Systems and methods for extending the power capability of a wireless charger

• US 9,401,622 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Carobolante, Francesco, Maalouf, Joseph Najib, Shevde, Sumukh Ashok
• Primary Examiner(s): Kik, Phallaka
• Application Number:
  US14/259,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/109, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for converting voltages between different voltage levels in a receiver are disclosed. In an aspect, a wireless power receiver apparatus for charging a chargeable device is provided. The wireless power receiver apparatus for charging a chargeable device can include a receive antenna configured to wirelessly receive power at a level sufficient for charging the chargeable device. The wireless power receiver apparatus can also include converter circuitry. The converter circuitry can be coupled to the receive antenna. The converter circuitry can be configured to receive an input voltage derived from the wirelessly received power. The converter circuitry can also be configured to produce an output voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage based on a relationship between the input voltage and a first voltage level threshold.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver apparatus for charging a chargeable device, comprising:

a receive antenna configured to wirelessly receive power at a level sufficient for charging the chargeable device; and

converter circuitry coupled to the receive antenna, the converter circuitry configured to;

receive an input voltage, at an input of the converter circuitry, derived from the wirelessly received power;

operate in a first mode to produce a first output voltage, at an output of the converter circuitry, that is substantially equal to the input voltage based on a first relationship between the input voltage and a first voltage level threshold; and

operate in a second mode to produce a second output voltage, at the output of the converter circuitry, that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage based on a second relationship between the input voltage and the first voltage level threshold.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the first voltage level threshold is set at least in part by over-voltage protection circuitry or under-voltage detection circuitry of the chargeable device.

3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the converter circuitry is configured to produce the second output voltage limited to a value below a second voltage level threshold.

4. The receiver of claim 3, wherein the first voltage level threshold is a scaled value of the second voltage level threshold.

5. The receiver of claim 4, wherein the first voltage level threshold is half of the value of the second voltage level threshold.

6. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the converter circuitry is configured to selectively produce the second output voltage that is scaled to a value that is half of the input voltage.

7. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the converter circuitry comprises charge pump circuitry configured to produce the second output voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage.

8. The receiver of claim 7, wherein the charge pump circuitry comprises a comparator circuit configured to compare an input voltage to the first voltage level threshold and configures the charge pump circuitry to produce the second output voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage.

9. The receiver of claim 8, wherein the charge pump circuitry is configured to multiply the input voltage by a scaling factor equal to a rational number.

10. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the scaling factor for when the input voltage is above the first voltage level threshold is different than the scaling factor for when the input voltage is at or below the first voltage level threshold.

11. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the converter circuitry includes a master circuit and at least one slave circuit, where the at least one slave circuit is synchronized to a clock signal of the master circuit.

12. The receiver of claim 11, wherein each of the master circuit and at least one slave circuit comprises charge pump circuitry configured to produce the second output voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage.

13. The receiver of claim 12, wherein the master circuit comprises a comparator circuit configured to compare an input voltage to the first voltage level threshold and configures the master circuit and the at least one slave circuit to produce the second output voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage.

14. The receiver of claim 13, wherein each of the master circuit and at least one slave circuit is configured to multiply the input voltage by a scaling factor equal to a rational number.

15. The receiver of claim 14, wherein a scaling factor for when the input voltage is above the first voltage level threshold is different than a scaling factor for when the input voltage is at or below the first voltage level threshold.

16. A wireless power receiver apparatus for charging a chargeable device, comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving power at a level sufficient for charging the chargeable device;

means for receiving an input voltage derived from the wirelessly received power coupled to the means for wirelessly receiving power;

means for producing a first output voltage from the means for receiving an input voltage that is substantially equal to the input voltage based on a first relationship between the input voltage and a first voltage level threshold; and

means for producing a second output voltage from the means for receiving an input voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage based on a second relationship between the input voltage and the first voltage level threshold.

17. The receiver of claim 16, wherein the first voltage level threshold is set at least in part by over-voltage protection circuitry or under-voltage detection circuitry of the chargeable device.

18. The receiver of claim 16, wherein the means for producing the second output voltage is configured to produce the second output voltage limited to a value below a second voltage level threshold.

19. A method for charging a chargeable device, comprising:

wirelessly receiving power at a level sufficient for charging the chargeable device at a receive antenna;

receiving an input voltage derived from the wirelessly received power at converter circuitry coupled to the receive antenna;

producing a first output voltage from the converter circuitry that is substantially equal to the input voltage based on a first relationship between the input voltage and a first voltage level threshold; and

producing a second output voltage from the converter circuitry that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage based on a second relationship between the input voltage and the first voltage level threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first voltage level threshold is set at least in part by over-voltage protection circuitry or under-voltage detection circuitry of the chargeable device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the converter circuitry is configured to produce the second output voltage limited to a value below a second voltage level threshold.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first voltage level threshold is a scaled value of the second voltage level threshold.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first voltage level threshold is half of the value of the second voltage level threshold.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the converter circuitry is configured to produce the second output voltage that is scaled to a value that is half of the input voltage.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the converter circuitry comprises charge pump circuitry configured to produce the second output voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the charge pump circuitry comprises a comparator circuit configured to compare an input voltage to the first voltage level threshold and configures the charge pump circuitry to produce the second output voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the charge pump circuitry is configured to multiply the input voltage by a scaling factor equal to a rational number.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein a scaling factor for when the input voltage is above the first voltage level threshold is different than a scaling factor for when the input voltage is at or below the first voltage level threshold.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the converter circuitry includes a master circuit and at least one slave circuit, where the at least one slave circuit is synchronized to a clock signal of the master circuit.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein each of the master circuit and at least one slave circuit comprises charge pump circuitry configured to produce the second output voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage.