Systems and methods for enabling a universal back-cover wireless charging solution

• US 9,490,653 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shevde, Sumukh Ashok, Maalouf, Joseph Najib, Carobolante, Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): Kik, Phallaka
• Application Number:
  US14/337,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/109, 320/114, 455/573, 455/13.4, 455/575.7, 455/270, 323/371
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 50/90 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: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/80 Telephone line holding circuits

Abstract

Systems and methods for converting voltages between different voltage levels in a receiver are disclosed. In an aspect, a wireless power receiver apparatus for charging a chargeable device is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of receive antennas disposed on a cover of the chargeable device, wherein at least one of the plurality of receive antennas is configured to wirelessly receive power according to a wireless charging protocol different from at least one other of the plurality of receive antennas. The apparatus includes a switching circuit disposed on the cover and configured to receive the wireless power from at least one of the plurality of receive antennas and selectively provide a respective voltage from a corresponding one of the plurality of receive antennas across an output configured to be connected to an input of the chargeable device.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver apparatus for charging a chargeable device, comprising:

a plurality of receive antennas disposed on a cover of the chargeable device, at least one of the plurality of receive antennas configured to wirelessly receive power according to a wireless charging protocol different from at least one other of the plurality of receive antennas; and

a switching circuit disposed on the cover and configured to receive the wireless power from at least one of the plurality of receive antennas and selectively provide a respective voltage from a corresponding one of the plurality of receive antennas across an output configured to be connected to an input of the chargeable device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least one front end circuit disposed on the cover and configured to rectify an alternating current received from at least one of the plurality of receive antennas and provide a direct current to the switching circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output comprises a first output terminal and a second output terminal and the switching circuit comprises a plurality of switches configured to selectively provide the respective voltage across the first and second output terminals when the wireless power is received from the corresponding one of the plurality of receive antennas.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of switches comprise at least one pair of transistors having source electrodes connected together.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching circuit is configured to disable a circuit path to the output for wireless power received from any other receive antenna of the plurality of receive antennas when wireless power is received from the corresponding one of the plurality of receive antennas.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching circuit comprises a first switch configured to disable a first circuit path from a first antenna of the plurality of antennas to the output, and wherein a rectified DC voltage generated via a second antenna of the plurality of antennas in response to a wireless field is configured to control the first switch to disable the first circuit path.

7. A method for charging a chargeable device, comprising:

wirelessly receiving power from at least one of a plurality of receive antennas disposed on a cover of the chargeable device, wherein at least one of the plurality of receive antennas is configured to wirelessly receive power according to a wireless charging protocol different from at least one other of the plurality of receive antennas;

selectively providing a respective voltage from a corresponding one of the plurality of receive antennas across an output configured to be connected to an input of the chargeable device utilizing a switching circuit disposed on the cover.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising rectifying an alternating current received from at least one of the plurality of receive antennas and providing a direct current to the switching circuit.

9. The method of claim 7, comprising selectively providing the respective voltage across a first output terminal and a second output terminal of the output when the wireless power is received from the corresponding one of the plurality of receive antennas, utilizing a plurality of switches within the switching circuit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of switches comprise at least one pair of transistors having source electrodes connected together.

11. The method of claim 7, comprising disabling a circuit path between the output and any other receive antenna of the plurality of receive antennas when wireless power is received from the corresponding one of the plurality of receive antennas.

12. The method of claim 7, comprising disabling a first circuit path from a first antenna of the plurality of antennas to the output in response to detecting a presence of a rectified DC voltage generated via a second antenna of the plurality of antennas.