9 wireless power

transfer projects
PDF

1 Accelerate yourInnovation
© 2017 Philips innovation
Services. All rights reserved.
 9 wireless power transfer projects PDF
Exploring possible applications of wireless power transmission

To give you a taste what’s possible in wireless power transfer

applications, we’d like to share some examples of this technology in
combination with others, such as actuation, communication and
sensing. The power levels we have worked with range from μWatt
to hundreds of kWatt. During the past decade, we have applied this
wireless power transmission technology to projects aimed at solving
Dr. ir. Aditya Mehendale
various problems such as: Senior Architect Mechatronics

Philips Innovation Services

• Sending power to sensor nodes which are not reachable. High Tech Campus 34
• Charging sealed batteries that work in harsh conditions where 5656 AE Eindhoven
Netherlands
cabling is troublesome.
• Sending power to moving or rotating parts.
• Driving moving or rotating parts wirelessly.
• Modulating wireless power signal to carry data bidirectionally.
• Sensing position via the wireless power channel.
• Sending power via walls, glass or other obstacles.
• Getting rid of cables for the ease of operators of medical devices.

2 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

 Wireless power transfer table of contents

1. Wireless movable spotlight

2. Rotational system with high-power

WPT

3. Remote sensing applications

4. Wireless traffic cone charging

5. Wireless power up of a sensor node in

a tire

6. Wireless universal power plug

7. Contactless powered linear motors

8. Power and data over light

9. Wireless ultrasonic power transfer

3 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

1. Wireless movable spotlight
Robust and low-cost power transfer, combined with a pan/tilt actuator

Application
The 2D electromechanical actuator in combination with wireless
power transfer to allow remote powering and repositioning of
spotlights.

Challenge
Design and development of a wireless powered 2D actuator
capable of +/- 30 degrees of movement in both x and y directions.
The actuator is controlled by a touchpad or mobile phone app.

Innovation
The magnetics-assembly intended for power transfer has been
given a secondary function – to create a stick-slip based pan/tilt
mechanism.
This mechanism can orient the luminaire, while adding no extra
components or mechanical connections to the lamp itself, and
requires no power when inactive.
The wireless actuation and integral sensing, combined with
intelligent control and a user interface, is an interesting solution for
applications that require occasional movement.

Key specifications
• Power: 5 W
• Switching frequency: 80 kHz
• Power transfer efficiency: 50%
• Type: electromagnetic coupling
• Additional technology: electromechanical 2D actuation

4 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

2. Rotational system with high-power WPT
High-power WPT to minimize sound and wear for CT scanners

Application
Slip rings usually provide the high level of power required by
generators in the high-speed rotational units of CT scanners. This
high-power WPT system is intended to replace these slip rings.

Challenge
Designing wireless power transfer system for high-power rotational
system. The conversion efficiency is critical.

Innovation
Very high-power and high-speed rotational interface by means of
modular magnetic elements to create a robust – yet lightweight and
efficient – power path.

Key specifications
• Power: 200 kW peak, 100 kW continuous
• Switching frequency: 20 kHz
• Power transfer efficiency: 98% for the couplers, 90% end-to-end
• Type: electromagnetic coupling
• Additional technologies: high rotational speed of 300 rpm,
separate optical data links (Gbit/s)

5 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

3. Remote sensing applications
Compact customized power transfer and data
channel for sensors in rotating machines

Application
Wireless power transfer system designed for an automotive application.
The sensor data from the rotating part (wheel) is transferred back via the
same wireless link.

Challenge
Power and data is to be transferred using a singular inductive coupler.
Severe volume restrictions on the coils and circuitry.

Innovation
Wireless power to, and remote sensing from, a rotating unit is achieved
by developing compact PCB-based transmitter and receiver coils.

Key specifications
• Power: 1 W
• Switching frequency: 100 kHz
• Power transfer efficiency: up to 80% depending on the distance
• Type: electromagnetic coupling
• Additional technologies: PCB coils, rotational system

6 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

4. Wireless traffic cone charging
Convenient workflow with wireless charging for smart traffic cones

Application
Wireless charging unit for safety perimeter system intellicone.
Developed for highway maintenance and construction for the
European Safelane project.

Challenge
Develop a wireless system for in situ recharging of smart-sensor
enabled batteries in a lantern:
• Increase reliability of the lanterns by removing all external
connectors.
• Create a lean workflow by establishing the wireless connection
during storage-stacking.

Innovation
The implementation of wireless charging makes for a robust and
effortless way to keep the batteries topped up.
• The intellicones improve safety for road workers compared to
passive traffic cones.
• A sustainable solution (as opposed to disposable batteries) by
implementing rechargeable batteries that require no extra user
effort.

Key specifications
• Power: 5 W
• Switching frequency: 100–200 kHz
• Power transfer efficiency: 70–80%
• Type: electromagnetic coupling
• Additional technologies: PCB coils

7 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

5. Wireless power up of a sensor node in a tire
Powering a sensor node across a large distance

Application Challenge
This long-range WPT system has been designed for an The unique challenge of this project is to transfer power
automotive application: to power a sensor node within a across large distances (greater than 500 mm).
rotating tire.
Key specifications
Innovation • Power: 5 mW
Large-distance power transfer achieved from a stationary • Switching frequency: 100 kHz
part to a rotating system. • Power transfer efficiency: negligible, input power large
• The large transmitter coil is located in the stationary part of • Type: electromagnetic coupling
the vehicle. • Additional technologies: sensor node and receiver coil in a
• A compact receiver coil, packaged together with the sensor compact package
node, is inserted inside the tire.

8 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

6. Wireless universal power plug
Isolating AC mains

Application
Wireless universal power plug for home or garden applications that
use AC mains (220 V). This plug can transform electrical power from
conventional wall outlets to work without galvanic contacts.

Challenge
Designing an efficient, hermetically sealed, compact wireless power
plug operating at mains voltages.

Innovation
• Connection through obstacles (glass, wall, etc.).
• No bare pins for safe use in e.g. children's rooms, kitchens, wet
environments. Also allows safe outdoor use of conventional
garden tools or lights in the rain.
• Better robustness of power connection.
• Ease of connection via magnetic connection.
• Convenient and recognizable form factor, with the power source
and the connected appliance being agnostic towards the
presence of the wireless plug.

Key specifications
• Power: 70 W peak, 50 W continuous
• Switching frequency: 100 kHz
• Power transfer efficiency: around 90% depending on distance
• Type: electromagnetic coupling
• Additional technologies: magnetic connection, all electronics in
the compact plug design

9 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

7. Contactless powered linear motors
Contactless power across a long-stroke XY stage

Application
The linear motors of an XY stage has been powered wirelessly
within a WICOR project (Wireless Interconnected Robot). Industrial
automation systems such as pick-and-place, wafer processing
equipment, and any application requiring reliable wireless power
transfer to the moving axes can benefit from this technology.

Challenge
Create a contactless alternative for cable slabs to enable actuation
and metrology of long-stroke XY stages to get:
• No cable-slab wear
• No cable-slab dynamics
• Space savings

Innovation
The primary coil of the inductive coupler is elongated in the
direction of movement, while the core and secondary coil travel
freely with the stage over its stroke. This modular coupler may be Key specifications
cascaded for each motion axis of the stage. • Power: y-axis: 600 W peak/300 W continuous,
x-axis: 100 W peak/50 W continuous
This technology is well adaptable for different stage concepts by • Switching frequency: 100 kHz
merely changing the geometry of the coupler. Its scalability allows • Power transfer efficiency: 90%
for diverse power requirements. It exhibits a good efficiency and • Type: electromagnetic coupling
favorable EMC. • Additional technologies: linear motors, XY stage,
elongated coupler transformer coils, optical data
transfer

10 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

8. Power and data over light
Power transfer over a light beam, over a large distance

Application
Based on an invention and research conducted by Philips Research
Laboratories, we have built a tech demonstrator to show the
transfer of substantial power and data over light (a free-space link
in this case). This technology can be used to energize and read
sensors or actuators over large distances without cables.

Challenge
WPT where electromagnetic interference is undesirable, or a long
distance needs to be bridged over a free-space link, with limited
space available for a transducer.

Innovation
• Long-distance power transfer
• Bidirectional communication Key specifications
• Galvanic isolation • Power: 100 mW
• Off-the-shelf components • Switching frequency: n/a (DC)
• High optical quantum efficiency (compared to IR systems)
• Power transfer efficiency: 40% optical; 12% end-
• High data rates at little extra cost
to-end
• Relatively high power and voltage
• Directly generated 3 V DC can power processors, sensors without • Type: power and bidirectional data over light
convertors • Additional technologies: communication > 100
kbps with the native devices; higher data rates
possible if separate communication lasers are used

Based on original research of

Dr. Martin B. van der Mark
Philips Research

12 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

8. Power and data over light
Power transfer over a light beam, over a large distance

Based on original research of

Dr. Martin B. van der Mark
Philips Research

12 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

9. Wireless ultrasonic power transfer
Power transfer over soundwaves providing power to buried, embedded or submerged
devices

Application
We have identified ultrasonic power transfer as a potential option
for electromagnetic WPT, suitable for several applications such as
charging wireless medical implants and sending power to
unreachable sensor nodes. Ultrasonic power transfer is suitable
inside a medium such as water, polymers, or the human body. Air is
usually not an effective medium for ultrasonic WPT.

Challenge
WPT where electromagnetic interference is undesirable, or a
suitable medium for electromagnetic power transfer is not available;
no optical path to the target.

Innovation
Long-distance power transfer can be achieved inside media such as
water, human tissue, concrete, girders, soil, glass, metal, plastics or
other suitable materials.
Piezoelectric transducers are used as transmitter and receiver units.
In order to increase the efficiency, the type of the piezo elements
and the distances should be optimized.

Key specifications
• Power: 100 mW output
• Switching frequency: 1.6 MHz (Ultrasonic frequency)
• Power transfer efficiency: 15 %
• Type: ultrasonic (acoustomechanical) power transfer via medium
• Additional technologies: piezoelectric transducers

13 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.

1 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.
 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Trademarks are the property of Royal Philips or their
respective owners.

2 © 2017 Philips Innovation Services. All rights reserved.