Method and apparatus for controlling wireless charging during mode transition of a wireless power receiving device

• US 10,033,228 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung-Woo, Byun, Kang-Ho, Lee, Ho-Seong, Jung, Hee-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US15/278,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20170018955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320114, 320115, 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for performing wireless charging are disclosed. One of the disclosed apparatuses is a wireless power transmitter which can receive charging power from a wireless power transmitter. When the wireless power transmitter detects a transition from a Stand Alone (SA) mode to a Non Stand Alone (NSA) mode, it generates a message that includes address information used to re-connect with the wireless power transmitter and transmits the message to the wireless power transmitter.

Claims

1. A method of a wireless power receiver, the method comprising:

receiving, through a power receiving circuit, power from a wireless power transmitter;

performing, by a communication unit, communication with the wireless power transmitter;

transmitting, by the communication unit, to the wireless power transmitter, a message indicating a mode transition of the communication unit;

terminating the communication with the wireless power transmitter;

performing the mode transition for a time period, while receiving the power from the wireless power transmitter; and

resuming the communication with the wireless power transmitter, after performing the mode transition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mode transition comprises a transition from a first mode to a second mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication unit of the wireless power receiver performs the communication with the wireless power transmitter using a first communication scheme stored within the communication unit in the first mode, and performs the communication with the wireless power transmitter using a second communication scheme received from an application processor of the wireless power receiver in the second mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon performing the mode transition, receiving the power from the wireless power transmitter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted in a Power Reception Unit (PRU) alert signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the mode transition is indicated in a data field of the PRU alert signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises address information used to re-connect with the wireless power transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein resuming the communication comprises re-connecting with the wireless power transmitter using the address information.

9. A method of a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

transmitting power to a wireless power receiver;

performing communication with the wireless power receiver;

receiving, from the wireless power receiver, a message indicating a mode transition of a communication unit in the wireless power receiver;

terminating the communication with the wireless power receiver;

in response to the receiving the message, maintaining the power transmission to the wireless power receiver for a time period; and

after the mode transition, resuming the communication with the wireless power receiver.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mode transition comprises a transition from a first mode to a second mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication unit of the wireless power receiver performs the communication with the wireless power transmitter using a first communication scheme stored within the communication unit in the first mode, and performs communication with the wireless power transmitter using a second communication scheme received from an application processor of the wireless power receiver in the second mode.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the message is transmitted in a Power Reception Unit (PRU) alert signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mode transition is indicated in a data field of the PRU alert signal.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the message comprises address information used to re-connect with the wireless power receiver.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein resuming the communication comprises re-connecting with the wireless power receiver using the address information.

16. A wireless power receiver for wireless charging, the wireless power receiver comprising:

a power receiving circuit configured to receive charging power from a wireless power transmitter;

a communication unit configured to perform communication with the wireless power transmitter; and

a processor configured to;

determine a mode transition of the communication unit,

control the communication unit to transmit, to the wireless power transmitter, a message indicating the mode transition of the communication unit,

control to perform the mode transition for a time period, and

control the communication unit to resume the communication with the wireless power transmitter, after performing the mode transition.

17. The wireless power receiver of claim 16, wherein the mode transition comprises a transition from a first mode to a second mode.

18. The wireless power receiver of claim 17, wherein the communication unit is further configured to:

perform the communication with the wireless power transmitter using a first communication scheme stored within the communication unit in the first mode, and

perform the communication with the wireless power transmitter using a second communication scheme received from an application processor of the wireless power receiver in the second mode.

19. The wireless power receiver of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to receive the charging power from the wireless power transmitter upon performing the mode transition.

20. The wireless power receiver of claim 16, wherein the message is transmitted in a Power Reception Unit (PRU) alert signal.

21. The wireless power receiver of claim 20, wherein the mode transition is indicated in a data field of the PRU alert signal.

22. The wireless power receiver of claim 16, wherein the message comprises address information used to re-connect with the wireless power transmitter.

23. The wireless power receiver of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to control the communication unit to re-connect with the wireless power transmitter using the address information.

24. A wireless power transmitter for wireless charging, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

a power transmitting unit configured to transmit power to a wireless power transmitter;

a communication unit configured to perform communication with the wireless power receiver; and

a processor configured to;

when receiving, from the wireless power receiver, a message indicating a mode transition of a communication unit in the wireless power receiver, terminate the communication with the wireless power receiver,

maintain the power transmission to the wireless power receiver for a time period, and

after the mode transition, resume the communication with the wireless power receiver.

25. The wireless power transmitter of claim 24, wherein the mode transition comprises a transition from a first mode to a second mode.

26. The wireless power transmitter of claim 25, wherein the communication unit of the wireless power receiver performs the communication with the wireless power transmitter using a first communication scheme stored within the communication unit in the first mode, and performs the communication with the wireless power transmitter using a second communication scheme received from an application processor of the wireless power receiver in the second mode.

27. The wireless power transmitter of claim 24, wherein the message is transmitted in a Power Reception Unit (PRU) alert signal.

28. The wireless power transmitter of claim 27, wherein the mode transition is indicated in a data field of the PRU alert signal.

29. The wireless power transmitter of claim 24, wherein the message comprises address information used to re-connect with the wireless power receiver.

30. The wireless power transmitter of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to resume the communication by re-connecting with the wireless power receiver using the address information.