Method and apparatus for wireless charging an electronic device

• US 9,450,445 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Joohoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/974,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20140055098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 320107-109, 320/137
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 7/00034 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

A wireless charging method for an electronic device using an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) circuit is provided. The wireless charging method includes receiving an event input through the EMR circuit, controlling an input function according to a signal received through the EMR circuit in response to an input event, and controlling a wireless charging of a target device or electronic device using energy generated through the EMR circuit in response to a charge event.

Claims

1. A wireless charging method of an electronic device having an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) circuit including one or more coils that store magnetic energy received from a magnetic field of a source device and converts the magnetic energy into electric energy to charge an internal battery of the electronic device, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller of the electronic device, a mode of operation based on a user input signal sensed by the EMR circuit;

controlling, when the controller determines the mode of operation is an input mode, execution of an input function according to the user input signal received through the EMR circuit in response to operation of the input mode; and

controlling, when the mode of operation is a charging mode, a wireless charging of the internal battery of the electronic device using electric energy converted from magnetic energy stored in the one or more coils of the EMR circuit in response to the charging mode, wherein the mode of operation is determined based on a distribution of an area sensed by the EMR circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the wireless charging comprises controlling a wireless charging of a target device or a wireless charging of the internal battery of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein controlling the wireless charging comprises determining a type of the charging mode, wherein the type of the charging mode includes an energy reception mode for charging the internal battery of the electronic device and an energy supply mode for charging the target device.

4. A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs comprising instructions which, when executed by an electronic device, cause the device to execute the method according to claim 1.

5. A wireless charging method of an electronic device having an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) circuit including one or more coils that store magnetic energy received from a magnetic field of a source device and converts the magnetic energy into electric energy to charge an internal battery of the electronic device, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller of the electronic device, a mode of operation based on a user input signal sensed by the EMR circuit;

controlling, when the controller determines the mode of operation is an input mode, execution of an input function according to the user input signal received through the EMR circuit in response to operation of the input mode; and

controlling, when the mode of operation is a charging mode, a wireless charging of the internal battery of the electronic device using electric energy converted from magnetic energy stored in the one or more coils of the EMR circuit in response to the charging mode, wherein controlling the wireless charging comprises controlling a wireless charging of a target device or a wireless charging of the internal battery of the electronic device,

wherein controlling the wireless charging comprises determining a type of the charging mode, wherein the type of the charging mode includes an energy reception mode for charging the internal battery of the electronic device and an energy supply mode for charging the target device, and

wherein determining the type of the charging mode comprises distinguishing the type of the charging mode based on a distribution of an area sensed by the EMR circuit.

6. A wireless charging method of an electronic device having an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) circuit including one or more coils that store magnetic energy received from a magnetic field of a source device and converts the magnetic energy into electric energy to charge an internal battery of the electronic device, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller of the electronic device, a mode of operation based on a user input signal sensed by the EMR circuit;

controlling, when the controller determines the mode of operation is an input mode, execution of an input function according to the user input signal received through the EMR circuit in response to operation of the input mode;

controlling, when the mode of operation is a charging mode, a wireless charging of the internal battery of the electronic device using electric energy converted from magnetic energy stored in the one or more coils of the EMR circuit in response to the charging mode, wherein controlling the wireless charging comprises controlling a wireless charging of a target device or a wireless charging of the internal battery of the electronic device,

wherein controlling the wireless charging comprises determining a type of the charging mode, wherein the type of the charging mode includes an energy reception mode for charging the internal battery of the electronic device and an energy supply mode for charging the target device, and

wherein determining of the type of the charging mode comprises;

determining the charging mode as the energy reception mode when a distribution of an area sensed by the EMR circuit is detected in an entire area of the EMR circuit; and

determining the charging mode as the energy supply mode when the distribution of an area sensed by the EMR circuit is detected in only a portion of the EMR circuit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the controlling of the wireless charging comprises:

entering, when the charging mode is the energy reception mode, the charging mode for receiving energy supplied from the source device using the EMR circuit in response to the energy reception mode;

receiving a magnetic field induced from the source device through the EMR circuit during the charging mode;

converting the received magnetic field into electric energy; and

charging the internal battery of the electronic device by the converted electric energy.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein controlling of the wireless charging comprises:

entering, when the charging mode is the energy supply mode, the charging mode for supplying energy to the target device in response to the energy supply mode;

determining a valid charging area for a charging of the target device during the charging mode; and

generating a magnetic field on the determined valid charging area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining of the valid charging area comprises:

detecting a location where the target device is placed on the entire area of the EMR circuit;

determining an area corresponding to the location of the target device as the valid charging area; and

supplying a driving current to the valid charging area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the location of the target device is achieved by a pen location recognition scheme or a surface scanning scheme by the EMR.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a guide interface guiding the target device to be placed on the area of the EMR circuit when the target device is not detected.