Under-the-radar patents can shape the future without making headlines. Others, like EP2564403B1, are power technologies that millions now take for granted.
This European patent, assigned to Powermat Technologies and currently challenged by multiple Anker entities, centers on smart, adaptable inductive charging. It outlines a system that actively adjusts to changing positions and distances, maintaining efficiency through dynamic frequency control and coupling modes.
Rather than focus on legal maneuvering, this article uses the Global Patent Search (GPS) platform to trace related innovations.
We’ll highlight patents that echo the core principles behind EP2564403B1: flexible, intelligent power transfer across varying conditions. If you work in IP, product development, or wireless energy systems, this GPS-powered research offers a strategic look into what came before.
Understanding Patent EP2564403B1
EP2564403B1, assigned to Powermat Technologies Ltd., discloses an inductive power transfer system that can adapt to varying distances and alignment conditions between transmitter and receiver coils. The invention enables wireless energy transmission across an extended region using coupling modes that adjust dynamically. It incorporates a frequency selection mechanism, alignment tools, auxiliary coil arrays, and resonance tuning elements, offering both flexibility and efficient energy transfer in diverse use scenarios.
Source: Google Patents
Its Four Key Features Are
#1. Dual mode operation: Supports both tightly and loosely coupled power transfer modes based on coil alignment.
#2. Resonance tuning: Includes tuners that adjust the receiver’s natural frequency to match the transmitter’s driving frequency.
#3. Alignment mechanism: Uses actuators and sensors to align transmitter and receiver coils for optimal efficiency.
#4. Auxiliary coil system: Enhances transmission range and direction using auxiliary coils in conductor, repeater, or transmission modes.
The system blends real-time adaptability with precision alignment for stable energy transmission. It reflects a significant step forward in scalable wireless power solutions.
Similar Patents As EP2564403B1
To explore the innovation landscape surrounding EP2564403B1, we ran the patent through the Global Patent Search tool. Below is a quick glimpse of the GPS tool in action:
Source: Global Patent Search
This analysis surfaced a list of related patents that share technical similarities in resonance control, spatial tolerance, and adaptive frequency tuning. Below, we highlight five of these references that reflect comparable ideas in wireless power transmission. These examples offer insight into how similar challenges have been addressed across different systems.
#1. US2008238364A1
This US patent, US2008238364A1, published in 2008, describes an inductive power transfer system with a synchronous drive mechanism. The system improves energy delivery by combining resonant frequency tracking with precise amplitude control for power signals.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Resonance control module: Maintains operation of the primary LC circuit at or near its natural resonant frequency.
- Amplitude regulation system: Dynamically adjusts signal strength to match spatial conditions and device requirements.
- Electromagnetic interference reduction: Minimizes emissions during wireless transfer, especially useful in automotive environments.
- Phase angle prediction logic: Calculates and manages phase relationships for stable oscillation.
- Feedback loop for voltage correction: Compares actual vs. desired resonance amplitude for real-time adjustment.
How It Connects To EP2564403B1
- Both systems rely on resonance tuning to improve inductive energy transfer efficiency.
- Each uses feedback-based control to adapt to dynamic conditions, such as coil misalignment or load fluctuations.
- They share a goal of enabling spatial freedom while minimizing energy loss and interference.
Why This Matters
This earlier work strengthens the technical foundation for adaptive wireless charging systems. It shows how synchronizing frequency and amplitude control can address challenges in spatial flexibility and power consistency, both core to EP2564403B1’s design goals.
#2. JP2011135717A
This Japanese patent, JP2011135717A, published in 2011, describes a magnetic resonance wireless power transmission system that enables long-distance power delivery to multiple receivers without requiring precise alignment.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Multi-device power delivery: Allows multiple devices to receive power simultaneously, even at a distance.
- Resonance tuning challenges identified: Highlights issues caused by even minor deviations in resonance frequency.
- Piezoelectric actuator-based tuning: Uses a piezoelectric bimorph to dynamically adjust coil capacitance and control resonance.
- Environmental adaptability: Accounts for frequency shifts due to temperature, vibration, or object movement.
- Real-time capacitance modulation: Adjusts stray capacitance to maintain optimal power transfer efficiency.
How It Connects To EP2564403B1
- Both systems address the problem of maintaining resonance under changing environmental and spatial conditions.
- Each introduces mechanisms, mechanical or electrical, for real-time tuning of resonance frequency.
- They share a focus on enhancing efficiency in multi-device or spatially flexible power transfer setups.
Why This Matters
This work shows how dynamic frequency control, especially through mechanical means, can solve long-standing problems in wireless power. It aligns closely with EP2564403B1’s emphasis on system adaptability and real-time operational optimization.
#3. EP2450920A1
This European patent, EP2450920A1, published in 2012, describes a non-contact power feeding system for vehicles. It uses multiple self-resonant coils to optimize efficiency based on coil alignment and distance detection.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Multi-coil architecture: Employs multiple primary and secondary self-resonant coils with varied diameters for adaptable power transfer.
- Distance-based coil switching: Dynamically selects coils based on distance to improve efficiency during noncontact power transfer.
- Resonance through near-field coupling: Uses LC resonators that operate in the near field for reduced energy loss.
- Distance detection logic: Implements voltage and current-based distance estimation to inform coil switching decisions.
- Vehicle charging optimization: Designed for electric vehicles to compensate for parking misalignments and positional deviations.
How It Connects To EP2564403B1
- Both systems optimize inductive power transfer by accounting for spatial variability between transmitter and receiver coils.
- Each utilizes resonance frequency alignment and coil selection for efficient, long-range energy transfer.
- Both target real-time adaptability in wireless power systems using sensors or feedback systems.
Why This Matters
This approach demonstrates how spatial intelligence and coil switching improve wireless charging reliability in real-world use cases. It aligns closely with EP2564403B1’s goal of maintaining efficiency despite movement or misalignment between coils. This mirrors innovations found in leading EV charging companies, adapting to real-world vehicle alignment challenges.
#4. AU2010241352B2
This Australian patent, AU2010241352B2, published in 2011, discloses dynamic tuning techniques for inductively coupled power systems, allowing stable energy transfer despite load variation and frequency drift.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Dynamic tuning of pick-up circuits: Actively tunes or detunes the pick-up circuit using controlled inductance based on sensed load requirements.
- Phase and frequency sensing: Implements phase-angle and frequency sensors to manage real-time tuning.
- Load-adaptive power transfer: Adjusts resonance conditions in response to varying energy demands from connected devices.
- Switch-controlled reactive elements: Uses switched inductors to vary the effective inductance of resonant circuits.
- Support for multiple and mobile loads: Enables stable performance with loosely coupled systems and multiple devices, including those used in biomedical applications.
How It Connects To EP2564403B1
- Both patents focus on adaptive resonance tuning to maintain power transfer efficiency.
- Each system dynamically responds to load shifts and spatial coupling conditions.
- Both enable extended operating ranges and stability in various wireless charging scenarios.
Why This Matters
This reference highlights advanced control over resonance and impedance for stable inductive transfer. It complements EP2564403B1’s goal of efficient, real-time adaptability in dynamic charging environments.
#5. JP2010141976A
This Japanese patent, JP2010141976A, published in 2010, describes a resonance-based non-contact power transmission device designed to maintain high transmission efficiency without changing the output frequency, even when distance or load conditions vary.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Resonance system with impedance matching: Introduces a configuration where impedance is adaptively matched without altering the AC output frequency.
- Distance-aware impedance adjustment: Utilizes a distance sensor to adjust variable capacitors based on spatial displacement between coils.
- Real-time response to load changes: Incorporates a load sensor and control mechanism to dynamically adjust power delivery during charging cycles.
- Multi-vehicle charging flexibility: Supports varying battery capacities and charging positions with pre-mapped impedance calibration.
- Integrated variable impedance circuit: A dedicated circuit alters capacitance via motor-driven capacitors to minimize reflected power.
How It Connects To EP2564403B1
- Both patents utilize adaptive control circuits to maintain resonance efficiency under varying operating conditions.
- Each design responds to coil alignment and load variation in real-time to sustain optimal power delivery.
- Both systems are applied in wireless charging for mobile vehicles, emphasizing user-independent alignment.
Why This Matters
This work reinforces the importance of dynamic impedance tuning for efficient wireless energy transfer. Its alignment with EP2564403B1’s adaptive strategies reflects a shared aim of improving non-contact charging across real-world use cases. This trend also reflects the rise of solid-state battery companies, which are pushing for faster, smarter, and safer charging systems.
How to Find Related Patents Using Global Patent Search
Understanding the patent environment around wireless power transfer is critical, especially with systems involving adaptive coils, vehicle charging, and resonance-based transmission. The Global Patent Search tool simplifies this by helping users uncover inventions that echo similar coil configurations, switching methods, and impedance matching strategies.
1. Enter the patent number into GPS: Start by entering a patent number like EP2564403B1 into the GPS tool. It auto-generates a concept-based search you can further refine with terms like “self-resonant coil,” “non-contact charging,” or “adaptive impedance.”
2. Explore conceptual snippets: Rather than comparing legal claims line-by-line, GPS surfaces curated technical snippets. These expose how other systems adjust power delivery, sense coil proximity, or manage coil switching for efficiency.
3. Identify related inventions: GPS highlights patents that handle load variability, distance-based optimization, or vehicle-mounted resonator control, giving insight into how similar challenges have been tackled.
4. Compare systems, not legal claims: Instead of focusing on legal phrasing, GPS aligns system behaviors, like how multiple coils are selected or how feedback is used in charging, to show functional similarities.
5. Accelerate cross-domain insights: Whether you’re exploring electric vehicles, smart grid integration, or wireless charging infrastructure, GPS bridges gaps between domains, helping you discover connections you might have otherwise missed.
By shifting focus from legal formalities to system-level insights, Global Patent Search equips innovation teams with a dynamic lens into adjacent technologies. Whether defending a patent or designing around one, GPS offers the strategic clarity needed to navigate complex IP landscapes with precision and foresight.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The related patent references mentioned are preliminary results from the Global Patent Search tool and do not guarantee legal significance. For a comprehensive related patent analysis, we recommend conducting a detailed search using GPS or consulting a patent attorney.
