Power transmitting unit and power receiving unit with control data communication and methods for use therewith

• US 10,439,425 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2018
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishtein, Vadim, Vladan, Marius Ionel
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sibin
• Application Number:
  US15/962,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20180309316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2171 with field-effect devices H03F3/2173 - H03F3/2178 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2173 of the bridge type
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a wireless power receiver configured to receive a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit. A wireless radio unit is configured to communicate with the power transmitting unit. A controllable rectifier circuit is configured to rectify the wireless power signal. The controllable rectifier circuit can include a rectifier configured to generate a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, based on switch control signals. A rectifier control circuit is configured to generate the switch control signals and to generate first control data that indicates a first rectifier duty cycle of the switch control signals. The wireless radio unit sends the first control data to the power transmitting unit. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A power receiving unit comprising:

a wireless power receiver configured to receive a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit;

a wireless radio unit configured to communicate with the power transmitting unit; and

a control circuit configured to;

generate a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, and based on control signals; and

generate first control data based on the control signals;

wherein the wireless radio unit sends the first control data to the power transmitting unit;

wherein the wireless radio unit receives second control data from the power transmitting unit, wherein the second control data includes transmitter performance data; and

wherein the control circuit adjusts the control signals in response to the second control data and based on the transmitter performance data.

2. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the power transmitting unit adjusts a transmit impedance in response to the first control data.

3. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the first control data includes a first rectifier duty cycle of the control circuit.

4. The power receiving unit of claim 3 wherein the first rectifier duty cycle is a percentage and wherein the first control data includes the percentage.

5. The power receiving unit of claim 4 wherein the second control data includes a second rectifier duty cycle and wherein the control circuit adjusts the control signals to achieve the second rectifier duty cycle.

6. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the transmitter performance data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit.

7. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio unit receives updates to the second control data from the power transmitting unit;

and

wherein the control circuit iteratively adjusts the control signals in response to the updates of the second control data.

8. The power receiving unit of claim 7 wherein the second control data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit and the control circuit iteratively adjusts the control signals to control the amount of transmitter impedance mismatch.

9. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio unit associates with the power transmitting unit via a connection establishment procedure.

10. A power transmitting unit comprising:

a wireless power transmitter configured to transmit a wireless power signal to a power receiving unit that includes a control circuit configured to;

generate a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, and based on control signals; and

generate first control data based on the control signals;

a wireless radio unit configured to communicate with the power receiving unit, wherein the wireless radio unit receives the first control data from the power receiving unit; and

a controller configured to generate second control data and wherein the controller adjusts a transmit impedance in response to the first control data;

wherein the wireless radio unit transmits the second control data to the power receiving unit;

wherein the control circuit adjusts the control signals in response to the second control data; and

wherein the second control data includes transmitter performance data of the wireless power transmitter and wherein the control circuit adjusts the control signals, based on the transmitter performance data.

11. The power transmitting unit of claim 10 wherein the first control data includes a first rectifier duty cycle of the control circuit.

12. The power transmitting unit of claim 11 wherein the first rectifier duty cycle is a percentage and wherein the first control data includes the percentage.

13. The power transmitting unit of claim 12 wherein the second control data includes a second rectifier duty cycle and wherein the control circuit adjusts the control signals to achieve the second rectifier duty cycle.

14. The power transmitting unit of claim 10 wherein the transmitter performance data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the wireless power transmitter.

15. The power transmitting unit of claim 10 wherein the wireless radio unit transmits updates to the second control data to the power receiving unit;

and

wherein the control circuit iteratively adjusts the control signals in response to the updates of the second control data.

16. The power transmitting unit of claim 15 wherein the second control data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the wireless power transmitter and the control circuit iteratively adjusts the control signals to control the amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the wireless power transmitter.

17. A method comprising:

transmitting, via a wireless power transmitter, a wireless power signal to a power receiving unit that includes a control circuit configured to generate a rectified voltage from wireless power signal, and based on control signals and to generate first control data based on the control signals;

receiving, via a wireless radio unit, the first control data from the power receiving unit;

generating, via a controller, second control data that indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the wireless power transmitter; and

transmitting, via the wireless radio unit, the second control data to the power receiving unit;

wherein the control circuit adjusts the control signals in response to the second control data.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second control data includes transmitter performance data of the wireless power transmitter and wherein the control circuit adjusts the control signals, based on the transmitter performance data.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the transmitter performance data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the wireless power transmitter.