Apparatus and method for displaying strength of power and expected charge completion time during wireless charging

• US 9,160,188 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2011
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Noh-Gyoung, Won, Eun-Tae, Park, Joon-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US13/880,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20130214744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 320/162, 320/108, 307/104
• 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 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 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus and method for displaying a strength of power and an expected charge completion time during wireless charging. To this end, a first electronic device, upon receiving a power request message, converts stored or wirelessly supplied power into a wirelessly-transmittable form and transmits the converted power. A second electronic device, upon receiving a charging command, determines whether being located in a distance and a position which allow charging with the first electronic device, transmits the power request message to the first electronic device, receives the converted power from the first electronic device to measure the strength of the received power, and calculates an expected charge completion time by using the detected strength of power, if the second electronic device is located in the distance and position which allow charging.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a strength of power and an expected charge completion time during wireless charging, the method comprising:

receiving, by an electronic device, a charging command;

determining, whether the electronic device is located in a distance and a position which allow charging with respect to a counterpart electronic device;

in response to determining that the electronic device is located in the distance and the position which allow charging, receiving power from the counterpart electronic device;

measuring the strength of the received power;

calculating an expected charge completion time using the measured strength of the received power; and

displaying the calculated expected charge completion time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the electronic device is located in the distance and the position which allow charging comprises determining whether the counterpart electronic device is present within a preset range.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in response to determining that the counterpart electronic device is not present within the preset range, outputting a charging unavailable message and terminating the charging.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining positions of a coil of the counterpart electronic device and a coil of the electronic device to determine whether charging is available.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the expected charge completion time comprises:

measuring the strength of the currently received power based on the distance and position with respect to the counterpart electronic device and measuring an amount of power remaining in the electronic device; and

calculating the expected charge completion time using the measured strength of power and the measured amount of power remaining in the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the strength of the received power; and

measuring and displaying the strength of the received power each time the distance and the position of at least one of the electronic device and the counterpart electronic device changes.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, in response to measuring a new strength of power during wireless charging, recalculating the expected charge completion time using the new strength of power.

8. An apparatus configured to display a strength of power and an expected charge completion time during wireless charging, the apparatus comprising:

a communication and control unit configured to, upon receiving a charging command, determine whether an electronic device is located in a distance and a position which allow charging with respect to a counterpart electronic device in response to determining that the electronic device is located in the distance and the position which allow charging, receive power from the counterpart electronic device;

measure the strength of the received power; and

calculate an expected charge completion time using the measured strength of the received power;

a power reception unit configured to receive power from the counterpart electronic device under control of the communication and control unit; and

a display unit configured to display the calculated expected charge completion time.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a battery configured to store the received power.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the communication and control unit is configured to determine whether the counterpart electronic device is present within a preset range, and in response to determining, that the counterpart electronic device is not present within the preset range, the communication and control unit is configured to calculate an expected charge completion time based on the distance with respect to the counterpart electronic device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein in response to determining that the counterpart electronic device is not present within the preset range, the communication and control unit is configured to output a charging unavailable message and terminate the charging.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communication and control unit is configured to measure the strength of the currently received power based on the distance and the position with respect to the counterpart electronic device, measure an amount of power remaining in the electronic device, and calculate the expected charge completion time using the measured strength of power and the measured amount of power remaining in the electronic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the display unit is configured to display the strength of the received power and update the strength of the received power each time the distance and position of at least one of the electronic device and the counterpart electronic device changes.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communication and control unit is configured to remeasure the strength of the received power and recalculate the expected charge completion time when the electronic device comprising, the communication and control unit or the counterpart electronic device is moved.