6.78-MHz Wireless Power Transfer With Self-Resonant Coils at 95% DC–DC Efficiency

Abstract

Megahertz-frequency inductive wireless power transfer holds the promise of compact and efficient wireless power transfer. Unfortunately, due to high-frequency losses in wide-bandgap semiconductors and low-Q high-frequency coil designs, these systems are universally less efficient, on a dc-dc basis, than wireless power systems operating at conventional frequency regimes. This letter describes the design considerations for inductive wireless power transfer systems operating at 6.78 MHz. With a novel high-frequency resonant amplifier topology, a high-Q self-resonant coil structure, and a better understanding of C oss losses in wide-bandgap power semiconductors, we demonstrate 6.78- MHz wireless power transfer systems that achieve 95% dc-dc efficiency at power levels up to and beyond 1 kW.

Photograph of the PPT Φ2 wireless dc–dc converter. Coil diameter is 66.2 mm and the separation between the closest part of the coils is 19 mm. Implemented inverter dimensions are 7 cm × 7 cm × 1 cm. Diodes are integrated on coil output terminal for low parasitic inductance