Method, apparatus, and computer program product for foreign object detection parameter and charging data communication with wireless charging capable battery pack

• US 9,287,718 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kari, Juhani Valdemar, Vuori, Petri Martti
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US13/782,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20140247004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/45 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments provide device-to-device charging. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method comprises accessing, by an apparatus, parameters relating to power loss in wirelessly charging a rechargeable battery, when the battery is located in a device to be powered by the rechargeable battery; and transmitting, by the apparatus, to a wireless charger, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is associated with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

accessing, by an apparatus, parameters relating to power loss in wirelessly charging a rechargeable battery, when the battery is located in a device to be powered by the rechargeable battery;

transmitting, by the apparatus, to a wireless charger, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery; and

causing, by the apparatus, the wireless charger to adjust wireless power applied by the wireless charger to charge the rechargeable battery, based on a first one of the parameters representing a first power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations and a second one of the parameters representing a second power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the apparatus, a type identification of the rechargeable battery, via an interface for device communication, to the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, for forwarding with a type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, to access a storage containing the parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the apparatus, via an interface for device communication, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the accessed parameters relating to power loss are based on a type identification of the rechargeable battery and a type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving, by the apparatus, a type identification of the rechargeable battery and a type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, to a communications device, for accessing a storage containing the parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery; and

wirelessly receiving, by the apparatus, from the communications device, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, based on the type identification of the rechargeable battery and the type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

access parameters relating to power loss in wirelessly charging a rechargeable battery, when the battery is located in a device to be powered by the rechargeable battery;

transmit to a wireless charger, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is associated with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery; and

cause the wireless charger to adjust wireless power applied by the wireless charger to charge the rechargeable battery, based on a first one of the parameters representing a first power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations and a second one of the parameters representing a second power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

transmit a type identification of the rechargeable battery, via an interface for device communication, to the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, for forwarding with a type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, to access a storage containing the parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive via the interface for device communication, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the accessed parameters relating to power loss are based on a type identification of the rechargeable battery and a type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

wirelessly transmit a type identification of the rechargeable battery and a type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, to a communications device, for accessing a storage containing the parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery; and

wirelessly receive from the communications device, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, based on the type identification of the rechargeable battery and the type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, are Foreign Object Detection (FOD) parameter data that comprise at least one power loss value.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to provide power to a mobile device and wherein the interface for device communication with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, comprises a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) battery interface.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a battery pack;

a charging circuitry configured to receive electrical power from a charger and to charge the battery pack;

a first interface for charger communication with the charger;

a second interface for device communication with an electrically powered device;

wherein the apparatus causes the wireless charger to adjust wireless power applied by the wireless charger to charge the rechargeable battery, based on a first one of the parameters representing a first power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations and a second one of the parameters representing a second power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations.

14. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for accessing, by an apparatus, parameters relating to power loss in wirelessly charging a rechargeable battery, when the battery is located in a device to be powered by the rechargeable battery;

code for transmitting, by the apparatus, to a wireless charger, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is associated with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery; and

code for causing, by the apparatus, the wireless charger to adjust wireless power applied by the wireless charger to charge the rechargeable battery, based on a first one of the parameters representing a first power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations and a second one of the parameters representing a second power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:

code for transmitting, by the apparatus, a type identification of the rechargeable battery, via an interface for device communication, to the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, for forwarding with a type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery, to access a storage containing the parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:

code for receiving, by the apparatus, via the interface for device communication, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the apparatus is coupled with the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the accessed parameters relating to power loss are based on a type identification of the rechargeable battery and a type identification of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an apparatus, a type identification of a rechargeable battery connected to the apparatus, via an interface for device communication, the apparatus to be powered by the rechargeable battery;

forwarding, by the apparatus, the type identification of the rechargeable battery connected to the apparatus, with a type identification of the apparatus, to access a storage containing parameters relating to power loss in wirelessly charging the rechargeable battery when connected to the apparatus; and

transmitting, by the apparatus, via the interface for device communication, the accessed parameters relating to power loss, to a wireless charger; and

causing, by the apparatus, the wireless charger to adjust wireless power applied by the wireless charger to charge the rechargeable battery, based on a first one of the parameters representing a first power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations and a second one of the parameters representing a second power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting, by the apparatus, the type identification of the rechargeable battery and the type identification of the apparatus, to the storage, for accessing the parameters relating to power loss when the rechargeable battery is connected to the apparatus; and

wirelessly receiving, by the apparatus, from the storage, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the rechargeable battery is connected to the apparatus, based on the type identification of the rechargeable battery and the type identification of the apparatus.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive a type identification of a rechargeable battery connected to the apparatus, via an interface for device communication, the apparatus to be powered by the rechargeable battery;

forward the type identification of the rechargeable battery connected to the apparatus, with a type identification of the apparatus, to access a storage containing parameters relating to power loss in wirelessly charging the rechargeable battery when connected to the apparatus; and

transmit, via the interface for device communication, the accessed parameters relating to power loss, to a wireless charger; and

cause the wireless charger to adjust wireless power applied by the wireless charger to charge the rechargeable battery, based on a first one of the parameters representing a first power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations and a second one of the parameters representing a second power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

wirelessly transmit the type identification of the rechargeable battery and the type identification of the apparatus, to the storage, for accessing the parameters relating to power loss when the rechargeable battery is connected to the apparatus; and

wirelessly receive from the storage, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the rechargeable battery is connected to the apparatus, based on the type identification of the rechargeable battery and the type identification of the apparatus.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the accessed parameters relating to power loss are Foreign Object Detection (FOD) parameter data that comprise at least one power loss value.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to provide power to a mobile device and wherein the interface for device communication comprises a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) battery interface.

24. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for receiving, by an apparatus, a type identification of a rechargeable battery connected to the apparatus, via an interface for device communication, the apparatus to be powered by the rechargeable battery;

code for forwarding, by the apparatus, the type identification of the rechargeable battery connected to the apparatus, with a type identification of the apparatus, to access a storage containing parameters relating to power loss in wirelessly charging the rechargeable battery when connected to the apparatus; and

code for transmitting, by the apparatus, via the interface for device communication, the accessed parameters relating to power loss, to a wireless charger; and

code for causing, by the apparatus, the wireless charger to adjust wireless power applied by the wireless charger to charge the rechargeable battery, based on a first one of the parameters representing a first power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations and a second one of the parameters representing a second power loss due to eddy currents induced in the structure of the device to be powered by the rechargeable battery in wireless charging operations.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising:

code for wirelessly transmitting, by the apparatus, the type identification of the rechargeable battery and the type identification of the apparatus, to the storage, for accessing the parameters relating to power loss when the rechargeable battery is connected to the apparatus; and

code for wirelessly receiving, by the apparatus, from the storage, the accessed parameters relating to power loss when the rechargeable battery is connected to the apparatus, based on the type identification of the rechargeable battery and the type identification of the apparatus.