ENERGY EFFICIENT INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND METHOD

An inductive power outlet (200, 1200, 2200 7200), having a primary coil (220, 1220, 2220, 6220, 7200), for wirelessly powering an inductive power receiver (300, 1300, 2300, 6300, 7300), having a secondary coil (320, 1320, 2320, 6320, 7320), wherein the primary coil (220, 1220, 2220, 6220, 7200) and the secondary coil (320, 1320, 2320, 6320, 7320) form a resonant frequency, comprises a driver (230, 1230, 2230) generating an oscillating voltage to the primary coil (220, 1220, 2220, 6220, 7200) at a frequency higher than the resonant frequency, and a signal detector (1124). The signal detector comprises a peak detector (140, 1128, 2128, 6140, 7128) configured to detect voltage peaks across the primary coil (220, 1220, 2220, 6220, 7200) or current peaks of a current supplied to the primary coil (220, 1220, 2220, 6220, 7200); and a processor (1129) configured to determine a frequency of either the voltage peaks or the current peaks and cause the inductive power outlet (200, 1200, 2200 7200) to either shut-down or issue a warning if a peak out of either the voltage peaks or the current peaks exceeds a predetermined threshold. The receiver comprises a regulator (1330) operable to power a load (340, 1340, 2340) by converting oscillating current induced across the secondary coil (320, 1320, 2320, 6320, 7320) at a frequency higher than the resonant frequency; and a transmission circuit (122,1122, 2122, 7122) comprising an ancillary load (1126) designated to be connected to the secondary coil (320, 1320, 2320, 6320, 7320) by a switching unit (1125) controlled by a signal generator (1123).