Power Transmitting Device Having Device Discovery and Power Transfer Capabilities

• US 20140094116A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walley, John, Van Der Lee, Reinier, Rajakarunanayake, Yasantha, Bishtein, Vadim
• Granted Patent: US 9,601,930 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 50/60 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A wireless power transfer system is disclosed that includes a power station and a chargeable device. The power station transmits discovery beacons in order to detect a chargeable device within its vicinity using any available communication protocols and/or standards. Once a device is discovered, the power station can perform coil selection with the device in order to select preferred coils for power transfer. In addition, the chargeable device is capable of detecting the beacon signal and providing a response to notify the power station of its presence. The chargeable device is capable of performing its own coil selection for further optimization and includes various assistance functionality to aid a user in optimizing a connection with the power station.

Claims

1. A power station capable of wireless power transfer within a wireless power transfer environment, the power station comprising:

a communication module configured to transmit and receive signals of a first communication protocol to and from the environment;

a coil module that includes a plurality of coils;

a coil driving module configured to drive the plurality of coils with wireless power transfer (WPT) signals using a WPT communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol; and

a load detection module configured to detect signals loaded onto the coils from the environment,

wherein a response signal is received from the environment in response to a transmitted beacon signal via at least one of the communication module and the coil module.

2. The power station of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to transmit the beacon signal to the environment using at least one of a Bluetooth, WLAN, and NFC communication protocol.

3. The power station of claim 1, wherein the driving module is configured to drive each of the plurality of coils simultaneously with the beacon signal so as to transmit the beacon signal to the environment.

4. The power station of claim 1, wherein the coil module includes an outer coil that overlaps with at least two of the plurality of coils, and

wherein the coil driving module drives the outer coil with the beacon signal so as to transmit the beacon signal to the environment.

5. The power station of claim 1, wherein the beacon signal is transmitted to the environment in sequentially one of:

different standards, different duty cycles, and different transmission powers.

6. The power station of claim 1, wherein the beacon signal is a universal beacon signal with a predetermined packet layout.

7. The power station of claim 1, wherein the beacon signal is periodically transmitted using a first WPT standard and periodically transmitted in a second WPT standard, wherein the frequencies of the respective transmissions are based on a popularity of the first and second WPT standards.

8. A power station capable of wirelessly transmitting power to a chargeable device in proximity to the power station, the power station including:

a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with the chargeable device;

a coil module that includes a plurality of coils and that is configured to communicate wireless power transfer (WPT) signals with the chargeable device;

a controller module configured to initiate a coil selection procedure based on a response signal received from the chargeable device by at least one of the communication module and the coil module; and

a load detection module configured to detect WPT signals loaded onto the plurality of coils by the chargeable device,

wherein the controller module determines a coupling coefficient for each of the plurality of coils and selects at least one coil for power transfer based on the determined coupling coefficients.

9. The power station of claim 8, further comprising a coil driving module configured to energize each of the plurality of coils simultaneously so as to allow each of the plurality of coils to receive the response signal.

10. The power station of claim 9, wherein the load detection module includes a multiplexer that sequentially selects each of the plurality of coils so as to allow the controller module to receive the response signal received by each of the corresponding plurality of coils, and

wherein the controller module determines the coupling coefficients for each of the plurality of coils based on their corresponding received response signals.

11. The power station of claim 8, further comprising a coil driving module configured to drive each of the plurality of coils to transmit a signal,

wherein the controller module analyzes a response signal received from the chargeable device in response to the transmitted signals, and

wherein the controller module selects the at least one coil based on the response signal.

12. The power station of claim 11, wherein the signals that are transmitted by the plurality of coils are transmitted simultaneously at different frequencies.

13. The power station of claim 11, wherein the signals are transmitted sequentially over time on a common frequency.

14. The power station of claim 8, wherein, upon the detection of a change in a number of devices being serviced by the power station, the controller module is configured to reinitiate the coil selection procedure.

15. A method for establishing communication with a nearby chargeable device by a power station, the method comprising:

transmitting a beacon signal to the chargeable device;

receiving a response signal from the chargeable device in response to the beacon signal;

performing a coil selection procedure based on a proximity of the chargeable device to the power station, the proximity being determined based on the response signal; and

selecting one or more coils from among a plurality of coils for transmitting wireless power signals to the chargeable device based on the coil selection.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the beacon signal is transmitted to the chargeable device using sequentially different communication standards,

wherein the plurality of coils transmit the beacon signal in a first one of the communication standards, and

wherein a radio transmits the beacon signal in a second one of the communication standards.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the coil selection procedure includes transmitting a signal from each of the plurality of coils and receiving a coil preference signal from the chargeable device in response to the transmission of the signal.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the coil selection procedure includes receiving a signal on each of the plurality of coils from the chargeable device and calculating coupling coefficients for each of the plurality of coils based on signal characteristics of the corresponding received signals.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the beacon signal identifies wireless power transfer (WPT) standards supported by the power station, and

wherein the response signal identifies WPT standards supported by the chargeable device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first one of the communication standards is a load modulation wireless power transfer standard, and

wherein the second one of the communication standards is one of Bluetooth, WiFi, WLAN or NFC.