Signaling charging in wireless power environment
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transferring wireless power to one or more receivers, comprising:
- a resonant transmit antenna circuit configured to generate a magnetic field at a resonant frequency for coupling power to the one or more receivers; and
a controller operably coupled to the resonant transmit antenna circuit, the controller configured to adjust a power of the magnetic field between at least a first-power mode and a second-power mode, a power level corresponding to the second-power mode being greater than the power level corresponding to the first-power mode, and the power of the magnetic field in the second-power mode capable of charging the one or more receivers positioned in a coupling mode region;
the controller further configured to;
receive one or more messages from a receiver of the one or more receivers in the coupling mode region during the first-power mode via a wireless communication channel different than the magnetic field,switch to the second-power mode at least in part in response to detecting the one or more messages from the receiver,determine, during the second-power mode, whether one or more messages from the receiver were not received by the controller via the wireless communication channel;
remove the receiver from a list of one or more receivers positioned to receive power based at least in part on determining that the one or more messages were not received, andswitch to the first-power mode in response to determining that there are no other receivers receiving power via the magnetic field in the coupling mode region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer including generating an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency of a transmitter to create a coupling-mode region within a near field of the transmitter during a synchronization portion of a time-multiplexed recurring period. During a power transmission portion of the recurring period, the electromagnetic field will continue to be generated when there is a receiver within the coupling-mode region, or the electromagnetic field will be disabled when there are no receivers within the coupling-mode region. Different segments of the power transmission portion are allocated to different receivers. The transmitter issues serial commands to the receivers by on/off keying the electromagnetic field. The receivers issue serial replies by changing the amount of power consumed from the electromagnetic field between two different states. The serial commands and serial replies are used to determine the number of receivers, their power requirements, and the allocation of segments.
276 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transferring wireless power to one or more receivers, comprising:
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a resonant transmit antenna circuit configured to generate a magnetic field at a resonant frequency for coupling power to the one or more receivers; and a controller operably coupled to the resonant transmit antenna circuit, the controller configured to adjust a power of the magnetic field between at least a first-power mode and a second-power mode, a power level corresponding to the second-power mode being greater than the power level corresponding to the first-power mode, and the power of the magnetic field in the second-power mode capable of charging the one or more receivers positioned in a coupling mode region; the controller further configured to; receive one or more messages from a receiver of the one or more receivers in the coupling mode region during the first-power mode via a wireless communication channel different than the magnetic field, switch to the second-power mode at least in part in response to detecting the one or more messages from the receiver, determine, during the second-power mode, whether one or more messages from the receiver were not received by the controller via the wireless communication channel; remove the receiver from a list of one or more receivers positioned to receive power based at least in part on determining that the one or more messages were not received, and switch to the first-power mode in response to determining that there are no other receivers receiving power via the magnetic field in the coupling mode region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of wireless power transfer comprising:
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transmitting a magnetic field, via a resonant transmit antenna circuit, at a resonant frequency for coupling power to one or more receivers; adjusting a power level of the magnetic field between at least a first-power mode and a second-power mode; the power level corresponding to the second-power mode being greater than the power level corresponding to the first-power mode; receiving one or more messages from a receiver of the one or more receivers during the first-power mode via a wireless communication channel different than the magnetic field; switching to the second-power mode at least in part in response to receiving the one or more messages from the receiver; determining, during the second power mode, whether one or more messages from the receiver were not received by the controller, via the wireless communication channel; removing the receiver from a list of one or more receivers positioned to receive power based at least in part on determining that the one or more messages were not received; and switching to the first-power mode in response to determining that there are no other receivers in the coupling mode region. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for transferring wireless power to one or more receivers, comprising:
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means for generating a magnetic field at a resonant frequency for coupling power to the one or more receivers positioned in a coupling mode region; means for adjusting a power of the magnetic field between at least a first-power mode and a second-power mode, a power level corresponding to the second-power mode being greater than the power level corresponding to the first-power mode, and the power of the magnetic field in the second-power mode capable of charging the one or more receivers, wherein the means for adjusting is further configured to; receive one or more messages from a receiver of the one or more receivers in the coupling mode region during the first-power mode via a wireless communication channel different than the magnetic field; switch to the second-power mode at least in part in response to receiving the one or more messages from the receiver; determine, during the second-power mode, whether one or more messages were not received by a controller from the receiver; remove the receiver from a list of one or more receivers positioned to receive power, based at least in part on determining that the one or more messages were not received; and switch to the first-power mode in response to determining that there are no other receivers receiving power via the magnetic field in the coupling mode region. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification