RETROFITTING WIRELESS POWER AND NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION IN ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20100194334A1
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kinsey, Stanley B., Frankland, Stephen, Grob, Matthew S., Hillan, John, Cook, Nigel P., Kirby, Miles A., Ozaki, Ernest T., Toncich, Stanley S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,810,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to retrofitting existing electronic devices for wireless power transfer and near-field communication. Retrofitting circuitry includes an antenna for receiving a signal from an external source, and conversion circuitry for converting the signal to be used by an electronic device. The antenna and conversion circuitry are configured to retrofit to the electronic device, where the electronic device did not originally include the antenna or conversion circuitry. The antenna and conversion circuitry may be configured to receive and convert the signal to generate wireless power for the electronic device. The antenna and the conversion circuitry may also be configured to enable the electronic device to send and receive near-field communication data.

Claims

1. Power circuitry for an electronic device, comprising:

an antenna for receiving a signal from a coupling-mode region of near-field radiation generated by a transmit antenna; and

conversion circuitry for converting the signal to DC power to be used by an electronic device;

wherein the antenna and the conversion circuitry are configured to electrically and mechanically couple to the electronic device using an existing connection and existing form factor of a battery compartment of the electronic device.

2. The power circuitry of claim 1, further comprising a battery operably coupled to the conversion circuitry and configured to be charged by the DC power from the conversion circuitry.

3. The power circuitry of claim 1, wherein the antenna and the conversion circuitry are further configured to send and receive near-field communication data.

4. The power circuitry of claim 1, further comprising a replacement housing portion configured to replace a corresponding housing portion of the electronic device and wherein:

the antenna and the conversion circuitry are integrally formed with the replacement housing portion; and

the conversion circuitry electrically couples to an existing battery of the electronic device.

5. The power circuitry of claim 1, wherein the antenna and the conversion circuitry are configured to attach to an existing housing portion of the electronic device and operably couple to an existing battery of the electronic device.

6. The power circuitry of claim 1, further comprising rechargeable storage cells for storing a charge to power the electronic device, wherein:

the rechargeable storage cells are configured to be charged by the DC power; and

the storage cells are housed in a common assembly with the antenna and the conversion circuitry, the common assembly configured for attachment to the electronic device.

7. The power circuitry of claim 6, further comprising shielding located between the rechargeable storage cells and the antenna within the common assembly, wherein the shielding is configured to electromagnetically isolate the antenna from the rechargeable storage cells.

8. The power circuitry of claim 7, wherein the shielding comprises a ferrite material.

9. The power circuitry of claim 6, wherein the common assembly is configured to replace an existing battery of the electronic device.

10. The power circuitry of claim 9, wherein the common assembly has a substantially same form factor and a substantially same electrical contact location as the existing battery.

11. The power circuitry of claim 9, wherein a shape of the common assembly is configured to fit within the battery compartment configured according to at least one of a custom battery, AA, AAA, C cell, D cell, and 9-Volt cell.

12. The power circuitry of claim 9, wherein rechargeable storage cells include a chemical composition of at least one of lithium ion, nickel cadmium, and nickel metal hydride.

13. The power circuitry of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured as at least one of a cell phone, audio player, video player, personal digital assistant, computer, camera, toy, tool, remote control, and computer mouse.

14. The power circuitry of claim 1, wherein the antenna and the conversion circuitry are housed in a common assembly and the common assembly is configured to attach externally to the electronic device to electrically connect the conversion circuitry to the existing connection.

15. A method for retrofitting an electronic device, the method comprising:

connecting an antenna and conversion circuitry to mechanically and electrically couple with an electronic device, wherein the electronic device originally lacked the antenna and the conversion circuitry;

receiving a signal from a coupling-mode region of near-field radiation generated by a transmit antenna; and

converting the signal to a DC power to be used by the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving and converting the signal used by the electronic device further comprises receiving and converting near-field communication transmissions to the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

connecting rechargeable storage cells to the conversion circuitry for storing a charge during wireless power coupling of the antenna; and

housing the rechargeable storage cells, the conversion circuitry, and the antenna in a common assembly to replace an existing battery of the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein connecting the antenna and the conversion circuitry to fit the electronic device includes housing the antenna and the conversion circuitry in a common assembly to fit into the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein housing the antenna and the conversion circuitry in a common assembly to fit the electronic device includes integrally forming the antenna and the conversion circuitry with a replacement housing portion configured to replace a corresponding housing portion of the electronic device.

20. A wireless power receiver, comprising:

means for connecting an antenna and conversion circuitry to mechanically and electrically couple with an electronic device, wherein the electronic device originally lacked the antenna and the conversion circuitry;

means for receiving a signal from a coupling-mode region of near-field radiation generated by a transmit antenna; and

means for converting the signal to a DC power to be used by the electronic device.

21. The wireless power receiver of claim 20, further comprising means for converting the signal to near-field communication transmissions for the electronic device.

22. The wireless power receiver of claim 20, further comprising:

means for connecting rechargeable storage cells to the conversion circuitry for storing a charge during wireless power coupling of the antenna; and

means for housing the rechargeable storage cells, the conversion circuitry, and the antenna in a common assembly to replace an existing battery of the electronic device.

23. The wireless power receiver of claim 20, wherein the means for connecting the antenna and the conversion circuitry to fit the electronic device includes means for housing the antenna and the conversion circuitry in a common assembly to fit into the electronic device.

24. The wireless power receiver of claim 23, wherein the means for housing the antenna and the conversion circuitry in a common assembly to fit the electronic device includes means for integrally forming the antenna and the conversion circuitry with a replacement housing portion configured to replace a corresponding housing portion of the electronic device.

25. An electronic device, comprising:

retrofit circuitry for adding functionality not originally part of the electronic device, the retrofitting circuitry comprising;

an antenna for receiving a signal from a coupling-mode region of near-field radiation generated by an external source; and

conversion circuitry for converting the signal to be used by the electronic device, wherein the antenna and the conversion circuitry are configured to retrofit with the electronic device that originally lacked a wireless power reception capability.

26. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the external source comprises a wireless power transmitter.

27. The electronic device of claim 26, further comprising a retrofit rechargeable battery operably coupled to the conversion circuitry and the electronic device, the retrofit rechargeable battery configured to be charged by the conversion circuitry and provide DC power to the electronic device.

28. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the antenna and the conversion circuitry are configured to enable the electronic device to send and receive near-field communication data.