METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS CHARGING

• US 20160268833A1
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Wooram, PARK, Seho, KIM, Kihyun, KIM, Jihye, NOH, Yunjeong, SUN, Kumjong, HA, Mincheol, HWANGBO, Sangmoo
• Granted Patent: US 10,326,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current

Abstract

An electronic device and a method thereof, which supports fast wireless charging, are provided. The electronic device includes a wireless power circuit, and one or more processors which are functionally connected with the wireless power circuit, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute detecting an external electronic device through the wireless power circuit, determining wireless power information corresponding to the external electronic device, determining whether the external electronic device supports a first charging power or a second charging power, at least partially based on the wireless power information, providing the first charging power to the external electronic device through the wireless power circuit, at least partially based on the determination that the external electronic device supports the first charging power, and providing the second charging power to the external electronic device through the wireless power circuit, at least partially based on the determination that the external electronic device supports the second charging power.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a wireless power circuit; and

one or more processors which are functionally connected with the wireless power circuit,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute;

detecting an external electronic device through the wireless power circuit;

determining wireless power information corresponding to the external electronic device;

determining whether the external electronic device supports a first charging power or a second charging power, at least partially based on the wireless power information;

providing the first charging power to the external electronic device through the wireless power circuit, at least partially based on the determination that the external electronic device supports the first charging power; and

providing the second charging power to the external electronic device through the wireless power circuit, at least partially based on the determination that the external electronic device supports the second charging power.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power circuit comprises a converting circuit configured to:

convert power received from a power supply device into one of a plurality of charging powers, and

selectively output the first charging power or the second charging power using the one converted charging power,

wherein the second charging power is set to have a charging power higher than the first charging power.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to control the power supply device or the converting circuit so as to output the first charging power or the second charging power.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power circuit further comprises:

a detachable converting circuit configured to convert a charging power received from a power supply device into one of a plurality of charging powers.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power circuit includes at least one of a detecting module, an antenna, and a communication module.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power circuit comprises:

an interface connected with a power supply device;

an interface controller configured to determine whether the power supply device supports changing a voltage;

a converting circuit configured to adjust a voltage received from the power supply device to correspond to the determined charging power; and

a transmission coil configured to transfer the adjusted voltage to the external electronic device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute:

supplying a reference voltage to the external electronic device;

receiving a voltage change request that requests changing a voltage to a requested voltage that is higher than or equal to the reference voltage;

determining the requested voltage;

determining whether the requested voltage is within a supportable range;

changing the reference voltage to the requested voltage and supplying the requested voltage when the requested voltage is within the supportable range; and

supplying the reference voltage or another voltage when the requested voltage is out of the supportable range.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute:

determining charging power information of the power supply device; and

controlling charging of the external electronic device through the first charging power or the second charging power based on the charging power information.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute:

providing the charging power information and the first charging power to the external electronic device;

controlling the power supply device to supply the second charging power which is greater than the first charging power by changing the first charging power to the second charging power based on the determination to set the second charging power, which is made by the external electronic device after determining the charging power information; and

providing the external electronic device with the second charging power supplied from the power supply device.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a wireless power circuit; and

one or more processors which are functionally connected with the wireless power circuit,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute;

determining a supportable charging power;

requesting the charging power from an external electronic device;

determining whether the external electronic device supports the charging power;

when the external electronic device supports the charging power, receiving the charging power from the external electronic device and performing charging; and

when the external electronic device does not support the charging power, receiving another charging power which is different from the charging power and performing charging based on the other charging power.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein one or more processors are further configured to execute:

transmitting a voltage change request to the external electronic device;

determining whether the requested changed voltage is provided;

when the changed voltage is provided, performing charging based on the changed voltage; and

when the changed voltage is not provided, transmitting a reference voltage request to the external electronic device and performing charging based on the reference voltage.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute:

detecting a provision of a supply voltage from the external electronic device;

determining whether the supply voltage provided from the external electronic device is within a designated range;

performing charging based on the supply voltage when the supply voltage is within the designated range; and

performing charging based on another voltage provided from the external electronic device when the supply voltage is out of the designated range.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute:

determining a charging voltage when the supply voltage is out of the designated range;

transmitting a charging voltage request to the external electronic device based on a result of the determination;

determining whether the charging voltage is provided from the external electronic device;

performing charging based on the charging voltage supplied from the external electronic device when the charging voltage is provided; and

transmitting a reference voltage request command to the external electronic device when the charging voltage is not provided and performing charging based on the supplied reference voltage.

14. A method of providing wireless charging in an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting an external electronic device;

determining wireless power information corresponding to the external electronic device;

determining whether the external electronic device supports a first charging power or a second charging power, at least partially based on the wireless power information;

providing the first charging power to the external electronic device at least partially based on the determination that the external electronic device supports the first charging power; and

providing the second charging power to the external electronic device at least partially based on the determination that the external electronic device supports the second charging power.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining comprises:

determining a charging power requested by the external electronic device at least partially based on the wireless power information;

determining whether a power supply device supports the requested charging power;

when the power supply device does not support the requested charging power, determining a first current based on a first voltage supplied from the power supply device;

adjusting power to correspond to the first charging power using the first current;

when the power supply device supports the requested charging power, determining a second current based on a second voltage supplied from the power supply device; and

adjusting power to correspond to the second charging power using the second current.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first voltage includes a reference voltage supplied from the power supply device, and

wherein the second voltage is set to have a voltage that is greater than or equal to the reference voltage.

17. A method of providing wireless charging in an electronic device, the method comprising:

determining a supportable charging power;

determining whether the electronic device supports a first charging power or a second charging power based on a result of the determination;

providing wireless power information corresponding to the first charging power to an external electronic device, at least partially based on the determination that the first charging power is supported; and

providing wireless power information corresponding to the second charging power to the external electronic device, at least partially based on the determination that the second charging power is supported.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining a charging power received from the external electronic device in response to the provision of the wireless power information corresponding to the second charging power;

when the received charging power corresponds to the second charging power, performing charging based on the second charging power; and

when the received charging power does not correspond to the second charging power, transmitting, to the external electronic device, the wireless power information corresponding to the first charging power and performing charging based on the first charging power supplied from the external electronic device,

wherein the second charging power is set to have a charging power that is greater than the first charging power.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting a provision of a supply voltage from the external electronic device;

determining whether the supply voltage provided from the external electronic device is within a designated range;

performing charging based on the supply voltage when the supply voltage is within the designated range; and

performing charging based on another voltage provided from the external electronic device when the supply voltage is out of the designated range.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the charging based on the other voltage comprises:

determining a charging voltage when the supply voltage is out of the designated range;

requesting, from the external electronic device, the charging voltage based on a result of the determination;

determining whether the charging voltage is provided from the external electronic device;

when the charging voltage is provided, performing charging based on the charging voltage provided from the external electronic device; and

requesting a reference voltage from the external electronic device when the charging voltage is not provided and performing charging based on the supplied reference voltage.