Wireless power and data transmission system

• US 9,369,006 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2011
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Ui Kun, Kim, Sang Joon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US13/337,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 320/117, 320/163, 320/166
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Provided is a wireless power data transmission system that may transmit wireless power and may transmit data using wireless power. A wireless power transmitter may include capacitors, and may convert an electrical connection of the capacitors to a parallel connection for charging. The wireless power transmitter may also convert the electrical connection of at least two of the capacitors to a series connection for discharging.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitter, comprising:

a source resonator configured to wirelessly transmit a charging power across an air-gap to an outside;

a plurality of capacitors; and

a converting unit comprising a processor configured to convert an electrical connection of the plurality of capacitors to a parallel connection when charging the plurality of capacitors, and to convert an electrical connection of at least two capacitors of the plurality of capacitors to a series connection when discharging the plurality of capacitors to the source resonator for wireless transmission, wherein a resonance frequency of the source resonator is controlled based on the conversion of the electrical connection.

2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, further comprising:

a power input unit configured to charge the plurality of capacitors, connected in parallel, with power supplied from a power supply; and

a power transmitting unit configured to transmit power stored in the at least two capacitors of plurality of capacitors, connected in series.

3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein:

the converting unit is further configured to convert an electrical connection of the plurality of capacitors to the parallel connection, and convert the electrical connection of the plurality of capacitors from the parallel to the series connection;

a power input unit charges the plurality of capacitors, connected in parallel, with power supplied from the power supply; and

a power transmitting unit configured to transmit power stored in the plurality of capacitors, connected in series.

4. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of capacitors has substantially the same capacitance.

5. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2, further comprising:

a controller configured to control switches connected to the plurality of capacitors, wherein, when the plurality of capacitors are charged with a predetermined amount of power, the controller controls the switches to change the plurality of capacitors from the parallel connection to the series connection.

6. The wireless power transmitter of claim 3, wherein:

the converting unit is configured electrically connects the plurality of capacitors to the power input unit when the plurality of capacitors are connected in parallel; and

the converting unit electrically connects the plurality of capacitors to the power transmitting unit when the plurality of capacitors are connected in series.

7. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the converting unit comprises:

a first switch unit configured to control an electrical connection between the power input unit and the plurality of capacitors and to control an electrical connection between the power transmitting unit and the plurality of capacitors;

a second switch unit configured to control an electrical connection between the plurality of capacitors; and

a third switch unit configured to control an electrical connection between the plurality of capacitors and a ground.

8. The wireless power transmitter of claim 5, wherein the controller electrically connects, in series, the power transmitting unit to a predetermined number of capacitors of the plurality of capacitors, wherein the predetermined number of capacitors is selected to control a resonance frequency of the source resonator.

9. A method of wirelessly transmitting power, comprising:

charging a first capacitor unit from a power supply;

actuating a processor to disconnect the first capacitor unit from the power supply and connecting the first capacitor unit to a transmission coil configured to wirelessly transmit a charging power across an air-gap to an outside;

discharging the first capacitor unit to transmit power from the transmission coil to a reception coil;

charging a second capacitor unit from the reception coil; and

,

disconnecting the second capacitor unit from the reception coil and connecting the second capacitor unit to a load; and

discharging the second capacitor unit to supply power to the load, wherein a resonance frequency of the transmission coil is controlled based on conversion of the electrical connection of a plurality of capacitors included in the first capacitor unit.

10. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

connecting the plurality of capacitors in a parallel manner when the first capacitor unit is charged from the power supply; and

connecting at least a portion of the plurality of capacitors in a series manner when the first capacitor unit is discharged to the transmission coil.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

modulating data based on an amount of power stored in the first capacitor unit;

transmitting the modulated data from the transmission coil to the reception coil; and

demodulating the modulated data based on an amount of power stored in the second capacitor unit.