork700 of feedingdevices100, it is preferable that thefeeding devices100 have the capacity to supply energy to as manyportable devices200 as possible. One way in which this could be achieved is to implement a degree of standardization in the properties of the reactances, for example the primary andsecondary inductors111,211, used in thefeeding devices100 and portableelectronic devices200. In particular, it would be preferable if the resonant frequency f₀associated with the primary reactance in eachfeeding device100 of thenetwork700 was the same. This would enable manufacturers ofportable devices200 and other electrical devices to equip their devices with secondary reactances associated with the same standardized resonant frequency f₀.
• A skilled person will appreciate, however, that due to manufacturing tolerances, the mass production of inductors to a degree of accuracy in which all the inductors are associated with exactly the same resonant frequency f₀may be difficult to achieve. This will lead to variations in both the resonant frequencies f₀of feedingdevices100, and to variations in the resonant frequencies f₀ofportable devices200. Furthermore, even if feedingdevices100 andportable devices200 can be manufactured with identical resonant frequencies f₀in free space, the resonant frequencies f₀of each individual unit will be affected when in use by other inductors in the unit's surrounding environment. The amount by which the resonant frequency of each unit is altered will depend on the number and proximity of other inductors.
• Thus, even when attempts have made to standardize the resonant frequencies f₀of feeding devices and portable devices, manufacturing intolerances and environmental conditions still have the potential to cause problems for energy transfer by resonant inductive coupling.
• One way to alleviate this problem is to provide portableelectronic devices200 with a wirelessenergy transfer apparatus210 for altering the resonant frequency f₀associated with theirsecondary inductors211 post-manufacture in dependence of the properties of anearby feeding device100. This provides portableelectronic devices200 with the ability to tune their inductor's resonant frequency f₀to match that associated with theprimary inductor111 in anearby feeding device100 and thus receive energy wirelessly by resonant inductive coupling.
• An exemplary embodiment of a portableelectronic device200 adapted to receive energy wirelessly by resonant inductive coupling is given below. Referring toFIG. 9, the portableelectronic device200 comprises a wirelessenergy transfer apparatus210, comprising a power supply unit (PSU), for receiving energy from a magnetic field and supplying electrical energy toelectrical components240 of theportable device200. Alternatively, as discussed below, electrical energy may be supplied to arechargeable chemical battery250 of the portableelectronic device200.
• In the example discussed below, the magnetic field will be referred to in the context of themagnetic field400 created by current flowing through theprimary inductor111 in afeeding device100. However, a skilled person will appreciate that the magnetic field could alternatively correspond to a magnetic field created by another feeding device, or any other suitable magnetic field source.
• The wirelessenergy transfer apparatus210 is controlled by amicrocontroller220 and comprises a receivingcomponent211a,comprising at least one reactance, for receiving energy wirelessly from themagnetic field400 by resonant inductive coupling. In this example, the receivingcomponent211acomprises asecondary inductor211. Theinductor211 is associated with an inductance L₂₁₁, Q-factor Q₂₁₁and resonant frequency f₀₍₂₁₁₎. Themicrocontroller220 may be integrated into theenergy transfer apparatus210.
• The wirelessenergy transfer apparatus210 further comprisesmonitoring circuitry230 configured to detect amagnetic field400 created by theprimary inductor111 in thefeeding device100, as is described in more detail below. Upon detecting themagnetic field400, themonitoring circuitry230 andmicrocontroller220 are further configured to detect and monitor the resonant frequency f₀₍₁₁₁₎associated with theprimary inductor111.
• The features of themonitoring circuitry230 allow theportable device200 to wirelessly receive energy over mid-range distances, for example distances at least one order of magnitude greater than the physical dimensions of the primary andsecondary inductors111,211.
• Referring toFIG. 10 in combination withFIG. 9, thesecondary inductor211 of the wirelessenergy transfer apparatus210 has a parasitic capacitance C and is connected to a plurality of switched-mode power supplies (SMPSs)212 via a diode-bridge213 andLC filter214. The purpose of theLC filter214 is to ensure that a constant reactive load is introduced to thesecondary inductor211. If theinductor211 were to be loaded resistively, there would be a significant decrease in the Q-value Q₍₂₁₁₎associated with theinductor211, which would in turn significantly reduce the efficiency of the transfer of energy from thefeeding device100, as previously discussed.
• The diode-bridge213 andLC filter214 also protect theinductor211 from direct exposure to the strongly time-varying load presented by theSMPSs212, which are configured to supply power received from themagnetic field400 to various circuits of the portableelectronic device200. TheSMPSs212 may be configured, for example, to supply power to arechargeable chemical battery250 of the portableelectronic device200, as shown inFIG. 9, for recharging.
• Alternatively theSMPSs212 may be configured to supply power directly toelectrical components240 of the portableelectronic device200, with thechemical battery250 acting as a reserve power source. For example, thechemical battery250 may be configured only to supply power toelectrical components240 of the portableelectronic device200 when the wirelessenergy transfer apparatus210 is not receiving power by resonant inductive coupling. If feedingdevices100 were to become widespread, the inclusion of therechargeable battery250 in theportable device200 could become unnecessary.
• Referring toFIG. 11, in this example of the portableelectronic device200, the receivingcomponent211ais adaptive. This allows the resonance characteristics associated with thesecondary inductor211 to be tuned to match the resonance characteristics associated with theprimary inductor111 in thefeeding device100. This provides the degree of tuneability necessary for the resonant frequency f₀₍₂₁₁₎associated with thesecondary inductor211 to be varied, should the resonant frequency f₀₍₂₁₁₎not be identical to that associated with theprimary inductor111 in thefeeding device100.
• In more detail, as is shown byFIG. 11, the receivingcomponent211acomprises thesecondary inductor211 optionally coupled to an array ofcapacitors215, eachcapacitor215 having a different capacitance to each of the others. For example, as shown byFIG. 11, thecapacitors215 may comprise N capacitors with capacitances C₀, C₀/2, . . . C₀/2^N−1. Each of thecapacitors215 may be optionally coupled to thesecondary inductor211 to affect the capacitance C₂₁₁of the receivingcomponent211a,thereby varying the resonant frequency f₀₍₂₁₁₎associated with theinductor211 and providing a mechanism for theportable device200 to match the resonant frequency f₀₍₂₁₁₎associated with thesecondary inductor211 with the resonant frequency f₀₍₁₁₁₎associated with theprimary inductor111 in thefeeding device100. It will be appreciated that the resonant frequency f₀₍₂₁₁₎associated with thesecondary inductor211 could alternatively be varied by altering the inductance of the receivingcomponent211a.
• In this implementation, as is shown byFIG. 11, the array ofcapacitors215 is coupled to acontrol unit216 in themicrocontroller220 for automatically controlling the capacitance C₂₁₁of the receivingcomponent211ain dependence of a control signal from themonitoring circuitry230. Themicrocontroller220 may comprise a memory and signal processing means217, for example including amicroprocessor218, configured to implement a computer program for detecting and monitoring the resonant frequency associated with theprimary inductor111 through themonitoring circuitry230 and analysing the control signal from themonitoring circuitry230 to vary the resonant frequency associated with thesecondary inductor211 by connecting and disconnecting theindividual capacitors215.
• In this way, thecontrol unit216 is able to adapt the resonant frequency f₀₍₂₁₁₎associated with thesecondary inductor211 to make it equal to the resonant frequency f₀₍₁₁₁₎associated with theprimary inductor111, thereby initiating resonant inductive coupling between theprimary inductor111 and thesecondary inductor211.
• Themonitoring circuitry230 may be coupled to an output from theLC filter214 to detect signals from thesecondary inductor211 and thus to detect when the portableelectronic device200 is in the presence of amagnetic field400. For example, the output of theLC filter214 may be coupled to an input of anAD converter231, which may be integrated into themicrocontroller220, for sensing a voltage induced in thesecondary inductor211 and for supplying corresponding signals to themicrocontroller220 for calculating the resonant frequency associated with theprimary inductor111. The resonant frequency associated with thesecondary inductor211 may then be varied to match the calculated resonant frequency of theprimary inductor111.
• Alternatively, as shown byFIG. 9, themonitoring circuitry230 may comprise aseparate coil232 for supplying induced voltage signals to theAD converter231.
• Themonitoring circuitry230 is sensitive to very small induced voltages, for example of the order of microvolts, and thus is configured such that it is able to detect amagnetic field400 even when thesecondary inductor211 is in a detuned state. Themonitoring circuitry220 is thus able to detect the presence of aprimary inductor111 even when then the resonant frequency f₀₍₁₁₁₎associated with theprimary inductor111 is not equal to the resonant frequency f₀₍₂₁₁₎set for thesecondary inductor211 in the portableelectronic device200.
• As shown byFIG. 11, the wirelessenergy transfer apparatus210 may include amemory219 for storing frequency values corresponding to resonant frequencies f₀in different environments, such that the resonant frequency associated with thesecondary inductor211 can be automatically adjusted upon the portableelectronic device200 entering a particular environment. For example, such automatic adjustment could be prompted by a control signal, received through an aerial of theportable device200, indicating that thedevice200 has entered a familiar environment. Thememory219 may also be suitable for storing tuning values between various life cycle states. Thememory219 may comprise non-volatile memory in order that the various resonant frequency values f₀stored in thememory219 are not lost when thedevice200 is switched-off.
• Steps associated with the initiation of a wireless energy transfer between asupply source110, for example comprising aprimary inductor111, and the portableelectronic device200 in the manner described above are shown inFIG. 12.
• Referring toFIG. 12, as described above, the first step S1 is to detect the presence of thesupply source110 by detecting the presence of its associatedmagnetic field400 from an induced voltage at themonitoring circuitry230. Thesupply source110 may comprise aprimary inductor111 in afeeding device100. The second step S2 is to calculate and monitor the resonant frequency of thesupply source110, and the third step S3 is vary the resonant frequency of the receivingcomponent211a,comprising thesecondary inductor211, in dependence of the resonant frequency of thesupply source110. In order to initiate wireless energy transfer with the highest possible efficiency, the third step S3 involves matching the resonant frequency of the receivingcomponent211awith the resonant frequency of thesupply source110. Upon completing these steps, the fourth step S4 is to receive energy wirelessly from thesupply source110 at the receivingcomponent211aby resonant inductive coupling, and the fifth step S5 is to supply the energy to one ormore components240 of theportable device200.
• If wireless energy transfer between thesupply source110 andportable device200 stops, for example because theportable device200 moves out of range, then, as described above, thechemical battery250 may be configured to supply electrical energy to thecomponents240 of theportable device200 in step S6. As shown byFIG. 12, in step S7, the supply of electrical energy from thebattery250 is ceased when wireless energy transfer by resonant inductive coupling is reinitiated.
• The above example discusses the use of anadaptive receiving component211ato vary the resonant frequency associated with thesecondary inductor211 in a portableelectronic device200 so as to match the resonant frequency associated with thesecondary inductor211 to a detected resonant frequency associated with aprimary inductor111 in afeeding device100. However, it will be appreciated that an adaptive component could alternatively be employed in afeeding device100 so as match the resonant frequency associated with a primary inductor in thefeeding device100 to that of a secondary inductor in a portable electronic device.
• For example, a portableelectronic device200 may be configured to supply a control signal to afeeding device100 in order to supply thefeeding device100 with the resonance characteristics of the secondary inductor in the portable electronic device. Thefeeding device100 would then be able to match the resonant frequency associated with its primary inductor to the resonant frequency associated with the secondary inductor in theportable device200, thereby initiating wireless energy transfer by resonant inductive coupling.
• In another alternative, the supply source of a feeding device may comprise a primary inductor driven by an amplifier, and the microcontroller of the portable electronic device may be configured to match a resonant frequency of the adaptive receiving component to a detected frequency of a magnetic field associated with the supply source.
• In the example discussed above, theportable device200 comprises a mobile telephone or PDA. However, it will be appreciated that the portable device may alternatively comprise any number of other devices, for example a laptop computer or digital music player. It will further be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the supply of power to portable electronic devices, but may be used for powering a wide variety of other electrical devices. For example, a network of feeding devices may be installed in the home for supplying power to electric lamps and other household appliances. The above-described embodiments and alternatives may be used either singly or in combination to achieve the effects provided by the invention.

Claims (29)

1. An apparatus comprising:

monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a resonant frequency of a supply source;

a receiving component; and

a control unit configured to vary a resonant frequency of said receiving component, wherein the apparatus is configured to vary the resonant frequency of said receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.

2. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the receiving component is adapted to receive energy Tirelessly from the supply source by resonant inductive coupling.

3. An apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of electrical components, and the apparatus is configured to supply electrical energy to at least one of these electrical components.

4. An apparatus according toclaim 3, further comprising a battery for supplying electrical energy to at least one of the electrical components when energy is not being received from the supply source.

5. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the receiving component comprises an adaptive receiving component having a variable resonant frequency.

6. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to match the resonant frequency of said receiving component with the resonant frequency of said supply source.

7. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein a voltage is induced in the receiving component by a magnetic field generated by the supply source, and the control unit is configured to vary the resonant frequency of the receiving component to match the resonant frequency of the supply source.

8. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a portable electronic device.

9. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile telephone.

10. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

11. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a laptop computer.

12. An apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a presence of a supply source;

means for monitoring a resonant frequency of said supply source; and

means for varying a resonant frequency of a receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.

13. An apparatus comprising a receiving component having variable resonance characteristics for receiving energy wirelessly from a supply source, wherein the resonance characteristics of the receiving component may be varied to match resonance characteristics of the supply source to increase the efficiency at which energy is received from the supply source.

14. An apparatus according toclaim 13, further comprising monitoring circuitry for detecting and monitoring the resonance characteristics of the supply source.

15. An apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the receiving component comprises an adaptive receiving component having variable resonance characteristics and the apparatus further comprises:

a control unit configured to automatically vary the resonance characteristics of the adaptive receiving component to match the resonance characteristics of the supply source.

16. An apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more electrical components and the receiving component is coupled to power supply circuitry to supply power to at least one of these electrical components.

17. An apparatus according toclaim 16, further comprising a battery for supplying electrical energy to at least one of the electrical components when energy is not being received from the supply source.

18. An apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a portable electronic device.

19. An apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile telephone.

20. An apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

21. An apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a laptop computer.

22. A system comprising:

a supply source; and

an apparatus comprising:

monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a resonant frequency of the supply source;

a receiving component; and

a control unit configured to vary a resonant frequency of said receiving component, wherein the apparatus is configured to vary the resonant frequency of said receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.

23. A method comprising:

detecting a presence of a supply source;

monitoring a resonant frequency of said supply source; and

varying a resonant frequency of a receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.

24. A method according toclaim 23, further comprising:

matching the resonant frequency of said receiving component with the resonant frequency of said supply source.

25. A method according toclaim 23, further comprising:

receiving energy wirelessly at the receiving component from the supply source by resonant inductive coupling.

26. A method according toclaim 23, wherein said receiving component comprises an adaptive receiving component having a variable resonant frequency and the method further comprises:

inducing a voltage in the adaptive receiving component using a magnetic field generated by the supply source; and

varying the resonant frequency of the adaptive receiving component to match the resonant frequency of the supply source.

27. A method according toclaim 23, further comprising supplying electrical energy to an electrical apparatus.

28. A method according toclaim 23, further comprising:

receiving energy at the receiving component from the supply source by resonant inductive coupling;

supplying energy received by resonant inductive coupling to at least one component of an electrical device; and

supplying energy to at least one component of an electrical device from a battery when energy is not being received at the receiving component from the supply source.

29. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium, comprising:

a computer-readable program code configured to detect a presence of a supply source;

a computer-readable program code configured to monitor a resonant frequency of said supply source; and

a computer-readable program code configured to vary a resonant frequency of a receiving component in dependence of the resonant frequency of said supply source.

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