Apparatus and method of dividing wireless power in wireless resonant power transmission system

• US 9,000,620 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Ki Young, Park, Eun Seok, Ryu, Young Ho, Kwon, Sang Wook, Park, Yun Kwon, Hong, Young Tack, Kim, Nam Yun, Kim, Dong Zo, Choi, Jin Sung, Yoon, Chang Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US13/469,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20120306283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/80 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

Provided are methods and apparatuses for distributing wireless power in a wireless power transmission system. According to a general aspect, a source device that distributes a wireless power in a wireless power transmission system may include: a matching circuit searching unit configured to determine information associated with a matching circuit of a source device based on one or more target devices and the amount of power to be distributed to the one or more of the target devices; and a matching circuit modifying unit configured to modify the shape of the matching circuit of the source device to correspond to the determined information associated with the matching circuit of the source device.

Claims

1. A source device that distributes a wireless power in a wireless power transmission system, the source device comprising:

a matching circuit searching unit configured to determine information associated with a matching circuit of a source device based on one or more target devices and the amount of power to be distributed to the one or more of the target devices; and

a matching circuit modifying unit configured to modify the shape of the matching circuit of the source device to correspond to the determined information associated with the matching circuit of the source device.

2. The source device of claim 1, further comprising:

a target determining unit configured to determine the number of target devices, and respective states of the target devices; and

a distribution determining unit configured to determine the amount of power to be distributed to the one or more target devices based on the number of target devices and the respective states of the target devices.

3. The source device of claim 2, wherein the state of the target device comprises:

a type of a device, an amount of power required, an amount of charged power, or any combination thereof.

4. The source device of claim 1, wherein the matching circuit searching unit determines the information associated with the matching circuit using a table including a shape of a matching circuit of the source device, one or more shapes of a target device and one or more amounts of power to be distributed to a target device.

5. The source device of claim 2, wherein the matching circuit searching unit determines shapes of matching circuits of target devices that correspond to the number of target devices and the amount of power to be distributed to the one or more target devices, and transmits, to the one or more target devices, information associated with a corresponding shape of a matching circuit.

6. The source device of claim 2, wherein the target determining unit determines the number of target devices by receiving requests for supplying of power through communication with the target devices, by utilizing a sensor configured to sense a target device, or based on a resonance characteristic for supplying of the wireless power.

7. The source device of claim 1, wherein:

the matching circuit comprises a switch or a variable device configured to modify the shape of the matching circuit; and

the matching circuit modifying unit modifies the switch or the variable device to correspond to the determined information associated with the matching circuit of the source device.

8. A target device to which a wireless power is distributed in a wireless power transmission system, the target device comprising:

a matching circuit shape receiving unit configured to receive, from a source device, information associated with a shape of a matching circuit of a target device; and

a matching circuit modifying unit configured to modify the shape of the matching circuit of the target device to correspond to the received information associated with the shape of the matching circuit of the target device.

9. The target device of claim 8, further comprising:

a requesting unit configured to report a state of the target device to the source device.

10. The target device of claim 9, wherein the requesting unit requests, from the source device, supplying of power.

11. The target device of claim 9, wherein the state of the target device comprises a type of a device, an amount of power required, an amount of charged power, or any combination thereof.

12. The target device of claim 8, wherein:

the matching circuit comprises a switch or a variable device configured to modify the shape of the matching circuit; and

the matching circuit modifying unit modifies the switch or the variable device to correspond to the received information associated with the shape of the matching circuit of the target device.

13. A method of distributing a wireless power in a source device in a wireless power transmission system, the method comprising:

determining a shape of a matching circuit of the source device based on one or more target devices and the amount of power to be distributed to the one or more target devices; and

modifying the matching circuit of the source device to correspond to the determined shape of the matching circuit of the source device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining the number of target devices;

determining the respective states of the target devices; and

determining the amount of power to be distributed to the one or more target devices based on the number of target devices and respective states of the one or more target devices.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the state of a target device comprises:

a type of a device, an amount of power required, an amount of charged power, or any combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining of the shape of the matching circuit of the source device comprises:

determining the shape of the matching circuit of the source device based on a table including a shape of the matching circuit of the source device, one or more shapes of matching circuits of a target device and one or more amounts of power to be distributed to a target device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein, before the transmitting of the wireless power, the method comprises:

determining shapes of matching circuits of target devices corresponding to the number of target devices and the amount of power to be distributed to the one or more target devices; and

transmitting, to one or more target devices, information associated with a corresponding shape of a matching circuit.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining of the number of target devices comprises:

determining the number of target devices by receiving requests for supplying of power through communication with the target devices, by utilizing a sensor configured to sense a target device, or based on a resonance characteristic for supplying of the wireless power.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying of the matching circuit comprises:

modifying the matching circuit of the source device to correspond to the determined shape of the matching circuit of the source device using a switch or a variable device included in the matching circuit of the source device.

20. A method of receiving a distributed wireless power in a target device in a wireless power transmission system, the method comprising:

receiving information associated with a shape of a matching circuit of a target device from the source device; and

modifying the matching circuit of the target device to correspond to the received information associated with the shape of the matching circuit of the target device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

reporting a state of the target device to the source device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, before the reporting, the method further comprises:

requesting supplying of power from the source device.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the state of the target device comprises:

a type of a device, an amount of power required, an amount of charged power, or any combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the modifying comprises:

modifying the matching circuit of the target device to correspond to the received information associated with the shape of the matching circuit of the target device, using a switch or a variable device included in the matching circuit of the target device.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving wireless power from the source device.