METHOD AND POWER TRANSMITTER FOR CONTROLLING POWER TRANSMISSION

• US 20140015330A1
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: BYUN, Kang-Ho, PARK, Se-Ho, JUN, Hae-Young, JUNG, Hee-Won
• Granted Patent: US 9,876,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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: H05K 999/99 dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling power transmission. A minimum voltage and a maximum voltage receivable at the at least one power receiver, a reference voltage used to divide a range between the minimum voltage and the maximum voltage, and a demanded voltage required by the at least one power receiver, are received from at least one power receiver. A report about a power reception condition is received from the at least one power receiver. The report includes a measured voltage at the at least one power receiver during power transmission from the power transmitter. It is determined whether the measured voltage is between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage. Power is adjusted and supplied when the measured voltage is not between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage.

Claims

1. A method of controlling power transmission in a power transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from at least one power receiver, a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage receivable at the at least one power receiver, a reference voltage used to divide a range between the minimum voltage and the maximum voltage, and a demanded voltage required by the at least one power receiver;

receiving, from the at least one power receiver, a report about a power reception condition, wherein the report includes a measured voltage at the at least one power receiver during power transmission from the power transmitter;

determining whether the measured voltage is between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage; and

adjusting and supplying power, when the measured voltage is not between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting and supplying of the power comprises:

decreasing and supplying the power, when the measured voltage is between the reference voltage and the maximum voltage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting and supplying of the power comprises:

increasing and supplying the power, when the measured voltage is below the minimum voltage.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the power transmission, when the measured voltage is above the maximum voltage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the at least one power receiver comprises a plurality of power receivers, further comprising:

selecting any of the plurality of power receivers, when the measured voltage at each of the plurality of power receivers is between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage; and

adjusting the power according to the demanded voltage of the selected power receiver or a power control preference of the selected power receiver.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the power control preference is a power control method required by the selected power receiver for the power transmitter, wherein the power control method comprises a method of adjusting the power to correspond to the demanded voltage of the selected power receiver, or a method of increasing an entire efficiency for the plurality of the power receivers.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting any of the power receivers comprises:

at least one of a method of selecting a power receiver having a highest current reception power from among the plurality of power receivers, a method of selecting a power receiver having a highest maximum reception power from among the plurality of power receivers, and a method of selecting a power receiver having a highest power usage rate from among the plurality of power receivers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting any of the power receivers comprises:

a method of selecting a power receiver having a highest current reception power from among two or more power receivers, when the two or more power receivers have higher power usage rates.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the at least one power receiver comprises a plurality of power receivers, further comprising controlling the power transmission to increase an entire efficiency for the plurality of power receivers, when the measured voltage at each of the plurality of power receivers is between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimum voltage, the maximum voltage, the reference voltage, and the demanded voltage are included in any one of a subscription request frame sent by the at least one power receiver to subscribe to a wireless power network hosted by the power transmitter, a report frame sent by the at least one power receiver to announce the power reception condition after the at least one power receiver subscribes to a wireless power network, a reply message from the at least one power receiver in response to an information request of the power transmitter, and an acknowledgment frame for a subscription reply frame indicating that a subscription to a wireless power network has been completed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the report about the power reception condition comprises at least one of an input voltage, an output voltage, and an output current measured at the at least one power receiver during power reception, a changed reference voltage and a changed demanded voltage changed according to a measured temperature, and a power control preference.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the changed reference voltage and the changed demanded voltage are decreased compared with the reference voltage and the demanded voltage, when the measured temperature is greater than a threshold temperature.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the changed reference voltage and the changed demanded voltage are increased compared with the reference voltage and the demanded voltage, when the measured temperature is less than a threshold temperature.

14. A method of controlling power transmission in a power transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a power receiver, a report about a power reception condition, wherein the report includes a measured voltage during power transmission from the power transmitter, a reference voltage used to divide a range between a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage of the power receiver, and a demanded voltage required by the power receiver;

determining where the measured voltage is disposed with respect to the minimum voltage, the maximum voltage and the reference voltage, when the report about the power reception condition is received; and

adjusting and supplying power according to a power control preference that is based on where the measured voltage is disposed with respect to the minimum voltage, the maximum voltage, and the reference voltage.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the reference voltage and the demanded voltage are decreased when a measured temperature at the power receiver is greater than a threshold temperature and the reference voltage and the demanded voltage are increased when a measured temperature at the power receiver is less than a threshold temperature.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the report about the power reception condition comprises at least one of an input voltage, an output voltage, and an output current measured at the power receiver during power reception, a changed reference voltage and a changed demanded voltage changed according to a measured temperature, and the power control preference.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the power control preference is a power control method, required by the power receiver for the power transmitter, which comprises a method of adjusting the power to correspond to the demanded voltage of the power receiver, or a method of increasing an entire efficiency for a plurality of the power receivers.

18. A power transmitter for controlling power transmission, the power transmitter comprising:

a wireless communication unit for receiving, from at least one power receiver, a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage receivable at the at least one power receiver, a reference voltage used to divide a range between the minimum voltage and the maximum voltage, and a demanded voltage required by the at least one power receiver, and receiving, from the at least one power receiver, a report about a power reception condition, wherein the report includes a measured voltage at the at least one power receiver during power transmission of the power transmitter;

a controller for determining whether the measured voltage is between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage, and adjusting power when the measured voltage is not between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage; and

a resonant signal generator for supplying the power to the power receiver under control of the controller.

19. The power transmitter of claim 18, wherein, when the at least one power receiver comprises a plurality of power receivers, the controller selects any of the plurality of power receivers, when the measured voltage at each of the plurality of power receivers is between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage and adjusts the power according to the demanded voltage of the selected power receiver or a power control preference of the selected power receiver.

20. The power transmitter of claim 19, wherein selecting any of the power receivers comprises:

at least one of a method of selecting a power receiver having a highest current reception power from among the plurality of power receivers, a method of selecting a power receiver having a highest maximum reception power from among the plurality of power receivers, and a method of selecting a power receiver having a highest power usage rate from among the plurality of power receivers.

21. The power transmitter of claim 20, wherein selecting any of the power receivers comprises:

a method of selecting a power receiver having a highest current reception power from among two or more power receivers, when the two or more power receivers have higher power usage rates.

22. The power transmitter of claim 19, wherein the controller controls the power transmission to increase an entire efficiency for the plurality of power receivers if the measured voltage at each of the plurality of power receivers is between the minimum voltage and the reference voltage.

23. The power transmitter of claim 19, wherein the power control preference is a power control method required by the power receiver for the power transmitter, which comprises a method of adjusting the power to suit the demanded voltage of any of the plurality of power receivers, or a method of increasing an entire efficiency for the plurality of the power receivers.