Power transmitting unit and power receiving unit with control data communication and methods for use therewith

• US 9,985,462 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishtein, Vadim, Vladan, Marius Ionel
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sibin
• Application Number:
  US14/980,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20160111894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2171 with field-effect devices H03F3/2173 - H03F3/2178 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2173 of the bridge type
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a wireless power receiver configured to receive a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit. A wireless radio unit is configured to communicate with the power transmitting unit. A controllable rectifier circuit is configured to rectify the wireless power signal. The controllable rectifier circuit can include a rectifier configured to generate a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, based on switch control signals. A rectifier control circuit is configured to generate the switch control signals and to generate first control data that indicates a first rectifier duty cycle of the switch control signals. The wireless radio unit sends the first control data to the power transmitting unit. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A power receiving unit comprising:

a wireless power receiver configured to receive a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit;

a wireless radio unit configured to communicate with the power transmitting unit; and

a controllable rectifier circuit configured to rectify the wireless power signal, the controllable rectifier circuit comprising;

a rectifier configured to generate a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, based on switch control signals; and

a rectifier control circuit configured to generate the switch control signals and to generate first control data that indicates a first rectifier duty cycle of the switch control signals, wherein the first rectifier duty cycle is a percentage and wherein the first control data includes the percentage;

wherein the wireless radio unit sends the first control data to the power transmitting unit;

wherein the wireless radio unit receives second control data from the power transmitting unit; and

wherein the rectifier control circuit adjusts the switch control signals in response to the second control data.

2. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the power transmitting unit adjusts a transmit impedance in response to the first control data.

3. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the second control data includes a second rectifier duty cycle and wherein the rectifier control circuit adjusts the switch control signals to achieve the second rectifier duty cycle.

4. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the second control data includes transmitter performance data and wherein the rectifier control circuit adjusts the switch control signals, based on the transmitter performance data.

5. The power receiving unit of claim 4 wherein the transmitter performance data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit.

6. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio unit receives updates to the second control data from the power transmitting unit;

and

wherein the rectifier control circuit iteratively adjusts the switch control signals in response to and the updates of the second control data.

7. The power receiving unit of claim 6 wherein the second control data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit and the rectifier control circuit iteratively adjusts the switch control signals to control the amount of transmitter impedance mismatch.

8. The power receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio unit associates with the power transmitting unit via a connection establishment procedure.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, at a power receiving unit, a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit;

generating switch control signals via the power receiving unit;

generating, via the power receiving unit, a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, based on switch control signals;

generating first control data to indicate a first rectifier duty cycle of the switch control signals, wherein the first rectifier duty cycle is a percentage and wherein the first control data includes the percentage; and

sending the first control data to the power transmitting unit via a wireless radio unit;

receiving, via the wireless radio unit, second control data from the power transmitting unit; and

adjusting the switch control signals in response to the second control data.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the power transmitting unit adjusts a transmit impedance in response to the first control data.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the second control data includes a second rectifier duty cycle and wherein the switch control signals are adjusted to achieve the second rectifier duty cycle.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the second control data includes transmitter performance data and wherein the switch control signals are adjusted, based on the transmitter performance data.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the transmitter performance data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit.

14. The method of claim 9 receiving, via the wireless radio unit, updates to the second control data from the power transmitting unit;

and

iteratively adjusting the switch control signals in response to the updates of the second control data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second control data indicates an amount of transmitter impedance mismatch of the power transmitting unit and the switch control signals are adjusted to control the amount of transmitter impedance mismatch.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

wirelessly associating the power receiving unit with the power transmitting unit via a connection establishment procedure of the wireless radio unit.

17. A power receiving unit comprising:

a wireless power receiver configured to receive a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit;

a wireless radio unit configured to communicate with the power transmitting unit; and

a controllable rectifier circuit configured to rectify the wireless power signal, the controllable rectifier circuit comprising;

a rectifier configured to generate a rectified voltage from the wireless power signal, based on switch control signals; and

a rectifier control circuit configured to generate the switch control signals and to generate first control data that indicates a first rectifier duty cycle of the switch control signals, wherein the first rectifier duty cycle is a percentage and wherein the first control data includes the percentage;

wherein the wireless radio unit sends the first control data to the power transmitting unit;

wherein the wireless radio unit receives second control data from the power transmitting unit; and

wherein the rectifier control circuit iteratively adjusts the switch control signals in response to the second control data.

18. The power receiving unit of claim 17 wherein the power transmitting unit adjusts a transmit impedance in response to the first control data.

19. The power receiving unit of claim 17 wherein the second control data includes a second rectifier duty cycle and wherein the rectifier control circuit iteratively adjusts the switch control signals to achieve the second rectifier duty cycle.

20. The power receiving unit of claim 17 wherein the second control data includes transmitter performance data and wherein the rectifier control circuit iteratively adjusts the switch control signals, based on the transmitter performance data.