MULTIMODE WIRELESS POWER RECEIVERS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20150035372A1
• Filed: 08/02/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Incorporated (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Incorporated (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Aioanei, Ovidiu
• Granted Patent: US 10,320,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 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 receiver comprises a resonant tank configured to generate an AC power signal responsive to an electromagnetic field, a rectifier configured to receive the AC power signal and generate a DC output power signal, and control logic configured to control the resonant tank to reconfigure and adjust its resonant frequency responsive to a determined transmitter type of a wireless power transmitter. The control logic may operate the wireless power receiver as a multimode receiver having a first mode for a first transmitter type and a second mode for a second transmitter type. The resonant tank may exhibit a different resonant frequency for each of the first mode and the second mode. A method comprises determining a transmitter type for a wireless power transmitter desired to establish a mutual inductance relationship, and adjusting a resonant frequency of a resonant tank of a wireless power receiver.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver, comprising:

a resonant tank configured to generate an AC power signal responsive to an electromagnetic field;

a rectifier configured to receive the AC power signal and generate a DC output power signal; and

control logic configured to cause the resonant tank to reconfigure and adjust its resonant frequency responsive to a determined transmitter type of a wireless power transmitter with which a mutual inductance relationship is desired.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the resonant tank includes a plurality of capacitors that are controllable by at least one switch to adjust capacitance of the resonant tank.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 2, wherein the plurality of capacitors are coupled in parallel with each other, wherein at least one parallel path includes the at least one switch.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the resonant tank includes a plurality of inductors that are controllable by at least one switch to adjust inductance of the resonant tank.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 4, wherein the plurality of inductors are coupled parallel with each other, wherein at least one parallel path includes the at least one switch.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 4, wherein the plurality of inductors are coupled in series with each other, wherein the at least one switch is coupled at a node between inductors and with the rectifier.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the resonant tank includes a plurality of inductors and a plurality of capacitors that are controllable by at least one switch to adjust both capacitance and inductance of the resonant tank.

8. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the determined transmitter type is based, at least in part, on a unique characteristic of a wireless power standard.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the unique characteristic includes at least one of an operating frequency, a digital ping structure, a communication protocol, and an encoding/decoding scheme.

10. A wireless power apparatus, comprising:

a resonant tank configured to generate an AC power signal responsive to an electromagnetic field;

a rectifier configured to receive the AC power signal and generate a DC output power signal; and

control logic configured to operate the wireless power receiver as a multimode receiver having a first mode for a first transmitter type and a second mode for a second transmitter type, wherein the resonant tank is configured to exhibit a different resonant frequency for each of the first mode and the second mode.

11. The wireless power apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control logic includes a transmitter type detector that is configured to determine a transmitter type responsive to at least one input, and select a mode associated with the determined transmitter type.

12. The wireless power apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one input is an internal signal within a wireless power receiver.

13. The wireless power apparatus of claim 12, wherein the internal signal includes at least one of an input signal to the rectifier and the DC output power signal.

14. The wireless power apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one input in a user input.

15. The wireless power apparatus of claim 10, wherein the wireless power apparatus is a wireless power receiver.

16. The wireless power apparatus of claim 10, wherein the wireless power apparatus is an electronic device that includes a wireless power receiver, the wireless power receiver including the resonant tank, the rectifier, and the control logic.

17. A method for operating a multimode wireless power receiver, the method comprising:

determining a transmitter type for a wireless power transmitter desired to establish a mutual inductance relationship; and

adjusting a resonant frequency of a resonant tank of a wireless power receiver.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the resonant frequency of the resonant tank includes at least one of:

adjusting a capacitance of the resonant tank while maintaining a fixed inductance;

adjusting a inductance of the resonant tank while maintaining a fixed capacitance; and

adjusting both a capacitance an inductance of the resonant tank.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the transmitter type includes determining a transmitter type responsive to receiving a digital ping signal from the wireless power transmitter located within a range for wireless power transfer.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the resonant frequency includes:

reconfiguring the resonant tank during a first mode to have a first resonant frequency associated with a first transmitter type; and

reconfiguring the resonant tank during a second mode to have a second resonant frequency associated with a second transmitter type.