Abstract: A powered joint having a first joint component and second joint component in which the first joint component has multiple degrees of rotational freedom with respect to the second joint component, the powered joint including one or more power transmission coils associated with the first component; a plurality of power receiving coils associated with the second component; a sensor which determines the orientation of the second component with respect to the first component; and a control circuit for selectively connecting one of the plurality of power receiving coils to a power receiving circuit based on information received from the sensor.

Abstract: A coil arrangement for an inductive power transfer system comprising a core (32, 33) having a region of decreased permeability (34), a coil (45) associated with the core, and a tuning slug (35) which is moveable along an axis adjacent the region of decreased permeability in order to adjust the inductance of the coil arrangement, the tuning slug (35) having an effective permeability which varies along said axis.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer transmitter that includes an enclosure for accommodating devices to be energised. The enclosure has one or more side walls and one or more coils for generating an alternating magnetic field within the enclosure. The density of the one or more coils varies with distance from an end of the one or more sidewalls.

Abstract: An inductive power receiving device configured to: supply power received with a power receiving coil to a load in a first mode; determine whether a converter voltage exceeds a threshold voltage; in response to the determining the converter voltage exceeds the threshold voltage after sending a charging mode request, switch to supplying power received with the power receiving coil to the load in a second mode; and in response to determining the converter voltage coil exceeds the threshold voltage before sending the charging mode request is sent, prevent at least a portion of the power received with the power receiving coil from reaching the load. An inductive power transmitting device configured to provide an alternating current voltage to a power transmitting coil and gradually increase the voltage after receiving a charging mode request and stop gradually increasing the voltage once an inductive power receiving device changes modes.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer receiver is provided including a receiving coil (13) in series with a capacitor (14), a voltage multiplier (15) for providing a DC output, and a power control switch (18) controlled by a controller (19) for regulating the power supplied to a load. An inductive power transfer receiver is provided including a receiving coil in series with a capacitor, a charge pump for providing a DC output, and a power control switch controlled by a controller for regulating the power supplied to a load. A method of power flow control in an inductive power transfer circuit having a power control switch is also provided. The method includes detecting two operational transitions in the circuit and determining a reference timing bases on which operational transition is detected earliest within a detection window. The reference timing is used to developing a signal for controlling the power control switch.

Abstract: An inductive power receiving device configured to: supply power received with a power receiving coil to a load in a first mode; determine whether a converter voltage exceeds a threshold voltage; in response to the determining the converter voltage exceeds the threshold voltage after sending a charging mode request, switch to supplying power received with the power receiving coil to the load in a second mode; and in response to determining the converter voltage coil exceeds the threshold voltage before sending the charging mode request is sent, prevent at least a portion of the power received with the power receiving coil from reaching the load. An inductive power transmitting device configured to provide an alternating current voltage to a power transmitting coil and gradually increase the voltage after receiving a charging mode request and stop gradually increasing the voltage once an inductive power receiving device changes modes.

Abstract: A powered joint having a first joint component and second joint component in which the first joint component has multiple degrees of rotational freedom with respect to the second joint component, the powered joint including one or more power transmission coils associated with the first component; a plurality of power receiving coils associated with the second component; a sensor which determines the orientation of the second component with respect to the first component; and a control circuit for selectively connecting one of the plurality of power receiving coils to a power receiving circuit based on information received from the sensor.

Abstract: A coil arrangement for an inductive power transfer system comprising a core (32, 33) having a region of decreased permeability (34), a coil (45) associated with the core, and a tuning slug (35) which is moveable along an axis adjacent the region of decreased permeability in order to adjust the inductance of the coil arrangement, the tuning slug (35) having an effective permeability which varies along said axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contactless connector (100), a system including the contactless connector (100) and a corresponding mating connector (200), and a manufacturing method for the contactless connector. In order to enable the contactless connector (100) to transmit/receive power to/from the corresponding mating connector (200), the invention suggest providing at the contactless connector an inner ferrite element (102) and an inductive coupling element (110) arranged to at least partially surround the inner ferrite element. An outer ferrite element (107) of the contactless connector is arranged to at least partially surround the inductive coupling element (110), wherein a front end (108) of the outer ferrite element (107) facing the mating (101) end of the contactless connector is recessed in an axial direction of the contactless connector with respect to a front end (103) of the inner ferrite element (102) facing the mating end.

Abstract: An inductive power receiver 3 comprising: a power pick up stage 9; and a power rectification and regulation stage 10 including a rectifier having a plurality of control devices, wherein at least one of the control devices is a controllable AC switch, wherein the receiver is configured to switch the at least one AC switch according to an open circuit control strategy.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer transmitter 200 comprising: a transmitting coil 7; a main flyback switch S1 in series with the transmitting coil 7; and an active snubber circuit 202 connected in parallel with the main flyback switch S1; wherein the main flyback switch S1 and the active snubber circuit 202 are configured to provide substantially zero voltage switching

Abstract: An inductive power transfer transmitter that includes an enclosure for accommodating devices to be energised. The enclosure has one or more side walls and one or more coils for generating an alternating magnetic field within the enclosure. The density of the one or more coils varies with distance from an end of the one or more sidewalls.

Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit for use in a power supply system to control switching on of the circuit. The circuit is connected between a voltage source and a load. A current sensing resistor senses the current flowing to the load and a pair of thermally coupled transistor switches detect a predetermined voltage drop across the current sensing resistor when the current in the current sensing resistor exceeds a first threshold. A control switch limits the power delivered to the load from the voltage source when the pair of transistor switches detecting the predetermined voltage drop.

Abstract: An inductive power receiver including a receiving coil, first capacitor and power conditioning circuitry for providing power to a load. The inductive power receiver also includes a variable capacitance and/or a variable inductance connected in parallel with at least one of the receiving coil and the first capacitor. The variable capacitance includes a variable impedance and a second capacitor having a capacitance at least twice the capacitance of the first capacitor. The variable inductance includes a variable impedance and an inductor having an inductance at least twice the inductance of the receiving coil. A control circuit controls the variable impedance based on a load voltage input and a reference voltage input so as to regulate the power provided to the load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contactless connector (100), a system including the contactless connector (100) and a corresponding mating connector (200), and a manufacturing method for the contactless connector. In order to enable the contactless connector to transmit/receive power to/from the corresponding mating connector, the invention suggest providing at the contactless connector an inner ferrite element (102, 202) and an inductive coupling element (110) arranged to at least partially surround the inner ferrite element. An outer ferrite element (107, 207) of the contactless connector is arranged to at least partially surround the inductive coupling element (110), wherein a front end (108) of the outer ferrite element (107) facing the mating end of the contactless connector is recessed in an axial direction of the contactless connector with respect to a front end (103) of the inner ferrite element (102, 202) facing the mating end (101).

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system including a power transmitter and power receiver including magnetically permeable cores having a base portion and an axial core portion extending away therefrom with windings provided upon the axial core portion. The arrangement is particularly suited for use in wireless power connectors.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer receiver is provided including a receiving coil (13) in series with a capacitor (14), a voltage multiplier (15) for providing a DC output, and a power control switch (18) controlled by a controller (19) for regulating the power supplied to a load. An inductive power transfer receiver is provided including a receiving coil in series with a capacitor, a charge pump for providing a DC output, and a power control switch controlled by a controller for regulating the power supplied to a load. A method of power flow control in an inductive power transfer circuit having a power control switch is also provided. The method includes detecting two operational transitions in the circuit and determining a reference timing bases on which operational transition is detected earliest within a detection window. The reference timing is used to developing a signal for controlling the power control switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contactless connector (100), a system including the contactless connector (100) and a corresponding mating connector (200), and a manufacturing method for the contactless connector. In order to enable the contactless connector (100) to transmit/receive power to/from the corresponding mating connector (200), the invention suggest providing at the contactless connector an inner ferrite element (102) and an inductive coupling element (110) arranged to at least partially surround the inner ferrite element. An outer ferrite element (107) of the contactless connector is arranged to at least partially surround the inductive coupling element (110), wherein a front end (108) of the outer ferrite element (107) facing the mating (101) end of the contactless connector is recessed in an axial direction of the contactless connector with respect to a front end (103) of the inner ferrite element (102) facing the mating end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contactless connector (100), a system including the contactless connector (100) and a corresponding mating connector (200), and a manufacturing method for the contactless connector. In order to enable the contactless connector to transmit/receive power to/from the corresponding mating connector, the invention suggest providing at the contactless connector an inner ferrite element (102, 202) and an inductive coupling element (110) arranged to at least partially surround the inner ferrite element. An outer ferrite element (107, 207) of the contactless connector is arranged to at least partially surround the inductive coupling element (110), wherein a front end (108) of the outer ferrite element (107) facing the mating end of the contactless connector is recessed in an axial direction of the contactless connector with respect to a front end (103) of the inner ferrite element (102, 202) facing the mating end (101).