SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENT WIRELESS CHARGING OF A MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20110062914A1
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Woo-Ram, Park, Se-Ho, Kim, Ki-Hyun, Kim, Hong-Kweun, PARK, Sung-Kweon, Lee, Young-Min
• Granted Patent: US 8,541,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 50/80 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for efficient wireless charging of a mobile terminal. The method includes detecting the mobile terminal by a charging apparatus, receiving a unique identifier of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal and determining if the mobile terminal is a rechargeable device, when the mobile terminal is a rechargeable device, applying a direct voltage to a first coil of the charging apparatus and arranging the charging apparatus and the mobile terminal, and terminating an application of the direct voltage and then applying an alternating voltage, to supply charging power required for the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A charging apparatus for efficient wireless charging of a mobile terminal, comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting the mobile terminal;

a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver for receiving a unique identifier of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal and determining if the mobile terminal is a rechargeable device;

a power supply unit for receiving an alternating voltage from an external power source and transmitting the received alternating voltage;

at least one modulator for directly applying the alternating voltage received from the power supply unit to a first coil, or converting the alternating voltage received from the power supply unit to a direct voltage and applying the converted direct voltage to the first coil; and

a controller for controlling whether to convert the alternating voltage received from said at least one modulator.

2. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the mobile terminal is in contact with the charging apparatus, said at least one sensor detects a contact location of the mobile terminal.

3. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging apparatus applies the direct voltage to the first coil and aligns a second coil of the mobile terminal, which has been in contact with the charging apparatus, with the first coil.

4. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second coil is aligned with the first coil by the direct voltage transferred from the first coil.

5. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the direct voltage is applied to the first coil and the second coil, magnetic substances within the first coil and the second coil are magnetized, to have tensile force.

6. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the RF receiver receives a message requesting a re-arrangement of the first coil and the second coil from the mobile terminal, the RF receiver transmits a message instructing a re-arrangement of the charging apparatus and the mobile terminal to the controller.

7. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mobile terminal converts the alternating voltage received from the first coil to the direct voltage and compares the converted direct voltage with a predetermined threshold, and when the converted direct voltage is less than the predetermined threshold, the mobile terminal transmits the message requesting the re-arrangement of the first coil and the second coil to the charging apparatus.

8. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller identifies the unique identifier of the mobile terminal received from the RF receiver, and when the mobile terminal is not a rechargeable device, the controller does not wirelessly charge the mobile terminal.

9. A method for efficient wireless charging of a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

detecting the mobile terminal by a charging apparatus;

receiving a unique identifier of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal and determining if the mobile terminal is a rechargeable device;

when the mobile terminal is a rechargeable device, applying a direct voltage to a first coil of the charging apparatus and arranging the charging apparatus and the mobile terminal; and

terminating an application of the direct voltage and then applying an alternating voltage, to supply charging power required for the mobile terminal.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein in the step of detecting the mobile terminal, when the mobile terminal is in contact with the charging apparatus, the charging apparatus detects a contacted location of the mobile terminal using at least one sensor.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein when the charging apparatus identifies the received unique identifier of the mobile terminal and determines that the mobile terminal is not a rechargeable device, the charging apparatus does not wirelessly charge the mobile terminal.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the charging apparatus applies the direct voltage to the first coil and aligns a second coil of the mobile terminal, which is in contact with the charging apparatus, with the first coil.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second coil is aligned with the first coil by the direct voltage transferred from the first coil.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein when the direct voltage is applied to the first coil and the second coil, material substances within the first coil and the second coil are magnetized, to have tensile force.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising, when a message requesting a re-arrangement of the first coil and the second coil is received, re-arranging the charging apparatus and the mobile terminal.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the mobile terminal converts the alternating voltage received from the first coil to the direct voltage and compares the converted direct voltage with a predetermined threshold, and when the converted direct voltage is less than the threshold, the mobile terminal transmits a message requesting a re-arrangement of the first coil and the second coil to the charging apparatus.

17. A method for efficient wireless charging of a portable device, comprising the steps of:

detecting the portable device by a charging apparatus;

receiving a unique identifier of the portable device from the portable device and determining if the portable device is a rechargeable device;

when the portable device is a rechargeable device, applying a direct voltage to a first coil of the charging apparatus and arranging the charging apparatus and the portable device; and

terminating an application of the direct voltage and then applying an alternating voltage, to supply charging power required for the portable device.