METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING WIRELESS POWER

• US 20130154558A1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung-Woo, Byun, Kang-Ho, Park, Se-Ho
• Granted Patent: US 9,711,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 50/60 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting wireless power in a wireless power network managed by a wireless power transmitter. The method includes transmitting first charging power to a first wireless power receiver; detecting a second wireless power receiver; and transmitting second charging power to the second wireless power receiver.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting wireless power in a wireless power network managed by a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

transmitting first charging power to a first wireless power receiver;

detecting a second wireless power receiver

joining the second wireless power receiver in the wireless power network; and

transmitting second charging power to the second wireless power receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a communication network with the second wireless power receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein forming the communication network with the second wireless power receiver comprises:

receiving a wireless power transmitter search signal from the second wireless power receiver; and

transmitting a wireless power transmitter search response signal corresponding to the wireless power transmitter search signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless power transmitter search signal includes at least one of a protocol version, a sequence number, company information, product information, impedance information, and capacity information.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless power transmitter search response signal includes at least one of a sequence number, and network IDentifier (ID) information of the wireless power transmitter.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein joining the second wireless power receiver in the wireless power network comprises:

receiving a request join signal from the second wireless power receiver;

determining whether to permit the second wireless power receiver to join the wireless power network; and

transmitting a response join signal indicating whether or not the second wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an Acknowledgement (Ack) signal for the response join signal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the request join signal includes at least one of a sequence number, a network IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power transmitter, product information, a maximum voltage value allowable at a front end of a Direct Current (DC)/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver, a minimum voltage value allowable at the front end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver, a rated voltage value at a rear end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver, and a rated current value at the rear end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the response join signal includes at least one of a sequence number, a network IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power transmitter, join permission information, and a session ID of the second wireless power receiver.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the join permission information is written as 0 or 1 in a permission field of the response join signal, and the permission field indicates that the second wireless power receiver is not permitted to join the wireless power network if a value of the permission field is 0, and indicates that the second wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network if a value of the permission field is 1.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the second charging power comprises transmitting a command signal indicating a charge start command to the second wireless power receiver.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving an Acknowledgement (Ack) signal for the command signal from the second wireless power receiver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the command signal includes at least one of a session IDentifier (ID) of the second wireless power receiver, a sequence number, a network ID of the wireless power transmitter, a command type, and command type-related information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the charge start command is written in a field for the command type.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the command signal turns on a switching unit connected to a charging unit of the second wireless power receiver.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting another command signal to the second wireless power receiver.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a command type of another command signal is a charge finish command, and

wherein the charge finish command is a command to finish the charging by turning off a switching unit of the second wireless power receiver.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a report signal from the second wireless power receiver, if the command signal is not a signal for charge start.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the report signal includes at least one of a session IDentifier (ID) of the second wireless power receiver, a sequence number, a network ID of the wireless power transmitter, a voltage value applied to a front end of a DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver, a voltage value applied to a rear end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver, and a current value applied to the rear end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the second wireless power receiver comprises detecting an abrupt change in at least one of a load, a current value, a voltage value, a phase, and a temperature at a point of the wireless power transmitter.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the abrupt change in phase is detected based on an abrupt change in power loss.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising splitting a full cycle including a communication period for the first wireless power receiver and a contention period, into a new communication period for the first wireless power receiver, a communication period for the second wireless power receiver, and a new contention period.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating a new session IDentifier (ID) to the second wireless power receiver.

24. The method of claim 2, wherein forming the communication network with the second wireless power receiver comprises:

receiving device information of the second wireless power receiver from the second wireless power receiver;

transmitting device information of the wireless power transmitter, which corresponds to the device information; and

receiving a response signal from the second wireless power receiver.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the device information of the wireless power receiver includes at least one of a protocol version, a sequence number, company information, product information, impedance information, capacity information, device IDentifier (ID) information, network ID information, and wireless charging service profile information.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the device information of the wireless power transmitter includes at least one of a protocol version, a sequence number, wireless power transmitter'"'"'s network IDentifier (ID) information, power rating and device ID information, and wireless power receiver'"'"'s device ID information and wireless charging service profile information.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the response signal includes at least one of a protocol version, a sequence number, company information, product information, impedance information, information about a required amount of power, and wireless charging service profile information.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein joining the second wireless power receiver in the wireless power network comprises:

receiving information about a required amount of power from the second wireless power receiver; and

transmitting a response join signal that indicates transmission of wireless power.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the response join signal includes at least one of time information, channel information, join permission information, and power rating for joining the wireless power network.

30. The method of claim 2, wherein forming the communication network with the second wireless power receiver comprises:

receiving device information of the second wireless power receiver from the second wireless power receiver; and

transmitting a join permission signal indicating that the second wireless power receiver is permitted to join the communication network.

31. A wireless power transmitter for transmitting charging power in a wireless power network, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

a power transmitter that transmits a first charging power to a first wireless power receiver; and

a controller that detects a second wireless power receiver;

wherein the controller joins the second wireless power receiver in the wireless power network, and controls the power transmitter to transmit second charging power to the second wireless power receiver.

32. The wireless power transmitter of claim 31, further comprising a communication unit that forms a communication network with the second wireless power receiver.

33. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the communication unit receives a wireless power transmitter search signal from the second wireless power receiver, and transmits a wireless power transmitter search response signal corresponding to the wireless power transmitter search signal.

34. The wireless power transmitter of claim 33, wherein the wireless power transmitter search signal comprises at least one of:

a protocol version;

a sequence number;

company information;

product information;

impedance information; and

capacity information.

35. The wireless power transmitter of claim 33, wherein the wireless power transmitter search response signal comprises at least one of:

a sequence number; and

network IDentifier (ID) information of the wireless power transmitter.

36. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the communication unit receives a request join signal from the second wireless power receiver, and

wherein the controller determines whether to permit the second wireless power receiver to join the wireless power network, and controls the communication unit to transmit a response join signal indicating whether or not the second wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network.

37. The wireless power transmitter of claim 36, wherein the response join signal comprises an Acknowledgement (Ack) signal.

38. The wireless power transmitter of claim 36, wherein the request join signal comprises at least one of:

a sequence number;

a network IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power transmitter;

product information;

a maximum voltage value allowable at a front end of a Direct Current (DC)/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver;

a minimum voltage value allowable at the front end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver;

a rated voltage value at a rear end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver; and

a rated current value at the rear end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver.

39. The wireless power transmitter of claim 36, wherein the response join signal comprises at least one of:

a sequence number;

a network IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power transmitter;

join permission information; and

a session ID of the second wireless power receiver.

40. The wireless power transmitter of claim 39, wherein the join permission information is written as 0 or 1 in a permission field of the response join signal, and the permission field indicates that the second wireless power receiver is not permitted to join the wireless power network if a value of the permission field is 0, and indicates the second wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network if a value of the permission field is 1.

41. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the power transmitter transmits second charging power to the second wireless power receiver, if the communication unit transmits a command signal indicating a charge start command to the second wireless power receiver.

42. The wireless power transmitter of claim 41, wherein the communication unit receives an Acknowledgement (Ack) signal for the command signal from the second wireless power receiver.

43. The wireless power transmitter of claim 42, wherein the command signal comprises at least one of:

a session IDentifier (ID) of the second wireless power receiver;

a sequence number;

a network ID of the wireless power transmitter;

a command type; and

command type-related information.

44. The wireless power transmitter of claim 43, wherein the charge start command is written in a field for the command type.

45. The wireless power transmitter of claim 41, wherein the command signal turns on a switching unit connected to a charging unit of the second wireless power receiver.

46. The wireless power transmitter of claim 41, wherein the communication unit transmits another command signal to the second wireless power receiver.

47. The wireless power transmitter of claim 46, wherein a command type of another command signal is a charge finish command, and

wherein the charge finish command commands the second wireless power receiver to finish the charging by turning off a switching unit of the second wireless power receiver.

48. The wireless power transmitter of claim 41, wherein the communication unit receives a report signal from the second wireless power receiver if the command signal is not a signal for charge start.

49. The wireless power transmitter of claim 48, wherein the report signal comprises at least one of:

a session IDentifier (ID) of the second wireless power receiver;

a sequence number;

a network ID of the wireless power transmitter;

a voltage value applied to a front end of a DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver;

a voltage value applied to a rear end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver; and

a current value applied to the rear end of the DC/DC converter of the second wireless power receiver.

50. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the controller detects the second wireless power receiver by detecting an abrupt change in at least one of a load, a current value, a voltage value, a phase and a temperature at a point of the wireless power transmitter.

51. The wireless power transmitter of claim 50, wherein the controller detects the abrupt change in phase based on an abrupt change in power loss.

52. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the controller splits a full cycle including a communication period for the first wireless power receiver and a contention period, into a new communication period for the first wireless power receiver, a communication period for the second wireless power receiver, and a new contention period.

53. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the controller allocates a new session IDentifier (ID) to the second wireless power receiver.

54. A method for transmitting wireless power to a first wireless power receiver and a second wireless power receiver in a wireless power network managed by a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

transmitting a command signal, at stated periods, that controls the first wireless power receiver to report power information to the wireless power transmitter;

determining whether a report signal corresponding to the command signal is received from the first wireless power receiver; and

determining that the first wireless power receiver is removed from the wireless power network, when the report signal is not received from the first wireless power receiver after transmitting the command signal a predetermined number of times at the stated periods.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising transmitting a notice signal including information about the wireless power transmitter at a regular cycle;

wherein the stated period is the regular cycle.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the predetermined number of times is three.

57. The method of claim 54, further comprising reducing charging power that is transmitted to the first wireless power receiver.

58. The method of claim 54, further comprising re-allocating a full cycle including a communication period for the first wireless power receiver, a communication period for the second wireless power receiver, and a contention period, into a new communication period for the second wireless power receiver and a new contention period, when it is determined that the first wireless power receiver is removed.

59. The method of claim 54, further comprising updating a session IDentifier (ID) allocated to the second wireless power receiver, using a session ID of the first wireless power receiver.

60. A wireless power transmitter for transmitting wireless power to a first wireless power receiver and a second wireless power receiver in a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

a communication unit that transmits a command signal, at stated periods, that controls the first wireless power receiver to report power information to the wireless power transmitter; and

a controller that determines whether a report signal corresponding to the command signal is received from the first wireless power receiver, and determines that the first wireless power receiver is removed from the wireless power network, when the report signal is not received from the first wireless power receiver after transmitting the command signal a predetermined number of times at the stated periods.

61. The wireless power transmitter of claim 60, wherein the communication unit transmits a notice signal including information about the wireless power transmitter at a regular cycle, and

wherein the stated period is the regular cycle.

62. The wireless power transmitter of claim 60, wherein the predetermined number of times is three.

63. The wireless power transmitter of claim 60, further comprising a power transmitter for transmitting wireless power,

wherein the controller controls the power transmitter to reduce charging power that is transmitted to the first wireless power receiver.

64. The wireless power transmitter of claim 60, wherein the controller re-allocates a full cycle including a communication period for the first wireless power receiver, a communication period for the second wireless power receiver and a contention period, into a new communication period for the second wireless power receiver and a new contention period, when it is determined that the first wireless power receiver is removed.

65. The wireless power transmitter of claim 60, wherein controller updates a session IDentifier (ID) allocated to the second wireless power receiver, using a session ID of the first wireless power receiver.