System and method for wireless power transfer using automatic power supply selection

• US 9,898,060 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Incorporated (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Incorporated (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Nicholaus W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Terrell
• Application Number:
  US14/752,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20160077562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources

Abstract

A system and method of wireless power transfer using automatic power supply selection includes an electronic system. The electronic system includes an electronics module, a primary power supply that receives power from a primary external power source, a secondary power supply that receives power from a secondary external power source, and a selection module. When the primary power supply is operative, the selection module selects the primary power supply to supply power to the electronics module and disables the secondary power supply. When the primary power supply is not operative and the secondary power supply is operative, the selection module selects the secondary power supply to supply power to the electronics module. When the secondary power supply is disabled, the secondary power supply disables the secondary external power source.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

an electronics module;

a primary power supply that receives power from a primary external power source and supplies the received power to the electronics module when operative;

a secondary power supply that receives power from a secondary external power source and supplies the received power to the electronics module when operative; and

a selection module having first and second input rails coupled to the primary and secondary power supplies, respectively, an output rail coupled to the electronics module, a first switch coupled between the first input rail and the output rail, and a second switch coupled between the second input rail and the output rail;

wherein;

when the primary power supply is operative, the selection module selects the primary power supply to supply power to the electronics module and disables the secondary power supply, wherein the first switch is closed and the second switch is open;

when the primary power supply is not operative and the secondary power supply is operative, the selection module selects the secondary power supply to supply power to the electronics module, wherein the first switch is open and the second switch is closed; and

when the secondary power supply is disabled, the secondary power supply disables the secondary external power source;

and wherein when the first or second switch is open, reverse leakage current is blocked from flowing from the output rail towards the input rail corresponding to the open switch.

2. The electronic system of claim 1, further comprising a battery coupled to the electronics module.

3. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the secondary power supply includes a wireless power receiver and the secondary external power source includes a wireless power transmitter.

4. The electronic system of claim 3, wherein when the secondary power supply is disabled and engaged with the secondary external power source, the wireless power receiver disables the wireless power transmitter.

5. The electronic system of claim 3, wherein the primary power supply is configured to receive power over a wire from the primary external power source.

6. The electronic system of claim 5, wherein the wire is selected from a group consisting of a universal serial bus cable, an Ethernet cable, a dock connector, an alternating current power cord, and a laptop charging cable.

7. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the first and second switches are each associated with a body diode oriented to allow current flow towards the output rail.

8. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the selection module further includes:

a first control module configured to detect when the primary power supply is operative, and when the primary power supply is operative, provide a first control signal to open the second switch and a second control signal to disable the secondary power supply; and

a second control module configured to detect when the second power supply is operative, and when the second power supply is operative, provide a third control signal to open the first switch.

9. A method comprising:

conducting power from a wireless power receiver to a system power supply rail through a closed first switch;

detecting a turn-on of a wired power receiver;

after detecting the turn-on of the wired power receiver;

opening the first switch;

disabling the wireless power receiver, wherein disabling the wireless power receiver includes disabling a wireless power transmitter engaged with the wireless power receiver;

closing a second switch; and

conducting power from the wired power supply to the system power supply rail through the closed second switch;

wherein when the first switch is open, reverse leakage current is blocked from flowing from the system power supply rail towards the power supply corresponding to the first switch; and

when the second switch is open, reverse leakage current is blocked from flowing from the system power supply rail towards the power supply corresponding to the second switch.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting a turn-off of the wired power supply;

after detecting the turn-off of the wired power supply;

enabling the wireless power receiver, wherein enabling the wireless power receiver includes enabling the wireless power transmitter;

closing the first switch;

opening the second switch;

conducting power from a wireless power supply to a system power supply rail through the closed first switch.