Wireless power transmitters and receivers, and method for permitting a wireless power receiver by a wireless power transmitter

• US 9,768,637 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2013
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Hyuk-Choon, Kim, Ho-Dong, Lee, Kyung-Woo, Byun, Kang-Ho, Jung, Hee-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US14/058,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for permitting a wireless power receiver to be charged by a wireless power transmitter. The method includes generating a Power Receiving Unit (PRU) control signal including permission information indicating charging permission for the wireless power receiver; and transmitting the PRU control signal to the wireless power receiver.

Claims

1. A method for permitting a wireless power receiver to be charged by a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:

if the wireless power transmitter is not able to charge the wireless power receiver due to limited available power, generating a first Power Receiving Unit (PRU) control signal including a permission field indicating that charging the wireless power receiver is permitted with waiting time and transmitting the first PRU control signal to the wireless power receiver; and

if the wireless power transmitter has available power, generating a second PRU control signal including a permission field indicating that the wireless power receiver is permitted to begin charging and transmitting the second PRU control signal to the wireless power receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the wireless power receiver a PRU reporting signal including standby information indicating whether the wireless power receiver is on standby for charging.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising preparing for charging the wireless power receiver, if the standby information indicates that the wireless power receiver is on standby for charging.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first PRU control signal includes maintaining a connection with the wireless power receiver if the wireless power transmitter remains in a power transfer state of the wireless power transmitter.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising terminating a connection with the wireless power receiver, when the standby information indicates that the wireless power receiver is not on standby for charging.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising entering into a latch fault state, when the standby information indicates that the wireless power receiver is not on standby for the charging.

7. A control method of a wireless power receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a wireless power transmitter, a first Power Receiving Unit (PRU) control signal including a permission field indicating that charging the wireless power receiver is permitted with waiting time if the wireless power transmitter is not able to charge the wireless power receiver due to limited available power;

determining whether to be on standby;

generating a PRU reporting signal including standby information indicating whether or not the wireless power receiver is determined to be on standby for charging;

transmitting the PRU reporting signal to the wireless power transmitter; and

receiving, a second PRU control signal including a permission field indicating that the wireless power receiver is permitted to begin charging if wireless power transmitter has available power.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether to be on standby comprises:

querying a user of the wireless power receiver whether or not to be on standby;

receiving an indication from the user in response to the querying; and

setting the standby information as standby-on information, if the indication from the user indicates to be on standby for charging.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether to be on standby further comprises setting the standby information as standby-off information, if the indication from the user indicates not to be on standby for charging.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether to be on standby comprises:

querying a user of the wireless power receiver whether or not to be on standby;

failing to receive an indication from the user in response to the querying, within a predetermined period of time; and

setting the standby information as standby-off information, based on the failing to receive the indication.

11. A wireless power transmitter for wirelessly charging a wireless power receiver, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

a power transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit charging power to the wireless power receiver;

a controller configured to generate a first Power Receiving Unit (PRU) control signal including a permission field indicating that charging the wireless power receiver is permitted with waiting time if the wireless power transmitter is not able to charge the wireless power receiver due to limited available power; and

a communication unit configured to transmit the first PRU control signal to the wireless power receiver,

wherein the controller generates a second PRU control signal including a permission field indicating that the wireless power receiver is permitted to begin charging, if the wireless power transmitter has available power and controls the communication unit to transmit the second PRU control signal to the wireless power receiver.

12. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive a PRU reporting signal including standby information from the wireless power receiver indicating whether or not the wireless power receiver is on standby for charging;

and

wherein the controller is configured to identify whether the wireless power receiver is on standby for charging from the PRU reporting signal.

13. The wireless power transmitter of claim 12, wherein the controller prepares for charging the wireless power receiver if the standby information indicates that the wireless power receiver is on standby for charging.

14. The wireless power transmitter of claim 12, wherein the controller keeps the connection with the wireless power receiver if it is found that the wireless power receiver is to be on standby for charging.

15. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein the controller maintains a connection with the wireless power receiver if the wireless power transmitter remains in a power transfer state.

16. The wireless power transmitter of claim 12, wherein the controller terminates the connection with the wireless power receiver if it is found that the wireless power receiver is not to be on standby for charging.

17. The wireless power transmitter of claim 12, wherein the controller turns into a latch fault state if it is found that the wireless power receiver is not to be on standby for charging.

18. A wireless power receiver for being wirelessly charged by a wireless power transmitter, the wireless power receiver comprising:

a power receiver configured to receive charging power from the wireless power transmitter;

a communication unit configured to receive, from the wireless power transmitter, a first Power Receiving Unit (PRU) control signal including a permission field indicating that charging the wireless power receiver is permitted with waiting time when the wireless power transmitter is not able to charge the wireless power receiver due to limited available power;

a display unit configured to display a message asking a user whether to be on standby; and

a controller configured to generate a PRU reporting signal including standby information indicating whether the wireless power receiver is on standby for charging and to control the communication unit to transmit the PRU reporting signal to the wireless power transmitter,

wherein the communication unit receives a second PRU control signal including a permission field indicating that the wireless power receiver is permitted to begin charging if the wireless power transmitter has available power.

19. The wireless power receiver of claim 18, wherein the controller indicates standby-on information in the PRU reporting signal if standby for charging is selected by an input means from the message on the screen.

20. The wireless power receiver of claim 18, wherein the controller indicates standby-off information in the PRU reporting signal if standby for charging is not selected by an input means from the message on the screen.

21. The wireless power receiver of claim 18, wherein the controller indicates standby-off information in the PRU reporting signal if standby for charging is not selected within a predetermined period of time from the message on the screen.