Apparatus and method for lost power detection

• US 9,929,601 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: White, II, Mark D., Kallal, Edward Kenneth, Tseng, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US14/335,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20150054454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/01 in circuits having distributed constants G01R21/04, G01R21/07, G01R21/09, G01R21/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0814 Field measurements related to measuring influence on or from apparatus, components or humans EMC, EMI and similar testing in general G01R31/001, e.g. in ESD, EMI, EMC, EMP testing, measuring radiation leakage; detecting presence of micro- or radiowave emitters; dosimetry; testing shielding; measurements related to lightning
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• 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 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An apparatus and method for lost power detection are described. In one implementation, an apparatus for wirelessly transferring power comprises a wireless power transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power at a first power level sufficient to power or charge a chargeable device. The apparatus further comprises a controller configured to obtain a first power measurement of the first power level. The controller is further configured to determine a first adjusted power measurement of the first power measurement based on one or more tolerance values of the wireless power transmitter. The controller is further configured to determine a second adjusted power measurement of a second power measurement of a second power level received by the chargeable device based on one or more tolerance values of the chargeable device. The controller is further configured to determine if a power difference between the first and second adjusted power measurements exceeds a threshold value.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wirelessly transferring power, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless power transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power at a level sufficient to power or charge a chargeable device positioned within a charging region; and

a controller circuit operationally coupled to the wireless power transmitter and configured to;

obtain a first power measurement indicating a level of power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter,

determine a first adjusted power level by adjusting a value of the first power measurement based on a tolerance value of at least one component of the wireless power transmitter,

obtain, from the chargeable device, a second power measurement indicating a level of power received by the chargeable device,

determine a second adjusted power level by adjusting a value of the second power measurement based on a tolerance value of at least one component of the chargeable device, and

determine if a power difference between the first and second adjusted power levels exceeds a threshold value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tolerance value of the at least one component of the wireless power transmitter and the tolerance value of the at least one component of the chargeable device are based on at least one of a measurement tolerance value, a unit-to-unit tolerance value, a coil resistance tolerance value, a voltage tolerance value, a current tolerance value, or a power dissipated tolerance value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tolerance value of the at least one component of the wireless power transmitter and the tolerance value of the at least one component of the chargeable device comprise a measurement difference range between a reported power measurement and an expected power measurement, wherein the measurement difference range comprises an upper tolerance percentage at which the reported power measurement exceeds the expected power measurement, and wherein the measurement difference range further comprises a lower tolerance percentage at which the reported power measurement is less than the expected power measurement.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to:

determine the first adjusted power level based on the lower tolerance percentage of the tolerance value of each of the at least one component of the wireless power transmitter, and

determine the second adjusted power level based on the upper tolerance percentage of the tolerance value of each of the at least one component of the chargeable device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is first set to be substantially equal to an initial power difference obtained from a theoretical, a simulated, or an experimental measurement of the power difference between respective levels of power obtained or measured at the wireless power transmitter and the chargeable device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to adjust the threshold value based at least in part on one or more operating conditions, the one or more operating conditions comprising at least one of a presence of a dynamic load in the chargeable device, a system operating point that changes its output power, a charging state of the chargeable device, the tolerance value of the at least one component of the wireless power transmitter, the tolerance value of the at least one component of the chargeable device, the level of power indicated by the first power measurement, an amount of variation of the second power measurement being above a predetermined variation threshold, a frequency at which a load of the chargeable device changes being above a predetermined maximum frequency threshold, or a state of transmission of power from the wireless power transmitter to the chargeable device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to:

set the threshold value to a first threshold value when the chargeable device is being charged, and

set the threshold value to a second threshold value when the chargeable device is not being charged, wherein the first threshold value is greater than the second threshold value.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to:

determine if the level of power indicated by first power measurement or the second power measurement is equal to X or Y, where X is greater than Y,

set the threshold value to a first threshold value if the first power level or the second power level is equal to X, and

set the threshold value to a second threshold value if the first power level or the second power level is equal to Y, wherein the first threshold value is greater than the second threshold value.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power difference is determined by subtracting the second adjusted power level from the first adjusted power level.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to detect the presence of a non-compliant object that affects consumption of power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter if the power difference exceeds the threshold value.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to:

count the number of times, N, that the power difference exceeds the threshold value, wherein N is an integer greater than 1, and

determine that the non-compliant object is present if N exceeds a maximum count value.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wireless power transmitter turns off, adjusts a level of power transmitted, and/or changes a state of transmission of power from the wireless power transmitter to the chargeable device if the controller circuit determines that the non-compliant object is present, the non-compliant object comprising at least one of a damaged device, a device not in compliance with a charging standard, an object or device unable to communicate with the wireless power transmitter, or a metal object that couples to a magnetic field of the wireless power transmitter.

13. A method for wirelessly transferring power, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting power at a level sufficient to power or charge a chargeable device positioned within a charging region;

obtaining a first power measurement indicating a level of power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter;

determining a first adjusted power level by adjusting a value of the first power measurement based on a tolerance value of at least one component of the wireless power transmitter;

obtaining, from the chargeable device, a second power measurement of indicating a level of power received by the chargeable device;

determining a second adjusted power level by adjusting a value of the second power measurement based on a tolerance value of at least one component of the chargeable device, and

determining if a power difference between the first and second adjusted power levels exceeds a threshold value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the tolerance value of the at least one component of the wireless power transmitter and the tolerance value of the at least one component of the chargeable device are based on at least one of a measurement tolerance value, a unit-to-unit tolerance value, a coil resistance tolerance value, a voltage tolerance value, a current tolerance value, or a power dissipated tolerance value.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the tolerance value of each of the at least one component of the wireless power transmitter and the tolerance value of each of the at least one component of the chargeable device comprising a measurement difference range between a reported power measurement and an expected power measurement, wherein the measurement difference range comprises an upper tolerance percentage at which the reported power measurement exceeds the expected power measurement, and wherein the measurement difference range further comprises a lower tolerance percentage at which the reported power measurement is less than the expected power measurement.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the first adjusted power level based on the lower tolerance percentage of the tolerance value of each of the at least one component of the wireless power transmitter, and

determining the second adjusted power level based on the upper tolerance percentage of the tolerance value of each of the at least one component of the chargeable device.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the threshold value based at least in part on one or more operating conditions, the one or more operating conditions comprising at least one of a presence of a dynamic load in the chargeable device, a system operating point that changes its output power, a charging state of the chargeable device, the tolerance value of the at least one component of the wireless power transmitter, the tolerance value of the at least one component of the chargeable device, the level of power indicated by first power measurement, an amount of variation of the second power measurement being above a predetermined variation threshold, a frequency at which a load of the chargeable device changes being above a predetermined maximum frequency threshold, and a state of transmission of power from the wireless power transmitter to the chargeable device.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting the presence of a non-compliant object that affects consumption of power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter if the power difference exceeds the threshold value.

19. An apparatus for wirelessly transferring power, the apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly transmitting power at a level sufficient to power or charge a chargeable device positioned within a charging region;

means for obtaining a first power measurement indicating a level of power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter;

means for determining a first adjusted power level by adjusting a value of the first power measurement based on a tolerance value of at least one component of the wireless power transmitter;

means for obtaining, from the chargeable device, a second power measurement indicating a level of power received by the chargeable device;

means for determining a second adjusted power level by adjusting a value of the second power measurement based on a tolerance value of at least one component of the chargeable device, and

means for determining if a power difference between the first and second adjusted power levels exceeds a threshold value.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for detecting the presence of a non-compliant object that affects consumption of power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter if the power difference exceeds the threshold value.