Apparatus and method for wireless power charging of subsequent receiver

• US 10,199,871 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Carobolante, Francesco, Von Novak, III, William Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhou, Zixuan
• Application Number:
  US15/197,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20180006495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 307104
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus and method for transmission of wireless power to a plurality of chargeable devices. The apparatus and method include and provide for a wireless power transmitter including a power transmitting element configured to use a current at a first level to wirelessly transmit power sufficient to provide power to one or more chargeable devices positioned within a charging region. The apparatus and method further include and provide for a controller to detect a subsequent chargeable device positioned within the charging region and to adjust the current from the first level to a default level prior to communication with the subsequent chargeable device.

Claims

1. A device for wireless power transfer, the device comprising:

a power transmitting element configured to use a current at a first level to wirelessly transmit power sufficient to provide power to one or more chargeable devices positioned within a charging region; and

a controller operationally coupled to the power transmitting element and configured to;

adjust the current to a default level in response to detecting the one or more chargeable devices;

adjust the current to the first level from the default level, the first level being different from the default level;

detect a subsequent chargeable device positioned within the charging region while the current is at the first level;

adjust the current, in response to detecting the subsequent chargeable device, from the first level to the default level prior to communication with the subsequent chargeable device; and

adjust the current to a second level different from the default level to charge the one or more chargeable devices and to charge the subsequent chargeable device.

2. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the default level enables chargeable devices placed throughout the charging region sufficient power to power communication circuitry of the one or more chargeable devices to communicate with the device.

3. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to sense changes in a load presented to the power transmitting element to detect the subsequent chargeable device, the changes in the load indicative of the subsequent chargeable device positioned within the charging region.

4. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect a change in impedance presented to the power transmitting element above a threshold to detect the subsequent chargeable device.

5. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the current to the default level for a period of time sufficient to enable the subsequent chargeable device to communicate with the device.

6. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the current, following the period of time, to the second level based on capabilities of the one or more chargeable devices and the subsequent chargeable device.

7. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the current to the second level based on one or more industry standards including the AIRFUEL ALLIANCE standard Wireless Power Transfer System Baseline System Specification Version 1.3.

8. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, further comprising a BLUETOOTH low energy (BLE) interface configured to communicate with the one or more chargeable devices and the subsequent chargeable device.

9. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the first level is one of less than the default level or greater than the default level.

10. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the first level of the current is insufficient to enable the subsequent chargeable device to communicate with the device with the one or more chargeable devices positioned within a charging region.

11. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the first level corresponds to a level different than the default level, the controller is configured to determine the first level in response to one of the one or more chargeable devices requesting a change in power prior to the subsequent chargeable device being positioned within the charging region.

12. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to periodically transmit power, prior to the subsequent chargeable device and prior to any of the one or more chargeable devices being positioned within the charging region, at a level lower than a level of power transferred based on the current at the first level and at the default level and to determine an impedance change, the impedance change indicative of the one or more chargeable devices being positioned within the charging region.

13. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the default level is fixed at a predetermined level that is independent from feedback from the one or more chargeable devices.

14. The device for wireless power transfer of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to decrease the current from the default level to the second level such that the second level has a more efficient value than the default level to charge the one or more chargeable devices and to charge the subsequent chargeable device.

15. A method for wireless power transfer comprising:

wirelessly transmitting power from a power transmitting element, using a current at a first level, sufficient to provide power to one or more chargeable devices positioned within a charging region of the power transmitting element;

adjusting the current to a default level in response to detecting the one or more chargeable devices;

adjusting the current to the first level from the default level, the first level being different from the default level;

detecting a subsequent chargeable device positioned within the charging region while the current is at the first level;

adjusting the current, in response to detecting the subsequent chargeable device, from the first level to the default level prior to communication with the subsequent chargeable device; and

adjusting the current to a second level different from the default level to charge the one or more chargeable devices and to charge the subsequent chargeable device.

16. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 15, wherein the default level enables chargeable devices placed throughout the charging region to communicate with a device wirelessly transmitting the power.

17. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 15, wherein the detecting the subsequent chargeable device includes load sensing of the current used by the power transmitting element.

18. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 15, further comprising adjusting the current to the default level for a period of time sufficient to enable the subsequent chargeable device to communicate with a device wirelessly transmitting the power.

19. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 18, further comprising, following the period of time, adjusting the current to the second level based on capabilities of the one or more chargeable devices and the subsequent chargeable device.

20. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 19, wherein the adjusting the current to the second level is based on one or more industry standards including the AIRFUEL ALLIANCE standard Wireless Power Transfer System Baseline System Specification Version 1.3.

21. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 15, further comprising a device wirelessly transmitting the power communicating with the one or more chargeable devices and the subsequent chargeable device using a BLUETOOTH low energy (BLE) interface.

22. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 15, wherein the first level is one of less than the default level or greater than the default level.

23. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 15, wherein the first level of the current is insufficient to enable the subsequent chargeable device to communicate with a device wirelessly transmitting the power with the one or more chargeable devices positioned within a charging region.

24. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 15, wherein the first level corresponds to a level different than the default level, the method further comprising determining the first level in response to one of the one or more chargeable devices requesting a change in power prior to the subsequent chargeable device being positioned within the charging region.

25. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting a plurality of impedance-determining pulses into the charging region prior to any of the one or more chargeable devices or the subsequent chargeable devices being positioned within the charging region, the impedance-determining pulses providing insufficient power to charge the one or more chargeable devices; and

determining an impedance change during transmission of the plurality of impedance determining pulses.

26. The method for wireless power transfer of claim 25, further comprising transmitting a start-up-charge pulse providing power for the one or more chargeable devices to power-up communication circuitry in response to the impedance change.

27. An apparatus for wireless power transfer, the apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly transmitting power, using a current at a first level, sufficient to provide power to one or more chargeable devices positioned within a charging region;

means for adjusting the current to a default level in response to detecting the one or more chargeable devices;

means for adjusting the current to the first level from the default level, the first level being different from the default level;

means for detecting a subsequent chargeable device positioned within the charging region while the current is at the first level;

means for adjusting the current, in response to detecting the subsequent chargeable device, from the first level to the default level prior to communication with the subsequent chargeable device; and

means for adjusting the current to a second level different from the default level to charge the one or more chargeable devices and to charge the subsequent chargeable device.

28. The apparatus for wireless power transfer of claim 27, wherein the default level enables chargeable devices placed throughout the charging region to communicate with the apparatus.

29. The apparatus for wireless power transfer of claim 27, wherein means for adjusting are for adjusting the current to the default level for a period of time sufficient to enable the subsequent chargeable device to communicate with the apparatus.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions thereon, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

wirelessly transmitting power from a power transmitting element, using a current at a first level, sufficient to provide power to one or more chargeable devices positioned within a charging region of the power transmitting element;

adjusting the current to a default level in response to detecting the one or more chargeable devices;

adjusting the current to the first level from the default level, the first level being different from the default level;

detecting a subsequent chargeable device positioned within the charging region while the current is at the first level;

adjusting the current, in response to detecting the subsequent chargeable device, from the first level to the default level prior to communication with the subsequent chargeable device; and

adjusting the current to a second level different from the default level to charge the one or more chargeable devices and to charge the subsequent chargeable device.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the default level enables chargeable devices placed throughout the charging region to communicate with a device wirelessly transmitting the power.