A Wireless Power Charger System using a 2-D Near-Field Array for Assisted Living Applications

Wireless power transfer (WPT) can enable connector-free systems that do not rely on more conventional wired connections. In this paper, a wireless battery charger for a wearable body heater, where the transmitting system is integrated into a chair, is reported for benefiting assisted living residents. This system incorporates the widely adopted Qi wireless charging standard that is accepted by industry. Alignment conditions between a 3x1 and a 3x3 coil matrix array are investigated in the form of the voltage induced in the secondary coil. The results of this work, when compared to more conventional single coil systems, is the extended charging area for its users enabling more efficient WPT and beneficial heating in the near-field. For example, the proposed 3x3 coil array was found to have an increased charging area of 187 cm(2) from that of 28.62 cm(2) for the 3x1 coil array. To the best knowledge of the authors no similar wearable WPT system has been reported for assisted living applications and wireless heating.