Maintaining continuous power charge in an inductive-coupling system

• US 10,027,172 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leggett & Platt Canada Co. (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Colja, Renato, Liang, Xinde, Niec, Milosz Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Richard
• Application Number:
  US14/223,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20150270738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• 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 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits

Abstract

Maintaining continuous wireless charging of a device includes various elements. Events that may disrupt wireless charging are detected and the disruption circumvented by adjusting functions of an inductive coil. A frequency and power-shifting methodology is employed to achieve the continuous wireless charging. The invention may be implemented into various devices and environments, including vehicle consoles.

Claims

1. Non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform operations for avoiding inductive charging disruption comprising:

detecting an event that is predicted to change a voltage supplied to a primary coil, wherein the change in voltage presents an increased likelihood of interrupting a charging function of the primary coil; and

responsive to the event, avoiding interruption of the charging function of the primary coil by shifting a voltage of the primary coil to counteract the predicted change in the voltage supplied to the primary coil due to the event.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein detecting the event further comprises receiving a communication reporting the event.

3. The media of claim 1, wherein the change in voltage is detected in a power supply to the primary coil.

4. The media of claim 1, wherein the change in voltage is detected in the inductive power supply from the primary coil to a secondary coil.

5. The media of claim 1, wherein the change in voltage is triggered by a keyless entry device, a keyless ignition device, a key fob, or a smart key.

6. The media of claim 1, wherein shifting the voltage of the primary coil includes maintaining an amount of power inductively supplied from the primary coil at a level sufficient to charge a power supply coupled with the secondary coil.

7. The media of claim 1, wherein shifting the voltage of the primary coil is sustained for a preset period of time.

8. The media of claim 1, wherein duration of shifting the voltage of the primary coil is dynamically determined.

9. The media of claim 2, wherein the communication reporting the event is a notification from a vehicle controller.

10. The media of claim 2, wherein the communication reporting the event is a non-wireless communication.

11. A method for limiting inductive charging disruption, the method comprising:

detecting a signal;

measuring a frequency and amplitude of the detected signal;

when it is determined that the measured frequency and amplitude of the detected signal will disrupt a charging function of a first coil by causing interference with an operating frequency of the first coil, changing the operating frequency of the first coil to create a margin between the operating frequency of the first coil and the frequency of the detected signal, wherein the operating frequency affects an amount of power inductively supplied from the first coil to a second coil; and

when changing the operating frequency of the first coil, maintaining the amount of power inductively supplied from the first coil at a level sufficient to charge a power supply coupled with the second coil.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein changing the operating frequency of the first coil comprises adjusting one or more of the frequency, wavelength, amplitude, or pulse-width modulation (PWM) of the operating frequency.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising, changing the operating frequency of the first coil back to a pre-modification state.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein changing the operating frequency of the first coil back to a pre-modification state is performed after a preset period of time.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein maintaining the level sufficient to charge a power supply coupled with the second coil further assists with avoiding a trigger of a power-loss indicator in a device containing the second coil.

16. An inductive coupling device for avoiding charging disruption, the device comprising:

a primary coil that connects to a power source; and

a controller that dictates primary-coil operations and that utilizes a processor to;

receive an indication of an event that is predicted to change a voltage supplied by the power source to the primary coil, wherein the change in voltage presents an increased likelihood of interrupting a charging function of the primary coil; and

in response to receiving the indication, avoiding the change in the charging function of the primary coil by modifying one or more operating parameters of the primary coil to counteract the predicted change in voltage supplied by the power source to the primary coil, wherein the one or more operating parameters include a voltage supplied from the primary coil to a secondary coil and another voltage supplied to the primary coil from the power source.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the operating parameters include a frequency and a signal strength of the primary coil.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller further utilizes the processor to maintain an amount of power inductively supplied from the primary coil to the secondary coil, wherein the amount of power is sufficient to charge a power supply coupled with the secondary coil, and wherein the amount of power is sufficient to prevent a power loss function from occurring in a device containing the secondary coil.