Testing device for wireless power transfer, and associated method

• US 10,079,511 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electdis AB
• Original Assignee: Nok9 AB
• Inventors: Wikstrand, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferdous, Zannatul
• Application Number:
  US15/169,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20160359371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/42 AC power supplies
• 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 for use in testing of wireless power transfer is disclosed. The testing device has a housing, a wireless power receiver coil provided in the housing, and a cable extending from the housing at a first end and having a cable connector at a second end. The cable accommodates connection wiring of the wireless power receiver coil. The cable connector comprises a data storage configured to contain characteristic information about the wireless power receiver coil.

Claims

1. A testing device for use in testing of wireless power transfer, the testing device comprising:

a housing;

a wireless power receiver coil provided in the housing; and

a cable extending from the housing at a first end and having a cable connector at a second end, the cable accommodating connection wiring of the wireless power receiver coil,

wherein the cable connector comprises a data storage configured to contain characteristic information about the wireless power receiver coil, the cable connector having a connector housing and a printed circuit board confined within the connector housing, wherein the data storage is mounted on the printed circuit board and wherein the printed circuit board further comprises tuning circuitry for the wireless power receiver coil.

2. The testing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the data storage is an electronic memory.

3. The testing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the characteristic information about the wireless power receiver coil comprises a type or class of the wireless power receiver coil.

4. The testing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the characteristic information about the wireless power receiver coil comprises one or more of the following:

a unique identifier of the wireless power receiver coil,

an inductance value of the wireless power receiver coil,

a first resonance frequency of the wireless power receiver coil, the first resonance frequency being an operation resonance frequency for wireless power transfer,

a second resonance frequency of the wireless power receiver coil, the second resonance frequency being a detection resonance frequency for wireless power transfer,

a first equivalent series resistance, ESR, value for the wireless power receiver coil at a first frequency,

a second equivalent series resistance, ESR, value for the wireless power receiver coil at a second frequency,

a first Q value for the wireless power receiver coil at the first frequency, and

a second Q value for the wireless power receiver coil at the second frequency.

5. The testing device as defined in claim 1, the cable connector comprising a plurality of connector terminals, wherein the data storage is connected to at least one of the connector terminals, and wherein the characteristic information about the wireless power receiver coil is readable by a host device for testing of wireless power transfer.

6. The testing device as defined in claim 5, further comprising a sensor for detecting an operation condition of the testing device, wherein an output of the sensor is connected to at least one of the connector terminals and is readable by the host device for testing of wireless power transfer.

7. The testing device as defined in claim 5, further comprising a status indicator for indicating a status of the testing device, wherein an input of the status indicator is connected to at least one of the connector terminals and is drivable by the host device for testing of wireless power transfer.

8. The testing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the tuning circuitry comprises:

a first capacitor for tuning of an operation resonance frequency for wireless power transfer; and

a second capacitor for tuning of a detection resonance frequency for wireless power transfer.

9. The testing device as defined in claim 8, wherein the characteristic information about the wireless power receiver coil further comprises respective capacitance values of the first capacitor and second capacitor.

10. The testing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing has a lower housing part with a bottom side adapted for placement on a surface of a wireless power transmitter device having a wireless power transmitter coil, and an upper housing part.

11. The testing device as defined in claim 10, wherein the testing device is adapted for use with the wireless power transmitter device in the form of a wireless charger.

14. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein providing a testing device involves providing the testing device as defined in claim 1.

12. A method of testing wireless power transfer from a wireless power transmitter device having a wireless power transmitter coil, the method involving:

providing a testing device having a housing, a wireless power receiver coil provided therein, and a cable extending from the housing at a first end and having a cable connector at a second end, the cable accommodating connection wiring of the wireless power receiver coil, the cable connector having a connector housing and a printed circuit board confined within the connector housing, wherein the data storage is mounted on the printed circuit board and wherein the printed circuit board further comprises tuning circuitry for the wireless power receiver coil;

providing a host device, the host device comprising a processing means and one or a plurality of cable connector inputs;

placing the testing device on, at or near the wireless power transmitter device;

connecting the cable connector of the cable of the testing device to one of said one or a plurality of cable connector inputs;

reading, by the processing means, data from a data storage of the testing device, wherein the data comprises characteristic information about the wireless power receiver coil in the testing device; and

controlling, by the processing means and based on the characteristic information about the wireless power receiver coil, a session for testing wireless power transfer which involves the wireless power transmitter device and the testing device.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein controlling a session for testing wireless power transfer comprises:

checking the characteristic information to verify at least one parameter of the wireless power receiver coil; and

initiating the session for testing wireless power transfer only upon successful verification of the parameter of the wireless power receiver coil.