METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING WIRELESS POWER RECEIVER FROM EXCESSIVE CHARGING TEMPERATURE

• US 20140159654A1
• Filed: 12/06/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Woo-Ram, Kim, Yu-Su, Park, Se-Ho, Han, Seung-Woo
• Granted Patent: US 9,431,848 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 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00032 characterised by data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for protecting a wireless power receiver from excessive temperature caused by charging are provided. The wireless power receiver includes a power receiver for receiving wireless power in an Alternate Current (AC) form from a wireless power transmitter; a regulator for regulating the wireless power; a power management unit for controlling charging by providing the regulated wireless power to a battery; a temperature measurement unit for measuring a temperature of a point in the wireless power receiver during reception of the wireless power; and a controller configured to provide a control signal for the wireless power receiver to be charged with a regulated charging power if a temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit exceeds a preset temperature.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver for preventing excessive temperature caused by charging, the wireless power receiver comprising:

a power receiver configured to receive wireless power in an Alternate Current (AC) form from a wireless power transmitter;

a regulator configured to regulate the wireless power;

a power management unit configured to control charging by providing the regulated wireless power to a battery;

a temperature measurement unit configured to measure a temperature of a point in the wireless power receiver during reception of the wireless power; and

a controller configured to provide a control signal for the wireless power receiver to be charged with a regulated charging power if a temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit exceeds a preset temperature.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the preset temperature is set below an Over Temperature Protection (OTP) temperature.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to regulate the charging power by providing the control signal to the regulator to decrease output current to the power management unit.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a rectifier, connected to the power receiver and the regulator, configured to rectify the received wireless power in the AC form into a DC form and outputting the wireless power in the DC form to the regulator; and

the battery being charged with the wireless power provided by the power management unit.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to provide the control signal to the power management unit to decrease charging current to the battery.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 4, wherein the temperature measurement unit measures a temperature of at least one of the power receiver, the regulator, the rectifier, and the battery.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to provide a control signal for the wireless power receiver to be charged with the regulated charging power if a temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit exceeds the preset temperature, and to repeatedly perform comparison of a temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit with the preset temperature.

8. The wireless power receiver of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to provide a control signal to increase the regulated charging power if the measured temperature is lower than the preset temperature.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to provide a control signal to decrease the regulated charging power if the measured temperature exceeds the preset temperature.

10. A method for protecting a wireless power receiver from excessive temperature caused by charging, the method comprising:

receiving wireless power from a wireless power transmitter;

measuring temperature of the wireless power receiver during reception of the wireless power; and

controlling the wireless power receiver to be charged with regulated charging power if the measured temperature exceeds a preset temperature.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the preset temperature is set below an Over Temperature Protection (OTP) temperature.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling the wireless power receiver comprises

decreasing charging current to a battery.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

comparing a measured temperature with the preset temperature after controlling the charging of the wireless power receiver by the regulated charging power; and

decreasing the regulated charging power if the measured temperature exceeds the preset temperature.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

increasing the regulated charging power if the measured temperature is lower than the preset temperature.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling the charging of wireless power receiver by the regulated charging power comprises

providing a control signal to either a regulator for regulating the wireless power or a power management unit for controlling charging by providing wireless power regulated by the regulator to a battery, to decrease a charging power.