Wireless charging system method of controlling wireless charging of a rechargeable battery

• US 9,106,094 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Negishi, Hideki, Yamada, Hidekatsu, Nishino, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/434,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 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 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless charging system and a control method thereof, as well as a portable electronic device and a charging device, all of which are capable of performing charging at an appropriate charging level. The wireless charging system includes: a battery charger 100; and a cellular telephone device 1. The cellular telephone device 1 includes: a plurality of power receiving units 10; a charging state monitoring unit 21; and a cellular telephone device side communication unit 14. The battery charger 100 includes: a plurality of power transmitting units 110 that transmit power to the cellular telephone device 1; a battery charger side communication unit 140; and a power transmission control unit 121 that controls transmission of power by the power transmitting units 110, based on a result of monitoring by the charging state monitoring unit 21.

Claims

1. A wireless charging system, comprising:

a charging device; and

a portable electronic device that charges a secondary battery by utilizing electromagnetic waves being output from the charging device,

wherein the portable electronic device includes;

a plurality of receiving units that receive the electromagnetic waves being output from the charging device;

a charging state monitoring unit that monitors a charging state of the secondary battery and determines an adjustment based on a quantity of power received or a low charged level relative to a predetermined value; and

a first communication unit that communicates the adjustment to the charging device, and

wherein the charging device includes;

a plurality of output units that output the electromagnetic waves;

a second communication unit that communicates with the portable electronic device to receive the adjustment; and

an output control unit that controls an output from the plurality of output units, based on a result of monitoring by the charging state monitoring unit to adjust a quantity of power that is output from the plurality of output units based on the adjustment so that the plurality of output units output an adjusted quantity of power to the portable electronic device,

wherein, when a plurality of portable electronic devices are placed on the charging device, the output control unit controls output of the plurality of output units, based on each result of monitoring the charging states received from the plurality of portable electronic devices, so that electromagnetic waves are preferentially output to a portable electronic device having a low quantity of power received or a low charged level among the plurality of portable electronic devices, and

wherein, when the portable electronic device, to which the electromagnetic waves were preferentially output, reaches a predetermined charged state, the output control unit controls output of the plurality of output units, so that electromagnetic waves are output to the other portable electronic devices.

2. The wireless charging system according to claim 1,

wherein the charging device further includes a switching unit, and

wherein the output control unit controls that the switching unit switches an output from the plurality of output units.

3. The wireless charging system according to claim 2,

wherein the output control unit controls that the switching unit switches sequentially the plurality of output units, and

wherein the charging state monitoring unit monitors a charging state, corresponding to how the switching unit is controlled by the output control unit, thereby identifying the plurality of output units that output electromagnetic waves.

4. The wireless charging system according to claim 3, wherein the output control unit controls that the switching unit switches sequentially the plurality of output units that periodically perform an output.

5. The wireless charging system according to claim 1, wherein when the current value based on the electromagnetic waves acquired by the receiving units is low, the portable electronic device, based on a result of monitoring by the charging state monitoring unit, performs control to increase an output amount of the output units, and when the current value based on the electromagnetic waves acquired by the receiving units is high, the portable electronic device performs control to decrease an output amount of the output units.

6. A charging device, comprising:

a plurality of output units that output electromagnetic waves to a portable electronic device for charging a secondary battery of the portable electronic device;

a communication unit that communicates with the portable electronic device; and

an output control unit that controls the electromagnetic waves being output from the plurality of output units to adjust a quantity of power that is output from the plurality of output units, based on an adjustment instruction received via the communication unit, so that the plurality of output units output an adjusted quantity of power to the portable electronic device,

wherein, when a plurality of portable electronic devices are placed on the charging device, the output control unit controls output of the plurality of output units, based on each adjustment instruction received from the plurality of portable electronic devices, so that electromagnetic waves are preferentially output to a portable electronic device having a low quantity of power received or a low charged level among the plurality of portable electronic devices, and

wherein, when the portable electronic device, to which the electromagnetic waves were preferentially output, reaches a predetermined charged state, the output control unit controls output of the plurality of output units, so that electromagnetic waves are output to the other portable electronic devices.

7. A method for controlling a wireless charging system that includes:

a charging device that outputs electromagnetic waves from an output unit; and

a portable electronic device that wirelessly receives the electromagnetic waves being output from the charging device, to charge a secondary battery, the portable electronic device performing operations comprising;

receiving the electromagnetic waves being output from the charging device;

monitoring a charging state of the secondary battery that is being charged by utilizing the electromagnetic waves received;

determining an adjustment to a quantity of power based on a quantity of power received with the electromagnetic waves or a low charged level relative to a predetermined value; and

transmitting a signal with the adjustment to the charging device, and

the charging device performing operations comprising;

outputting the electromagnetic waves to the portable electronic device;

receiving the signal with the adjustment transmitted by the portable electronic device; and

controlling output of the electromagnetic waves, based on the adjustment so that an adjusted quantity of power is output to the portable electronic device,

wherein, when a plurality of portable electronic devices are placed on the charging device, the output of the electromagnetic waves is controlled, based on each adjustment signal received from the plurality of portable electronic devices, so that electromagnetic waves are preferentially output to a portable electronic device having a low quantity of power received or a low charged level among the plurality of portable electronic devices, and

wherein, when the portable electronic device, to which the electromagnetic waves were preferentially output, reaches a predetermined charged state, the output of the electromagnetic waves is controlled, so that electromagnetic waves are output to the other portable electronic devices.