MOVABLE MAGNETICALLY RESONANT ANTENNA FOR WIRELESS CHARGING

• US 20110062916A1
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Farahani, Shahin
• Granted Patent: US 8,541,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/12 using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/502 the energy repeater being integrated together with the emitter or the receiver
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• 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 include reorienting at least one transmit antenna to reduce orthogonality with a receive antenna of at least one chargeable electronic device in response to receiving the at least one electronic device in a holder. The method may further include wirelessly transferring power from the at least one transmit antenna to the receive antenna.

Claims

1. A wireless power charger, comprising:

a holder configured to receive at least one chargeable electronic device which includes a receive antenna; and

at least one transmit antenna configured to reorient within the holder to reduce orthogonality with the receive antenna.

2. The charger of claim 1, wherein to reorient causes a mechanical deflection of the at least one transmit antenna.

3. The charger of claim 1, further comprising a deflector plate for supporting and reorienting the at least one transmit antenna.

4. The charger of claim 3, wherein the deflector plate pivots about an axis.

5. The charger of claim 3, further comprising at least one retention device for reducing or inducing movement of the deflector plate.

6. The charger of claim 5, wherein the at least one retention device is further configured to return the deflector plate for pivoting about an axis when a non-chargeable device is inserted and removed from the holder.

7. The charger of claim 4, wherein the deflector plate pivots to receive in the holder the at least one chargeable electronic device on a first side of the deflector plate and to also receive in the holder at least a second chargeable electronic device on a second side of the deflector plate.

9. The charger of claim 4, further comprising at least a second transmit antenna configured opposite the at least first antenna on the deflector plate.

10. The charger of claim 4, wherein the deflector plate exhibits asymmetric mass on opposite sides of the axis and is retained in a non-deflected position based on gravity.

11. The charger of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmit antenna is a repeater antenna.

12. The charger of claim 1, wherein the holder is separately powered and retrofittably insertable into a passive holder.

13. The charger of claim 1, wherein wireless power is coupled between the at least one transmit antenna and the receive antenna according to at least one of induction and magnetic resonance.

14. The charger of claim 1, wherein a transmit power level of power to the at least one transmit antenna is adjustable based upon load sensing in response to coupling with the receive antenna.

8. The charger of clam 4, wherein the axis is substantially symmetric within the holder and substantially equally divides the holder when the deflector plate is deflected.

15. A method for wireless power charging, comprising:

reorienting at least one transmit antenna to reduce orthogonality with a receive antenna of at least one chargeable electronic device in response to receiving the at least one electronic device in a holder; and

wirelessly transferring power from the at least one transmit antenna to the receive antenna.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring a deflector plate in the holder for supporting the at least one transmit antenna.

17. The method of claim 16, pivoting the deflector plate about an axis in response to the receiving the at least one electronic device in the holder.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising one of reducing or inducing movement of the deflector plate by at least one retention device coupled to the holder.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising retaining the deflector plate for pivoting about an axis when a non-chargeable device is inserted and removed from the holder.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving in the holder the at least one chargeable electronic device on a first side of the deflector plate and receiving in the holder at least a second chargeable electronic device on a second side of the deflector plate.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising configuring at least a second transmit antenna opposite the at least first antenna on the deflector plate.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one transmit antenna is a repeater antenna.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising inserting the holder for wireless power charging into a passive holder.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the wirelessly transferring power occurs according to at least one of induction and magnetic resonance.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein a power level of the wirelessly transferring power is adjustable based upon load sensing in response to coupling with the receive antenna.

26. A wireless power charger, comprising:

means for reorienting at least one transmit antenna to reduce orthogonality with a receive antenna of at least one chargeable electronic device in response to receiving the at least one electronic device in a holder; and

means for wirelessly transferring power from the at least one transmit antenna to the receive antenna.

27. The wireless power charger of claim 26, further comprising means for pivoting a deflector plate in the holder for supporting the at least one transmit antenna about an axis in response to the receiving the at least one electronic device in the holder.

28. The wireless power charger of claim 27, further comprising means for reducing or inducing movement of the deflector plate by at least one retention device coupled to the holder.