Method and apparatus for transmitting wireless power

• US 9,768,621 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung-Woo, Byun, Kang-Ho, Park, Se-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitmore, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US14/624,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20150162779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 320107-108
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting wireless power in a wireless power network managed by a wireless power transmitter. The method includes transmitting a command signal, at stated periods, that controls the first wireless power receiver to report power information to the wireless power transmitter; determining whether a report signal corresponding to the command signal is received from the first wireless power receiver; and determining that the first wireless power receiver is removed from the wireless power network, when the report signal is not received from the first wireless power receiver after transmitting the command signal a predetermined number of times at the stated periods.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitter, comprising:

a resonator;

a communication device; and

a processor configured to;

register a wireless power receiver to a wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter,

control such that a charging power for charging the wireless power receiver is applied to the resonator,

detect at least one of a change of load of the resonator, a change of voltage of the resonator, and a change of current of the resonator,

detect that the communication unit fails to receive a communication signal from the wireless power receiver, and

in response to detecting the at least one of the change of load of the resonator, the change of voltage of the resonator, and the change of current of the resonator and detecting that the communication unit fails to receive the communication signal from the wireless power receiver, remove the wireless power receiver from the wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter.

2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to remove the wireless power receiver from the wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter, when the communication unit fails to receive the communication signal in a predetermined time.

3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to control such that a detecting power for detecting another load change caused by a placement of an object is applied to the resonator, when no wireless power receivers remain registered to the wireless power network after removing the wireless power receiver from the wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter.

4. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust an amount of the charging power applied to the resonator, in response to removing the wireless power receiver from the wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter.

5. A control method of a wireless power transmitter, the control method comprising:

registering a wireless power receiver to a wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter;

applying a charging power for charging the wireless power receiver to a resonator of the wireless power transmitter;

detecting at least one of a change of load of the resonator, a change of voltage of the resonator, and a change of current of the resonator;

detecting that a communication unit of the wireless power transmitter fails to receive a communication signal from the wireless power receiver; and

in response to detecting the at least one of the change of load of the resonator, the change of voltage of the resonator, and the change of current of the resonator and detecting that the communication unit fails to receive the communication signal from the wireless power receiver, removing the wireless power receiver from the wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter.

6. The control method of claim 5, wherein removing the wireless power receiver from the wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter comprises removing the wireless power receiver from the wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter, when the communication unit fails to receive the communication signal in a predetermined time.

7. The control method of claim 5, further comprising applying a detecting power for detecting another load change caused by a placement of an object to the resonator, when no wireless power receivers remain registered to the wireless power network after removing the wireless power receiver from the wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter.

8. The control method of claim 5, wherein further comprising adjusting an amount of the charging power applied to the resonator, in response to removing the wireless power receiver from the wireless power network corresponding to the wireless power transmitter.