Testing device for wireless power transfer and associated method

• US 10,060,801 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electdis AB
• Original Assignee: Nok9 AB
• Inventors: Wikstrand, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbitsky, Gail Kaplan
• Application Number:
  US15/650,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20170314998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 34087017
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/026 arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/14 in respect of space
• 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

Abstract

A testing device is provided for use with a wireless power transmitter device having a wireless power transmitter coil. The testing device has a housing, the housing having a bottom side adapted for placement on a surface of the wireless power transmitter device, and a top side opposite to the bottom side. A wireless power receiver coil is provided in the housing. The testing device also has thermo sensory means and an interface to provide measurement data from the thermo sensory means. The thermo sensory means includes at least a first temperature sensor adapted to measure a temperature at a first position inside the housing, and a second temperature sensor adapted to measure a temperature at a second position external to the housing.

Claims

1. A method of emulating the thermal exposure of a mobile device when being subjected to wireless power transfer from a wireless power transmitter device having a wireless power transmitter coil, the method involving:

providing a testing device having a wireless power receiver coil matching the wireless power transmitter coil and having a housing with thermal absorption and dissipation properties matching a mobile device to be emulated;

operating the wireless power transmitter device during an operational time to generate wireless power to the testing device;

measuring a first temperature at a first position inside the housing of the testing device during the operational time;

measuring a second temperature at a second position external to the housing of the testing device during the operational time; and

providing measurement data from the measuring of the first temperature and the measuring of the second temperature during the operational time to a processing means of a host device,

wherein the host device processes the received temperature measurement data with the processing means to obtain measurement processing results emulating the thermal exposure of a mobile device when being subjected to wireless power transfer from the wireless power transmitter device and the host device communicates or presents the obtained measurement processing results.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further involving:

recording the measurement data by the processing means; and

evaluating, by the processing means, whether the measurement data indicates a long-term deviation between the first temperature and the second temperature in excess of a threshold value during or at the end of the operational time; and

if so, generating an alarm signal.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the first position is between the wireless power receiver coil and a top side of the housing of the testing device, the measuring of the first temperature being indicative of a temperature related to heat generated internally in the testing device by the wireless power receiver coil; and

the second position is at a distance from the housing of the testing device, the measuring of the second temperature being indicative of a temperature related to ambient air around the testing device.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, further involving:

measuring a third temperature at a third position inside the housing of the testing device during the operational time, the third position being different from the first position, wherein the measurement data provided to the processing means includes also the measuring of the third temperature.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the third position is between the wireless power receiver coil and the bottom side of the housing of the testing device, the measuring of the third temperature being indicative of a temperature related to heat generated by the wireless power transmitter coil of the wireless power transmitter device.

6. A test system for emulating a thermal exposure of a mobile device when being subjected to wireless power transfer from a wireless power transmitter device having a wireless power coil, the test system comprising a testing device and a host device;

wherein the testing device comprises;

a housing, the housing having a bottom side adapted for placement on a surface of the wireless power transmitter device, and a top side opposite to the bottom side;

a wireless power receiver coil provided in the housing;

thermo sensory means; and

an interface to provide measurement data from the thermo sensory means to the host device for processing therein,

wherein the thermo sensory means comprises;

a first temperature sensor adapted to measure a temperature at a first position inside the housing; and

a second temperature sensor adapted to measure a temperature at a second position external to the housing;

wherein the host device comprises;

a host device interface,

processing means, and

reporting means

and wherein the host device is configured to;

receive the measurement data from the testing device by the host device interface;

process the received measurement data by the processing means to obtain measurement processing results emulating the thermal exposure of the mobile device; and

communicate or present the measurement processing results by the reporting means.

7. The test system as defined in claim 6, wherein the first temperature sensor is positioned between the wireless power receiver coil and the top side of the housing.

8. The test system as defined in claim 6, wherein the housing has a lower housing part comprising said bottom side and an upper housing part comprising said top side and wherein the upper housing part is made of a material having heat dissipation properties similar to a typical mobile device that the wireless power transmitter device is designed for use with.

9. The test system as defined in claim 8, wherein the upper housing part comprises at least one of aluminium and glass.

10. The test system as defined in claim 8, wherein the typical mobile device is a smartphone.

11. The test system as defined in claim 8, further comprising a socket which protrudes downwardly from an inner surface of the upper housing part, wherein the first temperature sensor is positioned in or at said socket.

12. The test system as defined in claim 9, wherein the testing device further comprises a socket which protrudes downwardly from an inner surface of the upper housing part, wherein the first temperature sensor is positioned in or at said socket.

13. The test system as defined in claim 12, wherein the socket is an integral part of and made of the same material as the upper housing part, the socket having a surface with an area dimensioned to match a horizontal extension of a surface of a ferrite layer for the wireless power receiver coil, the socket serving as a mount for the ferrite layer;

further comprising a heat transferring layer between the surface of the socket and the surface of the ferrite layer.

14. The test system as defined in claim 13, wherein the heat transferring layer is of a resilient, adhesive and heat conductive material, and is adapted to establish optimal transfer of heat generated by the wireless power receiver coil to the upper housing part.

15. The test system as defined in claim 6, wherein the testing device further comprises a cable for connection to the host device, the cable being comprised in or connected to said interface, wherein the second temperature sensor is positioned on said cable at a distance from said housing.

16. The test system as defined in claim 6, wherein

the first temperature sensor is adapted to provide measurement data indicative of a temperature related to heat generated internally in the testing device by the wireless power receiver coil;

and

the second temperature sensor is adapted to provide measurement data indicative of a temperature related to ambient air around the testing device.

17. The test system as defined in claim 16, wherein the thermo sensory means further comprises a third temperature sensor, the third temperature sensor being adapted to measure a temperature at a third position, the third position being inside the housing and different from the first position.

18. The test system as defined in claim 17, wherein the third temperature sensor is positioned between the wireless power receiver coil and the bottom side of the housing, the third temperature sensor being adapted to provide measurement data indicative of a temperature related to heat generated by the wireless power transmitter coil of the wireless power transmitter device.

19. The test system as defined in claim 6, wherein the test system is adapted for use with a wireless power transmitter device in the form of a wireless charger.