Contactless power transmitting system having overheat protection function and method thereof

• US 9,071,057 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Hybrid Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hanrim Postech Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Chun-Kil
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US14/046,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20140035535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/150, 307/104, 455/572
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a contactless power transmitting system having an overheat protection function, which protects a battery cell module from damage due to overheating while the battery cell module is being charged, and a method thereof. In the contactless power transmitting system, a contactless power transmitting apparatus transmits a first power to a contactless power receiving apparatus through a power transmitting coil to charge the battery cell module with the first power, and transmits a second power, of lower wattage than the first power, to the contactless power receiving apparatus through the power transmitting coil to charge the battery cell module with the second power if an overheat alarm signal is received from the contactless power receiving apparatus, thereby making it possible to fully charge the battery cell module while preventing overheating of the battery cell module.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitting method of a wireless power transmitting apparatus in a system to wirelessly charge a power, the method comprising:

detecting approach of a wireless power receiving apparatus based on a change in impedance of a power transmitting coil, and verifying the wireless power receiving apparatus;

wirelessly transmitting a first power to the wireless power receiving apparatus; and

wirelessly transmitting a second power having a lower power level than the first power to the wireless power receiving apparatus when an overheat alarm signal is received from the wireless power receiving apparatus during a process of transmitting the first power to the wireless power receiving apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power and the second power are transferred to a power receiving coil of the wireless power receiving apparatus through a power transmitting unit expressed as a circuit in which a coil and a capacitor are connected in series.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying comprises receiving an identification signal of the wireless power receiving apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying comprises:

generating a driving signal for detecting the change in the impedance of the power transmitting coil; and

determining whether an identifier signal of the wireless power receiving apparatus is received within a predetermined period of time when the change in the impedance of the power transmitting coil is detected,

wherein the generating of the driving signal and the determining is repeatedly performed when the identifier signal is not received after the predetermined period of time is elapsed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitting apparatus generate a signal periodically for detecting approach of the wireless power receiving apparatus.

5. A wireless power receiving method of a wireless power receiving apparatus in a system to wirelessly charge a power, the method comprising:

generating a change in impedance of a power transmitting coil and transmitting a message to a wireless power transmitting apparatus;

wirelessly receiving a first power from the wireless power transmitting apparatus;

determining whether the wireless power receiving apparatus is overheated during a process of receiving the first power, and transmitting an overheat alarm signal to the wireless power transmitting apparatus when overheat of the wireless power receiving apparatus is detected; and

receiving a second power having a lower power level than the first power from the wireless power transmitting apparatus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first power and the second power are received from a power transmitting unit of the wireless power transmitting apparatus expressed as a circuit in which a coil and a capacitor are connected in series.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the message comprises identifier information of the wireless power receiving apparatus.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the transmitting a message to the wireless power transmitting apparatus comprises:

receiving an identification request signal from the wireless power transmitting apparatus when the change in the impedance of the power transmitting coil is detected by the wireless power transmitting apparatus; and

transmitting identification signal of the wireless power receiving apparatus to the wireless power transmitting apparatus.