POWER DELIVERY INCLUDING OUT-OF-BAND COMMUNICATION

• US 20140191712A1
• Filed: 01/10/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Adam D. Rea, Evan R. Green, Ronald W. Gallahan
• Inventors: REA, Adam D., GREEN, Evan R., PAXMAN, Robert, GALLAHAN, Ronald W.
• Application Number:
  US13/738,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20140191712A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to power delivery including out-of-band communication. In general, a device to be charged and a charging device may interact using two separate wireless signals. A first wireless signal (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) signal) may be employed to charge the device. A second wireless signal of a different type (e.g., an infrared (IR) signal) may be employed for inter-device communication. An example device may comprise a power module to receive a first wireless signal, a transmitter to transmit a second wireless signal, and a charging control module. The first wireless signal may be for conveying power from a charging device to the device, the second wireless signal may be for transmitting information from the device to the charging device, and the charging control module may be to cause the transmitter to transmit the second wireless signal based on an indication received from the power module.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a power module to receive a first wireless signal for conveying power from a charging device to the device;

a transmitter to transmit a second wireless signal for conveying information from the device to the charging device; and

a charging control module to cause the transmitter to transmit the second wireless signal based on an indication received from the power module.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the power module comprises wireless charging circuitry to receive the first wireless signal, the first wireless signal being a radio frequency (RF) signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the wireless charging circuitry comprises at least a coil to generate a charging current based on the RF signal.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second wireless signal is an infrared (IR) signal.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is part of the power module.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the charging control module is part of the power module.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the indication relates to at least one of the first wireless signal or device power condition.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the information transmitted in the second wireless signal comprises at least one of status or instructions related to the indication.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a receiver to receive a third wireless signal for conveying information from the charging device to the device.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving a notification from a power module in a device that a first wireless signal has been received; and

causing a second wireless signal to be transmitted by a transmitter in the device, the second wireless signal initializing power transfer to the device via the first wireless signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first wireless signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second wireless signal is an infrared (IR) signal.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an indication from the power module, the indication relating to at least one of the first wireless signal or device power condition.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising causing information to be transmitted via the second wireless signal, the information including at least one of status or instructions related to the indication.

15. At least one machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon, individually or in combination, instructions that when executed by one or more processors result in the following operations comprising:

receiving a notification from a power module in a device that a first wireless signal has been received; and

causing a second wireless signal to be transmitted by a transmitter in the device, the second wireless signal initializing power transfer to the device via the first wireless signal.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the first wireless signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the second wireless signal is an infrared (IR) signal.

18. The medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that when executed by one or more processors result in the following operations comprising:

receiving an indication from the power module, the indication relating to at least one of the first wireless signal or device power condition.

19. The medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions that when executed by one or more processors result in the following operations comprising:

causing information to be transmitted via the second wireless signal, the information including at least one of status or instructions related to the indication.