Wireless power supplying system and adaptive adjustment method thereof

It is disclosed a wireless power supplying system and an self adaptive adjustment method thereof. The method includes: a step for detecting an operating status of an electric power sending unit and determining, based on the detected operating status, whether the electric power transmitting unit satisfies a condition of a normal operation of the system and a step for determining, based on the above determination result, whether to adjust a master frequency of an oscillating circuit so that the master frequency of the oscillating circuit is between a resonance frequency of a transmitting coil and a resonance frequency of a receiving coil. The master frequency of the oscillating circuit is adjusted automatically, so that the master frequency is always close to the resonance frequency of the transmitting coil and that of the receiving coil, thereby maintaining stably the power output of the system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national phase application under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2010/080170 filed Dec. 23, 2010, which in turn claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201010208340.5 filed Jun. 24, 2010. The disclosures of such international patent application and Chinese priority patent application are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties, for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to wireless power supplying technologies, and in particular, to an adaptive adjustment method of a wireless power supplying system and the corresponding wireless power supplying system.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Wireless technologies have been used in the field of information application such as wireless transmission of signals for a long time, but the power transmission characteristic of such technologies has not been properly developed. An electronic device for daily use must be equipped with a dedicated power adapter to electrically connect to the Alternating Current (AC) utility power supply, or be equipped with a battery providing electrical energy to the electronic device. However, since the existing power adapter needs to use a power line to electrically connect to the electronic device, it is extremely inconvenient due to the limitation of the power line when the electronic device is moving. With the development of technology, the wireless power supplying technology has been developed to transmit electrical energy to the electronic device in a wireless manner. Reference is now made toFIG. 1, which depicts a schematic diagram of an existing wireless power supplying system. As shown inFIG. 1, the existing wireless power supplying system100includes an electric power transmitting unit110and an electric power receiving unit120. The electric power transmitting unit110generally includes a power supply111, a control circuit112, an oscillating circuit113and a transmitting coil114. The electric power receiving unit120generally includes a receiving coil121and a rectifying and filtering circuit122. The power supply111of the electric power transmitting unit110is used for converting the AC utility power supply voltage to a Direct Current (DC) voltage required for each of the circuits in the electric power transmitting unit110(e.g., the control circuit112and the oscillating circuit113), the oscillating circuit113is used to generate a frequency signal, the control circuit112is electrically connected to the oscillating circuit113to control a master frequency f0of the frequency signal generated by the oscillating circuit113, and the transmitting coil114generates a resonance frequency f1based on the master frequency f0of the frequency signal so as to output the electric power. The receiving coil121of the electric power receiving unit120is electromagnetically coupled to the transmitting coil114to receive the electric power outputted by the electric power transmitting unit110, so as to generate an AC voltage having a certain resonance frequency f2, and the rectifying and filtering circuit122is used for converting that AC voltage to the DC voltage.

However, in order to enable the wireless power supplying system100to be operated stably, the master frequency f0of the frequency signal generated by the control oscillating circuit113, the resonance frequency f1of the transmitting coil114and the resonance frequency f2of the receiving coil121should be ideally equal (i.e. f0=f1=f2), so that the transmitting coil114and the receiving coil121can be electromagnetically coupled deeply, so as to generate the electrical energy at the electric power receiving unit120to implement wireless power supplying. However, in fact, due to the influences of physical characteristics, application environments and qualities of electrical elements and the like, there exists a shift between the resonance frequency f1of the transmitting coil114and the resonance frequency f2of the receiving coil121, which causes a big difference and mismatch between the resonance frequency f1of the transmitting coil114and the resonance frequency f2of the receiving coil121, and the deep electromagnetic coupling may not be enabled, and therefore the output power of the wireless power supplying system100is unstable, that is, the wireless power supplying system cannot operate normally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an adaptive adjustment method of a wireless power supplying system, which is capable of automatically adjusting the master frequency, so that the master frequency is always close to the resonance frequency of the transmitting coil of the electric power transmitting unit and the resonance frequency of the receiving coil of the electric power receiving unit, which can stabilize the power output of the system so as to achieve a relatively stable system.

The object of the present invention is also to provide a wireless power supplying system having an adaptive adjustment function, which is capable of automatically adjusting the master frequency, so that the master frequency is always close to the resonance frequency of the transmitting coil of the electric power transmitting unit and the resonance frequency of the receiving coil of the electric power receiving unit, which can stabilize the power output of the system so as to achieve a relatively stable system.

To achieve above advantages, it is provided an adaptive adjustment method of a wireless power supplying system, the wireless power supplying system comprises an electric power transmitting unit, the electric power transmitting unit includes a power supply, an oscillating circuit, a control circuit and a transmitting coil, the oscillating circuit generates a frequency signal having a master frequency, an induction between the transmitting coil and a receiving coil of an electric power receiving unit generates an electrical energy, the adaptive adjustment method comprises: a step for detecting an operating status of the electric power transmitting unit and determining, based on the detected operating status, whether the electric power transmitting unit satisfies a condition of a normal operation of the wireless power supplying system; and a step for determining, based on the above determination result, whether to adjust the master frequency of the oscillating circuit so that the master frequency of the oscillating circuit is between a resonance frequency of the transmitting coil and a resonance frequency of the receiving coil.

Preferably, the step for detecting an operating status of the electric power transmitting unit and determining, based on the detected operating status, whether the electric power transmitting unit satisfies a condition of the normal operation of the wireless power supplying system comprises: a step A for detecting an amplitude of present current in the transmitting coil; and a step B for determining whether the present current in the transmitting coil is within a normal operating current range of the transmitting coil in a normal operation of the wireless power supplying system.

Preferably, the step for determining, based on the above determination result, whether to adjust the master frequency of the oscillating circuit so that the master frequency of the oscillating circuit is between a resonance frequency of the transmitting coil and a resonance frequency of the receiving coil comprises: a step C for determining, based on above determination result in the step B, whether to adjust the master frequency of the oscillating circuit so that the present current in the transmitting coil is within its normal operating current range.

Preferably, the normal operating current range of the transmitting coil is between a permitted minimum current value and a permitted maximum current value.

Preferably, the step B includes: a step B1for determining whether the present current in the transmitting coil is larger than the permitted minimum current value in its normal operating current range and is less than the permitted maximum current value in its normal operating current range; and a step B2for determining that the present current in the transmitting coil is within its normal operating current range when the above determination result in the step B1shows that the present current in the transmitting coil is larger than the permitted minimum current value in its normal operating current range and is less than the permitted maximum current value in its normal operating current range; otherwise, determining that the present current in the transmitting coil is not within its normal operating current range.

Preferably, in the step C, if it is necessary to adjust the master frequency of the oscillating circuit so that the present current in the transmitting coil is within its normal operating current range, the step C further includes: a step C1for increasing the master frequency of the oscillating circuit by one fixed frequency offset; a step C2for detecting the current in the transmitting coil, and employing this current as a positively-adjusted current; a step C3for determining whether the positively-adjusted current is larger than the present current in the transmitting coil before the master frequency is adjusted, and a step C4for employing the positively-adjusted current as the present current in the transmitting coil when the above determination result in the step C3shows that the positively-adjusted current is larger than the present current in the transmitting coil and returning to the step B; otherwise, decreasing the master frequency of the oscillating circuit by two fixed frequency offsets, detecting the current in the transmitting coil, employing this current as a negatively-adjusted current, employing the negatively-adjusted current as the present current in the transmitting coil, and returning to the step B.

Preferably, before the step B, the method further comprises: a step D1for determining whether the present current in the transmitting coil exceeds the permitted maximum current value in the normal operating current range of the transmitting coil; and a step D2for issuing an alarm or turning off the wireless power supplying system automatically when the above determination result in the step D1shows that the present current in the transmitting coil exceeds the permitted maximum current value; otherwise, performing the step B.

The present invention also provides an adaptive adjustment method of a wireless power supplying system, the wireless power supplying system comprises an electric power transmitting unit and an electric power receiving unit, the electric power transmitting unit includes an oscillating circuit and a transmitting coil, the oscillating circuit generates a frequency signal having a master frequency, the electric power receiving unit comprises a receiving coil, an induction between the transmitting coil and the receiving coil generates an electrical energy, the adaptive adjustment method comprises: a step E for detecting a change of an operating status of the electric power transmitting unit; and a step F for controlling an adjustment of the master frequency according to the change of the operating status of the electric power transmitting unit, so that the master frequency is always close to the changed resonance frequency of the transmitting coil of the electric power transmitting unit and to the changed resonance frequency of the receiving coil of the electric power receiving unit, thereby stabilizing the power output of the system. The present invention further provides a wireless power supplying system having an adaptive adjustment function, comprises: an electric power transmitting unit and an electric power receiving unit. The electric power transmitting unit includes a power supply, an oscillating circuit, a control circuit and a transmitting coil, wherein the power supply is used for converting an AC utility power supply voltage into a DC voltage required for each of the circuits, the oscillating circuit is used for generating a frequency signal having a master frequency, the control circuit is electrically connected to the oscillating circuit to adjust the master frequency of the oscillating circuit, and the transmitting coil generates an oscillation frequency based on the master frequency of the oscillating circuit to transmit the electrical energy. The electric power receiving unit is used for receiving the electrical energy transmitted by the electric power transmitting unit. The control circuit includes a current detection circuit, a determination circuit and a processor. The current detection circuit is used for detecting the present current in the transmitting coil, the determination circuit is used for determining whether the present current in the transmitting coil is within a normal operating current range of the transmitting coil in a normal operation of the wireless power supplying system, and the processor is electrically connected to the determination circuit and the oscillating circuit, to determine, based on the above determination result, whether to adjust the master frequency of the oscillating circuit so that the present current in the transmitting coil is within its normal operating current range.

The adaptive adjustment method of the wireless power supplying system and the wireless power supplying system with the adaptive adjustment function of the present invention can automatically adjust the master frequency so that the master frequency is always close to the resonance frequency of the transmitting coil and to the resonance frequency of the receiving coil, therefore the power output of system can be maintained stably, which ensures the wireless power supplying system to be operated stably.

The above illustration is only an overview of the technical solution of the present invention, in order to be able to better understand the technical means of the present invention so as to be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification, and in order to allow the above and other purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention to be more apparent, the following preferred embodiments will be discussed in conjunction with accompanying drawings as follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To further illustrate the technical means of the present invention taken to achieve a predetermined purpose of the invention and the effectiveness thereof, specific embodiments, structures, features and effectiveness of the wireless power supplying system having an adaptive adjustment function and its adaptive adjustment method according to the present invention will be described in detail as follows in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

Reference is now made toFIG. 2, which depicts a schematic diagram of a wireless power supplying system having an adaptive adjustment function according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2, a wireless power system200is similar to the wireless power supplying system100as shown inFIG. 1, and also includes an electric power transmitting unit210and an electric power receiving unit220. The electric power transmitting unit210includes a power supply211, a control circuit212, an oscillating circuit213and a transmitting coil214, and the electric power receiving unit220includes a receiving coil221and a rectifying and filtering circuit222. These electronic elements are similar to the electronic elements as shown inFIG. 1, and will not be discussed in detail here.

Further, the control circuit212further includes a current detection circuit2121, a determination circuit2122, and a processor2123. The current detection circuit2121is electrically connected to the transmitting coil214to detect present current in the transmitting coil214, the determination circuit2122is electrically connected to the current detection circuit2121to determine whether the present current in the transmitting coil214is within a normal operating current range of the transmitting coil214in a normal operation of the wireless power supplying system200, and the processor2123is electrically connected to the determination circuit2122and the oscillating circuit213to determine, based on the above determination result, whether to adjust the master frequency f0of the oscillating circuit213so that the master frequency f0is between a resonance frequency f1of the transmitting coil214and a resonance frequency f2of the receiving coil221, to stabilize the output power of the system.

The wireless power supplying system100having an adaptive adjustment function of the present invention determines whether its resonance frequency f1matches with the resonance frequency f2of the receiving coil221tthe current flowed into the transmitting coil214. If the resonance frequency f1and the resonance frequency f2are not matched, then the master frequency f0of the oscillating circuit213is adjusted so that the master frequency f0is between the resonance frequency f1of the transmitting coil214and the resonance frequency f2of the receiving coil221, thereby adjusting the output power of the transmitting coil214, and at the same time making the master frequency f0be maintained close to the resonance frequency f1of the transmitting coil214and to the resonance frequency f2of the receiving coil221, thereby enabling the wireless power supplying system100to maintain the stable power output and operate stably and normally.

Further, in order to enable the two coils to be electromagnetic coupled deeply, there is a requirement to define a permitted minimum current value Imin and a permitted maximum current value Imax. When the current I in the coil is greater than the permitted minimum current value Imin and less than the permitted maximum current value Imax, the resonance frequencies of both of the coils are close to each other, the wireless power system200can operate normally, and the electric power can be transmitted stably. In other words, the normal operating current range of the coil is between the permitted minimum current value Imin and the permitted maximum current value Imax, and the resonance frequency at which the electric power can be transmitted stably by the coil is between two critical resonance frequencies corresponding to the permitted minimum current value Imin.

The present invention also provides an adaptive adjustment method of the wireless power system, and the method is to determine whether a frequency offset shall be compensated in the oscillating circuit213based on an amplitude of the current flowing in the transmitting coil. By adjusting the master frequency of the oscillating circuit213, the inflow current to the transmitting coil214is maintained within an appropriate range to meet the operational needs. That is, the adjustment of the master frequency is controlled by the detected and determined operation condition of the electric power transmitting unit210(current, electric power, etc.), so that the master frequency is always close to the changed resonance frequency of the coil of the electric power transmitting unit210and to the changed resonance frequency of the coil of the electric power receiving unit220, thereby stabilizing the power output of the system.

In particular, reference is now made toFIG. 3which depicts a schematic diagram of the adaptive adjustment method of the wireless power supplying system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3, the method includes detecting a present current I1in the transmitting coil214by the current detection circuit2121. Then, the determination circuit2122determines whether the present current I1in the transmitting coil214exceeds the permitted maximum current value Imax in the normal operating current range of the transmitting coil. Since the current of the coil is not allowed to exceed the permitted maximum current value during its electromagnetic coupling, it means that the wireless power supplying system200is in a dangerous state when the above determination result shows that the present current I1in the transmitting coil214exceeds the permitted maximum current value Imax, then an alarm should be issued or the wireless power supplying system200should be turned off automatically. Otherwise, the determination circuit2122continues to determine whether the present current I1in the transmitting coil214is within its normal operating current range.

Specifically, the determination circuit2122determines whether the present current I1in the transmitting coil214is greater than the permitted minimum current value Imin of its normal operating current range. When the present current I1in the transmitting coil214is greater than the permitted minimum current value Imin, it means that the present current I1in the transmitting coil214is within its normal operating range, and then the wireless power system200can be operated stably. Otherwise, when the present current I1in the transmitting coil214is less than the permitted minimum current value Imin, it means that the present current I1is not within the normal operating current range, and then the processor2123outputs a control signal to adjust the master frequency f0of the oscillating circuit213, so that the present current I1in the transmitting coil214is adjusted to be within its normal operating current range.

First, the master frequency f0of the oscillating circuit213is increased by one fixed frequency offset Δf. Then, the present current (namely positively-adjusted current) I2in the transmitting coil214is detected by the current detection circuit2121. Next, it is determined whether this present positively-adjusted current I2is greater than the present current I1in the transmitting coil214by the determination circuit2122. When the positively-adjusted current I2is greater than the present current I1, it means that the above adjustment direction for the master frequency f0of the oscillating circuit213is correct. At this time, the positively-adjusted current I2can be used as the present current I1in the transmitting coil214, and it is continued to determine whether this present current I1(i.e. the positively-adjusted current I2) is in the normal operating current range, and if not, the adjustment is conducted continuously.

In contrast, when the positively-adjusted current I2is less than the present current I1, it means that the above adjustment direction for the master frequency f0of the oscillating circuit213is incorrect. Then, the present master frequency f0of the oscillating circuit213is decreased by two fixed frequency offsets Δf (i.e., reverse-direction adjustment by 2Δf), and the present current (namely negatively-adjusted current) I3in the transmitting coil214is detected, and the negatively-adjusted current I3is used as the present current I1in the transmitting coil214, and then it is also continued to determine whether this present current I1(i.e. the negatively-adjusted current I3) is in the normal operating current range, and if not, it continues to adjust again. By analogy, the present current I1in the transmitting coil214can be gradually adjusted to the normal current range according to present invention, that is, it allows the present current to be between the permitted maximum current value Imax and the permitted minimum current value Imin.

In summary, the wireless power supplying system and its adaptive adjustment method of the present invention can automatically adjust the master frequency, so that the master frequency is always between the resonance frequency f1of the transmitting coil214and the resonance frequency f2of the receiving coil222, thereby allowing the power output of the system to be maintained stably, so as to ensure that the wireless power supplying system can always operate normally and stably.

The above description is merely the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and it is not intended to act as any form of limitation for the present invention. Although the present invention has been disclosed with the above preferred embodiment, the embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art can amend and modify the above disclosed technical content as equivalent embodiments with equivalent variation, without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention. However, the contents without departing from the technical solution of the present invention, any of simple amendments, equivalent variations and modifications for the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention, should fall into the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF INVENTION

The adaptive adjustment method of the wireless power supplying system and the wireless power supplying system with the adaptive adjustment function of the present invention can automatically adjust the master frequency so that the master frequency is always close to the resonance frequency of the transmitting coil and to the resonance frequency of the receiving coil, therefore the power output of system can be maintained stably, which ensures the wireless power supplying system to be operated stably.