Apparatus for wireless device charging using radio frequency (RF) energy and device to be wirelessly charged

• US 9,236,756 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2012
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jenwatanavet, Jatupum, Ozaki, Ernest T., Low, Zhen Ning
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rankine, Tarikh
• Application Number:
  US13/481,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,326 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 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for wireless charging using radio frequency (RF) energy includes a first charger portion having first and second charging areas. The first and second charging areas are located in a common plane, each having at least one coil for wirelessly charging a charge-receiving device placed in proximity thereto. The coils include respective windings, which are wound in opposing directions, each coil being connected in series, each coil configured to charge at least one charge-receiving device. A second charger portion has a third charging area having at least one coil including a winding for wirelessly charging a charge-receiving device placed in proximity to the third charging area, the coil in the third charging area being connected in series with the coils in the first and second charging areas, the third charging area located in a plane that is orthogonal to the plane of the first and second charging areas.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless charging using radio frequency (RF) energy, comprising:

a first charger portion having first and second charging areas, the first and second charging areas located in a common plane, the first and second charging areas each occupying a different respective region in the common plane, the first and second charging areas each being at least partly enclosed by a respective frame to define an interior, the first and second charging areas each having at least one coil wound around the interior for wirelessly charging a charge-receiving device placed in the interior of the first or second charging area, the at least one coil in each of the first and second charging areas comprising a respective winding including a plurality of turns in the common plane extending in a radial direction from a coil axis, the winding of the coil in the first charging area being wound in a direction opposite that of the winding of the coil in the second charging area, each coil being connected in series by an innermost turn of the coil in the first charging area being electrically coupled to an outermost turn of the coil in the second charging area, each coil configured to charge at least one charge-receiving device; and

a second charger portion having a third charging area, the third charging area having at least one coil comprising a winding for wirelessly charging a charge-receiving device placed in proximity to the third charging area, the coil in the third charging area being connected in series with the coils in the first and second charging areas, the third charging area located in a plane that is orthogonal to the plane of the first and second charging areas.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each coil is configured to charge a plurality of charge-receiving devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a charge-receiving device placed in non-specific alignment proximity to any of the first, second and third charging areas, wherein the first and second charging areas are adapted to receive an ear-worn charge-receiving device and the third charging area is adapted to receive a wrist-worn charge-receiving device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein charging energy is transferred at a frequency of approximately 6.78 MHz.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the area of the coil associated with any of the first, second and third charging areas and an antenna coil associated with the charge-receiving device ranges from approximately two-to-one to seven-to-one.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil is chosen from a cylindrical coil, a planar coil and a printed coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the printed coil is formed on a flexible film.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a recess formed in any of the first charger portion and the second charger portion and wherein the antenna coil is configured as a cylindrical coil disposed about a periphery of the recess, the recess configured to receive a charge-receiving device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch and a capacitor associated with each coil, the switch being selectively operable such that when in a conductive state, the switch prevents the associated coil from receiving current to generate charging energy.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a switch, a capacitor and a coil form a charging structure and a plurality of charging structures are selectively operable such that when in a conductive state, each respective switch prevents the associated coil from generating charging energy.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a plurality of charging structures are configured to charge a number of charge-receiving devices, the number of charge-receiving devices being any number equal to, greater than or less than the number of charging structures.