Apparatus for and method of protecting wireless-coupled power devices from overvoltage, overcurrent, and overtemperature using hysteresis

• US 9,966,799 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Dong Zo, Kwon, Sang Wook, Park, Yun Kwon, Park, Eun Seok, Hong, Young Tack, Kim, Ki Young, Ryu, Young Ho, Kim, Nam Yun, Choi, Jin Sung, Yoon, Chang Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comber, Kevin J
• Application Number:
  US14/796,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20150318713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 361780
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/08 responsive to excess current responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/20 responsive to excess voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/042 using temperature dependent resistors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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

Abstract

An overvoltage protecting unit and an overcurrent protecting unit protect a power device from an overvoltage and an overcurrent using a comparator having hysteresis. An overtemperature protecting unit protects the power device from an overtemperature using a thermistor having a resistance that changes as a temperature of the thermistor changes.

Claims

1. An apparatus to wirelessly transmit power, the apparatus comprising:

a power device;

an overvoltage protecting circuit and an overcurrent protecting circuit configured to protect the power device, wherein the overvoltage protecting circuit comprises a resistive divider, a rectifier, a DC supply, and a hysteresis comparator, and the overcurrent protecting circuit comprises a resistive divider, DC supplies, a switch, an amplifier, and a hysteresis comparator; and

a control circuit configured to perform an operation on an output signal of the overvoltage protecting circuit and an output signal of the overcurrent protecting circuit, and to determine whether an input signal is transmitted to the power device, in response to an operation result, wherein the control circuit comprises an OR gate and a NAND gate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

an overtemperature protecting circuit configured to adjust a level of a bias voltage of the power device using a thermistor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the OR gate is configured to perform an OR operation on the output signal of the overvoltage protecting circuit and the output signal of the overcurrent protecting circuit, and

the NAND gate is configured to perform a NAND operation on an output signal of the OR gate and the input signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is further configured to block the input signal from being input to the power device, in response to each of the output signal of the overvoltage protecting circuit and the output signal of the overcurrent protecting circuit being at a level.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to transmit the input signal to the power device, in response to either one or both of the output signal of the overvoltage protecting circuit and the output signal of the overcurrent protecting circuit being at a level.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to block the input signal from being input to the power device, in response to each of the output signal of the overvoltage protecting circuit and the output signal of the overcurrent protecting circuit being at a level.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the overvoltage protecting circuit is further configured to detect an overvoltage of the power device using a hysteresis comparator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the overcurrent protecting circuit is further configured to detect an overcurrent of the power device using at least one hysteresis comparator.

9. A method of an apparatus to wirelessly transmit power, the method comprising:

performing an operation on an output signal of an overvoltage protecting circuit and an output signal of an overcurrent protecting circuit, wherein the overvoltage protecting circuit comprises a resistive divider, a rectifier, a DC supply, and a hysteresis comparator, and the overcurrent protecting circuit comprises a resistive divider, DC supplies, a switch, an amplifier, and a hysteresis comparator; and

determining whether an input signal is transmitted to the power device, in response to an operation result by a control circuit, wherein the control circuit comprises an OR gate and a NAND gate.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising

adjusting a level of a bias voltage of the power device using a thermistor.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the performing comprises

performing an OR operation on the output signal of the overvoltage protecting circuit and the output signal of the overcurrent protecting circuit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining comprises

performing a NAND operation on an OR operation result and the input signal.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining comprises transmitting the input signal to the power device, in response to either one or both of the output signal of the overvoltage protecting circuit and the output signal of the overcurrent protecting circuit being at a level.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining comprises blocking the input signal from being input to the power device, in response to each of the output signal of the overvoltage protecting circuit and the output signal of the overcurrent protecting circuit being at a level.