WIRELESS CHARGING APPARATUS

• US 20160087484A1
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Joon-Il
• Application Number:
  US14/862,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20160087484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A wireless charging apparatus according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a wireless power transmitter that is included in a charging pad where an electronic device is placed, and may include a light source unit that provides light to a solar cell module included in the electronic device, wherein the light source unit may include a plurality of light sources that emit light outside the charging pad, and a plurality of sensors that are disposed between the light sources and close to the light sources and sense the electronic device.

Claims

1. A wireless charging apparatus comprising:

a charging pad;

a wireless power transmitter operatively coupled to the charging pad, which is configured to have an electronic device including a solar cell module placed thereon;

a light source unit being operatively coupled to the charging pad, the light source unit configured to provide light to the solar cell module,

wherein the light source unit comprises;

at least one light source that emits light outside the charging pad; and

at least one sensor configured to sense the electronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller that is configured to control the state of the at least one light source between an on and an off state based on information received by the sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electronic device includes sensors and a contact area, and wherein when the electronic device is placed on the charging pad, the sensors on the contact area of the electronic device sense contact of the electronic device, and

the controller controls light sources located toward the inside from the sensors disposed in an end part of the contact area.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the charging pad includes a first area where the electronic device is placed, and a second area where the electronic device is not placed, and

wherein the first area includes first sensors that sense contact of the electronic device from among the sensors, the second area including second sensors from among the sensors;

and the first sensors including boundary sensors that are disposed in the outermost area of the first area.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the light sources comprise:

first light sources that are disposed in the first area, and include a first location light source disposed toward the inside from the boundary sensors and a second location light source disposed toward the outside from the boundary sensors; and

second light sources that are disposed in the second area,

wherein the controller turns the first location light source on.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least sensor includes a plurality of sensors, and wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources, the sensors being positioned between the light sources.

7. A wireless charging apparatus comprising:

a wireless power receiver including a solar cell module provided in an electronic device;

a wireless power transmitter included in a charging pad on which the electronic device is configured to be placed, the wireless power transmitter including sensors that sense contact of the electronic device, and a plurality of light sources that provide light to the solar cell module based on whether the sensors sense contact; and

a controller that controls light emission of the light sources based on whether the sensors sense contact,

wherein the controller controls light sources to emit light, the light sources located towards the inside from the outermost sensors from among the sensors that sense the contact of the electronic device, and wherein the emitted light is converted into electric power through the solar cell.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is divided into a first area that is in contact with the electronic device and a second area that is not in contact with the electronic device, and wherein the the first area comprises:

an emission area that is located towards the inside from the boundary sensors that are disposed in the outermost area among the sensors that sense the contact of the electronic device; and

a non emission area that is located between the outside of the boundary sensors and an outline of the first area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the light sources comprises:

first light sources including a first location light source disposed in the emission area and a second location light source disposed in the non emission area; and

second light sources that are disposed in the second area.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller executes a control to turn the first light sources on.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a heat dissipation plate disposed on a surface of the charging pad, so as to emit light of the light sources and radiate heat generated from the light.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the heat dissipation plate includes a plurality of openings that correspond to locations of the light sources so as to pass light emitted from the light sources.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the heat dissipation plate includes first openings that correspond to the locations of the light sources and pass through the top and bottom of the heat dissipation plate and second openings that correspond to the locations of the sensors and pass through the top and the bottom of the heat dissipation plate.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the heat dissipation plate is formed to include a metallic material.