Non-contact power charging system and control method thereof

• US 8,030,887 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chun-Kil Jung
• Inventors: Jung, Chun-Kil
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US12/166,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20090206791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 50/70 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

Abstract

A non-contact power charging, in which power transmission can be interrupted when foreign materials are deposited on a charge plate of the non-contact power charging system. A charging operation can be continuously maintained at a stable voltage even if a non-contact power receiving apparatus moves by touching or displacement on the charge plate of the non-contact power charging system in the charging operation. Charging efficiency is improved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wirelessly receiving power, comprising:

a charge core configured to generate an induced current in response to an electromotive force exerted by a wireless power transmission apparatus;

a rectifier connected to the charge core to rectify the induced current and configured to generate a power signal;

a charge circuit configured to receive the power signal and charge a battery cell with the power signal;

a power monitoring module for monitoring a voltage level of the power signal and determine whether the voltage level is between a lower limit and an upper limit of a predetermined reference range; and

a device controller configured to generate a voltage adjustment signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to increase a level of the electromotive force when the voltage level is lower than the lower limit of the predetermined reference range and to decrease the level of the electromotive force when the voltage level is higher than the upper limit of the predetermined reference range,

wherein the device controller is configured to transmit the voltage adjustment signal to the transmission apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power monitoring module comprises:

a low voltage monitor module configured to determine whether the voltage level of the power signal is lower than the lower limit of the predetermined reference range; and

a high voltage monitor module configured to determine whether the voltage level of the power signal is higher than the upper limit of the predetermined reference range.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage adjustment signal generated by the device controller comprises:

a power-up signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to increase the level of the electromotive force when the voltage level of the power signal is lower than the lower limit of the predetermined reference range; and

a power-down signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to decrease the level of the electromotive force when the voltage level of the power signal is higher than the upper limit of the predetermined reference range.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge core transmits the voltage adjustment signal through load modulation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device controller is configured to generate a normal reception signal when the voltage level of the power signal is between the lower limit and the upper limit of the predetermined reference range.

6. A method of charging an apparatus, comprising:

generating an induced current in a charge core in response to an electromotive force exerted by a wireless power transmission apparatus;

rectifying the induced current to generate a power signal for charging a battery cell;

monitoring a voltage level of the power signal and determining whether the voltage level is between a lower limit and an upper limit of a predetermined reference range;

generating a voltage adjustment signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to increase a level of the electromotive force when the voltage level is lower than the lower limit of the predetermined reference range and to decrease the level of the electromotive force when the voltage level is higher than the upper limit of the predetermined reference range; and

transmitting the voltage adjustment signal to the transmission apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the voltage adjustment signal is transmitted to the transmission apparatus through load modulation.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating a normal reception signal when the voltage level of the power signal is between the lower limit and the upper limit of the predetermined reference range.

9. An apparatus for wirelessly receiving power, comprising:

a charge core configured to generate an induced current in response to an electromotive force exerted by a wireless power transmission apparatus;

a rectifier connected to the charge core to rectify the induced current and configured to generate a power signal;

a charge circuit configured to receive the power signal and charge a battery cell with the power signal;

a power monitoring module for monitoring a voltage level of the power signal and determine whether the voltage level is within a predetermined reference range; and

a device controller configured to generate a voltage adjustment signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to change a characteristic of the electromotive force when the voltage level of the power signal falls outside of the predetermined reference range,

wherein the voltage adjustment signal generated by the device controller comprises;

a power-up signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to increase a level of the electromotive force when the voltage level of the power signal is lower than a lower limit of the predetermined reference range; and

a power-down signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to decrease the level of the electromotive force when the voltage level of the power signal is higher than an upper limit of the predetermined reference range.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the power monitoring module comprises:

a low voltage monitor module configured to determine whether the voltage level of the power signal is lower than the lower limit of the predetermined reference range; and

a high voltage monitor module configured to determine whether the voltage level of the power signal is higher than the upper limit of the predetermined reference range.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the device controller transmits the voltage adjustment signal to the transmission apparatus through the charge core.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the device controller transmits the voltage adjustment signal to the transmission apparatus through load modulation.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the device controller is configured to generate a normal reception signal when the voltage level of the power signal is within the predetermined reference range.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the electromotive force comprises a frequency of a transmission power signal generated by the transmission apparatus for generating the electromotive force.

15. A method of charging an apparatus, comprising:

generating an induced current in a charge core in response to an electromotive force exerted by a wireless power transmission apparatus;

rectifying the induced current to generate a power signal for charging a battery cell;

monitoring a voltage level of the power signal and determining whether the voltage level is within a predetermined reference range;

generating a voltage adjustment signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to change a characteristic of the electromotive force when the voltage level of the power signal falls outside of the predetermined reference range; and

transmitting the voltage adjustment signal to the transmission apparatus,

wherein the voltage adjustment signal comprises;

a power-up signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to increase a level of the electromotive force when the voltage level of the power signal is lower than a lower limit of the predetermined reference range; and

a power-down signal for requesting the transmission apparatus to decrease the level of the electromotive force when the voltage level of the power signal is higher than an upper limit of the predetermined reference range.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the voltage level is within the predetermined reference range comprises:

determining whether the voltage level of the power signal is lower than the lower limit of the predetermined reference range; and

determining whether the voltage level of the power signal is higher than an upper limit of the predetermined reference range.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the voltage adjustment signal is transmitted to the transmission apparatus through the charge core.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the voltage adjustment signal is transmitted to the transmission apparatus through load modulation.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a normal reception signal when the voltage level of the power signal is within the predetermined reference range.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the characteristic of the electromotive force comprises a frequency of a transmission power signal generated by the transmission apparatus for generating the electromotive force.