Apparatus and method for full-orientation over-the-air charging in portable electronic devices

• US 9,614,385 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Oo, Wei Lun, Chong, Chee Khon, Lee, Sin Keng
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDANIEL, TYNESE V
• Application Number:
  US14/541,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20160141899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• 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

An apparatus and method for full-orientation over-the-air charging includes a receiver coil associated with a portable electronic device for wireless charging; and a repeater coil associated with a device selectively configured to engage or support the portable electronic device for wireless charging, wherein the device is one of a cover, holster, or case for the portable electronic device; wherein, when the device is selectively engaged or supporting the portable electronic device, a portion of the repeater coil overlaps a portion of the receiver coil forming a magnetic coupling therebetween and supporting wireless charging of the portable electronic device in a plurality of orientations of the portable electronic device relative to a transmitter coil.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device system for wirelessly charging a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device system comprising:

a receiver coil associated with the portable electronic device for wireless charging; and

a repeater coil associated with a device selectively configured to engage or support the portable electronic device for wireless charging, wherein the device is one of a cover, holster, or case for the portable electronic device;

wherein the receiver coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the receiver coil in a first plane and a second portion of the receiver coil in a second plane;

wherein the repeater coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the repeater coil in a first plane and a second portion of the repeater coil in a second plane, the second portion of the repeater coil and the second portion of the receiver coil form a magnetic coupling therebetween, and the first portion of the repeater coil and the first portion of the receiver coil having substantially no magnetic coupling therebetween due to a chassis of the portable electronic device; and

wherein, when the device is selectively engaged or supporting the portable electronic device, a portion of the repeater coil overlaps a portion of the receiver coil forming a magnetic coupling therebetween and supporting wireless charging of the portable electronic device in a plurality of orientations of the portable electronic device relative to a transmitter coil.

2. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of orientations comprise a front side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil and a back side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil and a bottom side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil.

3. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil each are L-shaped with a bottom portion of each overlapping forming a magnetic coupling therebetween.

4. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil is located on or at a back side and a bottom side of the portable electronic device, and the repeater coil is located on or at an inside and a bottom side of the device.

5. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil are formed on a flexible substrate with an approximately 90 degree bend therein.

6. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to cover a front side of the portable electronic device, the front side of the portable electronic device comprises a display and user interface mechanisms which prevent inclusion of a coil in the portable electronic device at the front side.

7. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil is coupled to a battery associated with the portable electronic device and the repeater coil is not physically connected to the battery or the receiver coil.

8. A coil arrangement for wirelessly charging a portable electronic device, the coil arrangement comprising:

a receiver coil associated with the portable electronic device for wireless charging, wherein the receiver coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the receiver coil in a first plane and a second portion of the receiver coil in a second plane;

wherein the receiver coil is configured to operate cooperatively with a repeater coil disposed in a device selectively engaged to the portable electronic device, wherein the device is one of a cover, holster, or case for the portable electronic device; and

wherein the repeater coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the repeater coil in a first plane and a second portion of the repeater coil in a second plane, the second portion of the repeater coil and the second portion of the receiver coil form a magnetic coupling therebetween, and the first portion of the repeater coil and the first portion of the receiver coil have substantially no magnetic coupling therebetween due to a chassis of the portable electronic device.

9. The coil arrangement of claim 8, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil each are L-shaped with a bottom portion of each overlapping forming a magnetic coupling therebetween.

10. The coil arrangement of claim 8, wherein the receiver coil is located on or at a back side and a bottom side of the portable electronic device, and the repeater coil is located on or at an inside and a bottom side of the device.

11. The coil arrangement of claim 8, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil are formed on a flexible substrate with an approximately 90 degree bend therein.

12. The coil arrangement of claim 8, wherein the device is configured to cover a front side of the portable electronic device, the front side of the portable electronic device comprises a display and user interface mechanisms which prevent inclusion of a coil in the portable electronic device at the front side.

13. The coil arrangement of claim 8, wherein the receiver coil is coupled to a battery associated with the portable electronic device and the repeater coil is not physically connected to the battery or the receiver coil.

14. The coil arrangement of claim 8, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil support charging of the portable electronic device in a plurality of orientations relative to a transmitter coil.

15. The coil arrangement of claim 14, wherein the plurality of orientations comprise a front side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil and a back side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil.

16. A method for wirelessly charging a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

engaging the portable electronic device with a device covering at least a front side and a bottom portion of the portable electronic device, wherein the device is one of a cover, holster, or case for the portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device has a receiver coil for wireless charging and the device has a repeater coil for wireless charging, wherein the receiver coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the receiver coil in a first plane and a second portion of the receiver coil in a second plane; and

wherein the repeater coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the repeater coil in a first plane and a second portion of the repeater coil in a second plane, the second portion of the repeater coil and the second portion of the receiver coil form a magnetic coupling therebetween, and the first portion of the repeater coil and the first portion of the receiver coil have substantially no magnetic coupling therebetween due to a chassis of the portable electronic device; and

wirelessly charging the portable electronic device, in a plurality of orientations, with the receiver coil and the repeater coil operating cooperatively.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of orientations comprise a front side of the portable electronic device facing a transmitter coil and a back side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil;

and

wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil each are L-shaped with a bottom portion of each overlapping forming a magnetic coupling therebetween.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiver coil is located on or at a back side and a bottom side of the portable electronic device, and the repeater coil is located on or at an inside and a bottom side of the device.