Wireless power transmitting apparatus and method thereof

• US 9,711,974 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Bae, Su Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baxter, Brian K
• Application Number:
  US14/980,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20160111895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 455522, 359334
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Disclosed are a wireless power transmitting apparatus and a method thereof. The wireless power transmitting apparatus wirelessly transmits power to a wireless power receiving apparatus. The wireless power transmitting apparatus detects a wireless power transmission state between the wireless power transmitting apparatus and the wireless power receiving apparatus, and generates a control signal to control transmit power based on the detected wireless power transmission state. The wireless power transmitting apparatus generates the transmit power by using first DC power based on the control signal, and transmits the transmit power to a transmission resonance coil through a transmission induction coil unit based on an electromagnetic induction scheme.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitting apparatus wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless power receiving apparatus, the wireless power transmitting apparatus comprising:

a detector detecting a wireless power transmission state between the wireless power transmitting apparatus and the wireless power receiving apparatus;

a transmit power controller generating a control signal to control transmit power based on the detected wireless power transmission state;

an AC power generator generating an AC power using a first DC power, wherein the generated AC power is determined based on the control signal; and

a transmission coil unit transmitting the AC power to the wireless power receiving apparatus;

wherein the AC power generator comprises;

a DC-DC converter converting the first DC power into a second DC power, wherein the second DC power is determined based on the control signal; and

a DC-AC converter converting the second DC power into the AC power;

wherein the detector detects the wireless power transmission state based on a level of an output current of the DC-DC converter, and

wherein the detector detects the wireless power transmission state based on a peak-to-peak level of the output current of the DC-DC converter.

2. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit power controller comprises a DC power generation controller generating a DC power generation control signal based on the detected wireless power transmission state, and

wherein the second DC power is determined based on the DC power generation control signal.

3. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the DC power generation controller changes a duty cycle of the DC power generation control signal based on the detected wireless power transmission state.

4. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the DC-AC converter comprises a transistor circuit unit including a half-bridge structure.

5. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AC power generator comprises a full-bridge transistor circuit unit capable of operating at a half-bridge operating mode and a full-bridge operating mode,

wherein the transmit power controller comprises an AC power generation controller selecting one of the half-bridge operating mode or the full-bridge operating mode based on the detected wireless power transmission state, and generating an AC power generation control signal corresponding to the selected operating mode, and

wherein the full-bridge transistor circuit unit converts the second DC power into the AC power based on the AC power generation control signal.

6. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the full-bridge transistor circuit unit comprises:

a first transistor comprising a drain electrode having DC power applied thereto and a source electrode connected to one terminal of the transmission coil unit;

a second transistor comprising a drain electrode connected to the source electrode of the first transistor and a source electrode connected to a ground;

a third transistor comprising a drain electrode having the DC power applied thereto and a source electrode connected to an opposite terminal of the transmission coil unit; and

a fourth transistor comprising a drain electrode connected to the source electrode of the third transistor and a source electrode connected to the ground.

7. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 6, wherein, in the half-bridge operating mode, the transmit power controller turns off the third transistor, turns on the fourth transistor, turns on the first transistor, turns off the second transistor during one half period, and turns off the first transistor and turns on the second transistor during a remaining half period.

8. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 6, wherein, in the full-bridge operating mode, the transmit power controller turns on the first and fourth transistors and turns off the second and third transistors during one half period, and turns off the first and fourth transistors and turns on the second and third transistors during a remaining half period.

9. The wireless power transmitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AC power is a rectangular-waveform power.