Devices for conveying wireless power and methods of operation thereof

• US 8,853,995 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Von Novak, William H, Grilli, Francesco, Dunworth, Jeremy D, Velasco, Jonathan T, Selby, MaryBeth, Maldonado, David, Li, Peng, El-Maleh, Khaled Helmi, Karmi, Yair, Raghavan, Srinivas, Mohammadian, Alireza Hormoz, Ozaki, Ernest T, Burdo, Rinat, Lundby, Stein A, Minhas, Sandip S
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US12/780,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20100323616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/108, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 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

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A method may comprise receiving wireless power with a receiver and charging an accumulator with energy from the received wireless power. The method may further include conveying energy from the accumulator to an energy storage device upon a charging level of the accumulator reaching a threshold level.

Claims

1. A method for supplying a steady level of power to a device, comprising:

receiving wireless power with a receiver from an electronic device, the receiver coupled to a housing configured to accommodate another electronic device;

charging a first energy storage device with the wirelessly received power; and

conveying energy from the first energy storage device to a second energy storage device upon a charging level of the first energy storage device reaching a threshold level.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating the conveyance of energy from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device upon a charging level of the first energy storage device dropping below either the threshold level or another threshold level having a value lower than a value of the threshold level.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying the wirelessly received power to the first energy storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying power from a receiver operably coupled to the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving wireless power with a receive antenna coupled to a cover of the housing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving wireless power with a receiver integrated within the another electronic device comprising at least one of a cellular telephone, a portable media player, a camera, a gaming device, a navigation device, a headset, a tool, and a toy.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging comprises charging at least one of a battery, an ultracapacitor, and a mechanical storage device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein an internal resistance of the first energy storage device is lower than an internal resistance of the second energy storage device.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage device is configured to charge faster than the second energy storage device, and wherein the second energy storage device has a longer life than the first energy storage device.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein another electronic device comprises the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device, and wherein the first energy storage device is removable while the another electronic device is operating.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the first energy storage device at a higher voltage than the second energy storage device.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

conveying energy from the first energy storage device to a load; and

conveying energy from the second energy storage device to the load if the first energy storage device is unable to convey energy to the load.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein at least one of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device comprises a wirelessly chargeable energy storage device.

8. A device for supplying power, comprising:

means for receiving wireless power from an electronic device, the receiving means coupled to a housing configured to accommodate another electronic device;

means for charging a first energy storage device with the wirelessly received power; and

means for conveying energy from the first energy storage device to a second energy storage device upon a charging level of the first energy storage device reaching a threshold level.

28. The device of claim 8, further comprising means for terminating the conveyance of energy from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device upon a charging level of the first energy storage device dropping below either the threshold level or another threshold level having a value lower than a value of the threshold level.

29. The device of claim 8, wherein the first energy storage device is configured to charge faster than the second energy storage device, and wherein the second energy storage device has a longer life than the first energy storage device.

30. The device of claim 8, further comprising means for continuing to operate the device when the first energy storage device is removed from the device.

31. The device of claim 8, further comprising means for charging the first energy storage device at a higher voltage than the second energy storage device.

32. The device of claim 8, wherein an internal resistance of the first energy storage device is lower than an internal resistance of the second energy storage device.

33. The device of claim 8, wherein means for charging a first energy storage and means for conveying energy from the first energy storage device to a second energy storage device comprise a processor.

9. A device for supplying power, comprising:

a first energy storage device configured to receive and store energy;

a second energy storage device configured to receive energy from the first energy storage device, at least one of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device comprising an energy storage device that is charged wirelessly with energy received from an electronic device;

at least one controller operably coupled to the first energy storage device and configured to transfer energy from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device; and

a housing configured to accommodate another electronic device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone, a portable media player, a camera, a gaming device, a navigation device, a headset, a tool, and a toy.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises at least one of a sleeve, a shell, a cage, a case, and a cover.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of a receiver is coupled to the housing.

13. The device of claim 9, further comprising a receive antenna coupled to a cover of the housing.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing is configured to enable a device user to operate the electronic device while the electronic device is positioned within the housing.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing comprise one or more access openings for accessing one or more input or output devices.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising an electrical connector positioned within at least one access opening and configured to couple a port of the electronic device positioned within the housing to the at least one controller.

17. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one controller comprises a first controller operably coupled to each of a receiver and the first energy storage device and a second controller operably coupled to each of the first energy storage device and the second storage device.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first controller is configured to receive power from the receiver and convey power to at least one of the first energy storage device and the second controller.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the second controller is configured to receive energy from at least one of the first energy storage device and the first controller and convey power to the second energy storage device.

20. The device of claim 9, further comprising an electrical connector configured to couple the at least one controller to the second energy storage device.

21. The device of claim 9, further comprising a power converter operably coupled between the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device.

22. The device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second energy storage devices is external to the device.

23. The device of claim 9, wherein an internal resistance of the first energy storage device is lower than an internal resistance of the second energy device.

34. The device of claim 9, wherein the first energy storage device is configured to charge and discharge at a higher voltage than the second energy storage device.

37. The device of claim 9, wherein the first energy storage device is further configured to convey energy to a load, and wherein the second energy storage device is further configured to convey energy to the load if the first energy storage device is unable to convey energy to the load.