Wireless power transmitter tuning

• US 9,484,766 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2013
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wheeland, Cody Burton, Liu, Xiaoyu, Mayo, Gabriel Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/108,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20150171657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for tuning a wireless power transmitter. In one aspect a device configured to wirelessly provide power to a load is provided. The device includes a signal driver configured to provide power along a power path. The device further includes a first tuning circuit along the power path, configured to tune reactance at the signal driver, introducing undesired harmonic content. The device further includes a second tuning circuit along the power path, configured to tune reactance at the signal driver and to generate complementary harmonic content, at least partly canceling the harmonic generated at the first tuning circuit.

Claims

1. A device configured to provide wireless power, comprising:

a signal driver configured to provide power along a power path;

a first tuning circuit along the power path, configured to tune reactance at the signal driver; and

a second tuning circuit along the power path, configured to tune reactance at the signal driver and to at least partly cancel a harmonic generated at the first tuning circuit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits comprises a switch configured to adjust a reactance of the power path.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits comprises a switch in parallel with a reactive element, and wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits is configured to adjust the reactance of the transmit circuit by opening or closing the switch.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the reactive element comprises a capacitor.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transmit coil having a center tap.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal driver comprises a differential driver.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal driver comprises a single-ended driver.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits comprises a two or more transistors, the two or more transistors being in parallel with a reactive element, and wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits is configured to adjust the reactance of the transmit circuit by enabling the two or more transistors.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit is configured to wirelessly provide power to a receive circuit to provide power to the load, the receiver circuit being configured to resonate at the resonant frequency.

10. A method of providing wireless power, comprising:

providing, at a signal driver, power along a power path;

generating a harmonic at a first tuning circuit along the power path; and

generating another harmonic at a second tuning circuit along the power path, the another harmonic at least partly canceling the harmonic generated at the first tuning circuit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits comprises a switch configured to adjust a reactance of the power path.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits comprises a switch in parallel with a reactive element, and wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits is configured to adjust the reactance of the transmit circuit by opening or closing the switch.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reactive element comprises a capacitor.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing wireless power to a receiver via a transmit coil having a center tap.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein providing power comprises providing a differential signal.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein providing power comprises providing a single-ended signal.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits comprises a two or more transistors, the two or more transistors being in parallel with a reactive element, the method further comprising adjusting the reactance of the transmit circuit by enabling the two or more transistors.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing power to a receive circuit to provide power to the load, the receiver circuit being configured to resonate at the resonant frequency.

19. An apparatus for providing wireless power, comprising:

means for providing power along a power path;

first means for tuning the power path and generating a harmonic; and

second means for tuning the power path and generating another harmonic, the another harmonic at least partly canceling the harmonic generated by the first means for tuning.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second first means for tuning comprises a switch configured to adjust a reactance of the power path.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second first means for tuning comprises a switch in parallel with a reactive element, and wherein at least one of the first and second tuning circuits is configured to adjust the reactance of the transmit circuit by opening or closing the switch.