US 12,294,227 B2
Method and apparatus for pre-alignment of an automatically aligning magnetic field system
Brian Dearden, Pasadena, CA (US); Brian Shelton, Ventura, CA (US); and Leslie G. Farkas, Ventura, CA (US)
Assigned to The Alfred Mann Foundation for Scientific Research, Valencia, CA (US)
Filed by THE ALFRED E. MANN FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, Valencia, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/153,991.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/299,165, filed on Jan. 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0238833 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02J 50/40 (2016.01); G01P 15/02 (2013.01); G01R 19/00 (2006.01); H02J 50/12 (2016.01); H02J 50/80 (2016.01); H02J 50/90 (2016.01)
CPC H02J 50/402 (2020.01) [G01P 15/02 (2013.01); G01R 19/0092 (2013.01); H02J 50/12 (2016.02); H02J 50/80 (2016.02); H02J 50/90 (2016.02)] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wireless power transfer system comprising:
a wireless power transfer device, the wireless power transfer device comprising:
a first transmitting coil oriented along a first axis,
a second transmitting coil on the first transmitting coil, oriented along a second axis different from the first axis, and spaced, in an area of overlap between the first and second transmitting coils, from the first transmitting coil along a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second axes,
a non-magnetic material between the first and second transmitting coils along the third direction and in the area of overlap such that the second transmitting coil is magnetically decoupled from the first transmitting coil in the area of overlap, and
a controller configured to differentially control driving of the first and second transmitting coils,
wherein the controller is configured to determine an amplitude ratio such that, in response to the first transmitting coil being driven with a first current having a first amplitude, the second transmitting coil being driven with a second current having a second amplitude, and a ratio of the first amplitude to the second amplitude is the amplitude ratio, the wireless power transfer device generates a magnetic field having a direction, at a receiver coil of an electronic device, that is aligned with the receiver coil.