Wireless Power Transfer under Wide Distance Variation Using Dual Impedance Frequency

Abstract

A dual-impedance operation, where coil impedance is controlled by operating frequency selection, is proposed to maintain optimum reflected impedance across coupling variation. More specifically, this work focuses on how high coupling between coils presents excessively high reflected resistance to transmitter (Tx) inverters, degrading the efficiency and output power of the inverter. To overcome this problem, the proposed system is equipped with dual-impedance coil and selects high- or low-impedance coil based on the ability to operate both at 200 kHz and 6.78 MHz frequencies. The reactive impedances of 6.78 MHz coils are designed to be higher than that of 200 kHz coils. Since the reflected resistance is proportional to the coil impedances and coupling squared, at close distance with high coupling coefficient, 200 kHz coils with low coil impedances are activated to prevent an excessive rise in reflected resistance. On the other hand, at large distance spacing with low coupling coefficient, 6.78 MHz coils with high coil impedances are activated so that sufficient reflected resistance is obtained even under the small coupling. The proposed system’s advantages are the high efficiency and the elimination of bulky mechanical relay switches. Measured efficiencies are 88.6–50% across 10 coupling variations.