TECHNICAL FIELD

Disclosed are AC-AC SIMO converters that offer a simple, compact, scalable and low-cost solution only a single inductor is employed to drive multiple independent AC loads. The loads can be portable electronics products with compatible receiver coils, heating utensils such as those suitable for inductive cooking or home appliances using electric motors such as fans, vacuum cleaners, etc.

BACKGROUND

Conventional multiple-output architecture employs multiple power converters, each generates an AC output to supply an AC load, such as a transmitting coil for a wireless power transfer system. An AC/DC adapter performs AC-DC conversion from the AC mains supply to provide a DC bus. The power stage of each transmitter typically consists of a full-bridge inverter and a resonant network. A major drawback of this conventional topology is that the number of DC-AC converters (or inverters) is directly proportional to the number of AC loads. Therefore, the number of inverters increases with an increasing number of AC loads, which leads to higher costs and larger size.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention.

Rather, the sole purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter.

Disclosed herein are systems for generating multiple independent alternating current (AC) voltages from a AC voltage source in a single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) switching converter (SIMO AC-AC converter), comprising: a AC voltage source for providing electrical energy; a front-stage power converter consisting of only one inductor as an energy storage element for power conversion; and a plurality of selectable output branches, each selectable output branch comprising an output selection switch, a resonant tank, and a transmitter coil, wherein the resonant tank turns input AC power into an AC power for feeding the transmitter coil.

Also disclosed are method for generating multiple independent alternating current (AC) voltages from a AC voltage source in a single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) switching converter (SIMO AC-AC converter), involving providing electrical energy from a AC voltage source; and generating multiple AC outputs using a front-stage power converter consisting of only one inductor as an energy storage element for power conversion and a plurality of selectable output branches, each selectable output branch comprising an output selection switch, a resonant tank, and a transmitter coil, wherein the resonant tank turns input AC power into an AC power for feeding the transmitter coil.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects and implementations of the invention. These are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

