Power transmitter and method for controlling power transmission

• US 9,558,883 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yu-Su, Byun, Kang-Ho, Lee, Kyung-Woo, Park, Se-Ho, Yeo, Sung-Ku, Lee, Young-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warmflash, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/875,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20130293028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting a non-intended object of power reception by a power transmitter. Power transmission for communication is performed, when the load change is sensed that has a value greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold. It is determined whether a subscription request, for subscribing to a network is received within a predetermined time period. The power transmission for communication is stopped when the subscription request is not received within the predetermined time period. Power is transmitted to a power receiver that has transmitted the subscription request, when the subscription request is received within the predetermined time period. It is determined whether a leakage power value exceeds an allowable range, when the power state report is received from the power receiver. The transmission of the power to the power receiver is stopped, when the leakage power value exceeds the allowable range.

Claims

1. A method for providing power to a power receiver by a power transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a load change caused by displacement of the power receiver;

applying power for eliciting a response of the power receiver, if the load change is detected;

receiving, from the power receiver, request information including a power value required by the power receiver;

transmitting power to the power receiver, if the power transmitter is able to supply the power value;

receiving a power state report from the power receiver in response to the power transmission; and

stopping the power transmission, if a leakage power value exceeds a threshold range, wherein the leakage power value is determined based on the power state report.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the power value required by the power receiver is capable of being supplied, if the request information is received within the predetermined time period; and

stopping the power transmission, if the power transmitter is not able to supply the power value.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein determining whether the power value required by the power receiver is capable of being supplied comprises determining whether a sum of a power value measured by the power transmitter and the power value required by the power receiver exceeds a maximum output power value of the power transmitter.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the power receiver is capable of subscribing to a network, by using information included in the request information, if the request information is received within a predetermined time period; and

stopping the power transmission, when the power receiver is not capable of subscribing to the network.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising transmitting a network subscription approval message before the power is transmitted to the power receiver, if the power receiver is capable of subscribing to the network.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the request information comprises at least one of:

an identification (ID) of the power receiver that has transmitted the request information;

a protocol version for communication; and

a reference load value and a reference efficiency value of the power receiver.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein applying the power comprises:

measuring a load value of the power transmitter;

comparing the measured load value with a predetermined threshold; and

transmitting the power to the receiver, when a result of the comparison shows that the load change is detected that has a value greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising continuing to transmit the power to the power receiver if the leakage power value does not exceed the threshold range.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein information included in the power state report includes a voltage value or a current value that the power receiver measures in response to the transmission of the power from the power transmitter.

10. A power transmitter for providing power, the power transmitter comprising:

a communication unit for performing wireless communication;

a power supply unit for supplying power so as to generate a resonance frequency signal determined by a controller;

a voltage/current measurement unit for detecting a voltage and a current of a signal generated by the power supply unit;

a resonance signal generator for transmitting the power delivered by the power supply unit to one or more power receivers; and

the controller for

detecting that the voltage/current measurement unit detects a load change caused by displacement of a power receiver,

controlling the resonance signal generator to apply power for eliciting a response of the power receiver, if the voltage/current measurement unit detects the load change,

receiving, from the power receiver, request information including a power value required by the power receiver,

performing a control operation so as to transmit power to the power receiver, if the Dower transmitter is able to supply the power value,

receiving a power state report from the power receiver in response to the power transmission, and

performing a control operation so as to stop the power transmission to the power receiver, if a leakage power value exceeds a threshold range, wherein the leakage power value is determined based on the power state report.

11. The power transmitter as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller determines whether the power value required by the power receiver is capable of being supplied if the request information is received within a predetermined time period, and performs a control operation so as to stop the power transmission if the power transmitter is not able to supply the power value.

12. The power transmitter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller determines whether a sum of a power value detected by the power transmitter and the power value required by the power receiver exceeds a maximum output power value of the power transmitter, and performs a control operation so as to stop the power transmission to the power receiver when the sum exceeds the maximum output power value.

13. The power transmitter as claimed in claim 10, wherein the request information comprises at least one of:

an identification (ID) of the power receiver that has transmitted the request information;

a protocol version for communication; and

a reference load value and a reference efficiency value of the power receiver.

14. The power transmitter as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller determines, by using information included in the request information, whether the power receiver is capable of subscribing to a network if the request information is received within a predetermined time period, and performs a control operation so as to stop the power transmission if the power receiver is not capable of subscribing to the network.

15. The power transmitter as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controller performs a control operation so as to transmit a network subscription approval message before the power is transmitted to the power receiver when the power receiver is capable of subscribing to the network.

16. The power transmitter as claimed in claim 10, wherein information included in the power state report includes a voltage value or a current value that the power receiver detects in response to the power transmission from the power transmitter.

17. The power transmitter as claimed in claim 16, wherein the controller determines whether a value calculated by adding a power value required by the power receiver, which is calculated by using information included in the power state report, to a power value transmitted by the power transmitter is less than a maximum output power value of the power transmitter, and determines that the power is capable of being transmitted when the calculated value is less than the maximum output power value of the power transmitter.