WIRELESS POWER FOR CHARGEABLE AND CHARGING DEVICES

• US 20100225272A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirby, Miles A., Grob, Matthew S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,407,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0031 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A method may comprise detecting one or more transmit elements positioned within an associated charging region. The method may further comprise selecting at least one transmit element of the detected one or more transmit elements to receive wireless power therefrom to enable for optimal charging of a charging device.

Claims

1. A chargeable device, comprising:

at least one receive element configured to receive wireless power;

wherein the chargeable device is configured to;

detect one or more transmit elements positioned within an associated charging region; and

select at least one transmit element of the detected one or more transmit elements to receive wireless power therefrom to enable for optimal charging of the charging device.

2. The chargeable device of claim 1, wherein the chargeable device is configured to detect the one or more transmit elements according to at least one of one or more specific protocols and one or more specific frequencies.

3. The chargeable device of claim 2, further configured to detect the one or more transmit elements by sampling for transmit elements operating with at least one of the one or more specific protocols.

4. The chargeable device of claim 3, further configured to detect the one or more transmit elements by sampling for transmit elements operating with at least one of a near-field resonance protocol and an inductive coupling protocol.

5. The chargeable device of claim 2, further configured to detect the one or more transmit elements by sampling for transmit elements resonating at the one or more specific frequencies.

6. The chargeable device of claim 5, further configured to detect the one or more transmit elements by sampling for transmit elements resonating at one or more unlicensed ISM band frequencies.

7. The chargeable device of claim 1, further comprising a location device configured for determining a location thereof.

8. The chargeable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one receive element comprises at least one of a receive antenna and a coil.

9. The chargeable device of claim 1, further configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more wireless chargers associated with the detected one or more transmit elements.

10. The chargeable device of claim 1, further configured to control at least one operation of one or more wireless chargers associated with the detected one or more transmit elements.

11. A method of operating a chargeable device, comprising:

detecting one or more transmit elements positioned within an associated charging region; and

selecting at least one transmit element of the detected one or more transmit elements to receive wireless power therefrom to enable for optimal charging of the chargeable device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting one or more transmit elements comprises detecting one or more transmit elements according to at least one of a near-field resonance protocol and an inductive coupling protocol.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting one or more transmit elements comprises detecting one or more transmit elements resonating at least one unlicensed ISM band frequency.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting comprises:

sequentially receiving wireless power from each transmit element of each detected one or more transmit elements; and

measuring an amount of power received from each transmit element of each of the detected one or more transmit elements.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting comprises selecting a plurality of transmit elements of the detected one or more transmit elements to receive wireless power therefrom in a time-domain multiplexing method.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting a version of one or more wireless chargers associated with at least one of the detected one or more transmit elements.

17. A chargeable device, comprising:

means for detecting one or more transmit elements positioned within an associated charging region; and

means for selecting at least one transmit element of the detected one or more transmit elements to receive wireless power therefrom to enable for optimal charging of the chargeable device.

18. A charger, comprising:

at least one transmit element configured to wirelessly transmit power;

wherein the charger is configured to;

detect one or more receive elements positioned within an associated charging region; and

select at least one receive element of the detected one or more receive elements to transmit wireless power thereto to enable for an optimal charging solution of one or more detected chargeable devices associated with the one or more receive elements.

19. The charger of claim 18, further configured to detect the one or more receive elements according to at least one of one or more wireless power protocols and one or more wireless power frequencies.

20. The charger of claim 19, further configured to detect the one or more receive elements by sampling for receive elements operating with at least one of the one or more specific protocols.

21. The charger of claim 20, further configured to detect the one or more receive elements by sampling for receive elements operating with at least one of a near-field resonance protocol and an inductive coupling protocol.

22. The charger of claim 19, further configured to detect the one or more receive elements by sampling for receive elements resonating at least one of the one or more specific frequencies.

23. The charger of claim 18, further configured to detect the one or more receive elements by sampling for receive elements resonating at least one unlicensed ISM band.

24. The charger of claim 18, further comprising a location device configured for determining a location thereof.

25. The charger of claim 18, wherein the at least one transmit element comprises at least one of a transmit antenna and a coil.

26. A method of operating a wireless charger, comprising:

detecting one or more receive elements positioned within an associated charging region; and

selecting at least one receive element of the detected one or more receive elements to transmit wireless power thereto to enable for an optimal charging solution of one or more chargeable devices associated with the one or more receive elements.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting one or more receive elements comprises detecting one or more receive elements according to at least one of a near-filed resonance protocol and an inductive coupling protocol.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting one or more receive elements comprises detecting one or more receive elements resonating at least one unlicensed ISM band frequency.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein selecting comprises selecting a plurality of receive elements of the detected one or more receive elements to transmit wireless power thereto in a time-domain multiplexing method.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising detecting a version of at least one chargeable device associated with the one or more receive elements.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein selecting comprises selecting the at least one receive elements of the detected one or more receive elements having the highest charging efficiency with the wireless charger.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein selecting comprises selecting the at least one receive element having the lowest charging level of the detected one or more receive elements.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a signal from one or more wirelessly chargeable devices indicative of an amount of power received at each associated one or more receive elements.

34. A wireless charger, comprising:

means for detecting one or more receive elements positioned within an associated charging region; and

means for selecting at least one receive element of the detected one or more receive elements to transmit wireless power thereto to enable for an optimal charging solution of one or more chargeable devices associated with the one or more receive elements.