APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION

• US 20120062203A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Sang Joon
• Granted Patent: US 9,252,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/304
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit

Abstract

Provided is a wireless power transmission system to increase efficiency in wireless power transmission. A wireless power transmitter may include: one or more capacitors; a power inputting unit configured to receive power from a power supply and to charge the one or more capacitors; a transmitting unit configured to transmit resonance power; and a switching unit configured to control electrical connection of the one or more capacitors to the power inputting unit and to the transmitting unit. A wireless power receiver is also described.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

one or more capacitors;

a power inputting unit configured to receive power from a power supply and to charge the one or more capacitors;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit resonance power; and

a switching unit configured to control electrical connection of the one or more capacitors to the power inputting unit and to the transmitting unit.

2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the power inputting unit is configured to receive power inputted from a DC power supply or an AC power supply to charge the capacitors.

3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is configured to control the electrical connection such that none of the one or more capacitors is electrically connected to both the power inputting unit and the transmitting unit simultaneously.

4. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the switching unit includes one or more switches corresponding to the one or more capacitors, respectively, and the one or more switches control the electrical connection of the one or more capacitors between the power inputting unit and the transmitting unit.

5. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to control a charge time during which the one or more capacitors are electrically connected to the power inputting unit, a transmission time during which the one or more capacitors are electrically connected to the transmitting unit, or both, by sensing power stored in the one or more capacitors.

6. The wireless power transmitter of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to control the transmission time such that the one or more capacitors are discharged to a level less than a predetermined value.

7. The wireless power transmitter of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to control the charge time such that the one or more capacitors are charged to a level greater than or equal to a predetermined level.

33. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is configured to selectively (i) charge the one or more capacitors, and (ii) discharge power from the charged one or more capacitors to the transmitting unit.

8. A wireless power receiver comprising:

one or more capacitors;

a receiving unit configured to receive resonance power and to charge the one or more capacitors;

a power outputting unit configured to transmit power to a target device; and

a switching unit configured to control electrical connection of the one or more capacitors to the receiving unit and to the power outputting unit.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the switching unit is configured to control the electrical connection such that none or the one or more capacitors are electrically connected to the receiving unit and the power outputting unit simultaneously.

10. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the target device comprises a battery.

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, further comprising:

a controller configured to control a charge time during which the one or more capacitors are electrically connected to the receiving unit, a transmission time during which the one or more capacitors are electrically connected to the power outputting unit, or both, by sensing power stored in the one or more capacitors.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 11, wherein a waiting time is between the charge time and the transmission time.

13. The wireless power receiver of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to control the charge time such that the one or more capacitors are charged to a level greater than or equal to a predetermined level.

14. The wireless power receiver of claim 11, wherein, the controller is configured to control the transmission time such that the one or more capacitors are discharged to a level less than a predetermined value.

34. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the switching unit is configured to selectively (i) charge the one or more capacitors, and (ii) discharge power from the charged one or more capacitors to the power outputting unit.

15. A wireless power transmission system comprising:

a power inputting unit configured to receive power from a power supply and to charge one or more first capacitors;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit resonance power;

a first switching unit configured to control electrical connection of the one or more first capacitors to the power inputting unit and to the transmitting unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive resonance power to charge one or more second capacitors;

a power outputting unit configured to transmit power to a target device; and

a second switching unit configured to control electrical connection of the one or more second capacitors to the receiving unit and to the power outputting unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the first switching unit is configured to control the electrical connection such that none of the one or more first capacitors is electrically connected to both the power inputting unit and the transmitting unit simultaneously; and

the second switching unit is configured to control the electrical connection such that none of the one or more second capacitors is electrically connected to both the receiving unit and the power outputting unit simultaneously.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the first switching unit and the second switching unit are asynchronous, and configured to control the electrical connection of the one or more first capacitors to the power inputting unit, and to the transmitting unit and the electrical connection of the one or more second capacitors to the receiving unit and to the power outputting unit, respectively.

18. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

one or more capacitors;

a power source connectable to the one or more capacitors for a first period to charge the one or more capacitors; and

a circuit connectable to the one or more capacitors for a second period to transmit resonance power.

19. The wireless power transmitter of claim 18, wherein the first period does not overlap with the second period.

20. The wireless power transmitter of claim 18, wherein the first and second periods are fixed.

21. The wireless power transmitter of claim 18, wherein the first and second periods are variable.

22. The wireless power transmitter of claim 18, wherein the power source comprises an AC power source.

23. The wireless power transmitter of claim 18, wherein the one or more capacitors are arranged in parallel.

24. A wireless power receiver comprising:

one or more capacitors;

a portion of a wireless power reception circuit electrically connectable to the one or more capacitors to form a resonance circuit and to charge the one or more capacitors; and

a load electrically separate from the portion of the wireless power reception circuit and electrically connectable to the one or more capacitors when the one or more capacitors are not electrically connected to the wireless power reception circuit.

25. The wireless power receiver of claim 24, wherein the load comprises a battery.

26. The wireless power receiver of claim 24, wherein the one or more capacitors are arranged in parallel.

27. The wireless power receiver of claim 24, wherein the one or more capacitors are electrically connectable to the wireless power reception circuit for a first period and are connectable to the load for a second period.

28. The wireless power receiver of claim 27, wherein the first and second periods are fixed.

29. The wireless power receiver of claim 27, wherein the first and second periods are variable.

30. The wireless power receiver of claim 27, wherein the first period is different from the second period.

31. A wireless power transmission system comprising:

a power source electrically connectable to one or more first capacitors for a first period to charge the first capacitors;

a portion of a wireless power transmission circuit electrically separate from the power source and electrically connectable to the one or more first capacitors for a second period to form a resonance circuit;

a portion of a wireless power reception circuit electrically connectable to one or more second capacitors to form a resonance circuit and to charge the one or more second capacitors; and

a load electrically separate from the portion of the wireless power reception circuit and electrically connectable to the one or more second capacitors when the one or more second capacitors are not electrically connected to the portion of the wireless power reception circuit.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first period does not overlap with the second period.