Apparatus, system and method of wireless power transfer

• US 10,008,874 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Green, Evan R., Rea, Adam D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Diao, M'Baye
• Application Number:
  US14/780,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20160049825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 307104, 455 411, 455 412, 455573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of wireless power transfer. For example, an apparatus may include a controller to control a Wireless Power Transmitter (WPT) to transmit a sequence of probes during a detection period, to detect a Wireless Power Receiver (WPR) based on a detected induced load on the WPT during transmission of probe of the sequence of probes, and, upon detection of the WPR, to control the WPT to transmit a wireless charging signal to the WPR.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to control a Wireless Power Transmitter (WPT) to transmit a sequence of probes during a detection period, to detect a Wireless Power Receiver (WPR) based on a detected induced load on said WPT during transmission of a probe of said sequence of probes, and, upon detection of said WPR, to control said WPT to transmit a wireless charging signal to said WPR, said controller is configured to detect said induced load by detecting a change in a current flow in a power amplifier of said WPT during transmission of said probe; and

a peak detector configured to detect one or more peaks of the current flow in said power amplifier, wherein said controller is configured to detect said WPR based on said one or more peaks.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is to detect said induced load by detecting a change in an impedance of said WPT during transmission of said probe.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said peak detector is configured to detect said one or more peaks within a period of less than 3 milliseconds.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said peak detector is configured to detect said one or more peaks within a period of less than 100 microseconds.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said peak detector comprises a sample and hold circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said probe has a duration of less than 3 milliseconds.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the duration of the probe is 100 microseconds or less.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an energy level of said probe is lesser than an energy level of said wireless charging signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein two consecutive probes of said sequence of probes are separated by at least one second.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is to cause said WPT to establish a communication link with said WPR after detecting said WPR.

11. A system comprising:

a Wireless Power Transmitter (WPT) device including;

a power supply;

a power amplifier to amplify power from said power supply;

a transmit resonator to transmit signals using amplified power from said power amplifier;

a controller to control said transmit resonator to transmit a sequence of probes during a detection period, said controller is to detect a Wireless Power Receiver (WPR) based on a detected induced load on said WPT during transmission of a probe of said sequence of probes, and, upon detection of said WPR, to control said transmit resonator to transmit a wireless charging signal to said WPR, said controller is to detect said induced load by detecting a change in a current flow in said power amplifier during transmission of said probe; and

a peak detector to detect one or more peaks of the current flow in said power amplifier, said controller is to detect said WPR based on said one or more peaks.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said probe has a duration of less than 3 milliseconds.

13. The system of claim 11 comprising a wireless charging device including said WPT device.

14. A method comprising:

transmitting by a Wireless Power Transmitter (WPT) a sequence of probes during a detection period;

detecting a Wireless Power Receiver (WPR) based on a detected induced load on said WPT during transmission of a probe of said sequence of probes, detecting said WPR comprising detecting said induced load by detecting one or more peaks of a current flow in a power amplifier of said WPT during transmission of said probe; and

upon detection of said WPR, transmitting a wireless charging signal from said WPT to said WPR.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said probe has a duration of less than 3 milliseconds.

16. A product including a non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a machine, result in:

transmitting by a Wireless Power Transmitter (WPT) a sequence of probes during a detection period;

detecting a Wireless Power Receiver (WPR) based on a detected induced load on said WPT during transmission of a probe of said sequence of probes, the instructions, when executed, result in detecting said induced load by detecting one or more peaks of a current flow in a power amplifier of said WPT during transmission of said probe; and

upon detection of said WPR, transmitting a wireless charging signal from said WPT to said WPR.

17. The product of claim 16, wherein said instructions, when executed, result in detecting said one or more peaks within a period of less than 3 milliseconds.

18. The product of claim 16, wherein the instructions result in detecting said induced load by detecting a change in an impedance of said WPT during transmission of said probe.

19. The product of claim 16, wherein said probe has a duration of less than 3 milliseconds.

20. The product of claim 16, wherein an energy level of said probe is lesser than an energy level of said wireless charging signal.

21. The product of claim 16, wherein two consecutive probes of said sequence of probes are separated by at least one second.