Method and apparatus for improved wireless charging efficiency

• US 9,876,383 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kossi, Jouni Olavi, Arponen, Jarmo Tapani
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van
• Application Number:
  US14/884,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20160105051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/37 using optical position determination, e.g. using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/22 due to variation of make-to-break ratio of intermittently-operating contacts, e.g. using Tirrill regulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for wireless charging are provided. An indicator displayed on a wireless device may assist a user in placing the device in a more efficient position on a wireless charger. The indicator may comprise an image, and moving the device such that the image aligns with an image on a wireless charger places the device is in a more efficient charging position. Other types of indicators may be displayed to assist a user in moving a device to a more efficient position on the wireless charger.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive an indication of a first position of the apparatus relative to a wireless charger;

while the apparatus is in the first position, determine a more efficient position of the apparatus relative to the wireless charger for charging the apparatus on the wireless charger, wherein the apparatus is determined to charge more efficiently in an instance the apparatus is in the more efficient position relative to an instance the apparatus is in the first position; and

provide information to the wireless charger to cause the wireless charger to provide an indicator of the more efficient position while the apparatus is in the first position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicator of the more efficient position comprises a first image provided on the apparatus replicating a second image displayed on the wireless charger such that the apparatus is in the more efficient position in an instance in which the first image is aligned with the second image.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicator of the more efficient position comprises a partial image in an instance in which the apparatus is offset from the more efficient position and a complete image in an instance in which the apparatus is in the more efficient position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive an image to be used as the indicator of the more efficient position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicator of the more efficient position indicates rotating the apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicator of the more efficient position indicates moving the apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein determining the more efficient position comprises retrieving stored position information.

8. A charging apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the charging apparatus to at least:

receive an indication of a first position of a device relative to the charging apparatus;

while the device is in the first position, determine a more efficient position of the device relative to the charging apparatus for charging the device on the charging apparatus, wherein the device is determined to charge more efficiently in an instance the device is in the more efficient position relative to an instance the device is in the first position; and

while the device is in the first position, cause provision of an indicator of the more efficient position, wherein the indicator of the more efficient position is provided at least partially via the charging apparatus.

9. The charging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the indicator of the more efficient position comprises a first image provided on the charging apparatus such that the device is in the more efficient position in an instance in which more of the first image is covered by the device relative to an instance in which less of the first image is covered by the device.

10. The charging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the charging apparatus to:

receive an image to be used as the indicator of the more efficient position.

11. The charging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the indicator of the more efficient position indicates rotating the device relative to the charging apparatus.

12. The charging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the indicator of the more efficient position indicates moving the device relative to the charging apparatus.

13. The charging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein determining the more efficient position comprises retrieving stored position information.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, from at least one of an apparatus or a wireless charger, an indication of a first position of the apparatus relative to the wireless charger;

while the apparatus is in the first position, determining the more efficient position of the apparatus relative to the wireless charger for charging the apparatus on the wireless charger, wherein the apparatus is determined to charge more efficiently in an instance the apparatus is in the more efficient position relative to an instance the apparatus is in the first position; and

while the apparatus is in the first position, cause an indicator of the more efficient position to be provided at least partially via the wireless charger.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

causing an indicator of the more efficient position to be provided via at least one of the apparatus or the wireless charger.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

causing a first image to be provided on the apparatus replicating a second image; and

causing the second image to be displayed on the wireless charger such that the apparatus is in the more efficient position in an instance in which the first image is aligned with the second image.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

causing a partial image to be displayed on the apparatus in an instance in which the apparatus is offset from the more efficient position and a complete image in an instance in which the apparatus is in the more efficient position.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

causing transmittal of an image or partial image to at least one of the apparatus or the wireless charge, wherein the image or the partial image is to be displayed as an indicator of the more efficient position on at least one of the apparatus or the wireless charger.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

causing an indicator to be provided via the apparatus, wherein the indicator of the more efficient position indicates moving the apparatus relative to the wireless charger.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein determining the more efficient position comprises retrieving stored position information.