System and method for wirelessly charging a rechargeable battery

• US 9,083,198 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2011
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Sutarwala, Taha Shabbir Husain, Rich, David Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/253,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20130088191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

A wireless charging system having a battery with at least one cell, a receiving coil wrapped around the at least one cell and a charger having a transmitting field designed to couple with the receiving coil of the battery. A battery is further described having at least one cell and having a receiving coil wrapped around at least one cell.

Claims

1. A system for wirelessly charging a rechargeable battery comprising:

a battery having at least one cell;

an inductive element wrapped around the at least one cell of the battery;

a charger having a transmitting field designed to couple with the inductive element;

a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal;

a processor operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the inductive element, the processor configured to;

determine if the temperature of the battery is below a predetermined temperature range, based on the temperature signal; and

in response to determining the temperature of the battery is below the predetermined temperature range;

signal the inductive element to couple with the transmitting field to increase the temperature of the battery by heat radiating from the inductive element;

continue to detect the temperature of the battery while the inductive element is coupled with the transmitting field; and

in response to determining that the temperature of the battery is within a predetermined range, signal the inductive element to uncouple with the transmitting field to discontinue heating the battery.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one cell is a plurality of stacked cells.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one cell is a plurality of cells in side by side relationship.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to increase a sampling rate of the temperature sensor when the processor signals to the inductive element to couple with the transmitting field.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein an alert is provided to the user when the inductive element is unable to couple with the transmitting field.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the inductive element to provide a path for heat discharge.

7. A battery comprising:

at least one cell;

an inductive element wrapped around the at least one cell;

a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal; and

a processor operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the inductive element, the processor configured to;

determine if the temperature of the battery is below a predetermined temperature range, based on the temperature signal; and

in response to determining the temperature of the battery is below the predetermined temperature range;

signal the inductive element to couple with the transmitting field of a charger to increase the temperature of the battery by heat radiating from the inductive element;

continue to detect the temperature of the battery while the inductive element is coupled with the transmitting field; and

in response to determining that the temperature of the battery is within a predetermined range, signal the inductive element to uncouple with the transmitting field to discontinue heating the battery.

8. The battery of claim 7 wherein the at least one cell is a plurality of stacked cells.

9. The battery of claim 7 wherein the at least one cell is a plurality of cells in side by side relationship.

10. The battery of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to increase a sampling rate of the temperature sensor when the processor signals to the inductive element to couple with the transmitting field.

11. The battery of claim 7 wherein an alert is provided to the user when the inductive element is unable to couple with the transmitting field.

12. The battery of claim 7 further comprising a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the inductive element to provide a path for heat discharge.