Wireless power receiver and method for controlling same

• US 10,236,722 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Hee-Dong, Kim, Min-Soo, Kim, Jae-Hwan, Choi, Man-Ki, Yang, Chul-Hyung, Lee, Ji-Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/338,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20170126070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 electronic device and a method of operating the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a communication circuit; a battery; a first conductive pattern electrically connected to the battery and configured to wirelessly receive power; a second conductive pattern electrically connected to the communication circuit; a processor; and a memory that stores instructions, which when executed, instruct the processor to receive power from an external device through the first conductive pattern, to detect a voltage or a current of a signal output from the second conductive pattern while receiving the power, and to provide an output that is at least partially based on the detected voltage or current of the signal output from the second conductive pattern.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a communication circuit;

a battery;

a first conductive pattern electrically connected to the battery and configured to wirelessly receive power;

a second conductive pattern electrically connected to the communication circuit;

a processor; and

a memory that stores instructions, which when executed, instruct the processor to receive power from an external device through the first conductive pattern, to detect a voltage or a current of a signal output from the second conductive pattern while receiving the power, to provide an output regarding an alignment state between the electronic device and the external device that is at least partially based on the detected voltage or current of the signal output from the second conductive pattern,

wherein a part of the first conductive pattern and a part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a first distance,

wherein another part of the first conductive pattern and another part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a second distance, which is greater than the first distance,

wherein the first distance is a shortest distance between the part of the first conductive pattern and the part of the second conductive pattern, and

wherein the second distance is a shortest distance between the another part of the first conductive pattern and the another part of the second conductive pattern.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second conductive pattern comprises an asymmetrical coil.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores additional instructions, which when executed, instruct the processor to determine a positon of the electronic device relative to the external device based on a potential difference generated between a first part and a second part of a coil of the second conductive pattern, the first part having a first width and a second part having a second width, which is wider than the first width for generating the potential difference.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

another communication circuit; and

a third conductive pattern electrically connected to the another communication circuit.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the memory stores additional instructions, which when executed, instruct the processor to detect a voltage or a current of a signal from the third conductive pattern while receiving the power, and to provide the output, at least partially based on the voltage or the current of at least one of the signal from the second conductive pattern and the signal from the third conductive pattern.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the output indicates an alignment state between the electronic device and the external device or an alignment state between the first conductive pattern and a fourth conductive pattern of the external device.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the output further indicates a relative position of the electronic device with respect to the external device or a relative position of the first conductive pattern with respect to the fourth conductive pattern.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the output induces movement of the electronic device and includes a movement direction.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, instruct the processor to determine an amount of power supplied to the battery, based on the detected voltage or current of the signal output from the second conductive pattern.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a display, a speaker, a vibration device, and a light emitting device.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, instruct the processor to provide the output, at least partially based on the detected voltage or current of the signal output from the second conductive pattern and a stored table.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the memory stores the table, and

wherein the table includes a relation between information related to the signal from the second conductive pattern and a position of the external device.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a first conductive pattern configured to wirelessly receive power transmitted from an external device;

a second conductive pattern including a first part and a second part, wherein different voltages are applied to each of the first part and the second part by the power transmitted from the external device;

a processor; and

a memory configured to store instructions, which when executed, instruct the processor to receive a signal output from the second conductive pattern while receiving the power from the external device through the first conductive pattern, and to determine whether the first conductive pattern is aligned with the external device,

wherein a part of the first conductive pattern and a part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a first distance,

wherein another part of the first conductive pattern and another part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a second distance, which is greater than the first distance,

wherein the first distance is a shortest distance between the part of the first conductive pattern and the part of the second conductive pattern, and

wherein the second distance is a shortest distance between the another part of the first conductive pattern and the another part of the second conductive pattern.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the signal output from the second conductive pattern indicates information related to a potential difference between the first part and the second part.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the memory stores a table including a relation between information related to the signal output from the second conductive pattern and a position of the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, instruct the processor to determine the position of the electronic device, at least partially based on the information related to the signal from the second conductive pattern and the table.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, instruct the processor to determine whether the determined position of the electronic device is within a selected range, and to determine an alignment state between the electronic device and the external device, at least partially based on a result of the determination.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, instruct the processor to determine the alignment state as good, when the position of the electronic device is within the selected range, based on the result of the determination.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, instruct the processor to determine the alignment state as bad, when the position of the electronic device is not within the selected range, and to display an output for inducing movement of the electronic device to be within the selected range.

20. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein an electrical characteristic of the first part and an electrical characteristic of the second part are different from each other.

21. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein a shortest distance of the first part with respect to the first conductive pattern and a shortest distance of the second part with respect to the first conductive pattern are different from each other.

22. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, by the electronic device, power from an external device through a first conductive pattern connected to a communication circuit;

detecting a signal output from a second conductive pattern of the electronic device, while receiving the power; and

providing an output regarding an alignment state between the electronic device and the external device, at least partially based on the detected signal output from the second conductive pattern,

wherein a part of the first conductive pattern and a part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a first distance,

wherein another part of the first conductive pattern and another part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a second distance, which is greater than the first distance,

wherein the first distance is a shortest distance between the part of the first conductive pattern and the part of the second conductive pattern, and

wherein the second distance is a shortest distance between the another part of the first conductive pattern and the another part of the second conductive pattern.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising detecting a voltage or a current of a signal output from a third conductive pattern connected to another communication circuit,

wherein providing the output comprises providing the output, at least partially based on the signal output from the second conductive pattern and the voltage or the current of the signal output from the third conductive pattern.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the output indicates an alignment state between the electronic device and the external device or an alignment state between the first conductive pattern and a fourth conductive pattern of the external device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the output further indicates a relative position of the electronic device with respect to the external device or a relative position of the first conductive pattern with respect to the fourth conductive pattern.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the output induces movement of the electronic device and includes a movement direction.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising determining an amount of power supplied to a battery, based on the detected voltage or current of the signal output from the third conductive pattern.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein providing the output comprises:

reading a table including a relation between information related to the detected signal output from the second conductive pattern and a position of the electronic device; and

providing the output, at least partially based on the detected signal output from the second conductive pattern and the stored table.

29. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, by the electronic device, power transmitted from an external device through a first conductive pattern;

detecting a signal output from a second conductive pattern including a first part having a first width and a second part to which different voltages are applied by the power transmitted from the electronic device; and

determining whether the first conductive pattern is aligned with the external device, based on the detected signal output from the second conductive pattern,

wherein a part of the first conductive pattern and a part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a first distance, and

wherein another part of the first conductive pattern and another part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a second distance, which is greater than the first distance,

wherein the first distance is a shortest distance between the part of the first conductive pattern and the part of the second conductive pattern, and

wherein the second distance is a shortest distance between the another part of the first conductive pattern and the another part of the second conductive pattern.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein determining whether the first conductive pattern is aligned with the external device comprises:

reading a table including a relation between information related to the signal output from the second conductive pattern and a position of the electronic device; and

determining a relative position of the electronic device with respect to the external device, based on the information related to the signal output from the second conductive pattern and the table.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein determining whether the first conductive pattern is aligned with the external device further comprises:

determining whether the determined relative position of the electronic device is within a selected range; and

determining an alignment state, based on whether the determined relative position of the electronic device is within the selected range.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining that the alignment state is good, when the position of the electronic device is within the selected range.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

determining that the alignment state is bad, when the position of the electronic device is not within the selected range; and

providing an output for inducing movement of the electronic device to be within the selected range.

34. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, by the electronic device, power from an external device through a first conductive pattern connected to a communication circuit;

detecting a first voltage or current of a first signal output from a second conductive pattern of the electronic device, while receiving the power;

detecting a second voltage or current of a second signal output from a third conductive pattern connected to another communication circuit; and

providing an output regarding an alignment state between the electronic device and the external device, at least partially based on at least one of the first voltage or current of the first signal output from the second conductive pattern and the second voltage or current of the second signal output from the third conductive pattern,

wherein a part of the first conductive pattern and a part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a first distance,

wherein another part of the first conductive pattern and another part of the second conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other by a second distance, which is greater than the first distance,

wherein the first distance is a shortest distance between the part of the first conductive pattern and the part of the second conductive pattern, and

wherein the second distance is a shortest distance between the another part of the first conductive pattern and the another part of the second conductive pattern.