Reduced jamming between receivers and wireless power transmitters

• US 8,929,957 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Toncich, Stanley S., Coan, Philip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/613,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20100151808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 455/501, 455/63.1, 455/67.11, 455/66.1, 455/67.13, 455/67.7, 455/573, 455/574, 455/41.2, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to reducing jamming caused by radiated fields generated by wireless power transmitters. Exemplary embodiments include detecting a jamming condition of a wireless power receiving device resulting from a radiated field from a wireless power transmitter of a charging device. Such embodiments include synchronizing the wireless power coupling with communication of the wireless power receiving device. Synchronizing wireless power coupling may include wireless power coupling at a first level when the wireless power receiving device is expected to receive a signal on a communication channel. Synchronizing wireless power coupling may further include coupling at a higher rate when the wireless power receiving device is not expected to receive a signal on the communication channel.

Claims

1. A method of receiving power from a wireless power charger, comprising:

receiving power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at a first wireless communication device at a first power level that can charge the first wireless communication device;

monitoring interference over a communication channel of the first wireless communication device caused by a field generated by the wireless power charger; and

receiving power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at a second power level that can charge the first wireless communication device if the monitored interference over the communication channel of the first wireless communication device is greater than a threshold, the second power level less than the first power level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring interference includes monitoring interferences caused by at least one of harmonic energy, inter-modulation products, high voltages or baseband coupling to detect jamming of the communication channel of the first wireless communication device caused by the field generated by the wireless power charger.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting jamming includes:

monitoring a first interference level over the communication channel of the first wireless communication device when the first wireless communication device receives power wirelessly at the first power level;

monitoring a second interference level over the communication channel when the first wireless communication device receives power wirelessly at the second power level; and

detecting jamming based on the first and second interference levels.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring interference includes monitoring an energy-to-interference ratio of a paging channel of the first wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring interference includes monitoring a signal-to-noise ratio during a communication over the communication channel with the first wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein jamming is detected when the energy-to-interference ratio of the paging channel is less than a pre-determined threshold.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein jamming is detected when the signal-to-noise ratio of the communication channel is less than a pre-determined threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at the second power level less than the first power level includes de-tuning an antenna associated with a wireless power receiver of the first wireless communication device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at the second power level less than the first power level includes reducing a power level of the field generated by the wireless power charger.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein reducing the power level of the field generated by the wireless power charger includes disabling transmission of the field generated by the wireless power charger.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving power wirelessly at a second wireless communication device at the first power level that can charge the second wireless communication device;

monitoring interference over a communication channel of the second wireless communication device caused by the field generated by the wireless power charger; and

receiving power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at the second wireless communication device at a second power level that can charge the second wireless communication device if the monitored interference over the communication channel of the second wireless communication device is greater than a threshold, the second power level less than the first power level.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at the first wireless communication device at the first power level while receiving power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at the second wireless communication device at the second power level.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein wireless power is received at the second power level in response to a communication transmitted from the first wireless communication device to the wireless power charger.

14. A wireless communication device configured to receive power from a wireless power charger, the device comprising:

a wireless power receiver configured to receive power wirelessly from a wireless power transmitter of the wireless power charger at a first power level that can charge the wireless communication device; and

a processor configured to;

monitor interference over a communication channel of the wireless power receiver caused by a field generated by the wireless power transmitter; and

receive power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at a second power level that can charge the wireless communication device if the monitored interference over the communication channel of the wireless power receiver is greater than a threshold, the second power level less than the first power level.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to monitor interferences caused by at least one of harmonic energy, inter-modulation products, high voltages or baseband coupling to determine a condition of jamming resulting from the field generated by the wireless power transmitter, and receive power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at the second power level less than the first power level when the condition of jamming exists.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to de-tune an antenna associated with the wireless power receiver to receive power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at the second power level less than the first power level.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a command to the wireless power charger to reduce the field enerated b the wireless s ower transmitter to receive power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at the second power level less than the first power level.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the command is configured to inhibit the field generated by the wireless power transmitter.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the communication channel comprises a paging channel.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the communication channel transmits and receives data packets during communication over the communication channel.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the communication channel is configured to receive communication data from a communication link with an external device including at least one of a base station, satellite, server, personal computer, or a personal electronic device.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 21, wherein the communication link is configured according to at least one of CDMA, WCDMA, OFDM, 802.11, GPS, Bluetooth, LTE, LTE Advanced, or a near-field communication link.

23. A wireless power charger, comprising:

a wireless power transmitter configured to generate a field and provide wireless power to a wireless power receiving device that can charge the wireless power receiving device; and

a processor in communication with the wireless power transmitter and configured to;

receive communication data indicating that the field generated by the wireless transmitter causes jamming of a communication channel of the wireless power receiving device; and

reduce a power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter from a first power level to a second power level that can charge first wireless communication device in response to the received communication data.

24. The wireless power charger of claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to reduce the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter when a condition of jamming exists in a communication channel of the wireless power receiving device.

25. The wireless power charger of claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to reduce the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter by inhibiting the field generated by the wireless power transmitter.

26. The wireless power charger of claim 23, further including a receive antenna in communication with the processor, wherein the receive antenna is configured to receive commands from an external device that can control the reduction of the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter.

27. The wireless power charger of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to control the reduction of the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter during times of receiving communication data by the wireless power receiving device.

28. The wireless power charger of claim 27, wherein times of receiving communication data by the wireless power receiving device occurs during assigned paging for the wireless power receiving device.

29. The wireless power charger of claim 26, wherein the external device is the wireless power receiving device.

30. The wireless power charger of claim 23, wherein the communication data is received from the wireless power receiving device.

31. An apparatus for receiving power from a wireless power charger, comprising:

means for receiving power wirelessly from the wireless power charger at a first wireless communication device at a first power level that can charge the first wireless communication device;

means for monitoring interference over a communication channel of the first wireless communication device caused by a field generated by the wireless power charger; and

means for reducing the received wireless power from the first power level to a second power level that can charge the first wireless communication device if the monitored interference over the communication channel of the first wireless communication device is greater than a threshold, the second power level less than the first power level.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein wireless power is received at the second power level in response to a communication transmitted from the first wireless communication device to the wireless power charger.