Power Transmitting Device Having Power Theft Detection and Prevention

• US 20140183964A1
• Filed: 04/05/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: WALLEY, John
• Application Number:
  US13/857,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20140183964A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0075 using inductive coupling transformers or inductances adapted for inductive coupling H01F38/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A wireless power transfer system is disclosed that includes multiple levels of authentication and several different options for implementing theft prevention. The power station can perform a first authentication procedure to collect billing information of the device to receive power. If the first authentication succeeds, the power station then performs a second authentication procedure in which it sends one or more test power signals to the receiving device. The power station estimates the amount of power that should actually be received by the receiving device and compares the estimate to a reported value sent from the receiving device to ensure that the reported value is within an acceptable margin of the estimate value. If either authentication fails, the power station can take power theft prevention methods to prevent the receiving device from acquiring free power.

Claims

1. A device capable of transmitting wireless power to a receiving device in a wireless power transfer environment, the device comprising:

a coil module configured to transmit a test power signal;

a communication module configured to transmit a report request to the receiving device, and to acquire a received power report from the receiving device that indicates an amount of power received based on the test power signal;

an authentication module configured to estimate an amount of power received by the receiving device based on parameters of the test power signal, and to compare the reported amount of power received to the estimated amount of power; and

a controller module configured to permit or prohibit power transfer to the receiving device based on the comparison of the reported amount of power to the estimated amount of power.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the coil module is configured to transmit a plurality of different test power signals, and

wherein the authentication module estimates an amount of power received for each of the plurality of test power signals, and compares the estimated values to corresponding reported values included within the received power report.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of test power signals differ by at least one of amplitude, frequency, and duration.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the authentication module authorizes the receiving device when the reported amount of power is within a threshold value of the estimated amount of power.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to transmit a load instruction to the receiving device that includes a load to be implemented during receipt of the test power signal, and

wherein the coil module is configured to detect whether the received device has implemented the load.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein upon detecting that the receiving device has failed to implement the load, the controller module is configured to prohibit power transfer to the receiving device.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a foreign object detector configured to detect a presence and a location of a foreign object within the vicinity of the device.

8. A device capable of transmitting wireless power to a receiving device in a wireless power transfer environment, the device comprising:

a coil module configured to receive first authentication information from the receiving device;

a communication module configured to receive second authentication information from the receiving device different from the first authentication information;

an authentication module configured to perform a first authentication procedure based on the first authentication information and configured to perform a second authorization procedure based on the second authentication information, the second authentication procedure being different from the first authentication procedure; and

a controller module configured to allow power transfer to the receiving device only after both the first authentication procedure and the second authentication procedure have been passed.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the coil module transmits a small amount of power to the receiving device during each of the first authentication procedure and the second authentication procedure.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the coil module is configured to transmit a large amount of power to the receiving device only after the receiving device has passed both the first authentication procedure and the second authentication procedure.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the authentication module performs the second authentication procedure only after the first authentication procedure has been passed.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the first authentication information includes billing information.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the second authentication information includes an amount of power received based on a test power signal.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the second authentication procedure includes comparing the amount of power received to an estimated amount of power received.

15. A method of wirelessly transmitting power by a power station to a receiving device, the method comprising:

receiving first authentication information from the receiving device;

performing a first authentication procedure based on the first authentication information; and

if the first authentication fails, implementing a power theft prevention measure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the power theft prevention measure includes at least one of de-energizing one or more coils associated with the receiving device, changing a frequency of a power transmission signal, and shutting down a transmitter of the power station.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising, if the first authentication succeeds:

transmitting an instruction signal to the receiving device;

transmitting a test power signal to the receiving device; and

receiving second authentication information from the receiving device based on the instruction signal and the test power signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, if the first authentication succeeds:

performing a second authentication procedure based on the second authentication information;

if the second authentication procedure fails, implementing the power theft prevention measure; and

if the second authentication procedure succeeds, transferring power to the receiving device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first authentication information includes billing information, and

wherein the second authentication information includes a report of an amount of power received from the test power signal.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

performing foreign object detection; and

adjusting the first and second authentication procedures based on a presence and a location of a foreign object resulting from the foreign object detection.