Wireless transfer station for transferring energy
Inventors
Miller, David R. • Moody, Joseph • Kilbourne, Allen
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10056790-B2
Publication Date
2018-08-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A technology for a wireless transfer station that is operable to wirelessly transfer energy. Energy can be wirelessly transferred with a device or another wireless transfer station using an energy transfer platform having at least one surface. The energy transfer platform can comprise a plurality of wireless transfer coils, wherein the plurality of wireless transfer coils include at least one resonant charging coil and at least one inductive charging coil. Controlling a plurality of wireless transfer coils using a power management module.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a wireless transfer station for transferring energy using an energy transfer platform and one or more wireless transfer coils. The wireless transfer coils include resonant charging coils and inductive charging coils located within wireless transfer platforms to wirelessly transfer energy.
A power management module controls the operation of the coils by switching coil operation between resonance charging and induction charging, and between transmit mode and receive mode. The power management module manages energy transfer levels by selecting coils and resonant frequencies and coordinating operation across stations or coils using a communication/coordination module.
The disclosed system enables wireless charging and can support concurrent operation scenarios, including charging while providing energy to a wheeled cart. Example contexts described include a wheeled medical cart as well as integrated floor/wall fixtures with a wireless transfer hub, coil array, beacons, station ID and battery ID coordination, and an alignment module for operation within a wireless energy battery pack.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage includes 2 inventive features directed to a wheeled cart with a work surface-integrated wireless transfer station and a conversion module that switches the wireless transfer coil between operating modes.
Work surface-integrated wireless transfer station with energy transfer coil
A wheeled cart having a work surface coupled to the wheeled cart, including a first wireless transfer station integrated into the work surface with a first wireless transfer platform and a first wireless transfer coil located within the first wireless transfer platform for wirelessly transferring energy.
Conversion module switching between transmit/receive and resonance/induction charging
A first conversion module coupled to the first wireless transfer coil and configured to switch the first wireless transfer coil between a transmit mode and a receive mode, and switch the first wireless transfer coil between a resonance charging mode and an induction charging mode.
Overall claim coverage centers on a work surface-integrated wireless transfer station on a wheeled cart and a conversion module that switches the wireless transfer coil between transmit/receive mode and resonance charging/induction charging mode. Dependent claim coverage further specifies adding a battery, recharging the battery wirelessly from another wireless transfer station, and introducing a removable external wireless transfer station integrated into a removable wireless energy battery pack, including concurrent partial-energy operation while the external station receives energy.
Stated Advantages
Enables wireless transferring of energy using coils within wireless transfer platforms, including resonant charging coils and inductive charging coils.
Supports switching between transmit mode and receive mode for the wireless transfer coil.
Supports switching between resonance charging mode and induction charging mode.
Provides coordinated operation by managing energy transfer levels, selecting coils and resonant frequencies, and coordinating multiple stations or coils via communication/coordination modules.
Enables concurrent operation where partial energy is provided to the cart while an external wireless transfer station is receiving energy.
Supports charging in example use cases such as a wheeled medical cart and integrated floor/wall fixtures with a wireless transfer hub and wireless transfer coil array.
Documented Applications
Wheeled medical cart use, with a wireless transfer station integrated into a work surface to wirelessly transfer energy.
Integrated floor/wall fixture use, including an example wireless transfer hub with a wireless transfer coil array, beacon coordination, station ID and battery ID coordination, and alignment module operation.
Concurrent charging and energy provision scenario, including providing partial energy to the cart while the external wireless transfer station receives energy from another wireless transfer station.
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