Contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone

• US 5,396,538 A
• Filed: 12/24/1991
• Issued: 03/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hong, Chung-Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US07/812,812
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 379/55, 379/58, 379/61, 455/41, 381/79
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

A contactless charging system of a radio telephone comprising a portable device and a base unit, for charging a battery of the portable device, without electrical contact, by induction voltage of an electromagnetic field formed by the inductive coupling of a digital power receiver of the portable device and a digital power transmitter of the base unit, when the portable device is placed in the base unit.

Claims

1. A contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone using a battery, comprising:

charging energy generating means for generating an induction voltage of an electromagnetic field in response to an alternating current voltage, said charging energy generating means comprising voltage invertor means for inverting a direct current voltage into the alternating current voltage in response to a pulse signal, and induction voltage generator means connected to said voltage invertor means for generating said induction voltage of said electromagnetic field in response to said alternating current voltage from said voltage invertor means; and

portable means inductively connectable with said charging energy generating means, for rectifying the induction voltage of said electromagnetic field, and for supplying the rectified induction voltage to the battery as a charging voltage, said portable means being detachable and removable from said charging energy generating means;

whereby the battery is charged with said induction voltage when said portable means is inductively connected with said charging energy generating means and alternatively, said induction voltage charged into the battery is supplied to said portable means when said portable means is inductively removed from the charging energy generating means.

2. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portable means comprises:

induction voltage detector means for detecting said induction voltage of said electromagnetic field to generate a pulse voltage; and

rectifier means connected to said induction voltage detector means, for rectifying said pulse voltage from said induction energy detector means and supplying the rectified induction voltage to the battery as the charging voltage.

3. A radio telephone having a base unit connected with a telephone line and a portable device for enabling a radio communication between said base unit and said portable device, wherein:

said base unit comprises;

first modulating means for generating one of a first modulated pulse having a first state and a second modulated pulse having a second state in response to a first binary signal;

first control means for transmitting said first binary signal to said first modulating means in response to a first restored binary signal;

digital power transmission means for generating a first alternating current voltage in response to one of said first and second modulated pulses, and for generating a first induction voltage in response to said first alternating current voltage; and

data reception means for rectifying a second induction voltage, and for comparing the rectified second induction voltage with a reference voltage to transmit said first restored binary signal to said first control means; and

said portable device comprises;

digital power reception means inductively connectable with said digital power transmission means when said portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for detecting said first induction voltage from said digital power transmission means, rectifying the detected first induction voltage to supply the rectified first induction voltage to the battery as a charging voltage, and comparing the rectified first induction voltage with said reference voltage to generate a second restored binary signal;

second control means for transmitting a second binary signal in response to said second restored binary signal from said digital power reception means;

second modulating means for generating one of a third modulated pulse having said first state and a fourth modulated pulse having said second state in response to said second binary signal; and

data transmission means inductively connectable with said data reception means when said portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for generating a second alternating current voltage in response to one of said third and fourth modulated pulses and generating said second induction voltage in response to said second alternating current voltage;

whereby the battery is charged with said first induction voltage and a data communication is performed between said base unit and said portable device when said portable device is inductively connected with said base unit.

4. The radio telephone as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first modulating means comprises:

first pulse generator means for generating said first modulated pulse;

second pulse generator means for generating said second modulated pulse; and

switch means for enabling transmission of one of said first and second modulated pulses in response to said first binary signal.

5. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second modulating means comprises:

third pulse generator means for generating said third modulated pulse;

fourth pulse generator means for generating said fourth modulated pulse; and

switch means for alternately enabling transmission of said third and fourth modulated pulses in response to said second binary signal.

6. A contactless charging and data transmission system comprising a base unit said base unit comprising:

modulating means for generating a modulated signal in response to a control signal;

base power transmission means for converting a first direct current voltage from a power supply to a first induction voltage in response to said modulated signal; and

base data reception means for converting a second induction voltage received from a portable device into a second direct current voltage, said base data reception means comprises;

induction voltage detector means for converting said second induction voltage to a second alternating current voltage; and

rectifier means for rectifying said second alternating current to generate a rectified signal; and

comparator means for making a comparison between said rectified signal and a first reference voltage to generate said second direct current voltage.

7. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said base unit further comprises control means for generating said control signal in response to said second direct current voltage.

8. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said modulating means comprises:

oscillation means for generating an alternating amplitude signal;

voltage divider means for dividing a potential and adding said alternating amplitude signal to said divided potential to generate an intermediate signal;

first comparator means for making a comparison between said intermediate signal and a first reference voltage to generate a first modulated pulse;

second comparator means for making a comparison between said intermediate signal and a second reference voltage to generate a second modulated pulse; and

switch means for alternately enabling transmission of said first and second modulated pulses in response to said control signal.

9. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a portable device containing a battery, said portable device comprising:

portable modulating means for generating a portable modulated signal in response to a portable control signal;

portable power reception means for converting said first induction voltage to a third direct current voltage and a fourth direct current voltage; and

portable data transmission means for converting a fifth direct current voltage from the battery to a second induction voltage in response to said portable modulated signal.

10. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said base power transmission means comprises:

voltage inverter means for converting said first direct current voltage to a first alternating current voltage; and

induction voltage generation means for converting said first alternating current voltage to said first induction voltage.

11. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said voltage invertor means comprises:

regulation means for attenuating said first direct current voltage to generate an attenuated voltage;

means for eliminating noise from said attenuated voltage; and

first switch means for enabling transmission of said attenuated voltage to generate said first alternating current voltage in response to said modulated signal.

12. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first switch means comprises:

a first transistor having a base connected to receive said modulated signal from to said modulating means; and

a second transistor having a base connected to a collector of said first transistor for enabling transmission of said attenuated voltage.

13. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said modulating means comprises:

oscillation means for generating an alternating amplitude signal;

voltage divider means for dividing a potential and adding said alternating amplitude signal to said divided potential to generate an intermediate signal;

first comparator means for making a comparison between said intermediate signal and a first reference voltage to generate a first modulated pulse;

second comparator means for making a comparison between said intermediate signal and a second reference voltage to generate a second modulated pulse; and

second switch means for alternately enabling transmission of said first and second modulated pulses in response to said control signal.

14. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said base unit further comprises:

charging switch means for opening and closing in response to pressure from the portable base means; and

control means for generating said control signal in response to a condition of said charging switch means and said second direct current voltage;

said second switch means not enabling transmission of said first and second modulated pulses in response to said control signal when the portable base means is not placed on the base means.

15. A contactless charging and data transmission system comprising a portable device containing a battery, said portable device comprising:

modulating means for generating a modulated signal in response to a control signal;

portable power reception means for converting a first induction voltage received from an external source physically separated from said power reception means into a first direct current voltage and a second direct current voltage, said portable power reception means comprising;

induction voltage detector means for converting said first induction voltage to a first alternating current voltage;

rectifier means for rectifying said first alternating current to generate a rectified signal;

voltage divider means for dividing a voltage of said rectified signal to generate a divided rectified signal;

first comparator means for making a comparison between said divided rectified signal and a first reference voltage to generate said second direct current voltage;

transfer means for transferring said rectified signal to the battery, and for preventing a reverse current from the battery to said rectifier means; and

portable data transmission means for converting a third direct current voltage from the battery to a second induction voltage in response to said modulated signal.

16. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said portable device further comprises control means for generating said control signal in response into said second direct current voltage.

17. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said modulating means comprises:

oscillation means for generating an alternating amplitude signal;

voltage divider means for dividing a potential and adding said alternating amplitude signal to said divided potential to generate an intermediate signal;

first comparator means for making a comparison between said intermediate signal and a first reference voltage to generate a first modulated pulse;

second comparator means for making a comparison between said intermediate signal and a second reference voltage to generate a second modulated pulse; and

switch means for alternately enabling transmission of said first and second modulated pulses in response to said control signal.

18. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said portable data transmission means comprises:

voltage inverter means for converting said third direct current voltage to a second alternating current voltage; and

induction voltage generation means for converting said second alternating current voltage to said second induction voltage.

19. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said voltage inverter means comprises:

regulation means for attenuating said third direct current voltage to generate an attenuated voltage; and

first switch means for alternately enabling transmission of said attenuated voltage to generate said first alternating current voltage in response to said modulated signal.

20. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first switch means comprises:

a first transistor having a base connected to receive said modulated signal from said modulating means; and

a second transistor having a base connected to a collector of said first transistor for alternately enabling transmission of said attenuated voltage.

21. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said modulating means comprises:

oscillation means for generating an alternating amplitude signal;

voltage divider means for dividing a potential and adding said alternating amplitude signal to said divided potential to generate an intermediate signal;

second comparator means for making a comparison between said intermediate signal and a second reference voltage to generate a first modulated pulse;

third comparator means for making a comparison between said intermediate signal and a third reference voltage to generate a second modulated pulse; and

second switch means for alternately enabling transmission of said first and second modulated pulses in response to said control signal.

22. The contactless charging and data transmission system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said portable device further comprises:

control means for generating a high impedance signal when the portable device is not place on the base means, and a control signal in response to said second direct current voltage; and

said second switch means not enabling transmission of said first and second modulated pulses in response to said high impedance signal.

23. A method for charging a battery in an electronic device having a base means with a power supply connectable to a power source and a portable base means containing the battery, said method comprising:

converting a first direct current voltage from the power supply to a first induction voltage in response to a first control signal;

converting said first induction voltage to a second direct current voltage and a third direct current voltage;

supplying said second direct current voltage to the battery;

converting said third direct current voltage to a second control signal; and

generating a second induction voltage in response to said second control signal; and

converting said second induction voltage to said first control signal.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said step of converting said first direct current voltage to a first induction voltage comprises:

attenuating said first direct current voltage to generate an attenuated voltage;

converting said attenuated voltage to a first alternating current voltage; and

converting said first alternating current voltage to said first induction voltage.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said step converting said third direct current voltage comprises the steps of:

generating a sinusoidal signal;

adding said sinusoidal signal to a fourth direct current voltage to generate an intermediate signal;

making a first and second comparison between said intermediate signal and a first and second reference voltage, respectively; and

alternately transmitting said second control signal in response to said first and second comparison.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said step of generating said second induction voltage in response to said second control signal comprises:

attenuating a battery voltage from the battery to generate a attenuated battery voltage;

converting said attenuated battery voltage to a second alternating current voltage; and

converting said second alternating current voltage to said second induction voltage.

27. A contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone comprising a base unit electrically connected to telephone lines and a power terminal, and a cordless portable device detachable from the base unit and operable by a battery, said base unit comprising:

power transmission means for generating first induction voltages of a first electromagnetic field representative of transmission power; and

data reception means for detecting second induction voltages of a second electromagnetic field, and providing the detected second induction voltages as communication data; and

said cordless portable device comprising;

power reception means inductively connectable with said power transmission means of said base unit when said cordless portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for detecting the first induction voltages of said first electromagnetic field from said power transmission means, and supplying the detected first induction voltages to the battery as charging voltages; and

data transmission means inductively connectable with said data reception means of said base unit when said cordless portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for transmitting the second induction voltages of said second electromagnetic field to said data reception means;

whereby the battery is charged with the first induction voltages and data communication is achieved between said base unit and said cordless portable device when said cordless portable device is inductively connected with said base unit.

28. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said power transmission means of said base unit comprises:

voltage convertor means for converting direct-current voltages into alternating-current voltages in response to modulated pulses; and

induction voltage generator means for generating said first induction voltages in response to said alternating-current voltages.

29. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said power reception means of said cordless portable device comprises:

induction voltage detector means inductively connectable with said power transmission means when said cordless portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for detecting the alternating-current voltages; and

data restoring means for rectifying the alternating-current voltages and comparing the rectified first induction voltages with reference voltages to supply the detected first induction voltages to the battery as charging voltages.

30. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said data transmission means of said cordless portable device comprises:

voltage convertor means for converting direct-current voltages into alternating-current voltages in response to modulated pulses; and

induction voltage generator means for generating said second induction voltages in response to said alternating-current voltages.

31. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said data reception means of said base unit comprises:

induction voltage detector means inductively connectable with said data transmission means when said cordless portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for detecting the alternating-current voltages; and

data restoring means for rectifying the alternating-current voltages from said induction voltage detector means and comparing the rectified induction voltages with reference voltages to provide said communication data.

32. A contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone using a battery, comprising:

a base unit comprising;

first modulating means for generating one of a first modulated pulse and a second modulated pulse in response to a first binary signal;

digital power transmission means connected to said first modulating means, for generating a first induction voltage of a first electromagnetic field in response to one of said first and second modulated pulses; and

data reception means for detecting and rectifying a second induction voltage of a second electromagnetic field, comparing the rectified second induction voltage with a reference voltage to restore the rectified second induction voltage into said first binary signal and transmitting said first binary signal to said modulating means; and

a portable device comprising;

digital power reception means inductively connectable with said digital power transmission means when said portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for detecting said first induction voltage from said digital power transmission means, rectifying said first induction voltage to supply the rectified induction voltage to the battery as a charging voltage, and comparing the rectified induction voltage with said reference voltage to generate a second binary signal;

second modulating means connected to said digital power reception means, for generating one of a third modulated pulse and a fourth modulated pulse in response to said second binary signal; and

data transmission means inductively connectable with said data reception means when said portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for transmitting said second induction voltage of said second electromagnetic field to said data reception means in response to one of said third and fourth modulated pulses,

said first induction voltage charging the battery and data communication between said base unit and said portable device being enabled while said portable device is inductively connected with said base unit.

33. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 32, wherein said reference voltage is higher than an effective voltage of said first modulated pulse and lower than an effective voltage of said second modulated pulse.

34. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 32, wherein said digital power transmission means comprises:

voltage invertor means for converting a first direct current voltage into a first alternating current voltage by switching in response to one of said first and second modulated pulses; and

first induction voltage generator means for generating said first induction voltage in response to said first alternating current voltage from said voltage invertor means.

35. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 34, wherein said first induction voltage generator means comprises a first core and a first coil wound around said first core to generate a plurality of magnetic force lines of said first electromagnetic field in response to said first alternating current voltage.

36. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 32, wherein said digital power reception means comprises:

first induction voltage detector means inductively connectable with said digital power transmission means when said portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for detecting a first alternating current voltage of said first induction voltage; and

first data restoring means for rectifying said first alternating current voltage from said first induction voltage detector means and comparing the rectified first induction voltage with said reference voltage to generate said second binary signal.

37. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first induction voltage detector means comprises a first core and a first coil wound around said first core to generate said first alternating current voltage proportional to a variation of the number of interlinked magnetic force lines of said first electromagnetic field with respect to time.

38. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 36, wherein said reference voltage is higher than an effective voltage of said first modulated pulse and lower than an effective voltage of said second modulated pulse.

39. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 32, wherein said data transmission means comprises:

second voltage invertor means for converting a second direct current voltage into second alternating current voltage, turning on and off in response to said third and fourth modulated pulses; and

second induction voltage generator means for generating said second induction voltage in response to said second alternating current voltage.

40. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 39, wherein said second induction voltage generator means comprises a second core and a second coil wound around said second core to generate a plurality of magnetic force lines of said second electromagnetic field in response to said second alternating current voltage.

41. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 32, wherein said data reception means comprises:

second induction voltage detector means inductively connectable with said data transmission means when said portable device is inductively connected with said base unit, for detecting a second alternating current voltage of said second induction voltage; and

second data restoring means for rectifying said second alternating current voltage from said second induction voltage detector means and comparing said rectified second induction voltage with said reference voltage to generate said first binary signal.

42. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 41, wherein said reference voltage is higher than an effective voltage of said first modulated pulse and lower than an effective voltage of said second modulated pulse.

43. The contactless digital power transmission and reception system in a radio telephone as claimed in claim 41, wherein said second induction voltage detector means comprises a second core and a second coil wound around said second core to generate said second alternating current voltage proportional to a variation of the number of interlinked magnetic force lines of said second electromagnetic field with respect to time.