Contactless charging system and contactless charging method

• US 9,515,515 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: In Pyo Kim
• Original Assignee: Seon Seob Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Seon Seob
• Primary Examiner(s): Kik, Phallaka
• Application Number:
  US14/353,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20140300317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/109
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A contactless charging system of the disclosure includes a transmitting unit having a primary coil and a receiving unit having a secondary coil and which charges a battery electrically connected to the secondary coil by the electromagnetic induction generated between the primary coil and the secondary coil and which supplements the charging efficiency of the battery by varying a charging frequency used in the electromagnetic induction in proportion to the charging efficiency of the battery that varies according to the position of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil. In addition, a contactless charging method of the disclosure includes a step of detecting a charging frequency when a charging operation is performed by enabling the primary coil to get close to the secondary coil, and a step of outputting the charging efficiency of the battery acquired from the detected charging frequency such that a user may know the charging efficiency.

Claims

1. A contactless charging system which includes a transmitting unit having a primary coil and a receiving unit having a secondary coil, which charges a battery electrically connected to the secondary coil by electromagnetic induction generated between the primary coil and the secondary coil, and which supplements charging efficiency of the battery by varying a charging frequency between 110 kHz and 205 kHz used in the electromagnetic induction in proportion to the charging efficiency battery that varies according to the position of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil, the system comprising:

a charging efficiency notifying device installed in the transmitting unit or the receiving unit,

wherein the charging efficiency notifying device includes a frequency detecting unit detecting the charging frequency when charging is performed by making the receiving unit get close to the transmitting unit and a notification unit outputting the charging efficiency acquired from the detected charging frequency to enable a user to know the charging efficiency, and

wherein the charging frequency used in the electromagnetic induction is calibrated by detecting the charging frequency at a plurality of positions of the receiving unit relative to the transmitting unit, acquiring a minimum value and a maximum value from the plurality of detected charging frequencies and adjusting an offset value herein.

2. A contactless charging method of a contactless charging system which includes a transmitting unit having a primary coil and a receiving unit having a secondary coil, which charges a battery electrically connected to the secondary coil by electromagnetic induction generated between the primary coil and the secondary coil, and which supplements charging efficiency of the battery by varying a charging frequency used in the electromagnetic induction in proportion to the charging efficiency battery that varies according to the position of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil, the method comprising:

detecting the charging frequency when charging is performed by making the secondary coil get close to the primary coil and outputting the charging efficiency acquired from the detected charging frequency to enable a user to know the charging efficiency,

wherein the charging frequency used in the electromagnetic induction is calibrated by detecting the charging frequency at a plurality of positions of the receiving unit relative to the transmitting unit, acquiring a minimum value and a maximum value from the plurality of detected charging frequencies and adjusting an offset value herein.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

warning deviation of the secondary coil from a regular position relative to the primary coil when the charging efficiency of the battery acquired from the detected charging frequency is lower than predetermined charging efficiency.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

setting charging current of the battery to a relatively low value or stopping the contactless charging when a change of the charging frequency by changing of the position of the receiving unit relative to the transmitting unit is not detected within a predetermined time after the warning of the deviation from the regular position.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

setting the charging current of the battery to be proportional to the charging frequency in such a manner that when the charging frequency detected in the detecting of the charging frequency is relatively high, relatively high charging current is set and when the detected charging frequency is relatively low, relatively low charging current is set.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

when the detected charging frequency is lower than a predetermined frequency, the contactless charging is stopped.