Wireless power transmitting device

• US 9,793,739 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Koren, Dotan, Ziv, Aran, Petzinger, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Parihar, Suchin
• Application Number:
  US14/018,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20150042269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• 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

Abstract

A wireless charging device includes a wireless transmitter with an electromagnetic emitting portion. The wireless charging device also includes a seat having a surface and at least one protrusion from the surface. The seat accommodates at least one wireless power receiving device. The seat has an active area that contains the electromagnetic emitting portion. The at least one protrusion is configured as a guide for two sides of the at least one wireless power receiving device for placement over the active area. The placement of the at least one wireless power receiving device over the active area enables transferring of power to the at least one wireless power receiving device.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitting device comprising:

a wireless transmitter with an electromagnetic-energy emitting portion; and

a seat having a first structure, a second structure, and an active area that contains the electromagnetic-energy emitting portion,

wherein the first structure and the second structure are configured to align at least one wireless power receiving device in a first direction and a second direction for placement, over the active area, of the at least one wireless power receiving device and to enable an unobstructed view of at least one surface of the at least one wireless power receiving device upon alignment of the at least one wireless power receiving device over the active area,

wherein the first structure is further configured to align the at least one wireless power receiving device over the active area in the first direction while the at least one wireless power receiving device is moved in the second direction,

wherein the second structure is further configured to align the at least one wireless power receiving device over the active area in the second direction while the at least one wireless power receiving device is moved in the first direction,

wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction, and

wherein the placement of the at least one wireless power receiving device over the active area enables transferring of power to the at least one wireless power receiving device.

2. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the second structure comprises a barrier and a protrusion, wherein the barrier adjoins a first edge of the wireless power transmitting device, and wherein the protrusion adjoins a second edge of the wireless power transmitting device.

3. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the second structure comprises at least one protrusion, and wherein the at least one protrusion and the active area are configured to enable charging of one or more wireless power receiving devices on each side of the at least one protrusion.

4. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the active area is configured to enable transferring of the power to the at least one wireless power receiving device even when the at least one wireless power receiving device is partially misaligned over the active area.

5. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the active area is configured to transfer power to multiple wireless power receiving devices having different dimensions.

6. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the seat is configured to accommodate a particular wireless power receiving device at multiple orientations of the particular wireless power receiving device.

7. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 6, wherein the second structure is further configured to at least partially support the at least one wireless power receiving device when placed on the seat while the seat is in a horizontal orientation, a vertical orientation, or any other angle.

8. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the second structure includes a first barrier and a second barrier.

9. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 8, wherein the first barrier is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to the second barrier.

10. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 9, wherein the non-zero angle is about ninety degrees.

11. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 8, wherein the first barrier and the second barrier form a continuous barrier.

12. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first barrier or the second barrier comprises a non-continuous barrier.

13. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 12, wherein the first barrier comprises a non-continuous barrier that includes multiple sub-barriers.

14. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 8, wherein a first position of the first barrier on the seat and a second position of the second barrier on the seat are non-adjustable.

15. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 8, wherein at least one of a first position of the first barrier on the seat or a second position of the second barrier on the seat is adjustable.

16. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 8, wherein the first barrier is coupled to the seat proximate to a first edge of the first structure, and wherein the second barrier is coupled to the seat proximate to a second edge of the first structure that is adjacent to the first edge.

17. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the first structure and the second structure are further configured to support the at least one wireless power receiving device in a vertical orientation when the seat is in contact with a resting surface along a first edge of the seat and is inclined with respect to the resting surface.

18. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein an angle of orientation between the wireless power transmitting device and a resting surface on which the wireless power transmitting device is placed is adjustable without interrupting power transmission to the at least one wireless power receiving device during adjustment of the angle.

19. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 18, wherein a rate of power transfer of the power transmission is unaffected by the adjustment of the angle.

20. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the second structure comprises a first wall and a second wall, the second wall oriented at an angle of about ninety degrees with respect to the first wall.

21. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the second structure comprises a first post and a second post.

22. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the second structure comprises a first group of posts and a second group of posts.

23. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the first structure and the second structure are further configured to oppose movement of the at least one wireless power receiving device in the first direction and the second direction for placement of the at least one wireless power receiving device over the active area.

24. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the first structure and the second structure are further configured to guide a reception area of the at least one wireless power receiving device into alignment with the active area upon contact of the at least one wireless power receiving device with the first structure and the second structure.

25. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface adjoins a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner of the at least one wireless power receiving device, and wherein the first structure and the second structure are further configured to enable an unobstructed view of an entire extent of the at least one surface upon contact of the at least one wireless power receiving device with the first structure and the second structure.

26. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, further comprising a kickstand device configured to enable adjustment of an angle of inclination of the wireless power transmitting device and a resting surface.

27. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one wireless power receiving device includes a first wireless power receiving device that has a first size,

the first structure and the second structure are further configured to align a second wireless power receiving device over the active area upon contact of the second wireless power receiving device with the first structure and the second structure, and

the second wireless power receiving device has a second size different than the first size.

28. An apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly transmitting electromagnetic energy to a wireless receiver of an electronic device to charge the electronic device;

means for aligning the wireless receiver in a first direction over an active area of the means for wirelessly transmitting electromagnetic energy while the electronic device is moved in a second direction and for providing access to an extent of a front surface of the electronic device upon contact of the electronic device with the means for aligning the wireless receiver in the first direction; and

means for aligning the wireless receiver in the second direction over the active area of the means for wirelessly transmitting electromagnetic energy while the electronic device is moved in the first direction and for providing access to the extent of the front surface upon contact of the electronic device with the means for aligning the wireless receiver in the second direction;

wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for aligning the wireless receiver in the first direction and the means for aligning the wireless receiver in the second direction are configured to align the electronic device over the active area upon contact of the electronic device with the means for aligning the wireless receiver in the first direction and the means for aligning the wireless receiver in the second direction.