APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DATA COMMUNICATION USING WIRELESS POWER

• US 20120307873A1
• Filed: 05/29/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Nam Yun, Kwon, Sang Wook, Park, Yun Kwon, Hong, Young Tack
• Granted Patent: US 9,160,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

According to one general aspect, a data communication apparatus using wireless power may include: a power signal detecting unit configured to detect a signal corresponding to a change in an impedance of a target device; a demodulating unit configured to demodulate a message from the target device from the detected signal using the detected signal and a carrier wave; and a source resonance unit configured to transmit the carrier wave to the target device.

Claims

1. A data communication apparatus using wireless power, the apparatus comprising:

a power signal detecting unit configured to detect a signal corresponding to a change in an impedance of a target device;

a demodulating unit configured to demodulate a message from the target device from the detected signal using the detected signal and a carrier wave; and

a source resonance unit configured to transmit the carrier wave to the target device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the demodulating unit mixes the detected signal and a signal corresponding to the carrier wave of which the phase is shifted.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a controller configured to control the phase of the carrier wave based on the size of the source resonator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensing unit configured to sense the change in the impedance of the target device based on a change in the magnitude of the detected signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power signal detecting unit comprises:

a coupling unit configured to detect the signal using a coupling resistor, a coupling inductor, or a coupling capacitor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the coupling unit performs coupling to detect the signal from a power line or a ground line that is connected between a power amplifier and the source resonator.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the carrier wave uses a resonance frequency of the source resonator as a carrier frequency.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the power signal detecting unit comprises:

a power limiting unit configured to limit the magnitude of the detected signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power limiting unit limits the magnitude of the detected signal by a difference between a maximum value of the carrier wave and a maximum value of the output power signal generated based on the change in the impedance of the target device

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power signal detecting unit comprises:

a reception controller configured to control reception of the signal while the source resonator transmits a wake-up signal that awakens the target device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the demodulating unit comprises:

a phase mixing unit configured to generate a mixed signal by mixing the detected signal and a signal that is in phase with the carrier wave; and

a comparing unit configured to compare the mixed signal and a reference signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the demodulating unit demodulates the message from the target device based on a value output from the comparing unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the demodulating unit comprises:

a distributing unit configured to divide the detected signal into a first signal and a second signal;

an in-phase mixing unit configured to generate a first mixed signal by mixing the first signal and a signal that is in phase with the carrier wave; and

an out-of-phase mixing unit configured to generate a second mixed signal by mixing the second signal and a signal that is out of phase with the carrier wave.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the demodulating unit further comprises:

a comparing unit configured to compare the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the demodulating unit further comprises:

a first comparing unit configured to compare the first mixed signal and the first reference signal; and

a second comparing unit configured to compare the second mixed signal and the second reference signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the demodulating unit demodulates the message from the target device comparing the value output from the first comparing unit, or the value output from the second comparing unit, for one or more time periods.

17. A data communication apparatus using wireless power, the apparatus comprising:

a target resonance unit configured to receive a carrier wave from a source resonator;

a modulating unit configured to modulate a message based on the carrier wave and an impedance mismatching between and a source device and a target device; and

a controller configured to control the impedance mismatching by changing the impedance of the target device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller changes the impedance and a phase of the target device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller controls current flowing through a load.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller changes the impedance of the target device.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller changes the impedance and the phase of the target device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller changes the impedance and the phase of the target device by switching a switch connected to a load of the target device.

23. A data communication method using wireless power, the method comprising:

detecting a signal corresponding to a change in an impedance of a target device;

demodulating a message from the target device from the detected signal using the detected signal and a carrier wave; and

transmitting the carrier wave to the target device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the demodulating comprises:

mixing the detected signal and a signal corresponding to the carrier wave of which the phase is shifted.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

controlling the phase of the carrier wave based on the size of a source resonator.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the detecting comprises:

performing coupling to detect the signal using a coupling resistor, a coupling inductor, or a coupling capacitor.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the detecting comprises:

limiting the magnitude of the detected signal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the magnitude of the detected signal is limited by the difference between the maximum value of the carrier wave and the maximum value of the detected signal generated based on the change in the impedance of the target device.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the demodulating comprises:

generating a mixed signal by mixing the detected signal and a signal that is in phase with the carrier wave;

comparing the mixed signal and a reference signal; and

outputting a value based on the comparison.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the demodulating comprises:

demodulating a message of the target device based on the outputted value.

31. A data communication method using wireless power, the method comprising:

receiving a carrier wave from a source resonator;

modulating a message based on the carrier wave and an impedance mismatching between a source device and a target device; and

controlling the impedance mismatching by changing an impedance of the target device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the controlling comprises:

controlling current flowing through a load of the target device.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the controlling controls current flowing through a load.