Thermal management at a wireless power system

• US 10,523,037 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Files, Jace W., Bui, Vinh Xuan, Morrison, John Trevor
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US15/457,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20180262038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

A method includes determining a voltage level at an output of a rectifier included at a wireless power receiving unit (wireless PRU), and adjusting a rate of wireless power transmission between a wireless power transmission unit (PTU) and the wireless PRU based on the voltage level.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a voltage level at an output of a rectifier included at a first wireless power receiving unit (PRU), the first wireless PRU receiving power from a first wireless power transmission unit (PTU);

accessing a lookup table to determine a coupling factor identifying a degree of coupling between the first wireless PTU and the first wireless PRU based on the voltage level; and

adjusting a rate of wireless power transmission between the first wireless PTU and the first wireless PRU based on the coupling factor, wherein the rate of wireless power transmission is decreased in response to a reduction in the determined coupling factor to reduce heat generated at the PRU.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rectifier receives an alternating current from a wireless PRU resonator and provides direct current to a voltage regulation circuit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a correlation between the voltage level and the coupling factor is positive and non-linear.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein heat generated at the first wireless PRU resulting from the wireless power transmission is inversely correlated with the coupling factor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage level is positively correlated to an efficiency of the wireless power transmission between the first wireless PTU and the first wireless PRU.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a reduction in the voltage level; and

decreasing the rate of the wireless power transmission in response to the identifying.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the rate of the wireless power transmission at the first wireless PTU.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the rate of the wireless power transmission at the first wireless PRU.

9. A first wireless power receiving unit (PRU) comprising:

a resonator;

a rectifier to receive an alternating current signal from the resonator; and

a charge rate controller to;

determine a voltage level at an output of a rectifier included at the first wireless PRU;

access a lookup table to determine a coupling factor identifying a degree of coupling between the first wireless PTU and the first wireless PRU based on the voltage level; and

adjust a rate of wireless power transmission between a first wireless power transmission unit (PTU) and the first wireless PRU based on the coupling factor, wherein the rate of wireless power transmission is decreased in response to a reduction in the determined coupling factor to reduce heat generated at the PRU.

10. The first wireless power receiving unit of claim 9, wherein the rectifier provides direct current to a voltage regulation circuit.

11. The first wireless power receiving unit of claim 9, wherein a correlation between the voltage level and the coupling factor is positive and non-linear.

12. The first wireless power receiving unit of claim 9, wherein heat generated at the first wireless PRU resulting from the wireless power transmission is inversely correlated with the coupling factor.

13. The first wireless power receiving unit of claim 9, wherein the voltage level is positively correlated to an efficiency of the wireless power transmission between the first wireless PTU and the first wireless PRU.

14. The first wireless power receiving unit of claim 9, wherein the charge rate controller is further to:

identify a reduction in the voltage level; and

decrease the rate of the wireless power transmission in response to the identifying.

15. The first wireless power receiving unit of claim 9, wherein the charge rate controller is further to adjust the rate of the wireless power transmission at the first wireless PTU.

16. The first wireless power receiving unit of claim 9, wherein the charge rate controller is further to adjust the rate of the wireless power transmission at the first wireless PRU.

17. A wireless power system comprising:

a first wireless power transmitting unit wireless (PTU); and

a first wireless power receiving unit (PRU), the first wireless PRU including;

a resonator;

a rectifier to receive an alternating current signal from the resonator;

a charge rate controller to;

determine a voltage level at an output of a rectifier included at the first wireless PRU;

access a lookup table to determine a coupling factor identifying a degree of coupling between the first wireless PTU and the first wireless PRU based on the voltage level; and

adjust a rate of wireless power transmission between the first wireless PTU and the first wireless PRU based on the coupling factor, wherein the rate of wireless power transmission is decreased in response to a reduction in the determined coupling factor to reduce heat generated at the PRU.

18. The wireless power system of claim 17, wherein a correlation between the voltage level and the coupling factor is positive and non-linear.

19. The wireless power system of claim 17, wherein heat generated at the first wireless PRU resulting from the wireless power transmission is inversely correlated with the coupling factor.

20. The wireless power system of claim 17, wherein the charge rate controller is further to:

identify a reduction in the voltage level; and

decrease the rate of the wireless power transmission in response to the identifying.