Apparatus and method for detecting foreign objects in wireless power transmission system

• US 9,419,478 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Hybrid Technologies, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Hanrim Postech Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Chun-Kil, Hong, Sug Ky
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/099,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20140091639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• 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: 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for detecting foreign objects in a wireless power transmission system. This specification provides a wireless power reception apparatus for detecting foreign objects, including a power measurement unit for generating required power information indicative of required power for the wireless power reception apparatus, sending the required power information to a wireless power transmission apparatus, and measuring power induced from the wireless power transmission apparatus and a secondary coil for receiving the power induced from the wireless power transmission apparatus. In accordance with the present invention, foreign objects intervened between the wireless power transmission apparatus and the wireless power reception apparatus are recognized, and a user removes the foreign objects. Accordingly, damage to a device attributable to foreign objects can be prevented.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission method of a wireless power transmission apparatus in a wireless power transmission system comprising a power transmission path that is generated by magnetic resonance coupling between a primary coil included in the wireless power transmission apparatus and a secondary coil included in a wireless power reception apparatus, comprising:

receiving first control information using a communication path, wherein the first control information is generated based on a desired power of the wireless power reception apparatus;

generating a wireless power based on the first control information, and transmitting the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus using the magnetic resonance coupling;

receiving second control information using the communication path, wherein the second control information is generated based on a wireless power measured by the wireless power reception apparatus; and

controlling the wireless power based on the first control information and the second control information.

2. The wireless power transmission method of claim 1, wherein the first control information is a numerically indicated power value.

3. The wireless power transmission method of claim 1, wherein the controlling of the wireless power comprises calculating a lost power based on the first control information and the second control information, and determining that a foreign object is present when the lost power is greater than a threshold value.

4. The wireless power transmission method of claim 3, wherein when the foreign object is determined to be present, the wireless power transmission apparatus is configured to execute a power suspending mode.

5. A wireless power reception method of a wireless power reception apparatus in a wireless power transmission system comprising a power transmission path that is generated by magnetic resonance coupling between a primary coil included in a wireless power transmission apparatus and a secondary coil included in the wireless power reception apparatus, comprising:

generating first control information based on a desired power of the wireless power reception apparatus;

transmitting the first control information to the wireless power transmission apparatus using a communication path;

receiving a wireless power generated based on the first control information using the magnetic resonance coupling;

measuring an amount of the received wireless power;

generating second control information based on the measured wireless power;

transmitting the second control information to the wireless power transmission apparatus using the communication path; and

receiving a wireless power controlled by the wireless power transmission apparatus based on the first control information and the second control information.

6. The wireless power reception method of claim 5, wherein the first control information is a numerically indicated power value.

7. The wireless power reception method of claim 5, wherein the controlling, by the wireless power transmission apparatus, the wireless power comprises calculating a lost power based on the first control information and the second information, and determining that a foreign object is present when the lost power is greater than a threshold value.

8. The wireless power reception method of claim 7, wherein when the foreign object is determined to be present, the wireless power transmission apparatus is configured to execute a power suspending mode.

9. A wireless power transmission apparatus, comprising:

a primary coil coupled with a secondary coil included in a wireless power reception apparatus and configured to generate magnetic resonance coupling with the secondary coil; and

a control unit configured to receive first control information using a communication path, wherein the first control information is generated based on a desired power of the wireless power reception apparatus,

wherein the primary coil is configured to transmit a wireless power generated based on the first control information to the secondary coil using the magnetic resonance coupling, and

the control unit is configured to receive second control information using the communication path, wherein the second control information is generated based on a wireless power measured by the wireless power reception apparatus, and to control the wireless power based on the first control information and the second control information.

10. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first control information is a numerically indicated power value.

11. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate a lost power based on the first control information and the second control information, and to determine that a foreign object is present when the lost power is greater than a threshold value.

12. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 11, wherein when the foreign object is determined to be present, the wireless power transmission apparatus is configured to execute a power suspending mode.

13. A wireless power reception apparatus, comprising:

a secondary coil coupled with a primary coil included in a wireless power transmission apparatus and configured to generate magnetic resonance coupling with the primary coil; and

a measurement unit configured to transmit first control information using a communication method, wherein the first control information is generated based on a desired power of the wireless power reception apparatus,

wherein the secondary coil is configured to receive a wireless power generated based on the first control information using the magnetic resonance coupling, and

the measurement unit is configured to measure an amount of the received wireless power, and to transmit second control information using the communication path, wherein the second control information is generated based on a wireless power measured by the wireless power reception apparatus, so that the wireless power is controlled by the wireless power transmission apparatus based on the first control information and the second control information.

14. The wireless power reception apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first control information is a numerically indicated power value.

15. The wireless power reception apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wireless power transmission apparatus is configured to calculate a lost power based on the first control information and the second information, and to determine that a foreign object is present when the lost power is greater than a threshold value.

16. The wireless power reception apparatus of claim 15, wherein when the foreign object is determined to be present, the wireless power transmission apparatus is configured to execute a power suspending mode.