Method and Apparatus for Uniform Single-Sided Induction Heating

This technology can be applied to any magnetic induction system that could benefit from an efficient single-sided magnetic field. Examples include induction cooking and wireless power transfer such as phone charging.  

Researchers

Al-Thaddeus Avestruz / Shahriar Khushrushahi / Arthur Chang / Arijit Banerjee / Steven Leeb

Departments: Dept of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Technology Areas: Communication Systems: Wireless / Energy & Distribution: Energy Storage
Impact Areas: Connected World

  • method and apparatus for producing an asymmetric magnetic field
    United States of America | Granted | 9,786,423

Technology

This invention uses multiple layers of conductive windings coupled to a drive to generate asymmetric magnetic fields. The windings are stacked and arranged so that the magnetic field generated by each winding layer adds on one side of the stack and cancels on the other side. The net magnetic field is thus much higher on one side than the other, allowing the magnetic field to be directed towards a target efficiently. This eliminates the need for bulky magnetic shielding and the associated weight and cost. Each layer in the winding stack can be driven at a different frequency to create a traveling magnetic field that will produce a uniform heating profile for induction cooking.  

Problem Addressed

Magnetic induction systems often require a targeted AC (alternating current) magnetic field that is strong on one side while weak on another.  Such magnetic fields can be created by magnetic shields, but the shields are often bulky, heavy, and expensive.  This technology eliminates the need for such shields by efficiently generating single-sided magnetic fields.  This technology can also generate traveling magnetic fields capable of heating induction surfaces uniformly.  

Advantages

  • Efficient generation of single-sided magnetic field
  • No magnetic shielding required
  • Uniform induction heating

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