WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

• US 20130069442A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sang Joon, Kwon, Ui Kun
• Granted Patent: US 9,728,997 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 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

Provided is a device and method for wirelessly transmitting power, and a wireless power transmission device that may control an electrical connection between a power charger and a transmitter to charge a source resonator with power and transmit the charged power to a target resonator through mutual resonance.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission device, comprising:

a power charger configured to receive power from a power supply device;

a transmitter comprising a source resonator; and

a controller configured to control an electrical connection between the power charger and the transmitter to charge the source resonator with power and to transmit the charged power to a target resonator through a mutual resonance.

2. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, wherein the source resonator comprises at least one capacitor and one inductor.

3. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, wherein the power charger is configured to control an amount of current provided to the transmitter.

4. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, wherein the power charger comprises a variable resistor that is connected, in series, to the power supply device.

5. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the electrical connection between the power charger and the transmitter based on an amount of power that the source resonator is charged with.

6. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

turn on a switch that electrically connects the power charger and the transmitter to charge the source resonator with power, and

turn off the switch that electrically connects the power charger and the transmitter to transmit power the source resonator is charged with.

7. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control an electrical connection between the power supply device and the source resonator to prevent current from being provided to the source resonator from the power supply device while the source resonator is transmitting power to the target resonator through mutual resonance.

8. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, wherein the power charger comprises a plurality of resistors connected, in parallel, to the power supply device.

9. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to open the electrical connection between the power charger and the transmitter, in response to the source resonator receiving a predetermined amount of power from the power supply device.

10. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, further comprising:

a measuring unit configured to measure a voltage applied to a capacitor of the source resonator and a current applied to an inductor of the source resonator; and

a calculator configured to calculate energy stored in the source resonator based on the measured voltage and the measured current.

11. The wireless power transmission device of claim 1, further comprising:

a measuring unit configured to measure a voltage applied to a capacitor of the source resonator; and

a detector configured to detect an envelope of a voltage applied to a capacitor of the source resonator based on the measured voltage.

12. A wireless power reception device, comprising:

a charger comprising a target resonator;

a power output unit configured to transfer power to a load; and

a controller configured to control an electrical connection between the charger and the power output unit to charge the target resonator with power through mutual resonance with a source resonator, and to deliver the charged power to the load.

13. The wireless power reception device of claim 12, wherein the target resonator comprises at least one capacitor and one inductor.

14. The wireless power reception device of claim 13, wherein the power output unit delivers power that the at least one capacitor and one inductor are charged with, to the load.

15. The wireless power reception device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to control the electrical connection between the charger and the power output unit based on an amount of power that the target resonator is charged with.

16. The wireless power reception device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to:

turn off a switch that electrically connects the charger and the power output unit OFF while charging the target resonator with power, and

turn off the switch that electrically connects the charger and the power output unit to deliver, to the load, power that the target resonator is charged with.

17. The wireless power reception device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to control an electrical connection between the target resonator and the load to prevent power from being delivered to the load from the target resonator while charging the target resonator through mutual resonance with the source resonator.

18. The wireless power reception device of claim 12, wherein the power output unit comprises a capacitor to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator in response to being electrically connected to the target resonator.

19. The wireless power reception device of claim 12, further comprising:

a measuring unit configured to measure a voltage applied to a capacitor of the target resonator and a current applied to an inductor of the target resonator; and

a calculator configured to calculate energy stored in the target resonator based on the measured voltage and the measured current.

20. The wireless power reception device of claim 12, further comprising:

a measuring unit configured to measure a voltage applied to a capacitor of the target resonator; and

a detector configured to detect an envelope of a voltage applied to a capacitor of the target resonator based on the measured voltage.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the load comprises a battery.

22. A wireless power transmission system, comprising:

a wireless power transmission device comprising a power supply device, a source resonator, and a first controller that controls an electrical connection between the power supply device and the source resonator to charge the source resonator with power and to transmit the charged power; and

a wireless power reception device comprising a load, a target resonator that receives power transmitted from the source resonator through mutual resonance, and a second controller that controls an electrical connection between the target resonator and the load to deliver the received power to the load.

23. The wireless power transmission system of claim 22, wherein the source resonator and the target resonator each comprise at least one capacitor and one inductor.

24. A method of transmitting wireless power, the method comprising:

charging a source resonator with power provided from a power supply device through a current;

controlling an electrical connection between the power supply device and the source resonator; and

transmitting, to a target resonator, the charged power through mutual resonance.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the source resonator comprises at least one capacitor and one inductor.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the charging comprises adjusting an amount of current provided to the source resonator.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the controlling comprises controlling an electrical connection between the power supply device and the source resonator based on an amount of power the source resonator is charged with.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

detecting an envelope of a voltage applied to a capacitor of the source resonator.

29. A method of receiving wireless power, the method comprising:

charging a target resonator with power that a source resonator is charged with, through mutual resonance between a source resonator and the target resonator; and

delivering, to a load, the power that the target resonator is charged with.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the target resonator comprises at least one capacitor and one inductor.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the delivering comprises delivering, to the load, power the at least one capacitor and one inductor are charged with.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

controlling an electrical connection between the target resonator and the load based on an amount of power that the target resonator is charged with.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

changing a resonant frequency of the target resonator using a capacitor that is additionally connected to the target resonator.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

detecting an envelope of a voltage applied to a capacitor of the target resonator.