Portable wireless charging device

• US 8,629,651 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callpod Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Callpod Incorporated
• Inventors: Guccione, Darren S., Lurey, Craig B., Aoraha, Lourans
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US12/768,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A wireless charging device includes a charging battery, a transmitter coupled to the charging battery, and a controller coupled to the charging battery and the transmitter. The controller is configured to direct power from the charging battery to the transmitter and wirelessly transmit the power to a receiver. The wireless charging device also includes a housing, wherein the charging battery, the transmitter, and the controller are disposed at least partly within the housing.

Claims

1. A wireless charging device, comprising:

a charging battery;

a transmitter coupled to the charging battery;

a controller coupled to the charging battery and the transmitter to direct power from the charging battery to the transmitter and wirelessly transmit the power to a receiver, wherein the receiver is identified by the controller as one of a plurality of compatible receivers based on identification information exchanged wirelessly between the wireless charging device and the receiver;

a current sense circuit coupled to the transmitter and the controller, wherein the controller is configured to use data from the current sense circuit to determine if the receiver is properly aligned with the transmitter and to wirelessly transmit power from the transmitter to the receiver only if the receiver is at least partially properly aligned with the transmitter; and

a housing, wherein the charging battery, the transmitter, the controller, and the current sense circuit are disposed at least partly within the housing.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connection to receive power from an external power source, wherein the controller is configured to bypass the charging battery and direct power from the external power source to the transmitter and wirelessly transmit the power from the external power source to the receiver when the electrical connection is receiving power from the external power source.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to direct power from the external power source to charge the charging battery while simultaneously directing power from the external power source to the transmitter.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a charging status indicator coupled to the controller to indicate if the receiver is drawing power from the transmitter.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a device placement status indicator coupled to the controller to indicate if the receiver is properly aligned with the transmitter.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a battery charge indicator coupled to the controller to indicate a battery charge level of the charging battery.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a switch coupled to the controller to turn the device on and off, and wherein the charging battery is a rechargeable battery and the transmitter utilizes magnetic coil induction to transmit power wirelessly.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes first and second portions, and wherein the charging battery, the transmitter, and the controller are disposed within the first portion and the first portion is coupled to the second portion with a space therebetween to allow airflow through the space to cool the device.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first portion of a communication system coupled to the controller, wherein the first portion is configured to communicate data wirelessly with a second portion of the communication system coupled to the receiver.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the data includes one or more of current/voltage levels to supply to the transmitter, a charging status, a battery power level, and charging device/receiver identification information.

11. A wireless charging system, comprising:

a wireless charger that includes a first battery, a transmitter coupled to the first battery, a first controller coupled to the first battery and the transmitter, and a current sense circuit coupled to the transmitter and the first controller, wherein the first battery, the transmitter, and the first controller are further disposed within a housing;

a second battery; and

a receiver coupled to the second battery, wherein the receiver is identified by the first controller as one of a plurality of compatible receivers based on identification information exchanged wirelessly between the wireless charger and the receiver, wherein the first controller is configured to direct power from the first battery to the transmitter and wirelessly transmit the power to the receiver, and wherein the receiver receives the wirelessly transmitted power to charge the second battery, and wherein the controller is configured to use data from the current sense circuit to determine if the receiver is properly aligned with the transmitter and to wirelessly transmit power from the transmitter to the receiver only if the receiver is at least partially properly aligned with the transmitter.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a device that includes the second battery, the receiver, and a second controller coupled to the second battery and the receiver, wherein the second battery and the receiver are integrated into a single component, the second controller is configured to direct the wirelessly transmitted power from the receiver to charge the second battery, the wireless charger and the device are WPC compliant, and the wireless charger and the device utilize an inductive coupling to transfer and receive power wirelessly.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless charger further includes an electrical connection to receive power from an external power source, and wherein the first controller is configured to bypass the first battery and direct power from the external power source to the transmitter and wirelessly transmit the power from the external power source to the receiver when the electrical connection is receiving power from the external power source, and wherein the first controller is configured to direct power from the external power source to charge the first battery while simultaneously directing power from the external power source to the transmitter.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a first portion of a communication system associated with the wireless charger and a second portion of the communication system associated with the receiver and the second battery, wherein the first portion is configured to communicate data wirelessly with the second portion of the communication system.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the data include charger/receiver identification information to identify compatible receivers that are allowed to be charged by the charger.

16. A method of wirelessly charging a device battery of a device, comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless charger that includes an internal power supply and a transmitter;

directing power from the internal power supply to the transmitter;

determining whether a receiver associated with the device is one of a plurality of compatible receivers based on identification information exchanged wirelessly between the wireless charger and the device;

determining, based on data received from a current sense circuit, whether the receiver is properly aligned with the transmitter;

wirelessly transmitting power from the transmitter if the receiver is found to be at least partially properly aligned with the transmitter;

receiving the wirelessly transmitted power at the receiver associated with a device; and

directing the received power to operate the device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of sensing if the device battery is fully charged, and wherein the steps of directing power from the internal power supply to the transmitter and wirelessly transmitting power from the transmitter are performed only if the receiver is properly aligned with the transmitter and the device battery is not fully charged.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of selectively connecting the wireless charger to receive power from an external power source and simultaneously charging the internal power supply from the power received from the external power source and directing power received from the external power source to the transmitter only if the device battery is not fully charged, wherein the step of directing power received from the external power source to the transmitter bypasses the step of directing power from the internal power supply to the transmitter.