WIRELESS CHARGING OF DEVICES

• US 20120104867A1
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Mudrick, Adam A., Lee, Kevin D., Low, Zhen Ning
• Granted Patent: US 9,219,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power charging. A device may include at least one sensing element for measuring at least one parameter within a receiver configured to receive wirelessly transmitted power. The device may include a switching element configured to enable the receiver to convey energy to a load when the at least one parameter exceeds a threshold value.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

at least one sensing element for measuring at least one parameter within a receiver configured to receive wirelessly transmitted power; and

a switching element configured to enable the receiver to convey energy to a load when the at least one parameter exceeds a threshold value.

2. The device of claim 1, the sensing element comprising a voltage sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, the switching element comprising a field-effect transistor.

4. The device of claim 1, the receiver further including a rectifier coupled to the sensing element.

5. The device of claim 1, the sensing element comprising a voltage sensor coupled to an output of a rectifier of the receiver.

6. The device of claim 1, the receiver further including a control device coupled to the at least one sensing element and configured to convey a control signal to the switching element.

7. The device of claim 6, the control device configured to compare the at least one parameter to the threshold value.

8. The device of claim 7, the threshold value dependent on at least one condition of the load.

9. The device of claim 6, the control device configured to convey the control signal to the switching element to enable the switching element to couple the receiver to the load if the at least one parameter exceeds the threshold value for at least a time duration.

10. The device of claim 6, the control device configured to convey the control signal to the switching element to enable the switching element to decouple the receiver from the load if the at least one parameter is less than the threshold value for at least a time duration.

11. The device of claim 1, the receiver further including a power converter having an output coupled to a current sensor.

12. The device of claim 1, the receiver adapted to configure the switching element to enable the receiver to convey energy to a load upon an increase in a voltage at an associated rectifier.

13. A method, comprising:

measuring at least one parameter within a receiver; and

conveying energy from the receiver to a load if the at least one measured parameter exceeds a threshold value.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing the at least one parameter to the threshold value.

15. The method of claim 13, the measuring comprising measuring a voltage at an output of a rectifier within the receiver.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing the measured voltage to a threshold voltage.

17. The method of claim 13, the measuring comprising measuring a current at an output of a power converter within the receiver.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining the threshold value from the measured current.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising coupling the load to the receiver if a voltage at a rectifier of the receiver increases.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising sensing a current at a transmitter and decreasing an amount of power transmitted from the transmitter if the current increases prior to conveying energy from the receiver to a load.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising measuring the parameter while the load is decoupled from a rectifier of the receiver.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising decoupling the receiver from the load if the at least one parameter is less than the threshold value for at least a time duration.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising coupling the receiver to the load if the at least one parameter is greater than the threshold value for at least a time duration.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising conveying a message to an associated transmitter if the at least one measured parameter is equal to at least the threshold value to enable the transmitter to convey an existence of a charging process.

25. A device, comprising:

means for measuring at least one parameter within a receiver; and

means for conveying energy from the receiver to a load if the at least one measured parameter exceeds a threshold value.

26. The device of claim 25, further comprising means for comparing to the at least one parameter to the threshold value.

27. The device of claim 25, the means for means for selectively decoupling the load from the receiver if the at least one measured parameter is less than the threshold value and selectively coupling the load to the receiver if the at least one measured parameter exceeds the threshold value.