Wireless charger system for battery pack solution and controlling method thereof

• US RE44,713 E1
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hanrim Postech Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Chun-Kil
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US13/708,480
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 307/104, 455/522
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/025 using non-contact coupling, e.g. inductive, capacitive

Abstract

A wireless charger system for a battery pack is disclosed. The wireless charger system in one exemplary embodiment may include a wireless charger apparatus for receiving an external power source to transmit a power signal via a charging power transmitter block and a battery pack for receiving a power signal from the wireless charger apparatus to charge power in a battery cell and supplying a power source to a portable terminal block. The wireless charger apparatus may also have an outer body composed of a resonant converter for supplying power to the battery pack and a wireless charger case having a central controller installed inside. The wireless charger case may have a protruded round portion formed around the rear edge and a display block provided as the sloped surface in the front portion thereof.

Claims

1. A wireless charger system for battery pack solution, comprising:

a wireless charger apparatus for receiving a power source from the outside to transmit a power signal via a charging power transmitter block in a wireless mode; and

a battery pack for receiving a power signal from the wireless charger apparatus in a wireless mode to charge power in a battery cell and supplying a power source to a portable terminal block,

wherein the wireless charger apparatus has an outer body composed of a resonant converter for supplying power to the battery pack and a wireless charger case having a central controller installed inside,

wherein the wireless charger case has a protruded round portion formed around a rear edge and a display block provided as a sloped surface in a front portion thereof, wherein a flat surface is formed between the protruded round portion and the front portion and a battery pack positioning block formed therein, the battery pack positioning block having a lower height than the protruded round portion and the front portion, and

wherein a primary core block for transmitting power supplied to the battery pack is installed inside the battery pack positioning block to supply power to the battery pack disposed on the battery pack positioning block.

2. The wireless charger system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless charger apparatus comprises:

a power receiver block for receiving a power source from the outside;

a resonant converter for converting an output signal including a power signal and a data signal supplied from the power receiver block and transmitting the converted output signal to a charging power transmitter block provided with a primary core block;

a gate driver coupled to the power receiver block to transmit an output signal including a data signal and a power signal to the resonant converter, the gate driver being controlled by the central controller and provided with a bootstrap gate drive;

a current detector block coupled between the power receiver block and the resonant converter to detect a data signal of the battery pack through the transmission operation by means of the primary core block;

a central controller for controlling the power receiver block, the resonant converter, the gate driver and the current detector block; and

a display block for displaying a state of the wireless charger apparatus according to the control signal of the central controller.

3. The wireless charger system according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack comprises:

a secondary rectification circuit block for converting a power that is induced through a secondary core block by an induced magnetic field generated by a primary core block of the wireless charger apparatus;

a battery pack controller coupled to the secondary rectification circuit block to supply a charging power to a battery cell, to process data transmitted/received by the primary core block and the secondary core block and to transmit data signals for a charging state of the battery pack, an erroneous state of the battery pack and a native ID signal value;

a battery pack charging circuit block for supplying power to the battery cell, the power being supplied from the secondary rectification circuit block under the control of the battery pack controller, and supplying a power of the battery cell to the portable terminal block;

a data input/output block for transmitting/receiving data to/from a portable terminal block under the control of the battery pack controller relative to the data transmitted/received to/from the wireless charger apparatus, and processing the data; and

a charge monitoring circuit block for checking a charging level of the battery cell and transmitting a fully-charged or discharged signal to the battery pack controller.

4. The wireless charger system according to claim 3, wherein the secondary core block has a core formed in a shape selected from the group consisting of a round shape, a rectangular shape, an oval shape and a polygonal shape,

wherein the battery pack is attachable/detachable to/from the portable terminal block and has an all-in-one hard pack shape in which a power source stored in the battery cell is connected to a terminal block,

wherein the secondary core block is formed integrally in the rear of the portable terminal block and has a built-in shape in which a circuit configuration of the battery pack is configured inside the portable terminal block together, or

wherein the battery cell is formed in the battery pack and has a battery pack charging circuit block coupled through the terminal block, the battery pack charging circuit block 34 being provided inside the portable terminal block.

5. The wireless charger system according to claim 1, wherein the display block comprises:

a display signal receiver block for receiving a control signal transmitted from the central controller;

a light emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and an icon LCD, all of which are turned on according to the control signal transmitted from the central controller;

an LED driver coupled to the display signal receiver block to turn on the LED according to the control signal transmitted from the central controller;

an LCD panel driver coupled to the display signal receiver block to turn on the LCD panel according to the control signal transmitted from the central controller; and

an icon LCD driver coupled to the display signal receiver block to turn on the icon LCD according to the control signal transmitted from the central controller.

6. The wireless charger system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the battery pack comprises:

a charge receiver module having a secondary core block coiled therein;

shielding plates surrounding the bottom, the front, the rear and the left and right sides of the charging battery cell and made of Al, Cu, or Ni Alloy metals to protect the charging battery cell from the magnetic field;

a magnetic plate provided between the shielding plates and the charge receiver module and containing ferrites, Mn—

Zn (50 parts by weight;

50 parts by weight), Ni—

Fe (80 parts by weight;

20 parts by weight), or fine metals (Fe—

Si—

Cu—

Nb) to induce an induced magnetic field into the secondary core block;

an insulating plate formed between the shielding plates and the charging battery cell and formed of mesh made of NI—

Cu or an insulator to transfer heat of the shielding plates to the charging battery cell, the insulator being able to emit heat and decrease thermal conductivity; and

a shielding member surrounding a wireless power receiver circuit of the battery pack including a battery pack controller and a charging circuit block and including Al, Cu, or Ni Alloy metals to shield the magnetic field for the wireless power receiver circuit,

wherein the magnetic plate includes an upper magnetic plate formed between the shielding plates and the charge receiver module; and

a lower magnetic plate disposed in a lower portion of the charge receiver module.

7. The wireless charger system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

wherein the battery pack includes a magnetic plate that is a primary shielding member and a shield mesh member that is a secondary shielding member, both of the shielding members being formed between a battery cell case of the battery cell and the secondary core block, and the magnetic plate and the shield mesh member contain ferrites, Mn—

Zn (50 parts by weight;

50 parts by weight), Ni—

Fe (80 parts by weight;

20 parts by weight), or fine metals (Fe—

Si—

Cu—

Nb) and the shield mesh member is formed in a mesh shape.

8. A method for controlling a wireless charger system for battery pack solution, comprising a wireless charger apparatus for receiving a power source from the outside to transmit a power signal via a charging power transmitter block in a wireless mode;

and a battery pack for receiving a power signal from the wireless charger apparatus in a wireless mode to charge power in a battery cell and supplying a power source to a portable terminal block, the method comprising;

waiting for charging of an externally supplied power source by checking a state of the wireless charger apparatus prior to performing a wireless charging through the charging power transmitter block of the wireless charger apparatus;

transmitting a call signal for native ID of the battery pack to sense the battery pack through the charging power transmitter block of the wireless charger apparatus;

transmitting information on a native ID value and a state of the battery pack via the secondary core block of the battery pack by receiving a call signal of the native ID transmitted from the wireless charger apparatus in the battery pack, the native ID value being stored in a native ID transmission block of the battery pack;

determining the native ID value of the battery pack transmitted from the battery pack and the state of the battery pack;

charging a power in the battery pack by receiving a power via the charging power transmitter block of the wireless charger apparatus when the battery pack is ready to be charged;

sensing a completely charged signal in the wireless charger apparatus when the completely charged signal is transmitted from the battery pack in the step of charging the battery pack; and

waiting for reception of the information on the charging level and the battery pack state from the battery pack by suspending a charging operation in the central controller of the wireless charger apparatus when the information on the completely charged signal is received from the battery pack.

9. A method for receiving a power signal in a receiver of a wireless charger system, wherein the system comprises a wireless charger apparatus which generates a magnetic field, and the receiver magnetically coupled with the wireless charger apparatus so that the power signal is received inductively by the receiver, the method comprising:

receiving, from the wireless charger apparatus in a standby mode, an initial signal used by the wireless charger apparatus to detect the presence of the receiver;

transmitting, to the wireless charger apparatus in an ID call mode, information on a native ID of the receiver;

receiving, in a charging mode, the power signal transferred from the wireless charger apparatus; and

transmitting, to the wireless charger apparatus, a data signal comprising at least one of a charging state, an error state, and a completely charged state of a battery.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

rectifying the power signal into a DC power signal,

wherein the DC power signal is supplied to the battery.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless charger apparatus differentiates, in the standby mode, the receiver from a foreign substance.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying the at least one of the charging state, the error state, and the completely charged state of the battery.

13. A receiver for receiving a power signal in a wireless charger system, wherein the system comprises a wireless charger apparatus which generates a magnetic field, and the receiver magnetically coupled with the wireless charger apparatus so that the power signal is received inductively by the receiver, the receiver comprising:

a secondary core block which receives, from the wireless charger apparatus in a standby mode, an initial signal used for the wireless charger apparatus to detect the presence of the receiver;

a native ID transmission block which transmits, to the wireless charger apparatus in an ID call mode, information on a native ID of the receiver in response to the initial signal; and

a controller which transmits, to the wireless charger apparatus, a data signal comprising at least one of a charging state, an error state, and a completely charged state of a battery,

wherein the secondary core block receives, in a charging mode, the power signal transferred from the wireless charger apparatus.

14. The receiver of claim 13, further comprising:

a rectification circuit block which rectifies the power signal into a DC power signal, and which supplies the DC power signal to the battery.

15. The receiver of claim 13, further comprising:

a display block which displays the at least one of the charging state, the error state, the completely charged state of the battery.

16. A method for transmitting a power signal to a wireless charger apparatus of a wireless charger system, wherein the system comprises the wireless charger apparatus which generates a magnetic field, and a receiver magnetically coupled with the wireless charger apparatus so that the power signal is transmitted inductively to the receiver, the method comprising:

detecting, in a standby mode, the presence of the receiver by transmitting an initial signal to the receiver;

receiving, in an ID call mode, from the receiver, information on a native ID of the receiver;

transmitting, in a charging mode, the power signal to the receiver; and

receiving, from the receiver, a data signal comprising at least one of a charging state, an error state, and a completely charged state of a battery.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the initial signal is transmitted continuously until the wireless charger apparatus receives an acknowledge response signal from the receiver.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

differentiating the receiver from a foreign substance based on the acknowledge response signal.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

when the foreign substance is detected, suspending the transmitting of the power signal to the receiver.

20. A wireless charger apparatus for transmitting a power signal in a wireless charger system, wherein the system comprises the wireless charger apparatus which generates a magnetic field, and a receiver magnetically coupled with the wireless charger apparatus so that the power signal is transmitted inductively to the receiver, the wireless charger apparatus comprising:

a signal detector block which detects, in a standby mode, the presence of the receiver by transmitting an initial signal to the receiver and by receiving, in an ID call mode, from the receiver, information on a native ID of the receiver;

a primary core block which transmits, in a charging mode, the power signal to the receiver; and

a current detector block which receives, from the receiver, a data signal comprising at least one of a charging state, an error state, and a completely charged state of a battery.

21. The wireless charger apparatus of claim 20, wherein the signal detector block transmits the initial signal continuously until the signal detector block receives an acknowledge response signal from the receiver.

22. The wireless charger apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wireless charger apparatus differentiates the receiver from a foreign substance based on the acknowledge response signal.

23. The wireless charger apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a central controller which, when the foreign substance is detected, suspends the transmitting of the power signal to the receiver.

24. A method for receiving a power signal at a receiver in a wireless charger system, wherein the system comprises a wireless charger apparatus which generates a magnetic field, and the receiver magnetically coupled with the wireless charger apparatus so that the power signal is received inductively by the receiver, the method comprising:

detecting whether a voltage level of the power signal received from the wireless charger apparatus exceeds a reference voltage value or not; and

transmitting, to the wireless charger apparatus, a signal which adjusts the power signal, wherein the signal comprises a power save code signal which reduces the power signal when the voltage level exceeds the reference voltage value, and

receiving, from the wireless charger apparatus, a reduced power signal comprising a parameter which is changed from a parameter of the power signal based on the power save code signal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the parameter comprises a frequency, and the frequency is changed in a manner which reduces the power signal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the frequency is changed by using a frequency automatic variable algorithm.

27. A receiver for receiving a power signal in a wireless charger system, wherein the system comprises a wireless charger apparatus which generates a magnetic field, and the receiver magnetically coupled with the wireless charger apparatus so that the power signal is received inductively by the receiver, the receiver comprising:

a secondary core block which receives the power signal from the wireless charger apparatus; and

a controller which detects whether a voltage level of the power signal exceeds a reference voltage value or not, and which transmits, to the wireless charger apparatus, a signal for adjusting the power signal, wherein the signal comprises a power save code signal which reduces the power signal when the voltage level exceeds the reference voltage value;

wherein the secondary core block receives, from the wireless charger apparatus, a reduced power signal comprising a parameter which is changed from a parameter of the power signal based on the power save code signal.

28. The receiver of claim 27, wherein the parameter includes a frequency and the wireless charger apparatus changes the frequency in a manner which reduces the power signal.

29. The receiver of claim 28, wherein the wireless charger apparatus changes the frequency by using a frequency automatic variable algorithm.

30. A method for transmitting a power signal to a wireless charger apparatus in a wireless charger system, wherein the system comprises the wireless charger apparatus which generates a magnetic field, and a receiver magnetically coupled with the wireless charger apparatus so that the power signal is transmitted inductively to the receiver, the method comprising:

transmitting the power signal to the receiver using the magnetic field;

receiving a signal which adjusts the power signal from the power receiver, wherein the signal comprises a power save code signal which reduces the power signal when a voltage level in the power receiver exceeds a reference voltage value; and

changing a parameter which induces the magnetic field based on the power save code signal.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the parameter comprises a frequency and the frequency is changed in a manner which reduces the power signal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the frequency is changed by using a frequency automatic variable algorithm.

33. A wireless charger apparatus for transmitting a power signal in a wireless charger system, wherein the system comprises the wireless charger apparatus which generates a magnetic field, and a receiver magnetically coupled with the wireless charger apparatus so that the power signal is transmitted inductively to the receiver, the wireless charger apparatus comprising:

a primary core block which transmits the power signal to the receiver using the magnetic field,

wherein the wireless charger apparatus is which receives, from the power receiver, a signal which adjusts the power signal,

wherein the signal comprises a power save code signal which reduces the power signal when a voltage level in the power receiver exceeds a reference voltage value, and which changes a parameter which induces the magnetic field based on the power save code signal.

34. The wireless charger apparatus of claim 33, wherein the parameter comprises a frequency and the wireless charger apparatus changes the frequency in a manner which reduces the power signal.

35. The wireless charger apparatus of claim 34, wherein the wireless charger apparatus changes the frequency by using a frequency automatic variable algorithm.