Wireless power transmitting device and method for controlling the same

• US 10,469,132 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung-Woo, Shin, Jae-Hyuck, Lee, Sang-Wook, Lee, Chong-Min, Han, Hyo-Seok
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US16/105,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20180359003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 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: H04B 17/101 for measurement of specific parameters of the transmitter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/102 Power radiated at antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• 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 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 : using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 : Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/42 : in systems with time, space, frequency or polarisation diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 : using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 : Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation

Abstract

According to an embodiment a wireless power transmitting device, includes a power transmission antenna including patch antennas to wirelessly transmit power, and communication antennas configured to receive a communication signal from an electronic device. The wireless power transmitting device also includes a processor configured to detect a direction in which the electronic device is positioned based on the communication signal received through the communication antennas and control the power transmission antenna to transmit the power in the detected direction.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitting device, comprising:

a plurality of power transmission antennas comprising patch antennas;

a plurality of phase shifters each corresponding to the plurality of power transmission antennas;

a plurality of communication antennas; and

a processor configured to;

control each of the plurality of communication antennas to receive a communication signal generated by an external electronic device,

identify at least one of a plurality of time points of reception of the communication signal each corresponding to the plurality of communication antennas respectively, or a plurality of phases of the communication signal each corresponding to the plurality of communication antennas respectively,

detect a direction in which the external electronic device is positioned based on at least one of the plurality of time points of reception or the plurality of phases, and

control each of the plurality of phase shifters so that each of the plurality of power transmission antennas forms sub-radio frequency (RF) waves constructively interfering with each other in the detected direction of the external electronic device,

wherein the each of the plurality of communication antennas is positioned at a different portion of the wireless power transmitting device.

2. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to control each of the plurality of communication antennas to receive a first communication signal including a first information related to a wireless power which the external device receives from the wireless power transmitting device in response to the external electronic device receiving the wireless power based on the sub-RF waves.

3. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to control each of the plurality of phase shifters so that a magnitude of the sub-RF waves is changed based on the received first information.

4. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether or not to adjust the magnitude of the sub-RF waves to a first magnitude based on whether the received first information in the first communication signal received meets a preset condition.

5. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 4,

wherein the processor is further configured to control each of the plurality of phase shifters so that each of the plurality of power transmission antennas forms the sub-RF waves of a second magnitude constructively interfering with each other in response to the received first information failing to meet the preset condition.

6. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 5, further comprising:

a power source; and

a power amplifier configured to amplify a power received from the power source based on an amplification gain, wherein

the processor is further configured to control each of the plurality of phase shifters to that the magnitude of the sub-RF waves is changed from the first magnitude to the second magnitude by changing the amplification gain of the power amplifier.

7. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 6,

wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the amplified power provided to the plurality of phase shifters until the first information meets the preset condition.

8. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust a phase of a power provided to each of the plurality of phase shifters so that the sub-RF waves constructively interfere with each other in the detected direction.

9. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1,

wherein the communication signal comprises at least one of identification information of the external electronic device or rated power information about the external electronic device, and

wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether to charge the external electronic device based on at least one of the identification information of the external electronic device or the rated power information about the external electronic device.

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

determine to charge the external electronic device,

detect a movement of the external electronic device while charging the external electronic device with the sub-RF waves,

determine a changed direction of the external electronic device based on the detected movement, and

control each of the plurality of phase shifters so that each of plurality of power transmission antennas forms sub-radio frequency (RF) waves constructively interfering with each other in the changed direction.

11. A method to control a wireless power transmitting device, comprising:

receiving a communication signal from an external electronic device;

identifying at least one of a plurality of time points of reception of the communication signal each corresponding to a plurality of communication antennas of the wireless power transmitting device respectively, or a plurality of phases of the communication signal each corresponding to the plurality of communication antennas respectively;

detecting a direction in which the external electronic device is positioned based on at least one of the plurality of time points of reception or the plurality of phases; and

controlling each of a plurality of phase shifters corresponding to a plurality of power transmission antennas of the wireless power transmitting device respectively so that each of the plurality of power transmission antennas forms sub-radio frequency (RF) waves constructively interfering with each other in the direction of the external electronic device,

wherein the each of the plurality of communication antennas is positioned at a different portion of the wireless power transmitting device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a first communication signal including a first information related to a wireless power which the external device receives from the wireless power transmitting device in response to the external electronic device receiving the wireless power based on the sub-RF waves.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling each of the plurality of phase shifters so that the magnitude of the sub-RF waves is changed based on the received first information.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether or not to adjust the magnitude of the sub-RF waves to a first magnitude based on whether the received first information in the first communication signal received meets a preset condition.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

controlling each of the plurality of phase shifters so that each of the plurality of power transmission antennas forms the sub-RF waves of a second magnitude constructively interfering with each other in response to the received first information failing to meet the preset condition.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

changing the magnitude of the sub-RF waves from the first magnitude to the second magnitude by changing an amplification gain of a power amplifier.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

adjusting an amplified power provided to each of the plurality of phase shifters until the first information meets the preset condition.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adjusting a phase of a power provided to each of the plurality of power transmission antennas so that the sub-RF waves constructively interfere with each other in the detected direction.