Reconfigurable coil techniques
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a first coil including a first electrically conductive portion and a second electrically conductive portion;
a sensor, wherein the sensor detects one or more energy transfer characteristics associated with a transfer of power between the first coil and a second coil, wherein the one or more energy transfer characteristics indicate an axial alignment between the first coil and the second coil; and
a switch coupled between the first electrically conductive portion and the second electrically conductive portion, and further coupled to the sensor, the switch having a first setting and a second setting that are determined based on an indication received by the switch from the sensor;
wherein the first setting provides a first current path, the first current path having a first rotational sense in the first electrically conductive portion and a second rotational sense in the second electrically conductive portion;
wherein the second setting provides a second current path, the second current path having a same rotational sense in the first and second electrically conductive portions; and
a control module, wherein the control module establishes a switch setting as the first setting when the one or more energy transfer characteristics detected by the sensor indicate that a misalignment between the first coil and the second coil is greater than a first threshold but less than a second threshold, wherein the misalignment being greater than a first threshold but less than a second threshold indicates that the second coil only partially overlaps the first coil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed involving reconfigurable coils. Such coils may be used in applications, including (but not limited to) wireless charging and near field communications (NFC). For instance, a reconfigurable coil may include a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion. Two or more configurations may be established. These configurations may correspond to particular current paths. For example, in a circular configuration, a path is provided having the same rotational sense in both first and second conductive portions. However, in a figure eight configuration, a path is provided having a first rotational sense in the first conductive portion and a second rotational sense in the second conductive portion. A switch coupled between these portions may set the coil'"'"'s configuration. Configurations may be selected based on one or more operating conditions involving the coil.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first coil including a first electrically conductive portion and a second electrically conductive portion; a sensor, wherein the sensor detects one or more energy transfer characteristics associated with a transfer of power between the first coil and a second coil, wherein the one or more energy transfer characteristics indicate an axial alignment between the first coil and the second coil; and a switch coupled between the first electrically conductive portion and the second electrically conductive portion, and further coupled to the sensor, the switch having a first setting and a second setting that are determined based on an indication received by the switch from the sensor; wherein the first setting provides a first current path, the first current path having a first rotational sense in the first electrically conductive portion and a second rotational sense in the second electrically conductive portion; wherein the second setting provides a second current path, the second current path having a same rotational sense in the first and second electrically conductive portions; and a control module, wherein the control module establishes a switch setting as the first setting when the one or more energy transfer characteristics detected by the sensor indicate that a misalignment between the first coil and the second coil is greater than a first threshold but less than a second threshold, wherein the misalignment being greater than a first threshold but less than a second threshold indicates that the second coil only partially overlaps the first coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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determining an operating condition involving a first coil, the first coil having a first electrically conductive portion and a second electrically conductive portion, wherein the determination comprises sensing one or more energy transfer characteristics associated with a transfer of power between the first coil and a second coil, wherein the one or more energy transfer characteristics indicate an axial alignment between the first coil and the second coil; based on the determined operating condition, selecting a configuration for the first coil, the selected configuration from two or more configurations; wherein each of the two or more configurations has a corresponding current path; and establishing a switch setting as a first setting when the one or more energy transfer characteristics indicate that a misalignment between the first coil and the second coil is greater than a first threshold but less than a second threshold, wherein the misalignment being greater than a first threshold but less than a second threshold indicates that the second coil only partially overlaps the first coil. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification