Inductive charging between electronic devices

• US 10,404,089 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2015
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kasar, Darshan R., Graham, Christopher S., Jol, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Diao, M Baye
• Application Number:
  US14/731,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20160094076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 307104, 455 412, 455573
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

An electronic device and methods for inductively charging an electronic device using another external electronic device. The electronic device may include an enclosure, a battery positioned within the enclosure, and an inductive coil coupled to the battery. The inductive coil may have two or more operational modes, including a power receiving operational mode for wirelessly receiving power and a power transmitting operational mode for wirelessly transmitting power. The electronic device may also have a controller coupled to the inductive coil for selecting one of the operational modes.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

an enclosure defining an opening;

a display positioned within the opening of the enclosure;

a mid-plate positioned between the display and a back surface of the enclosure;

a battery within the enclosure, the battery configured to provide electrical power to the display; and

a transmit inductive coil positioned within the enclosure and directly on the mid-plate such that the transmit inductive coil is positioned between the display and the back surface of the enclosure, and configured to wirelessly transmit power through the display to an external device that is positioned proximate to the display the back surface of the enclosure to an external device that is positioned proximate to the back surface of the enclosure.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the transmit inductive coil is operatively coupled to the battery and is configured to wirelessly transmit power from the battery to the external device.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a receive inductive coil within the enclosure and configured to wirelessly receive power from the external device that is positioned proximate to the enclosure.

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

a touch sensor positioned external to the enclosure;

a speaker within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the battery; and

a microphone within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the battery.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display includes a flat surface upon which the external device is positioned to wirelessly receive power from the transmit inductive coil.

6. An electronic device comprising:

an enclosure;

a battery within the enclosure;

an inductive coil within the enclosure and coupled to the battery, the inductive coil configured to operate in two or more operational modes comprising;

a power receiving mode for wirelessly receiving power from an external device; and

a power transmitting mode for wirelessly transmitting power to the external device;

an alignment magnet positioned adjacent the inductive coil, wherein the alignment magnet is configured to assist in positioning the external device relative to the electronic device; and

a controller coupled to the inductive coil and configured to select the operational mode of the inductive coil.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein:

the inductive coil is an inner inductive coil; and

the electronic device further comprises an outer inductive coil surrounding the inner inductive coil.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein:

the power receiving mode includes activating both the inner inductive coil and the outer inductive coil to receive wireless power; and

the power transmitting mode includes activating only the inner inductive coil to transmit wireless power.

9. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the controller is in electronic communication with the battery and configured to monitor a charge of the battery.

10. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein:

the electronic device is one of;

a first mobile phone, a first smart phone, a first tablet computer, a first notebook computer, or a first protective case; and

the external device is one of;

a second mobile phone, a second smart phone, a second tablet computer, or a second notebook computer.

11. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein:

the battery of the electronic device is configured to be charged by the external device in the power receiving mode; and

the battery of the electronic device is configured to charge the external device in the power transmitting mode.

12. The electronic device of claim 6, further comprising:

a display positioned within an opening of the enclosure;

a touch sensor disposed over the display;

a speaker within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the battery; and

a microphone within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the battery.

13. A method of inductively wirelessly coupling a first electronic device and a second electronic device, the method comprising:

positioning a first inductive coil of the first electronic device relative to a second inductive coil of the second electronic device by allowing an alignment magnet positioned adjacent the first inductive coil to assist in positioning the second external device relative to the first electronic device;

selecting, using a first controller of the first electronic device, an operational mode of the first inductive coil; and

transmitting power from one of;

the first inductive coil to the second inductive coil, or

the second inductive coil to the first inductive coil, wherein the first inductive coil is configured to operate in two or more modes, including;

a power receiving operational mode for wirelessly receiving power; and

a power transmitting operational mode for wirelessly transmitting power.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein positioning the first inductive coil relative to the second inductive coil further comprises:

positioning the first electronic device directly on the second electronic device; and

aligning the first inductive coil of the first electronic device with the second inductive coil of the second electronic device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the selecting the operational mode of the first inductive coil comprises:

detecting a presence of the second electronic device; and

selecting the operational mode of the first inductive coil in response to detecting the presence of the second electronic device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting an operational mode of the second inductive coil of the second electronic device using a second controller.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

activating an outer inductive coil of the first electronic device to wirelessly couple power with the second inductive coil of the second electronic device, wherein the outer inductive coil surrounds the first inductive coil.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

when transmitting power from the first inductive coil of the first electronic device to the second inductive coil of the second electronic device;

estimating a power coupling efficiency between the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil; and

activating an outer inductive coil surrounding the first inductive coil based on the estimation.

19. A system comprising:

a first electronic device comprising;

a first battery;

a first inductive coil coupled to the first battery;

a first alignment magnet positioned adjacent to the first inductive coil; and

a first controller coupled to the first inductive coil for selecting an operational mode of the first inductive coil; and

a second electronic device positioned adjacent the first electronic device, the second electronic device comprising;

a second battery;

a second inductive coil coupled to the second battery; and

a second controller coupled to the second inductive coil for selecting an operational mode of the second inductive coil, wherein;

the first alignment magnet is configured to assist in positioning the second electronic device relative to the first electronic device,

the first controller is configured to select a power transmitting operational mode for wirelessly transmitting power from the first battery to the second battery using the first inductive coil, and

the first controller is configured to select a power receiving operational mode for wirelessly receiving power from the second battery to the first battery using the first inductive coil.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the second electronic device further comprises a second alignment magnet positioned adjacent to the second inductive coil; and

the second alignment magnet is configured to attract the first alignment magnet to align the first inductive coil of the first electronic device with the second inductive coil of the second electronic device.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the first electronic device further comprises an outer inductive coil surrounding the first inductive coil; and

the outer inductive coil is coupled to the first battery and the first controller.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the second electronic device further comprises a second outer inductive coil surrounding the second inductive coil; and

the second outer inductive coil is coupled to the second battery and the second controller.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the first inductive coil of the first electronic device is configured to wirelessly transfer power with at least one of;

the second inductive coil of the second electronic device; and

the second outer inductive coil of the second electronic device; and

the outer inductive coil of the first electronic device is configured to wirelessly transfer power with at least one of;

the second inductive coil of the second electronic device; and

the second outer inductive coil of the second electronic device.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the first electronic device further comprises a display and the first electronic device is configured to modify a graphical output of the display in response to the first electronic device being proximate to the second electronic device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the graphical output of the display indicates an alignment condition of the first electronic device with respect to the second electronic device.