Wireless power charging timing and charging control

• US 8,760,113 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Keating, Virginia Walker, Kirby, Miles Alexander Lyell, Mangan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US12/609,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 455/41.1, 455/573
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• 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 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to timing and control of wireless power transfer. A wireless power charging device includes at least one transmitter and a processor in communication with the at least one transmitter. The transmitter is configured for transmitting wireless power to one or more electronic devices, and the processor is configured to deactivate the transmitter during a pre-determined time interval. The charging device may include charging modes that a user may select between from an interface of the charging device. Charging modes may be related to times of operation such as those based on a user schedule, based on energy rates, or with modes programmed by a user. A charging schedule may be created by a user through the interface of the charging device or from an external device in communication with the charging device.

Claims

1. A wireless power charging device, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive information from a server, the information defining a time interval to charge an electronic device;

a wireless power transmitter having a transmit antenna configured to operate at a substantially resonant frequency, the wireless power transmitter further configured to wirelessly transmit power at a level sufficient to charge or power the electronic device; and

a processor configured to enable the wireless power transmitter to wirelessly transmit power to the electronic device during the time interval.

2. The wireless power charging device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to disable the wireless power transmitter from wirelessly transmitting power to the electronic device if a current time value is not during the time interval.

3. The wireless power charging device of claim 1, wherein the time interval is configurable by a user.

4. The wireless power charging device of claim 1, wherein the information received from the server comprises a charging schedule.

5. The wireless power charging device of claim 1, further comprising a display configured to display an interface configured to visually display charging information of the electronic device.

6. The wireless power charging device of claim 5, wherein the interface comprises an input region configured to permit a user to adjust the time interval.

7. The wireless power charging device of claim 5, wherein the interface comprises an input region configured to permit a user to select between a plurality of charging modes further defining the time interval.

8. The wireless power charging device of claim 5, wherein the charging information comprises one of an identifier of the electronic device, a charging status of the electronic device, information relating to the time interval to charge the electronic device, or information relating to a charging mode of the electronic device.

9. The wireless power charging device of claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to provide information associated with charging the electronic device.

10. The wireless power charging device of claim 9, wherein the interface comprises a light emitting diode.

11. The wireless power charging device of claim 1, further comprising a time source configured to provide a current time value to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to enable the wireless power transmitter if the current time value is during the time interval.

12. The wireless power charging device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a current time value from the server, and wherein the processor is configured to enable the wireless power transmitter if the current time value is during the time interval.

13. The wireless power charging device of claim 12, wherein the server comprises a time server.

14. The wireless power charging device of claim 12, wherein the electronic device comprises a portable electronic device configured as at least one of a camera, a phone, an audio/video player, or a personal digital assistant.

15. The wireless power charging device of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a first charging mode received from the server, and wherein the charging mode defines the time interval.

16. The wireless power charging device of claim 15, wherein the charging mode is based on at least one of costs related to times of energy rates or a user defined schedule.

17. The wireless power charging device of claim 15, further comprising a display configured to display an interface configured to allow a user to switch the electronic device from the first charging mode to a second charging mode.

18. The wireless power charging device of claim 17, wherein the interface comprises an input region configured to allow a user to modify time intervals of the charging mode, and wherein the input region is further configured to allow the user to select the second charging mode.

19. The wireless power charging device of claim 1, wherein the time interval is purchased by the user.

20. The wireless power charging device of claim 19, wherein the information received from the server comprises the purchased time interval.

21. The wireless power charging device of claim 19, wherein the server is configured to provide a time interval.

22. A method of operating a charging device, the method comprising:

receiving information from a server, the information defining a time interval to charge an electronic device;

selectively enabling wireless power transmission to the electronic device during the time interval; and

transmitting power wirelessly at a substantially resonant frequency.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising selectively disabling wireless power transmission to the electronic device if a current time value is not during the time interval.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the time interval is configurable by a user.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the information received from the electronic device comprises a charging schedule.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the information received from the server comprises one of a plurality of charging modes, and wherein the method further comprises receiving a user input indicating a selection of one of the plurality of charging modes.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying charging information of the electronic device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the charging information comprises at least one of an identifier of the electronic device, a charging status of the electronic device, or information relating to the time interval to charge the electronic device.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving user input via an interface for configuring the time interval.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving comprises receiving a charging schedule within a data file.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving a current time value from one of an external device, or an internal oscillator, and wherein selectively enabling comprises selectively enabling wireless power transmission if the current time value is during the time interval.

32. A wireless power charging device, comprising:

means for receiving information from a server, the information defining a time interval to charge an electronic device;

means for selectively enabling wireless power transmission to the electronic device during the time interval; and

means for transmitting power wirelessly at a substantially resonant frequency.

33. The wireless power charging device of claim 32, further comprising means for displaying charging information of the electronic device, the information comprising at least one of an identifier of the electronic device, a charging status of the electronic device, or information relating to the time interval to charge the electronic device.

34. The charging device of claim 32, wherein the time interval is configurable by a user.

35. The wireless power receiving device of claim 34, wherein the information comprises a user configurable charging schedule.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the time interval is defined by a user configurable charging schedule.

37. The wireless power receiving device of claim 36, wherein the time interval is defined by a user configurable charging schedule.

38. The wireless power receiving device of claim 34, further comprising an electronic display configured to display information based on a charging status of the wireless charging device.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising displaying information based on a charging status of the wireless charging device.

40. The wireless power receiving device of claim 36, further comprising means for displaying information based on a charging status of the wireless charging device.

41. The charging device of claim 32, wherein information comprises a user-configurable charging schedule.

42. A wireless power receiving device, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit information, received from a server, to a wireless power charging device, the information defining a time interval to charge or power a load; and

a wireless power receiver having a receive antenna configured to operate at a substantially resonant frequency, the wireless power receiver further configured to wirelessly receive power from the wireless power charging device to charge or power the load during the time interval.

43. A method for timing of wireless charging, the method comprising:

transmitting information to a wireless power charging device from a server, the information defining a time interval to charge or power an electronic device;

wirelessly receiving power from the wireless power charging device to charge or power the electronic device during the time interval; and

receiving power wirelessly at a substantially resonant frequency.

44. A wireless power receiving device, comprising:

means for transmitting information to a wireless power charging device from a server, the information defining a time interval to charge or power an electronic device;

means for wirelessly receiving power from the wireless power charging device to charge or power the electronic device during the time interval; and

means for receiving power wirelessly at a substantially resonant frequency.