Multi-mode wireless power receiving device and method

• US 10,389,183 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Center For Integrated Smart Sensors Foundation (Center for Integrated Smart Sensors)
• Original Assignee: Center For Integrated Smart Sensors Foundation (Center for Integrated Smart Sensors)
• Inventors: Han, Minseok, Kyung, Chongmin
• Primary Examiner(s): Amaya, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US15/537,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20170353055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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: H03H 11/28 Impedance matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A multi-mode wireless power receiving device and method are disclosed. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device can comprise: an antenna module comprising an outer loop and an inner loop; a mode control unit for controlling an operation mode of the antenna module; a switch connecting the outer loop and the inner loop, and operated by the mode control unit; an outer loop module for supporting a magnetic resonance method and NFC communication by using the outer loop, according to the operation of the switch; and an inner loop module using the outer loop and the inner loop simultaneously so as to support a magnetic induction method according to the operation of the switch, thereby transmitting power.

Claims

1. A multi-mode wireless power receiving device comprising:

an antenna module including an outer loop and an inner loop;

a mode control unit configured to control an operating mode of the antenna module;

a switch connecting the outer loop and the inner loop and operated by the mode control unit;

an outer loop module configured to support a magnetic resonance method and near field communication (NFC) communication by using the outer loop, according to an operation of the switch; and

an inner loop module configured to support a magnetic induction method by using the outer loop and the inner loop simultaneously according to the operation of the switch and to transmit power.

2. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 1, wherein the outer loop module selectively performs the magnetic resonance method and the NFC communication by using the outer loop if the switch is turned off.

3. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 1, wherein the inner loop module selectively performs Power Matters Alliance (PMA) and Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) of the magnetic induction method by using the outer loop and the inner loop simultaneously to transmit the power, if the switch is turned on.

4. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 1, wherein each of the outer loop module and the inner loop module has a dual operating frequency.

5. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 1, wherein the inner loop module includes:

a rectifier unit configured to rectify a radio frequency (RF) signal input through the antenna module;

a voltage control unit configured to change a direct current (DC) signal rectified by the rectifier unit into a voltage capable of being used for a load device; and

an impedance matching unit placed between the antenna module and the rectifier unit and configured to match impedance between the antenna module and the rectifier unit.

6. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 5, wherein the impedance matching unit includes:

a PMA impedance matching unit and a WPC impedance matching unit that use the magnetic induction method.

7. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 5, wherein the outer loop module further includes:

a magnetic resonance impedance matching unit using the magnetic resonance method, and

wherein if the magnetic resonance impedance matching unit is selected, the rectifier unit of the inner loop module rectifies the RF signal input through the antenna module, the voltage control unit changes the rectified DC signal into the voltage capable of being used for the load device, and the inner loop module transmits the power.

8. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 5, wherein the inner loop module further includes:

a charging unit configured to charge the load device by using the power being output.

9. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 1, wherein the outer loop module further includes:

an NFC transceiver configured to perform the NFC communication to communicate with an external host;

an NFC control unit connected with the NFC transceiver and configured to control an operation;

an interface unit configured to communicate with the external host; and

an NFC impedance matching unit placed between the NFC transceiver and the antenna module and configured to match impedance between the NFC transceiver and the outer loop of the antenna module.

10. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 1, wherein the inner loop module further includes:

a charging state sensing unit configured to sense an operation of a charging unit;

a wireless charging control unit configured to control charging by using charging state information received from the charging state sensing unit; and

a communication unit configured to receive a control message from an outside and to transmit the control message to the wireless charging control unit.

11. The multi-mode wireless power receiving device of claim 10, wherein the communication unit selects at least one of in-band and out-of-band,

wherein if the in-band is selected, the switch is turned on, and at least one or more of a PMA impedance matching unit and a WPC impedance matching unit is selected by the mode control unit, and

wherein if the out-of-band is selected, the switch is turned off, and a magnetic resonance impedance matching unit is selected by the mode control unit.

12. A multi-mode wireless power receiving method, the method comprising:

receiving at least one of wireless power and a communication signal, which have the same operating frequency, from a wireless power transmitting device;

controlling an operating mode of an antenna module by manipulating, at a mode control unit, a switch;

supporting transmission of the wireless power and NFC communication of a magnetic resonance method by using an outer loop of the antenna module, if the switch is turned off; and

transmitting the wireless power to a wireless power receiving device by connecting the outer loop and an inner loop such that PMA and WPC of a magnetic induction method are supported, if the switch is turned on.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting of the wireless power to the wireless power receiving device by connecting the outer loop and the inner loop and by supporting PMA and WPC of the magnetic induction method includes:

matching, by at least one or more of a PMA impedance matching unit and a WPC impedance matching unit that use the magnetic induction method, impedance between the antenna module and a rectifier unit;

rectifying a RF signal input through the antenna module; and

changing a rectified DC signal into a voltage capable of being used for a load device to transmit the wireless power.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

selecting, by a communication unit, at least one of in-band and out-of-band;

if the in-band is selected, transmitting the wireless power by turning on the switch such that the mode control unit selects at least one or more of a PMA impedance matching unit and a WPC impedance matching unit; and

if the out-of-band is selected, transmitting the wireless power by turning off the switch such that the mode control unit selects a magnetic resonance impedance matching unit.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the supporting of the transmission of the wireless power and the NFC communication of the magnetic resonance method by using the outer loop of the antenna module includes:

if a magnetic resonance impedance matching unit is selected,

rectifying a RF signal input through the antenna module;

changing a rectified DC signal into a voltage capable of being used for a load device; and

transmitting the wireless power.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the supporting of the transmission of the wireless power and the NFC communication of the magnetic resonance method by using the outer loop of the antenna module includes:

matching impedance between a NFC transceiver and the outer loop of the antenna module; and

performing the NFC communication through an interface such that the NFC transceiver communicates with an external host.