SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDUCTIVELY CHARGING A BATTERY
First Claim
1. A method of operating an inductive charger circuit for supplying power to an object via an inductive coupling, the inductive charger circuit having a primary circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
- probing for presence of the object by supplying power to the primary circuit and sensing an amount of power supplied to the primary circuit;
determining if the sensed amount of power is approximately equal to a predetermined threshold;
based on the sensed amount of power being approximately equal to the predetermined threshold, setting a charge status to indicate the battery is not fully charged;
checking the charge status;
supplying power to the primary circuit at an operating frequency in order to charge the battery of the object if (i) the sensed amount of power is not approximately equal to the predetermined threshold and (ii) the charge status indicates the battery is not fully charged; and
repeating said probing and said determining steps if (i) the sensed amount of power is not approximately equal to the predetermined threshold and (ii) the charge status indicates the battery is fully charged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inductive charging system for recharging a battery. The system includes a charger circuit and a secondary circuit. The secondary circuit includes a feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the charger circuit through the inductive coupling of the primary coil and the secondary coil. The charger circuit includes a frequency control mechanism for controlling the frequency of the power applied to the primary coil at least partly in response to the feedback from the feedback mechanism.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating an inductive charger circuit for supplying power to an object via an inductive coupling, the inductive charger circuit having a primary circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
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probing for presence of the object by supplying power to the primary circuit and sensing an amount of power supplied to the primary circuit; determining if the sensed amount of power is approximately equal to a predetermined threshold; based on the sensed amount of power being approximately equal to the predetermined threshold, setting a charge status to indicate the battery is not fully charged; checking the charge status; supplying power to the primary circuit at an operating frequency in order to charge the battery of the object if (i) the sensed amount of power is not approximately equal to the predetermined threshold and (ii) the charge status indicates the battery is not fully charged; and repeating said probing and said determining steps if (i) the sensed amount of power is not approximately equal to the predetermined threshold and (ii) the charge status indicates the battery is fully charged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An inductive charger circuit for supplying power to an object via an inductive coupling, said inductive charger circuit comprising:
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a power source; a primary circuit including a primary for supplying wireless power to said object via an inductive coupling; a sensor for providing an output indicative of an amount of power in said primary; and a controller electrically coupled to said primary circuit and electrically coupled to said power source, said controller configured to apply power at a frequency to said primary from said power source; said controller configured to probe for presence of said object by applying power to said primary; said controller configured to determine, based on said sensor output, if said amount of power is approximately equal to a predetermined threshold in response to application of power, said controller configured to set a charge status to indicate said battery is not fully charged if said sensed amount of power is approximately equal to said predetermined threshold, wherein power is supplied to said primary circuit at an operating frequency in order to charge said battery of said object if (i) said sensed amount of power is not approximately equal to said predetermined threshold and (ii) said charge status indicates said battery is not fully charged, wherein if (i) said sensed amount of power is not approximately equal to said predetermined threshold and (ii) said charge status indicates said battery is fully charged, said controller repeats application of power to said primary and determines, based on said sensor output, if said amount of power is approximately equal to said predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification