Multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol ubiquitous wireless power transmitter

• US 9,276,440 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WiPQTUS Inc.
• Original Assignee: WiPQTUS Inc.
• Inventors: Sankar, Ganapathy, Singh, Manjit
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnett, Joel
• Application Number:
  US13/958,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 50/80 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter (WPT) and its embodiments transmit power to a wireless power receiver (WPR) in a power transfer mode (PTM) and a wireless power protocol (WPP) of the WPR. A first circuit of the WPT includes inductors or capacitors emanating power via a magnetic field or electric field PTM respectively. The WPT sequentially parses a test condition to identify a PTM, a power coupling linkage (PCL) between the WPT and the WPR, and a WPP of the WPR. The WPT identifies a match if the PTM of the first circuit and the WPP of the switch network, the variable matching circuit, a modulator/demodulator block or an out-of-band communication block, and a control logic circuit of the WPT match the PTM and the WPP of the WPR to transmit power to the WPR based on the match.

Claims

1. A multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter, comprising:

a switch network configured to receive power from a power source;

a variable matching circuit connected to said switch network;

a first circuit connected to said variable matching circuit, said first circuit comprising one of;

one or more inductors and one or more capacitors configured to emanate said power via one of a magnetic field and an electric field respectively, wherein said first circuit is configured to transmit said power to a wireless power receiver via one of a plurality of power transfer modes comprising a magnetic field power transfer mode and an electric field power transfer mode;

a modulator/demodulator block and an out-of-band communication block configured to transmit and receive messages to and from said wireless power receiver in one of a plurality of wireless power protocols; and

a control logic circuit and an analog to digital converter block, said variable matching circuit, said switch network, said first circuit, and said control logic circuit configured to tune transmission of said power to said wireless power receiver based on a power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver;

said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter configured to sequentially parse one of a plurality of test conditions to identify a power transfer mode of said wireless power receiver, said one of said wireless power protocols of said wireless power receiver, and said power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver, wherein each of said test conditions comprises instructions to reconfigure a circuit configuration of said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter to transmit said power in one of said power transfer modes, to tune said transmission of said power based on said power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver, and to transmit said messages and interpret said received messages in said one of said wireless power protocols, wherein said reconfiguration of said circuit configuration of said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter based on said instructions in one of said sequentially parsed test conditions comprises;

reconfiguring said first circuit to transmit said power in one of said power transfer modes by selecting one of;

said one or more inductors and said one or more capacitors;

reconfiguring one or more of said switch network, said variable matching circuit, said control logic circuit, and said first circuit to draw, transform, and deliver said power from said power source to said first circuit in a manner optimally suited for said power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver; and

reconfiguring one or more of said switch network, said variable matching circuit, said modulator/demodulator block, said out-of-band communication block, and said control logic circuit to adhere to a plurality of aspects of said one of said wireless power protocols;

said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter configured to identify a match if one of said power transfer modes of transfer of said power of said first circuit and said one of said wireless power protocols of said switch network, said variable matching circuit, one of said modulator/demodulator block and said out-of-band communication block, and said control logic circuit match said power transfer mode and said one of said wireless power protocols of said wireless power receiver respectively; and

said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter configured to transmit said power to said wireless power receiver in said one of said power transfer modes and said one of said wireless power protocols of said wireless power receiver based on said identified match, via said power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver.

2. The multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter of claim 1 configured to detect a presence of said wireless power receiver in a vicinity of said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and trigger said sequential parsing of said one of said test conditions.

3. The multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter of claim 1 configured to be one of:

flexibly and extendably positioned in one of a portable electronic device and a non-portable electronic device and integrated into said one of said portable electronic device and said non-portable electronic device for transmitting said power to one or more wireless power receivers, said one or more wireless power receivers being positioned at one or more of a plurality of locations atop, near, and around said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter, wherein said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter is configured to be flexibly withdrawn from said one of said portable electronic device and said non-portable electronic device.

4. The multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter of claim 1 configured to be one of plugged into one of a portable electronic device and a non-portable electronic device, integrated into a standalone device that draws power from a wall wart, and configured as a peripheral accessory that draws power from said one of said portable electronic device and said non-portable electronic device for transmitting said power to one or more wireless power receivers, said one or more wireless power receivers being positioned at one or more of a plurality of locations atop, near, and around said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter.

5. The multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein said power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver is one of a magnetic flux field linkage and an electrostatic field linkage.

6. The multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein said power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver is identified based on one of a voltage, a current, and a phase angle between a current and a voltage in said first circuit, said variable matching circuit, and said switch network.

7. The multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein said power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver is identified based on said received messages from said wireless power receiver.

8. The multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter of claim 1 configured to compensate for said identified power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver by one of:

signaling its voltage source to increase an input voltage provided by said voltage source to said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter, reconfiguring an inverter topology of said switch network, reconfiguring said first circuit to reduce a reactive impedance seen by said switch network when looking into said variable matching circuit, and reconfiguring said variable matching circuit to reduce said reactive impedance seen by said switch network when looking into said variable matching circuit.

9. The multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter of claim 1, configured to compensate for said identified power coupling linkage between said multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver by reconfiguring one of a frequency and a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal supplied by said control logic circuit to said switch network.

10. The multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter of claim 1 configured as one of a multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter, a single mode non-multi-coupling single protocol wireless power transmitter, a single mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter, a single mode multi-coupling single protocol wireless power transmitter, a single mode non-multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter, and a multi-mode non-multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter.

11. A method for transmitting power from a wireless power transmitter to a wireless power receiver in a power transfer mode and a wireless power protocol of said wireless power receiver, said method comprising:

providing said wireless power transmitter comprising;

a switch network configured to receive power from a power source;

a variable matching circuit connected to said switch network;

a first circuit connected to said variable matching circuit, said first circuit comprising one of;

one or more inductors and one or more capacitors configured to emanate said power via one of a magnetic field and an electric field respectively, wherein said first circuit is configured to transmit said power to said wireless power receiver via one of a plurality of power transfer modes comprising a magnetic field power transfer mode and an electric field power transfer mode;

a modulator/demodulator block and an out-of-band communication block configured to transmit and receive messages to and from said wireless power receiver in one of a plurality of wireless power protocols; and

a control logic circuit and an analog to digital converter block, said variable matching circuit, said switch network, said first circuit, and said control logic circuit configured to tune transmission of said power to said wireless power receiver based on a power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver;

detecting a presence of said wireless power receiver in a vicinity of said wireless power transmitter, by said wireless power transmitter;

sequentially parsing one of a plurality of tests conditions to identify a power transfer mode of said wireless power receiver, said one of said wireless power protocols of said wireless power receiver, and said power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver, wherein each of said test conditions comprises instructions to reconfigure a circuit configuration of said wireless power transmitter to transmit said power in one of said power transfer modes, to tune said transmission of said power based on said power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver, and to transmit said messages and interpret said received messages in one of said wireless power protocols, wherein said reconfiguration of said circuit configuration of said wireless power transmitter based on said instructions in one of said sequentially parsed test conditions comprises;

reconfiguring said first circuit to transmit said power in one of said power transfer modes by selecting one of;

said one or more inductors and said one or more capacitors;

reconfiguring one or more of said switch network, said variable matching circuit, said control logic circuit, and said first circuit to draw, transform, and deliver said power from said power source to said first circuit in a manner optimally suited for said power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver; and

reconfiguring one or more of said switch network, said variable matching circuit, said modulator/demodulator block, said out-of-band communication block, and said control logic circuit to adhere to a plurality of aspects of said one of said wireless power protocols;

identifying a match if one of said power transfer modes of transfer of said power of said first circuit and said one of said wireless power protocols of said switch network, said variable matching circuit, one of said modulator/demodulator block and said out-of-band communication block, and said control logic circuit match said power transfer mode and said one of said wireless power protocols of said wireless power receiver respectively; and

transmitting said power from said wireless power transmitter to said wireless power receiver in said one of said power transfer modes and said one of said wireless power protocols of said wireless power receiver based on said identified match, via said power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said control logic circuit identifies said power transfer mode and said one of said wireless power protocols of said wireless power receiver in conjunction with said one of said modulator/demodulator block and said out-of-band communication block.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said wireless power transmitter is configured to be one of extendably positioned in, flexibly withdrawn from, integrated into, and plugged into one of a portable electronic device and a non-portable electronic device, for transmitting said power to one or more wireless power receivers, said one or more wireless power receivers being positioned at one or more of a plurality of locations atop, near, and around said wireless power transmitter.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said wireless power transmitter is configured to be one of a peripheral accessory that draws power from one of a portable electronic device and a non-portable electronic device and a subsystem integrated into a standalone device that draws power from a wall wart for transmitting said power to one or more wireless power receivers, said one or more wireless power receivers being positioned at one or more of a plurality of locations atop, near, and around said wireless power transmitter.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver is one of a magnetic flux field linkage and an electrostatic field linkage.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver is identified based on one of a voltage, a current and a phase angle between a voltage and a current in said first circuit, said variable matching circuit, and said switch network.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver is identified based on said received messages from said wireless power receiver.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said wireless power transmitter compensates for said identified power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver by one of signaling its voltage source to increase an input voltage provided by said voltage source to said wireless power transmitter, reconfiguring an inverter topology of said switch network in said wireless power transmitter, reconfiguring said variable matching circuit to reduce a reactive impedance seen by said switch network when looking into said variable matching circuit in said wireless power transmitter, and reconfiguring said first circuit to reduce said reactive impedance seen by said switch network when looking into said variable matching circuit in said wireless power transmitter.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said wireless power transmitter compensates for said identified power coupling linkage between said wireless power transmitter and said wireless power receiver by reconfiguring one of a frequency of a pulse width modulation signal and a duty cycle of said pulse width modulation signal supplied by said control logic circuit to said switch network.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said wireless power transmitter is configured as one of a multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter, a single mode non-multi-coupling single protocol wireless power transmitter, a single mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter, a single mode multi-coupling single protocol wireless power transmitter, a single mode non-multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter and a multi-mode non-multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter.