Reduced jamming between receivers and wireless power transmitters

• US 9,407,334 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Toncich, Stanley Slavko, Coan, Philip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/551,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20150079904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• 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 50/80 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 7/00 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to reducing jamming caused by radiated fields generated by wireless power transmitters. Exemplary embodiments include detecting a jamming condition of a wireless power receiving device resulting from a radiated field from a wireless power transmitter of a charging device. Such embodiments include synchronizing the wireless power coupling with communication of the wireless power receiving device. Synchronizing wireless power coupling may include wireless power coupling at a first level when the wireless power receiving device is expected to receive a signal on a communication channel. Synchronizing wireless power coupling may further include coupling at a higher rate when the wireless power receiving device is not expected to receive a signal on the communication channel.

Claims

1. A wireless power charger, comprising:

a wireless power transmitter configured to generate a field and provide wireless power to a wireless power receiving device that can charge the wireless power receiving device; and

a processor in communication with the wireless power transmitter and configured to monitor at least one communication channel of a wireless communication device different from the wireless power charger and reduce a power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter from a first power level to a second power level, wherein the reduction of a power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter is synchronized with time intervals when the wireless communication device different from the wireless power charger transmits or receives communication data, wherein the time intervals are determined based on a detected signal transmitted in the at least one communication channel during the monitoring.

2. The wireless power charger of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to reduce the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter by inhibiting the field generated by the wireless power transmitter.

3. The wireless power charger of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to reduce the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter from the first power level to the second power level during the time intervals corresponding to paging cycles of the wireless communication device.

4. The wireless power charger of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to reduce the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter during the time intervals when data packets are transmitted or received by the wireless communication device.

5. The wireless power charger of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is the wireless power receiving device.

6. A power receiving device configured to receive power from a wireless power charger, the power receiving device comprising:

a wireless power receiver configured to wirelessly couple to a wireless power transmitter of the wireless power charger to wirelessly receive power from the wireless power charger at a power level that can charge the device; and

a processor configured to reduce the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter, wherein the reduction of the wireless coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter is synchronized with time intervals when a wireless communication device different from the wireless power charger transmits or receives communication data, wherein the time intervals are determined based on a detected signal transmitted in at least one communication channel of the wireless communication device during monitoring of the at least one communication channel by the wireless power charger.

7. The power receiving device of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to reduce the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter by de-tuning an antenna of the wireless power receiver.

8. The power receiving device of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to reduce the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter by disconnecting an antenna of the wireless power receiver.

9. The power receiving device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to reduce the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter from a first power level to a second power level during the time intervals corresponding to paging cycles of the wireless communication device.

10. The power receiving device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to reduce the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter during the time intervals when data packets are transmitted or received by the wireless communication device.

11. A method of wirelessly charging a wireless power receiving device, the method comprising:

transmitting power wirelessly to the wireless power receiving device from a wireless power transmitter by generating an electromagnetic field at a first power level that can charge the wireless power receiving device;

monitoring at least one communication channel of a wireless communication device different from the wireless power transmitter and detecting a signal transmitted in the at least one communication channel; and

reducing a power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter from the first power level to a second power level, wherein reduction of the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter is synchronized with time intervals when the wireless communication device different from the wireless power transmitter transmits or receives communication data, wherein the time intervals are determined based on the detected signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein reducing the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter includes inhibiting the field generated by the wireless power transmitter.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter is reduced from the first power level to the second power level during the time intervals corresponding to paging cycles of the wireless communication device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the power level of the field generated by the wireless power transmitter is reduced from the first power level to the second power level during the time intervals when data packets are transmitted or received by the wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication device is the wireless power receiving device.

16. A method of wirelessly receiving power from a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

receiving power at a wireless power receiver from the wireless power transmitter via a field generated by the wireless power transmitter, the generated field having a power level that can charge the wireless power receiver; and

reducing a wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter, wherein reduction of the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter is synchronized with time intervals when a wireless communication device different from the wireless power transmitter transmits or receives communication data, wherein the time intervals are determined based on a signal detected in at least one communication channel of the wireless communication device during monitoring of the at least one communication channel by the wireless power transmitter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein reducing the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter includes de-tuning an antenna of the wireless power receiver.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein reducing the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter includes disconnecting an antenna of the wireless power receiver.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein reducing the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter includes reducing the power level of the generated field from a first power level to a second power level during the time intervals corresponding to paging cycles of the wireless communication device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein reducing the wireless power coupling between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter includes reducing the power level of the generated field during the time intervals when data packets are transmitted or received by the wireless communication device.