Systems and methods for enabling efficient wireless power transfer, and charging of devices and batteries, in a manner that allows freedom of placement of the devices or batteries in one or multiple (e.g., one, two or three) dimensions. In accordance with various embodiments, applications include inductive or magnetic charging and power, and wireless powering or charging of, e.g., mobile, electronic, electric, lighting, batteries, power tools, kitchen, military, medical or dental, industrial applications, vehicles, trains, or other devices or products. In accordance with various embodiments, the systems and methods can also be generally applied, e.g., to power supplies or other power sources or charging systems, such as systems for transfer of wireless power to a mobile, electronic or electric device, vehicle, or other product.

Systems and methods for wireless power transfer

This paper focuses on the primary automotive sensor technologies used today and their related system applications. This paper describes new automotive sensors that measure position, pressure, torque, exhaust temperature, angular rate, engine oil quality, flexible fuel composition, long-range distance, short-range distance, and ambient gas concentrations. In addition, new features are described for sensors that measure linear acceleration, exhaust oxygen, comfort/convenience factors, and night vision. New automotive system applications are described for sensors that measure speed/timing, mass air flow, and occupant safety/security.

New Automotive Sensors—A Review

An inductive position sensor for position sensing includes a transmitter coil and a receiver coil, the receiver coil generating a receiver signal when the transmitter coil is excited by an alternating current source. A moveable coupler element modifies the inductive coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil so that the receiver signal is sensitive to the coupler element position. For example, the coupler element may rotate about a common central axis of the transmitter coil and receiving coil. In further examples, a reference coil is configured so that a provided reference signal is substantially insensitive to variations in the angular position of the coupler element. A ratio between the receiver signal and the reference signal is sensitive to the coupler element position, but substantially insensitive to common mode factors that influence the reference signal and receiver signal to a substantially equal degree.

Inductive position sensor

A transducer is provided for use in a position sensor which senses the position of two relatively movable members. In one form, the transducer has a plurality of sensor windings having a number of loops arranged in succession and connected in series so that signals induced in adjacent loops by a common electromagnetic field oppose each other and an excitation winding having at least one loop super-imposed on but electrically isolated from the loops of the sensor windings.

Position sensor having compact arrangement of coils

A calibration system is provided for use in generating calibration data for calibrating an X-Y digitiser. The calibration system uses an alignment head having an array of magnetic field generators which are for alignment with the X-Y digitiser. Each of the magnetic field generators is individually drivable so that calibration data can be obtained for different positions on the X-Y digitiser corresponding to the positions of the magnetic field generators in the array. The resulting calibration data is then used to generate a correction map which is stored in the X-Y digitiser

Magnetic calibration array

An inductive angle sensor includes: a stator element having an exciting coil with a periodic AC voltage applied thereto and several receiving coils; a rotor element that affects a strength of inductive coupling between the exciting coil and receiving coils as a function of its angular position relative to the stator element; and an evaluation circuit for determining an angular position of the rotor element relative to the stator element from voltage signals induced in the receiving coils. The rotor element forms at least one closed-loop lead that, at least over a partial area, forms a periodic repeating bend structure in a direction of a circumference of the rotor element. The inductive angle sensor provides a compact structure, a high resolution, and a particularly high degree of insensitivity to production and installation tolerances.

Inductive angle sensor

An inductive angle sensor for a motor vehicle has an oscillator circuit that generates a periodic AC oscillator-frequency signal in an exciting coil, at least one receiving coil, an evaluation circuit for detecting the signal induced in the at least one receiving coil, and a movable inductive coupling element that influences a strength of inductive coupling between the exciting coil and the at least one receiving coil. The oscillator circuit is a "soft" or "flexible" oscillator circuit such that when an interference frequency close to the oscillator frequency is coupled into the coil system, the oscillator circuit adapts the oscillator frequency and phase relationship to that of the interference frequency. Undesired overlapping effects are thus efficaciously prevented.

Inductive angle sensor that adapts an oscillator frequency and phase relationship to that of an interference frequency

Described is an inductive position sensor, in particular for a motor vehicle, which has an oscillator circuit that generates a periodic alternating voltage signal and couples into an exciting coil, several receiving coils each of which forms a periodically repeating lap winding structure and whose overall arrangement forms a receiving geometry, an evaluation circuit for evaluating the signals induced in the receiving coils, and a movable inductive coupling element which influences the strength of the inductive coupling between the excitation coil and the receiving coils. The position sensor exhibits two receiving geometries and two coupling elements, the periodicity of the loop structures of the receiving coils is different in the two receiving coils, and over the total measuring range of the position sensor the numbers of periodic repetitions in the lap winding structures of the receiving coils of the two receiving geometries exhibit a non-integer ratio in relation to one another.

Inductive position sensor having multiple receiving geometries

A redundant inductive angle sensor has two LC oscillators of at least approximately identical design. By inductively coupling the oscillators, the oscillators synchronize themselves with respect to frequency and phase relationship so that undesirable mutual interference is prevented. This provides an inductive angle sensor, which is able to function even if one of the LC oscillators becomes inoperative.

Inductive angle sensor having coupled oscillators with similar inductive response

Beschrieben wird ein induktiver Winkelsensor mit einem Statorelement (1), welches eine mit einer periodischen Wechselspannung beaufschlagte Erregerspule (2) sowie mehrere Empfangsspulen (3) aufweist, und einem Rotorelement (4), welches die Starke der induktiven Kopplung zwischen Erregerspule und Empfangsspulen in Abhangigkeit seiner Winkelposition relativ zum Statorelement vorgibt, und einer Auswerteschaltung (9) zur Bestimmung der Winkelposition des Rotorelementes relativ zum Statorelement aus den in den Empfangsspulen induzierten Spannungssignalen, wobei das Rotorelement mindestens eine Kurzschlusleitung (5) ausbildet, welche, zumindest uber Teilbereiche, in Umfangsrichtung des Rotorelementes eine sich periodisch wiederholende Schleifenstruktur ausbildet. Disclosed is an inductive angle sensor with a stator element (1) having an applied with a periodic alternating voltage excitation coil (2) and a plurality of receiving coils (3), and a rotor element (4), which is the strength of the inductive coupling between the exciter coil and receiver coils as a function its angular position relative purports to the stator, and an evaluation circuit (9) for determining the angular position of the rotor element relative to the stator from the current induced in the receiver coil voltage signals, wherein the rotor member forms at least one short-circuit line (5) which, at least over part areas, in the circumferential direction of the rotor element forms a periodically repeating loop structure. Der induktive Winkelsensor zeichnet sich ua durch einen kompakten Aufbau, ein hohes erzielbares Auflosungsvermogen und eine besonders hohe Unempfindlichkeit gegenuber Fertigungs- und Einbautoleranzen aus. The inductive angle sensor is characterized inter alia by a compact design, a high erzielbares resolution and a particularly high insensitivity to manufacturing and assembly tolerances.

Franz-Josef Schmidt

Papers

Inductive angle sensor

Inductive angle sensor that adapts an oscillator frequency and phase relationship to that of an interference frequency

Inductive position sensor having multiple receiving geometries

Inductive angle sensor having coupled oscillators with similar inductive response

Inductive angular sensor