POWER TRANSMITTING UNIT AND POWER RECEIVING UNIT WITH CONTROL DATA COMMUNICATION AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20160111894A1
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishtein, Vadim, Vladan, Marius Ionel
• Granted Patent: US 9,985,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2171 with field-effect devices H03F3/2173 - H03F3/2178 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2173 of the bridge type
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a wireless power receiver configured to receive a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit. A wireless radio unit is configured to communicate with the power transmitting unit. A controllable rectifier circuit is configured to rectify the wireless power signal. The controllable rectifier circuit can include a rectifier configured to generate a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, based on switch control signals. A rectifier control circuit is configured to generate the switch control signals and to generate first control data that indicates a first rectifier duty cycle of the switch control signals. The wireless radio unit sends the first control data to the power transmitting unit. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A power receiving unit comprising:

a wireless power receiver configured to receive a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit;

a wireless radio unit configured to communicate with the power transmitting unit; and

a controllable rectifier circuit configured to rectify the wireless power signal, the controllable rectifier circuit comprising;

a rectifier configured to generate a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, based on switch control signals; and

a rectifier control circuit configured to generate the switch control signals and to generate first control data that indicates a first rectifier duty cycle of the switch control signals;

wherein the wireless radio unit sends the first control data to the power transmitting unit.

2. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the power transmitting unit adjusts a transmit impedance in response to the first control data.

3. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio unit receives second control data from the power transmitting unit;

and

wherein the rectifier control circuit adjusts the switch control signals in response to the second control data.

4. The power receiving unit of claim 3 wherein the second control data includes a second rectifier duty cycle and wherein the rectifier control circuit adjusts the switch control signals to achieve the second rectifier duty cycle.

5. The power receiving unit of claim 3 wherein the second control data includes transmitter performance data and wherein the rectifier control circuit adjusts the switch control signals, based on the transmitter performance data.

6. The power receiving unit of claim 5 wherein the transmitter performance data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit.

7. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio unit receives second control data and updates to the second control data from the power transmitting unit;

and

wherein the rectifier control circuit iteratively adjusts the switch control signals in response to the second control data and the updates of the second control data.

8. The power receiving unit of claim 7 wherein the second control data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit and the rectifier control circuit iteratively adjusts the switch control signals to control the amount of transmitter impedance mismatch.

9. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio unit associates with the power transmitting unit via a connection establishment procedure.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, at a power receiving unit, a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit;

generating switch control signals via the power receiving unit;

generating, via the power receiving unit, a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, based on switch control signals;

generating first control data to indicate a first rectifier duty cycle of the switch control signals; and

sending the first control data to the power transmitting unit via a wireless radio unit.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the power transmitting unit adjusts a transmit impedance in response to the first control data.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving, via the wireless radio unit, second control data from the power transmitting unit; and

adjusting the switch control signals in response to the second control data.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second control data includes a second rectifier duty cycle and wherein the switch control signals are adjusted to achieve the second rectifier duty cycle.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second control data includes transmitter performance data and wherein the switch control signals are adjusted, based on the transmitter performance data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the transmitter performance data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit.

16. The method of claim 10 receiving, via the wireless radio unit, second control data and updates to the second control data from the power transmitting unit;

and

iteratively adjusting the switch control signals in response to the second control data and the updates of the second control data.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second control data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit and the switch control signals are adjusted to control the amount of transmitter impedance mismatch.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

wirelessly associating the power receiving unit with the power transmitting unit via a connection establishment procedure of the wireless radio unit.

19. A method comprising:

generating, at a power transmitting unit, a wireless power signal;

receiving, at the power transmitting unit, first control data indicating a first rectifier duty cycle of a power receiving unit receiving the wireless power signal; and

adjusting a transmit impedance of the power transmitting unit in response to the first control data.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

wirelessly associating the power receiving unit with the power transmitting unit via a connection establishment procedure.