Wireless power for chargeable and charging devices

• US 9,407,327 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirby, Miles A., Grob, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PELTON, NATHANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US12/695,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,378 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A method may comprise detecting one or more transmit elements positioned within an associated charging region. The method may further comprise selecting at least one transmit element of the detected one or more transmit elements to receive wireless power therefrom to enable for optimal charging of a charging device.

Claims

1. A chargeable device, comprising:

at least one receive element configured to receive wireless power; and

a receive circuit configured to;

detect a plurality of wireless chargers according to one or more protocols, or one or more frequencies, or both, a first charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers,

receive an amount of power from at least the first and second chargers of the detected plurality of wireless chargers,

determine the amount of power received from the first and second chargers,

select one of the first charger or the second charger from which to receive the wireless power based on (a) the associated protocol or frequency and (b) the amount of power received, and

receive the wireless power to charge or power a load.

2. The chargeable device of claim 1, the receive circuit further configured to detect the plurality of wireless chargers by sampling for wireless chargers operating with at least one of the one or more protocols.

3. The chargeable device of claim 2, the receive circuit further configured to detect the plurality of wireless chargers by sampling for wireless chargers operating with a near-field resonance protocol, or an inductive coupling protocol, or both.

4. The chargeable device of claim 1, the receive circuit further configured to detect the plurality of wireless chargers by sampling for wireless chargers resonating at the one or more frequencies.

5. The chargeable device of claim 4, the receive circuit further configured to detect the plurality of wireless chargers by sampling for wireless chargers resonating at one or more unlicensed ISM band frequencies.

6. The chargeable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor configured to determine which one of the plurality of chargers provides most efficient transfer of wireless power to the load based on a position of the first and second chargers relative to the load; and

a location device configured for determining a location thereof.

7. The chargeable device of claim 1, the at least one receive element comprising at least one of a receive antenna and a coil.

8. The chargeable device of claim 1, the receive circuit further configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers.

9. The chargeable device of claim 1, the receive circuit further configured to control at least one operation of at least one charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers.

10. A method of operating a:

chargeable device, comprising;

detecting a plurality of wireless chargers according to one or more protocols, or one or more specific frequencies, or both, a first charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers;

receiving an amount of power from at least the first and second chargers of the detected plurality of wireless chargers;

determining the amount of power received from the first and second chargers; and

selecting one of the first charger or the second charger from which to receive the wireless power based on (a) the associated protocol or frequency and (b) the amount of power received to enable charging of the chargeable device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the plurality of wireless chargers comprises detecting a plurality of wireless chargers according to a near-field resonance protocol, or an inductive coupling protocol, or both.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of wireless chargers comprises detecting a plurality of wireless chargers resonating at least one unlicensed ISM band frequency.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting comprises:

sequentially receiving wireless power from each charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers sufficient to power or charge the chargeable device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting comprises selecting chargers from among the detected plurality of wireless chargers to receive wireless power therefrom in a time-domain multiplexing method.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting a version of one or more chargers of the detected plurality of wireless chargers.

16. A chargeable device, comprising:

means for detecting a plurality of wireless chargers according to one or more protocols, or one or more frequencies, or both, a first charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers;

means for receiving an amount of power from at least the first and second chargers of the detected plurality of wireless chargers;

means for determining the amount of power received from the first and second chargers; and

means for selecting one of the first charger or the second charger from which to receive the wireless power based (a) on the associated protocol or frequency and (b) the amount of power received to enable charging of the chargeable device.

17. A charger for transmitting wireless power, comprising:

at least one transmit element configured to wirelessly transmit the wireless power; and

a transmit circuit configured to;

detect a plurality of chargeable devices positioned within an associated charging region according to one or more protocols, or one or more frequencies, or both, a first chargeable device of the detected chargeable devices associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second chargeable device of the detected chargeable devices,

transmit an amount of power to at least the first and second chargeable devices of the detected plurality of chargeable devices,

determine the amount of power received by the first and second chargeable devices,

select one of the first chargeable device or the second chargeable device to transmit the wireless power to based on (a) the associated protocol or frequency, and (b) the amount of power received, and

transmit the wireless power to at least one of the detected chargeable devices.

18. The charger of claim 17, the transmit circuit further configured to detect the plurality of chargeable devices by sampling for chargeable devices operating with at least one of the one or more protocols.

19. The charger of claim 18, the transmit circuit further configured to detect the plurality of chargeable devices by sampling for chargeable devices operating with a near-field resonance protocol, or an inductive coupling protocol, or both.

20. The charger of claim 17, the transmit circuit further configured to detect the plurality of chargeable devices by sampling for chargeable devices resonating at least one of the one or more frequencies.

21. The charger of claim 17, the transmit circuit further configured to detect the plurality of chargeable devices by sampling for chargeable devices resonating at least one unlicensed ISM band.

22. The Charger of claim 17, further comprising a location device configured for determining a location thereof.

23. The charger of claim 17, the at least one transmit element comprising at least one of a transmit antenna and a coil.

24. A method of operating a wireless charger, comprising:

detecting a plurality of chargeable devices positioned within an associated charging region according to one or more protocols, or one or more frequencies, or both, a first chargeable device of the detected chargeable devices associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second chargeable device of the detected chargeable devices;

transmitting an amount of power to at least the first and second chargeable devices of the detected plurality of chargeable devices;

determining the amount of power received by the first and second chargeable devices; and

selecting one of the first chargeable device or the second chargeable device to transmit the wireless power to based on (a) the associated protocol or frequency and (b) the amount of power received to enable a charging solution of at least one of the detected chargeable devices.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein detecting the plurality of chargeable devices comprises detecting the plurality of chargeable devices according to a near-filed resonance protocol, or an inductive coupling protocol, or both.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein detecting the plurality of chargeable devices comprises detecting one or more receive elements resonating at least one unlicensed ISM band frequency.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein selecting comprises selecting at least one chargeable devices of the detected plurality of chargeable devices to transmit wireless power thereto in a time-domain multiplexing method.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising detecting a version of at least one of the chargeable devices.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein selecting comprises selecting the at least one chargeable device of the detected plurality of chargeable devices having a highest charging efficiency with the wireless charger from among the detected plurality of chargeable devices.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein selecting comprises selecting the at least one chargeable device having a lowest charging level from among the detected plurality of chargeable devices.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving a signal indicative of an amount of power received at each chargeable device.

32. A wireless charger, comprising:

means for detecting a plurality of chargeable devices positioned within an associated charging region according to one or more protocols, or one or more frequencies, or both, a first chargeable device of the detected chargeable devices associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second chargeable device of the detected chargeable devices;

means for transmitting an amount of power to at least the first and second chargeable devices of the detected plurality of chargeable devices;

means for determining the amount of power received by the first and second chargeable devices; and

means for selecting one of the first chargeable device or the second chargeable device to transmit the wireless power to based on (a) the associated protocol or frequency and (b) the amount of power received to enable a charging solution of at least one of the detected chargeable devices.