Wireless power safety component

• US 9,941,706 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Laudebat, Remi, Khoshnevis, Ahmad, Porat, Shahar
• Primary Examiner(s): Kessie, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLOUGHBY, TERRENCE RONIQUE
• Application Number:
  US14/495,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20160087447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Techniques of providing increased safety for wireless systems are described herein. A wireless power receiving unit includes a first receiving coil to inductively couple to a wireless power transmitting unit having a transmitting coil. A safety component is provided to reduce wireless power received at a second receiving coil from the wireless power transmitting unit.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiving unit, comprising:

a first receiving coil to receive wireless power from a wireless power transmitting unit having a transmitting coil;

a safety circuit coupled to a second receiving coil of a wireless communication unit comprising a controller;

wherein the safety circuit, when activated, is to reduce an inductive coupling of the wireless power at the second receiving coil to prevent damage to the controller of the wireless communication unit; and

wherein the safety circuit comprises a capacitor coupled in series with a transistor and coupled to a rectifier configured to receive wireless power from the first receiving coil, wherein the capacitor is to detune the second receiving coil in response to power received at the rectifier.

2. The wireless power receiving unit of claim 1, wherein the second receiving coil is configured for data communication.

3. The wireless power receiving unit of claim 1, wherein the second receiving coil is a near field communication (NFC) coil.

4. The wireless power receiving unit of claim 1, wherein the transistor has a voltage threshold, wherein the transistor is to trigger the capacitor associated with the second receiving coil at voltages received above the voltage threshold.

5. A system for increasing safety of wireless systems, comprising:

a wireless power receiving coil to receive wireless power from a wireless power transmitting coil;

a wireless data communication receiving coil coupled to a wireless data communication controller; and

a safety circuit coupled to the wireless data communication receiving coil, wherein the safety circuit, when activated, is to reduce an inductive coupling between the wireless data communication receiving coil and the wireless power transmitting coil, and wherein the safety circuit is to be activated during wireless charging to prevent damage to the wireless data communication controller;

wherein the safety circuit comprises a capacitor coupled in series with a transistor and coupled to a rectifier configured to receive wireless power from the wireless power receiving coil, wherein the capacitor is to detune the wireless data communication receiving coil in response to power received at the rectifier.

6. The system for increasing safety of wireless systems of claim 5, wherein the wireless data communication receiving coil is a near field communication (NFC) coil.

7. The system for increasing safety of wireless systems of claim 5, wherein the transistor has a voltage threshold, wherein the transistor is to trigger the capacitor at voltages received above the voltage threshold.

8. A method for increasing safety of wireless systems, comprising:

receiving a power beacon at a first receiving coil from a wireless power transmitting unit having a transmitting coil;

activating a safety circuit coupled to a second receiving coil, wherein the second receiving coil is coupled to a wireless communication controller and wherein activating the safety circuit is to reduce inductive coupling of the transmitting coil to the second receiving coil to prevent damage to the wireless communication controller;

wherein activating the safety circuit comprises a capacitor coupled in series with a transistor and coupled to a rectifier, wherein the capacitor is to detune the second receiving coil in response to power received at the rectifier configured to receive wireless power from the first receiving coil.

9. The method for increasing safety of wireless systems of claim 8, wherein the second receiving coil is a near field communication (NFC) coil.

10. The method for increasing safety of wireless systems of claim 8, wherein detuning comprises:

receiving, from the rectifier, a voltage at the transistor above a voltage threshold,

triggering wherein the voltage turns on the transistor to activate a capacitor coupled to the second receiving coil to alter a resonating frequency of the second receiving coil.