Power receiving device having device discovery and power transfer capabilities

• US 10,404,075 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walley, John, Van Der Lee, Reinier, Rajakarunanayake, Yasantha, Bishtein, Vadim
• Primary Examiner(s): Kessie, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/631,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20140091626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,531 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A wireless power transfer system is disclosed that includes a power station and a chargeable device. The power station transmits discovery beacons in order to detect a chargeable device within its vicinity using any available communication protocols and/or standards. Once a device is discovered, the power station can perform coil selection with the device in order to select preferred coils for power transfer. In addition, the chargeable device is capable of detecting the beacon signal and providing a response to notify the power station of its presence. The chargeable device is capable of performing its own coil selection for further optimization and includes various assistance functionality to aid a user in optimizing a connection with the power station.

Claims

1. A device capable of wireless power reception in a wireless power transfer (WPT) environment, the device comprising:

a receiver configured to operate in a broadband mode and a narrowband mode, the receiver being configured to receive a beacon signal from the WPT environment when in the broadband mode, wherein the beacon signal includes data that identifies one or more WPT standards supported by a nearby power station;

a receiver module configured to determine a carrier frequency of the received beacon signal and to tune the receiver to the narrowband mode centered at the determined carrier frequency;

a transmitter configured to transmit a notification signal via a non-WPT standard to the WPT environment in order to notify the nearby power station of the presence of the device, the notification signal being transmitted prior to receiving the beacon signal and in response to a predetermined trigger within the device; and

a coil configured to also transmit the notification signal to the WPT environment using WPT load modulation during the transmitting by the transmitter,

wherein the predetermined trigger includes at least one of a power level of the device falling below a predetermined threshold or a user instruction,

wherein in response to the receipt of the beacon signal, the transmitter transmits a response signal to the WPT environment, and

wherein the response signal includes at least one WPT standard supported by the device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the beacon signal was received via a non-WPT communication standard.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a diode bridge that includes an arrangement of a plurality of current control devices,

wherein the receiver module determines the carrier frequency of the received beacon signal based on a digitized output of the diode bridge.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein in the broadband mode, the receiver receives signals from within a broad frequency spectrum that includes a plurality of anticipated possible transmission carrier frequencies, and

wherein in the narrowband mode, the receiver receives signals primarily at the determined carrier frequency while filtering signals outside the immediate vicinity of the carrier frequency.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of power sources;

a plurality of power sinks; and

a power logic module configured to route power received by the plurality of power sources to the plurality of power sinks based on need and priority of the plurality of power sinks.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of power sources is also a power sink.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the beacon signal is at least one of a short beacon signal or a long beacon signal.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the beacon signal is the short beacon signal prior to detection of the device, and is the long beacon signal after the detection of the device.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the short beacon signal is unmodulated and the long beacon signal is modulated.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the short beacon signal is at a low power compared to the long beacon signal.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification signal is transmitted to the WPT environment by a plurality of coils simultaneously.

12. A method of wirelessly receiving power from a power station by a wirelessly chargeable device, the method comprising:

transmitting a notification signal via a non-wireless power transfer (WPT) standard from a wireless transmitter to the power station in order to notify the power station of the presence of the wirelessly chargeable device in response to a predetermined trigger within the wirelessly chargeable device;

transmitting the notification signal from a coil of the wirelessly chargeable device using WPT load modulation during the transmitting from the wireless transmitter;

receiving a beacon signal from the power station via a receiver coil tuned for broadband discovery, after the transmission of the notification signal, the beacon signal including data that identifies one or more wireless power transfer standards supported by the power station, wherein the beacon signal includes data that identifies one or more WPT standards supported by the power station;

determining a carrier frequency of the beacon signal;

tuning the receiver coil of the wirelessly chargeable device based on the determined carrier frequency of the beacon signal;

transmitting a response signal to the power station in response to the beacon signal, the response signal including characteristics and power transfer capabilities of the wirelessly chargeable device, including at least one WPT standard supported by the wirelessly chargeable device; and

wirelessly receiving power from the power station in accordance with the power transfer capabilities,

wherein the predetermined trigger includes at least one of a power level of the wirelessly chargeable device falling below a predetermined threshold or a user instruction.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a test signal from the power station on a plurality of coils;

determining coupling coefficients for each of the plurality of coils based on the received test signal; and

identifying to the power station results of the coupling coefficient determination.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the results of the coupling coefficient determination include at least one of a preferred coil selection and a preferred coil coupling between the plurality of coils of the wirelessly chargeable device and a plurality of power station coils.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristics include at least one of shielding properties and a metal layout of the wirelessly chargeable device, and

wherein the power transfer capabilities include an identification of all WPT standards supported by the wirelessly chargeable device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the wirelessly received power is routed, together with any power received from other power sources, to power sinks based on need and priority of the power sinks.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

upon a change in a number of wirelessly chargeable devices being serviced by the power station;

terminating wireless power transfer between the power station and the wirelessly chargeable device;

performing a coil selection procedure to obtain an updated coil selection; and

wirelessly transferring power between the power station and the wirelessly chargeable device using the updated coil selection.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined trigger is a power level of the wirelessly chargeable device falling below the predetermined threshold.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined trigger is the user instruction.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification signal is transmitted to the WPT environment by a plurality of coils simultaneously.