Wireless power transmitting device and method for controlling the same

• US 10,439,450 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Chong-Min, Lee, Kyung-Woo, Park, Sung-Bum, Park, Jae-Hyun, Shin, Jae-Hyuck, Ryu, Young-Ho, Lee, Sang-Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Borroto, Alfonso Perez
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yeshaw, Esayas G
• Application Number:
  US15/474,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20170288475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A wireless power transmitting device is provided. The wireless power transmitting device may comprise an antenna, a memory, and a processor configured to control to store, as reference information, information of a first reflected signal of a pilot signal sent out through the antenna at a first time in the memory and control to compare the reference information with information about second reflected signals of a pilot signal sent out through the antenna at a second time, and determine a position of a target for detection based on a result of the comparison.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitting device, comprising:

an antenna;

a memory; and

a processor configured to;

store, in the memory, first information of a plurality of first reflected signals of a plurality of first pilot signals transmitted through the antenna at a first time, as reference information, wherein each of the plurality of first reflected signals is generated according to reflection of each of the plurality of first pilot signals,

compare the reference information with second information of a plurality of second reflected signals of a plurality of second pilot signals transmitted through the antenna at a second time, wherein each of the plurality of second pilot signals are transmitted towards a plurality of directions, respectively, and wherein each of the plurality of second reflected signals is generated according to reflection of each of the plurality of second pilot signals, and

identify a direction of a target for detection based on a result of the comparison, wherein the direction of the target for detection corresponds to a specific direction among the plurality of directions.

2. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

identify that the target for detection is positioned in the direction corresponding to the specific direction when a difference between information of at least one of the plurality of second pilot signals corresponding to the specific direction and the reference information is greater than a preset threshold.

3. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

based on determining that the target for detection is an electronic device, control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the antenna, power towards the specific direction, and

based on determining that the target for detection is an obstacle, update the reference information to include the second information of the plurality of second reflected signals with the reference information.

4. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to:

based on receiving a communication signal from the target for detection, determine that the target for detection is the electronic device, and

based on receiving no communication signal from the target for detection, determine that the target for detection is the obstacle.

5. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to:

when controlling the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the antenna, other power to another electronic device before the second time, based on determining that the target for detection is the obstacle and the obstacle is positioned between the wireless power transmitting device and the other electronic device, adjust a direction of transmission of the other power.

6. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 5, further comprising a communication circuit,

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive, through the communication circuit, a communication signal including received power-related information from the other electronic device, and

adjust the direction of transmission of the other power until the received power-related information meets a preset condition.

7. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to:

when controlling the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the antenna, other power to another electronic device before the second time, based on determining that the target for detection is the electronic device, control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit the power towards the specific direction and transmit the other power towards a direction of the another electronic device.

8. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to:

control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through a first part of the antenna, the power, and

control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through a second part of the antenna, the other power.

9. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to:

control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the antenna, the power during a first time period, and

control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the antenna, the other power during a second time period.

10. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to:

control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the antenna, the other power during a charging period, and

control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the antenna, the plurality of second pilot signals during a detection period.

11. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 3, further comprising a communication circuit,

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive, through the communication circuit, a communication signal including received power-related information of the electronic device, and

control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the antenna, the power towards the specific direction, and

adjust a strength of the power until the received power-related information meets a preset condition.

12. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

update the reference information to include a signal characteristic of the plurality of second reflected signals to the reference information,

compare the updated reference information with third information of a third reflected signal of a third pilot signal transmitted through the antenna at a third time, and

identify a movement of the target for detection based on a result of the comparison.

13. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to:

based on determining that the target for detection is the electronic device, control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the antenna, the power towards a direction of the electronic device after the movement.

14. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 13, further comprising a communication circuit,

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive, through the communication circuit, a communication signal including information of the movement of the electronic device, and

identify the direction of the electronic device after the movement further using the information of the movement of the electronic device included in the communication signal.

15. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the reference information includes at least one of an amplitude, a phase, or a time of flight.

16. A method for controlling a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

storing first information of a plurality of first reflected signals of a plurality of first pilot signals transmitted at a first time, wherein each of the plurality of first reflected signals is generated according to reflection of each of the plurality of first pilot signals;

transmitting a plurality of second pilot signals at a second time;

comparing the reference information with second information of a plurality of second reflected signals of the plurality of second pilot signals transmitted at the second time, wherein each of the plurality of second pilot signals are transmitted toward a plurality of directions, respectively, and wherein each of the plurality of second reflected signals is generated according to reflection of each of the plurality of second pilot signals; and

identifying a direction of a target for detection based on a result of the comparison, wherein the direction of the target for detection corresponds to a specific direction among the plurality of directions.

17. A wireless power transmitting device, comprising:

a plurality of antennas;

a communication circuit; and

a processor configured to;

control to receive, through the communication circuit, a first communication signal from a first antenna of an electronic device and a second communication signal from a second antenna of the electronic device,

determine whether an obstacle is positioned between the electronic device and the wireless power transmitting device based on a first time of reception of the first communication signal and a second time of reception of the second communication signal, and

based on determining that the obstacle is positioned between the electronic device and the wireless power transmitting device, control the wireless power transmitting device to transmit, through the plurality of antennas, power to the electronic device while avoiding the obstacle.

18. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 17, wherein the electronic device is configured to:

transmit the second communication signal a preset time after sending out the first communication signal, and

determine that the obstacle is positioned between the electronic device and the wireless power transmitting device based on a difference between the first time of reception and the second time of reception exceeding a first preset threshold.

19. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 17,

wherein the first communication signal includes information about a first time of transmission, and the second communication signal includes information about a second time of transmission, and

wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a first flight time of the first communication signal based on the first time of transmission and the first time of reception,

determine a second flight time of the second communication signal based on the second time of transmission and the second time of reception, and

determine that the obstacle is positioned between the electronic device and the wireless power transmitting device based on a difference between the first time of flight and the second time of flight exceeding a second preset threshold.