ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM AND RECEPTION UNIT FOR THE WIRELESS TRANSCUTANEOUS TRANSFER OF ENERGY

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy transfer system (300) for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit (100) and a receiver unit (200) separate from the transmitter unit, wherein the transmitter unit (100) has a primary coil (L.sub.1) that can be supplied with a predetermined supply voltage (U.sub.v), and wherein the receiver unit (200) has a secondary coil (L.sub.2) to which a DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) is connected by a rectifier (210). According to the invention, the energy transfer system (300) comprises a device (230) designed to determine a value of a DC link voltage (U.sub.z) applied on the DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) when the supply voltage (U.sub.v) is applied on the primary coil (L.sub.1), and a device (240) designed to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage (U.sub.z) or a variable (K) derived therefrom. The invention also relates to a receiver unit (200) configured to interact for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit (100) separate from the receiver unit, said transmitter unit (100) comprising a primary coil (L.sub.1) that can be supplied with a supply voltage (U.sub.v), wherein the receiver unit (200) comprises a secondary coil (L.sub.2) to which a DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) is connected by a rectifier (210). According to the invention, the receiver unit contains a device (230) designed to determine a value of a DC link voltage (U.sub.z) applied on the DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) when a supply voltage (U.sub.v) is applied on the primary coil (L.sub.1) and a device (240) designed to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage (U.sub.z) or a variable (K) derived therefrom.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. An energy transfer system for a cardiac support system comprising: a transmitter unit comprising a primary coil configured to be supplied with a supply voltage; a receiver unit configured to supply energy to the cardiac support system, the receiver unit comprising: a secondary coil; a DC link capacitor connected to the secondary coil by a rectifier; and a voltage measuring device configured to determine a value of a DC link voltage applied to the DC link capacitor when the supply voltage is supplied to the primary coil; and a control unit configured to perform at least one function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage or a variable derived therefrom.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one function comprises outputting an acoustic signal when the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom is below a first threshold value.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one function comprises outputting at least one additional signal different from the acoustic signal when the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom is below a second threshold value different from the first threshold value.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the voltage measuring device is configured to determine the value of the DC link voltage continuously or repeatedly, and wherein the at least one function comprises varying the acoustic signal depending on the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one function comprises supplying energy to a load connected to the rectifier and/or charging an energy storage unit connected to the rectifier when the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom is above a threshold value.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the control unit is configured to not supply the load with energy and/or to not charge the energy storage unit as long as the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom is below the threshold value.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one function comprises transmitting the determined value of the DC link voltage or the value derived therefrom to the transmitter unit.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a coupling factor between the primary coil and the secondary coil from the determined value of the DC link voltage, and wherein the control unit is configured to perform the at least one function based on the determined coupling factor.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the coupling factor is a metric related to a relative position between the primary coil and the secondary coil.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the receiver unit comprises the control unit.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the receiver unit is configured to be arranged underneath the skin in a human body, and wherein the transmitter unit is configured to be arranged on the skin outside a human body.

31. A receiver unit configured to interact for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit separate from the receiver unit and to supply energy to a cardiac support system, the transmitter unit comprising a primary coil supplied with a supply voltage, the receiver unit comprising: a secondary coil configured to interact with the primary coil of the transmitter unit; a DC link capacitor connected to the secondary coil by a rectifier; a voltage measuring device configured to determine a value of a DC link voltage applied to the DC link capacitor when the supply voltage is supplied to the primary coil; and a control unit configured to perform at least one function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage or a variable derived therefrom.

32. The receiver unit of claim 31, wherein the at least one function comprises transmitting the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom to the transmitter unit.

33. The receiver unit of claim 31, wherein the at least one function comprises outputting of an acoustic signal when the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom is below a first threshold value.

34. The receiver unit of claim 33, wherein the at least one function comprises outputting of at least one additional signal different from the acoustic signal when the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom is below a second threshold value different from the first threshold value.

35. The receiver unit of claim 33, wherein the voltage measuring device is configured to determine the value of the DC link voltage continuously or repeatedly, and wherein the at least one function comprises varying the acoustic signal depending on the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom.

36. The receiver unit of claim 31, wherein the at least one function comprises supplying energy to a load connected to the rectifier and/or charging an energy storage unit connected to the rectifier when the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom is above a threshold value.

37. The receiver unit of claim 36, wherein the control unit is configured to not supply the load with energy and/or to not charge the energy storage unit for as long as the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom is below the threshold value.

38. The receiver unit of claim 36, wherein the energy storage unit is connected to the rectifier via a buck converter.

39. The receiver unit of claim 31, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a coupling factor between the primary coil and the secondary coil from the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable derived therefrom, and wherein the control unit is configured to perform the at least one function based on the determined coupling factor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an energy transfer system according to the invention in a preferred embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a sequence of a method according to the invention in a preferred embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an energy transfer system 300 according to the invention for wireless energy transfer in a preferred embodiment. The energy transfer system has a transmitter unit 100 and a receiver unit 200 according to the invention separate therefrom.

[0026] The transmitter unit 100 comprises a primary coil L.sub.1, to which an inverter 110 can supply a voltage U.sub.v, said inverter having four semiconductor switches, for example MOSFETs or bipolar transistors, designated as S.sub.1 to S.sub.4. In addition, a pre-filter 120 with unspecified components and a compensation capacitance are arranged between the inverter 110 and the primary coil L.sub.1. The compensation capacitance is used for resonant actuation (actuation with the design frequency) as reactive power compensation.

[0027] When the voltage U.sub.v is applied and the inverter is suitably actuated, an alternating magnetic field can thus be generated by means of the coil L.sub.1.

[0028] The receiver unit 200 has a secondary coil L.sub.2 to which a DC link capacitor C.sub.z is connected using a compensation capacitance and a rectifier 210. In turn, an energy storage unit 220 is connected to the DC link capacitor C.sub.z by means of two semi-conductor switches S.sub.5 and S.sub.6, which can for example be configured as MOSFETs or bipolar transistors, and together with an inductance and a capacitance act as a buck converter, in particular. A load can be connected, for example, on the indicated connections. An output voltage U.sub.out with an output current I.sub.out can be set on the energy storage unit 220, for example by using the mentioned buck converter.

[0029] The rectifier 210 is designed as a passive rectifier with four diodes, which are not further specified. However, use of an active rectifier with, for example, semiconductor switches is also conceivable. The energy storage unit 220 can be a storage battery or a rechargeable battery, in particular.

[0030] The receiver unit 200 can now in particular be configured to be arranged or implanted underneath the skin, indicated here as 310, and used for a cardiac or ventricular support system, for example. In particular, the energy storage unit 220 can be used for the energy supply of such a cardiac or ventricular support system.

[0031] With the transmitter unit 100 positioned correspondingly outside or on the skin 310, and assuming corresponding positioning, a coupling is achieved between the primary coil L.sub.1 of the transmitter unit 100 and the secondary coil L.sub.2 of the receiver unit 200. This coupling is designated with a coupling factor K.

[0032] If the transmitter unit is now actuated or operated in such a way that an alternating magnetic field is generated by means of the primary coil L.sub.1, the coupling induces a voltage or current flow in the secondary coil L.sub.2. This, in turn, causes the DC link capacitor C.sub.z to be charged, so that a voltage U.sub.z is applied thereto.

[0033] For the energy transfer system 300 shown, the stationary relationship between the various already mentioned variables can be illustrated as follows, based on the selected topology (parallel compensation in the transmitter unit and serial compensation in the receiver unit):

[00001]$\frac{U_Z}{U_V}=\frac{K}{A}\sqrt{\frac{L_2}{L_1}}.$

[0034] Here, A represents a determinable or specifiable design parameter of the pre-filter 120 in the transmitter unit 100.

[0035] The aforementioned context thus shows that the coupling factor K can be determined or calculated for a known supply voltage U.sub.v, known inductances L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 of the two coils, and known design parameters from the DC link voltage U.sub.z.

[0036] The energy transfer system 300, in particular the receiver unit 200, is now configured to detect or determine a value of a DC link voltage U.sub.z applied on the DC link capacitor C.sub.z when the supply voltage U.sub.v is applied on the primary coil L.sub.1, for which a voltage measuring device 230 is used in the present case.

[0037] Furthermore, a computing and control unit 240 is specified, which can be part of the receiver unit 200 and is configured to calculate the coupling factor K based on the determined value of the DC link voltage U.sub.z and, as a predetermined function, output for example an acoustic signal 241 as needed. For example, a suitable loudspeaker can be integrated for this purpose.

[0038] Alternatively, the steps of calculating the coupling factor K and outputting the acoustic signal can also take place in the transmitter unit when, for example, the receiver unit transmits the determined value of the DC link voltage U.sub.z to the transmitter unit.

[0039] If the value of the DC link voltage U.sub.z or the coupling factor K is below a predetermined threshold value, the acoustic signal 241 can then be output. As soon as this threshold value is exceeded—whether already due to an initial positioning of the transmitter unit 100 or after repositioning—the output of the acoustic signal can be stopped and a charging process of the energy storage device 220 can be started instead. For this purpose, the semiconductor switches S.sub.5 and S.sub.6 can, for example, be appropriately controlled by means of the computing and control unit 240.

[0040] FIG. 2 schematically shows a sequence of a method according to the invention in a preferred embodiment. Firstly, the transmitter unit 100 is initially positioned relative to the receiver unit 200. Next, the transmitter unit generates an alternating field by correspondingly controlling the inverter (switches S.sub.1 to S.sub.4). The DC link voltage U.sub.z is then determined subsequently—or even continuously or repeatedly—from which the coupling factor K is then calculated.

[0041] When and for as long as the coupling factor K is less than a predetermined first threshold value K.sub.s, an acoustic signal 241 is output, whereupon the transmitter unit 100 is repositioned. If the coupling factor K is greater than a predetermined third threshold value, which in the present example corresponds to the first threshold value K.sub.s, no acoustic signal is output, rather a charging process 242 is carried out for charging the energy storage unit. The charging process is started by corresponding activation of switches S.sub.5 and S.sub.6.

[0042] In summary, the following preferred features of the invention should in particular be noted:

[0043] The invention relates to an energy transfer system 300 for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit 100 and a receiver unit 200 separate from the transmitter unit, wherein the transmitter unit 100 has a primary coil L.sub.1 that can be supplied with a specified supply voltage U.sub.v, and wherein the receiver unit 200 has a secondary coil L.sub.2 to which a DC link capacitor C.sub.z is connected using a rectifier 210, wherein the energy transfer system 300 is configured to determine a value of a DC link voltage U.sub.z applied on the DC link capacitor when a supply voltage U.sub.v is applied on the primary coil L.sub.1, and to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage.

[0044] In summary, the following preferred features of the invention should be noted, in particular:

[0045] The invention relates to an energy transfer system 300 for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit 100 and a receiver unit 200 separate from the transmitter unit, wherein the transmitter unit 100 has a primary coil L.sub.1 that can be supplied with a predetermined supply voltage U.sub.v, and wherein the receiver unit 200 has a secondary coil L.sub.2 to which a DC link capacitor C.sub.z is connected using a rectifier 210. The energy transfer system 300 comprises a device 230 designed to determine a value of a DC link voltage U.sub.z applied on the DC link capacitor C.sub.z when the supply voltage U.sub.z is applied on the primary coil L.sub.1 and a device 240 designed to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage U.sub.z or a variable K derived therefrom.

[0046] The invention also relates to a receiver unit 200 configured to interact for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit 100 separate from the receiver unit, said transmitter unit 100 having a primary coil L.sub.1 that can be supplied with a predetermined supply voltage U.sub.v, wherein the receiver unit 200 has a secondary coil L.sub.2 to which a DC link capacitor C.sub.z is connected using a rectifier 210. The receiver unit contains a device 230 designed to determine a value of a DC link voltage U.sub.z applied on the DC link capacitor C.sub.z when a supply voltage U.sub.v is applied on the primary coil L.sub.1, and a device 240 designed to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage U.sub.z or a variable K derived therefrom.

[0047] The device 230 and the device 240 can each be arranged separately from one another or can be integrated into one another.

[0048] The invention relates, in particular, to the aspects specified in the following clauses: [0049] 1. Energy transfer system (300) for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit (100) and a receiver unit (200) separate from the transmitter unit, [0050] wherein the transmitter unit (100) comprises a primary coil (L.sub.1) that can be supplied with a predetermined supply voltage (U.sub.v) and wherein the receiver unit (200) comprises a secondary coil (L.sub.2) to which a DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) is connected using a rectifier (210), [0051] characterized in that [0052] the energy transfer system (300) is configured to determine a value of a DC link voltage (U.sub.z) applied on the DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) when the supply voltage (U.sub.v) is applied on the primary coil (L.sub.1) and to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage or a variable (K) derived therefrom. [0053] 2. Energy transfer system (300) according to aspect 1, characterized in that the at least one function comprises the outputting of a signal (241), in particular an acoustic signal, when the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable (K) derived therefrom is below a predetermined first threshold value (K.sub.s). [0054] 3. Energy transfer system (300) according to aspect 2, characterized in that the at least one function comprises the outputting of at least one additional different signal when the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable (K) derived therefrom is below a predetermined second threshold value different from the first threshold value. [0055] 4. Energy transfer system (300) according to aspect 2 or 3, characterized in that the energy transfer system is configured to determine the value of the DC link voltage continuously or repeatedly, and wherein the at least one function comprises the varying of the signal (241) depending on the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable (K) derived therefrom. [0056] 5. Energy transfer system (300) according to any of the above aspects, characterized in that the at least one function comprises the supplying of energy to a load connected to the rectifier (210) and/or to charge an energy storage unit (220) connected to the rectifier (210) when the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable (K) derived therefrom is above a predetermined third threshold value (K.sub.s). [0057] 6. Energy transfer system (300) according to aspect 5, characterized in that the energy transfer system is configured to not supply the load with energy and/or to not charge the energy storage unit (220) for as long as the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable (K) derived therefrom is below the predetermined third threshold value (K.sub.s). [0058] 7. Energy transfer system (300) according to any of the above aspects, characterized in that the energy transfer system is configured to determine a coupling factor (K) between the primary coil (L.sub.1) and the secondary coil (L.sub.2) from the determined value of the DC link voltage and to perform the at least one predetermined function based on the determined coupling factor. [0059] 8. Energy transfer system (300) according to any of the above aspects, characterized in that the receiver unit (200) is configured to determine the DC link voltage (U.sub.z) applied on the DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) when the supply voltage (U.sub.v) is applied on the primary coil (L.sub.1) and to perform the at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage. [0060] 9. Energy transfer system (300) according to any of the above aspects, characterized in that the receiver unit (200) is designed to be arranged underneath the skin (310) in a human body, and/or wherein the transmitter unit (100) is designed to be arranged on the skin (310) outside a human body. [0061] 10. Receiver unit (200) configured for wireless energy transfer to interact with a transmitter unit (100) separate from the receiver unit, said transmitter unit (100) comprising a primary coil (L.sub.1) that can be supplied with a predetermined supply voltage (U.sub.v), wherein the receiver unit (200) comprises a secondary coil (L.sub.2) to which a DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) is connected using a rectifier (210), [0062] characterized in that [0063] the receiver unit (200) is configured to determine a value of a DC link voltage (U.sub.z) applied on a DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) when the supply voltage (U.sub.v) is applied on the primary coil (L.sub.1) and to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage or a variable (K) derived therefrom. [0064] 11. Receiver unit (200) according to aspect 10, wherein the at least one function comprises the transfer of the determined value of the DC link voltage or the variable (K) derived therefrom to the transmitter unit. [0065] 12. Receiver unit (200) according to aspect 10 or 11 configured as a receiver unit (200) of an energy transfer system (300) according to any of claims 1 to 9.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0066] 100 Transmitter unit [0067] 110 Inverter [0068] 120 Pre-filter [0069] 200 Receiver unit [0070] 210 Rectifier [0071] 220 Energy storage unit/Energy storage [0072] 230 Voltage measuring device [0073] 240 Computing and control unit [0074] 241 Acoustic signal [0075] 242 Charging operation [0076] 300 Energy transfer system [0077] 310 Skin [0078] A Design parameters [0079] C.sub.z DC link capacitor [0080] I.sub.out Output current [0081] K Coupling factor [0082] K.sub.s First threshold value [0083] L.sub.1 Primary coil [0084] L.sub.2 Secondary coil [0085] S.sub.1 to S.sub.6 Semiconductor switch [0086] U.sub.out Output voltage [0087] U.sub.v Supply voltage [0088] U.sub.z DC link voltage