Wireless charging device and method for controlling the same

• US 9,472,972 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wit Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Gye Won, Lim, Hyun Keun
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Arun
• Application Number:
  US14/265,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 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: 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 7/00304 Overcurrent protection

Abstract

A wireless charging device may include: a sensor unit sensing an input from an external device and generating a wake-up signal; a control unit, upon receiving the wake-up signal, exiting from a sleep mode to enter an active mode, and generating an activation signal; a detection unit receiving the activation signal from the control unit to detect a mobile terminal; and a power supply unit, in the case that the detection unit detects the mobile terminal, supplying power to the mobile terminal wirelessly.

Claims

1. A wireless charging device, comprising:

a sensor unit configured to sense an input from an external device and generating a wake-up signal;

a control unit, in response to receiving the wake-up signal, configured to exit from a sleep mode to enter an active mode, and configured to generate an activation signal;

a detection unit configured to receive the activation signal from the control unit to detect a mobile terminal; and

a power supply unit, in response to the detection unit detecting the mobile terminal, configured to wirelessly supply power to the mobile terminal,

wherein the detection unit comprises a detection coil configured to detect the mobile terminal, the detection unit is configured to apply a reference current to the detection coil to thereby detect a change in impedance, and the detection unit is configured to apply a current having a level higher than that of the reference current to the detection coil in response to no change in impedance being detected.

2. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is configured to receive alternating current voltage from an external power source to be supplied to the mobile terminal or is configured to convert the alternating current into direct current voltage to be supplied to the mobile terminal.

3. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises a piezoelectric sensor module configured to sense pressure applied by the mobile terminal to generate the wake-up signal; and

the control unit is configured to receive the wake-up signal so as to exit the sleep mode to enter the active mode.

4. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises a magnetic sensor module configured to sense magnetic force generated by the mobile terminal to generate the wake-up signal; and

the control unit is configured to receive the wake-up signal so as to exit the sleep mode to enter the active mode.

5. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises a touch sensor module configured to sense a touch input from the mobile terminal to generate the wake-up signal; and

the control unit is configured to receive the wake-up signal so as to exit the sleep mode to enter the active mode.

6. The wireless charging power of claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display a current charging state of the mobile terminal thereon.

7. The wireless charging power of claim 1, wherein the power is supplied to the mobile terminal in a magnetic induction manner or in a magnetic resonance manner.

8. A method for controlling a wireless charging device, comprising:

sensing, by a sensor unit, an input from an external device to generate a wake-up signal;

in response to receiving the wake-up signal, by a control unit, exiting from a sleep mode to enter an active mode, and generating an activation signal;

receiving, by a detection unit, the activation signal and detecting a mobile terminal; and

wirelessly supplying power to the mobile terminal in response to the mobile terminal being detected,

wherein the detecting of the mobile terminal comprises;

applying a reference current to a detection coil to detect a change in impedance; and

applying a current having a level higher than that of the reference current to the detection coil in response to no change in impedance being detected, to detect a change in impedance.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensing of the input from the external device to generate the wake-up signal comprises:

sensing, by the sensor module, pressure applied by the mobile terminal using a piezoelectric sensor module;

generating the wake-up signal in response to the pressure applied by the mobile terminal being sensed; and

providing the wake-up signal to the control unit.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensing of the input from the external device to generate the wake-up signal comprises:

sensing, by the sensor module, magnetic force generated by the mobile terminal using a magnetic sensor module;

generating the wake-up signal in response to the magnetic force generated by the mobile terminal being sensed; and

providing the wake-up signal to the control unit.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensing of the input from the external device to generate the wake-up signal comprises:

sensing, by the sensor module, a touch input from the mobile terminal using a touch sensor module;

generating the wake-up signal in response to the touch input from the mobile terminal being sensed; and

providing the wake-up signal to the control unit.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the supplying of the power to the mobile terminal wirelessly comprises supplying the power to the mobile terminal in a magnetic induction manner or supplying the power to the mobile terminal in a magnetic resonance manner.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a current charging state of the mobile terminal on a screen.