SECURE WIRELESS CHARGING

• US 20140195803A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Knubben, Wihelmus H. C., Brink, Klaas, Sedzin, Aliaksei Vladimirovich, van Lammeren, Johannes Petrus Maria
• Granted Patent: US 9,137,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A wireless charging apparatus and method utilizing a secure element is disclosed. Illustratively, a receiver containing a secure element securely communicates with a charging pad also equipped with a secure element. The communication can be used to establish the identity of the receiver and facilitate billing for the wireless charging. The charging pad may further communicate in a secure manner with a server to authenticate the identity and other information about the receiver before providing wireless charging. Direct communication between the receiver and server is also contemplated.

Claims

1. A receiver adapted to receive wireless charging from a pad comprising:

a coil for receiving wireless charging energy; and

a secure element for providing encrypted information to said pad.

2. The receiver of claim 1 further comprising:

a communication chip for transmitting said encrypted information to said pad.

3. A charging pad adapted to receive encrypted information from a receiver comprising:

a coil for charging said receiver; and

a secure element for decrypting said encrypted information.

4. The charging pad of claim 3 further comprising;

a communication chip for transmitting information to said receiver.

5. A method of charging a receiver comprising the steps of:

providing said receiver to a charging pad, said receiver having a secure element;

said secure element providing encrypted information to said charging pad.

6. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

said charging pad providing all or part of said encrypted information to a server.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

said server being a cloud server.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

said server authenticating said encrypted information provided to it and then providing confirmation of said authentication to said charging pad.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

said charging pad commencing charging of said receiver.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

operating a cloud server to receive and decrypt information provided by a charging pad;

said information being provided to a charging pad in encrypted form by a receiver.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

causing said cloud server to reply to said charging pad in an encrypted manner, said reply causing said charging pad to initiate charging of said receiver.

12. A method of charging a receiver comprising:

providing a charging pad which, upon proximate presence of said receiver, engages in secure communication with said receiver;

causing said charging pad to subsequently transmit said secure communication with said receiver to a server which performs an authentication procedure and which subsequently transmits the results of said authentication procedure to said charging pad;

causing said charging pad to provide charging to said receiver.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving payment from the owner of said receiver for said charging.

14. A method of charging a receiver comprising:

providing a charging pad which is responsive to communication from a server;

causing said charging pad to provide charging to said receiver after said server has received a secure communication from said receiver.

15. A method of charging a receiver comprising the steps of:

providing said receiver to a charging pad, said receiver having a secure element;

said secure element providing encrypted information to a remote server;

said remote server providing a charging signal to said receiver; and

said receiver providing said charging signal to said charging pad.

16. The method of claim 15 in which said server is a cloud server.

17. A method of charging a receiver comprising the steps of:

providing said receiver to a charging pad, said receiver having stored information concerning payment within it;

causing said receiver to transmit a portion of said information to said pad;

thereby causing said pad to charge said receiver.

18. A method of charging a receiver comprising the step of providing a charging pad which commences charging said receiver upon receipt of encrypted information from said receiver, said information containing payment information.