SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION

• US 20120231731A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Nam Yun, Kwon, Sang Wook, Hong, Young Tack, Kim, Dong Zo
• Granted Patent: US 9,692,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A wireless power transmitter and receiver, and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power receiver may include: a receiving unit configured to receive wireless power from a source resonator; a detecting unit configured to detect a current value, a voltage value, or both of the wireless power; a controller configured to determine whether the detected current value, the detected voltage value, or both have a peak value, in a relation to a load which the wireless power is to be transmitted to; and a communication unit configured to transmit a result of the determination to the source resonator.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive wireless power from a source resonator;

a detecting unit configured to detect a current value, a voltage value, or both of the wireless power;

a controller configured to determine whether the detected current value, the detected voltage value, or both have a peak value, in a relation to a load which the wireless power is to be transmitted to; and

a communication unit configured to transmit a result of the determination to the source resonator.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a rectifying unit configured to convert the wireless power from an alternating current (AC) signal to a direct current (DC) signal.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive a wake-up signal from the source resonator, and the detecting unit is configured to detect one or more terminals that are awakened by the wake-up signal, identification information of the awakened terminal, whether the awakened terminal requests charging, or a combination thereof.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication unit comprises:

an in-band communication unit configured to perform in-band communication between the source resonator and a target resonator; and

an out-band communication unit to perform out-band communication with a wireless power transmitter, using another communication device.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication unit is configured to transmit, to a wireless power transmitter, a value of the received wireless power as information for tracking a resonance frequency, an impedance matching frequency of the wireless power transmitter, or a combination thereof.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a limiter configured to limit the detected current value, the detected voltage value, or both to have a value in a predetermined range, in the relation with the load.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a boost regulator configured to boost the detected current value or the detected voltage value to reach a current value or a voltage value requested by the load.

8. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive information associated with whether a current value, a voltage value, or both detected by a wireless power receiver has a peak value;

a controller configured to track a requested power of a load, based on the information; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to a target resonator, a wireless power corresponding to the requested power, between a source resonator and the target resonator.

9. The wireless power transmitter of claim 8, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive, through an in-band communication scheme or an out-band communication scheme, a value of a wireless power that is received by the wireless power receiver.

10. The wireless power transmitter of claim 9, further comprising:

a reflected power calculator configured to calculate reflected power, based on a value of the wireless power transmitted to the target resonator and the value of the wireless power received by the wireless power receiver; and

a matching controller configured to set an impedance matching frequency, a resonance frequency, or both between the source resonator and the target resonator, based on the reflected power.

11. The wireless power transmitter of claim 8, wherein the controller comprises:

a power controller configured to control, based on the information, a predetermined operating power that is supplied to a power amplifier; and

a detecting unit configured to detect a current value or a voltage value of a signal outputted from the operating power.

12. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to estimate that power outputted from the operating power corresponds to the requested power, when the current value or the voltage value detected by the wireless power receiver has a peak value.

13. A method of receiving a wireless power, the method comprising:

receiving, from a source resonator, wireless power;

detecting a current value, a voltage value, or both of the wireless power;

determining whether the detected current value, the detected voltage value, or both have a peak value, in a relation to a load which the wireless power is to be transmitted to; and

transmitting a result of the determination to the source resonator.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

converting the wireless power from an alternating current (AC) signal to a direct current (DC) signal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of transmitting comprises:

transmitting, to a wireless power transmitter, a value of the received wireless power as information for tracking a resonance frequency an impedance matching frequency, or both of the wireless power transmitter.

16. A method of transmitting a wireless power, the method comprising:

receiving information associated with whether a current value, a voltage value, or both detected by a wireless power receiver has a peak value;

tracking a requested power of a load, based on the information; and

transmitting, to a target resonator of the wireless power receiver, a wireless power corresponding to the requested power.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting, to the wireless power receiver, an initial wireless power, a wake-up signal, or both.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of receiving comprises:

performing in-band communication between the source resonator and the target resonator; and

performing out-band communication with the wireless power transmitter, using another communication device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of receiving comprises:

receiving a value of a wireless power that is received by the wireless power receiver.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

calculating reflected power, based on a value of the wireless power transmitted to the target resonator and the value of the wireless power received by the wireless power receiver; and

setting an impedance matching frequency a resonance frequency, or both between the source resonator and the target resonator, based on the reflected power.