Wireless charging device
First Claim
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1. A wireless charging device comprising a transmitter coupled to at least one transmitting antenna and operable to cause the at least one transmitting antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation;
- a conductive structure adapted to confine the electromagnetic radiation to a charging zone; and
a detector for detecting a degree of impedance mismatch between the transmitter and the at least one transmitting antenna;
wherein the wireless charging device further comprises a controller coupled to the detector so as to receive at least one signal indicating the degree of impedance mismatch from the detector;
wherein the controller is adapted to respond to the degree of impedance mismatch falling below a threshold value by varying a transmission frequency at which the transmitter causes the at least one transmitting antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation over a frequency range and measuring the degree of impedance mismatch at a plurality of frequencies across the frequency range; and
wherein the controller is adapted to respond to one or more of the following;
a) to a reflection coefficient S11 from the degree of impedance mismatch and to cause the device to indicate the absence of a device to be charged in the charging zone if the reflection coefficient S11 rises above a threshold value;
b) to the degree of impedance mismatch falling below a threshold value by varying a transmission frequency at which the transmitter causes the at least one transmitting antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation over a frequency range and measuring the degree of impedance mismatch at a plurality of frequencies across the frequency range;
c) to respond to the degree of impedance mismatch falling below the threshold value of at least some of the plurality of frequencies by causing the device to indicate the presence of a non-chargeable, parasitic load in the charging zone;
d) to respond to the degree of impedance mismatch falling below the threshold at each of a set of the plurality of frequencies in a frequency region narrower than the frequency range by commencing a charging process;
ore) on commencement of the charging process to modify the power level at which the transmitter causes the at least one transmitting antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation whilst monitoring the degree of impedance mismatch to determine the power level at which the degree of impedance mismatch exhibits a peak and then setting the power level to that value.
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Abstract
A wireless charging device comprises a transmitter coupled to at least one transmitting antenna and operable to cause the at least one transmitting antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation; a conductive structure adapted to confine the electromagnetic radiation to a charging zone; and a detector for detecting a degree of impedance mismatch between the transmitter and the at least one transmitting antenna. A receiver for use with the wireless charging device and a wireless charging system are also disclosed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A wireless charging device comprising a transmitter coupled to at least one transmitting antenna and operable to cause the at least one transmitting antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation;
- a conductive structure adapted to confine the electromagnetic radiation to a charging zone; and
a detector for detecting a degree of impedance mismatch between the transmitter and the at least one transmitting antenna;wherein the wireless charging device further comprises a controller coupled to the detector so as to receive at least one signal indicating the degree of impedance mismatch from the detector; wherein the controller is adapted to respond to the degree of impedance mismatch falling below a threshold value by varying a transmission frequency at which the transmitter causes the at least one transmitting antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation over a frequency range and measuring the degree of impedance mismatch at a plurality of frequencies across the frequency range; and wherein the controller is adapted to respond to one or more of the following; a) to a reflection coefficient S11 from the degree of impedance mismatch and to cause the device to indicate the absence of a device to be charged in the charging zone if the reflection coefficient S11 rises above a threshold value; b) to the degree of impedance mismatch falling below a threshold value by varying a transmission frequency at which the transmitter causes the at least one transmitting antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation over a frequency range and measuring the degree of impedance mismatch at a plurality of frequencies across the frequency range; c) to respond to the degree of impedance mismatch falling below the threshold value of at least some of the plurality of frequencies by causing the device to indicate the presence of a non-chargeable, parasitic load in the charging zone; d) to respond to the degree of impedance mismatch falling below the threshold at each of a set of the plurality of frequencies in a frequency region narrower than the frequency range by commencing a charging process;
ore) on commencement of the charging process to modify the power level at which the transmitter causes the at least one transmitting antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation whilst monitoring the degree of impedance mismatch to determine the power level at which the degree of impedance mismatch exhibits a peak and then setting the power level to that value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a conductive structure adapted to confine the electromagnetic radiation to a charging zone; and
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12. A wireless charging device for charging a chargeable unit, the device comprising a power transmitter coupled to a transmitting antenna for transmitting energy to the chargeable unit, a monitor for monitoring a reflection coefficient S11 of the transmitting antenna, and a controller adapted to respond to the monitored S11 value in at least one of the following ways:
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a) by varying the power level at which the power transmitter causes the transmitting antenna to transmit energy; b) by varying the frequency at which the power transmitter causes the transmitting antenna to transmit energy; c) by controlling an adaptive impedance matching unit coupled to the power transmitter antenna; and d) by coupling at least one antenna of an antenna array to the power transmitter and/or by adapting the impedance of an adaptive impedance antenna coupled to the power transmitter.
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Specification