Wireless power transmitter and power transmission method thereof

• US 10,033,224 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Bae, Su Ho, Lee, Ki Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Evans, James
• Application Number:
  US13/663,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,093 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/502 the energy repeater being integrated together with the emitter or the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Disclosed are a wireless power transmitter and a power transmission method thereof. The wireless power transmitter includes a plurality of transmission resonance units, a detection power applying unit applying detection power to the transmission resonance units to detect a location of the wireless power receiver, and a current measuring unit measuring current generating from a transmission coil unit of the wireless power transmitter based on the applied detection power. The wireless power transmitter transmits the power through at least one transmitting resonance unit corresponding to the location of the wireless power receiver based on the measured current.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitter for wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless power receiver using resonance, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

a power supply unit;

a plurality of transmission coils, each coil having a variable capacitor;

a detection power applying unit that applies detection power using a first frequency to the transmission coils to detect a location of the wireless power receiver;

a current measuring unit that measures variable current value based on an impedance variance of the plurality of transmission coils based on the applied detection power;

a controller that compares the measured current value of the applied detection power of each coil with a threshold value, and that determines a location of the wireless power receiver when the measured current value exceeds the threshold value; and

a switch unit that sequentially applies the detection power received from the detection power applying unit to the transmission coils, and operates such that a power generated from the power supply unit is transmitted to one or a plurality of the transmission coils corresponding to the location of the wireless power receiver detected by the detection power according to the measured current value;

wherein the power supply unit supplies the power using a second frequency for charging of the detected wireless power receiver;

wherein the wireless power transmitter transmits the power having the second frequency through the one or a plurality of the transmission coils corresponding to the location of the wireless power receiver detected by the detection power;

wherein the first frequency differs from the second frequency;

wherein the second frequency is a power receive frequency of the detected wireless power receiver and varies according to the wireless power receiver by the variable capacitor;

wherein the threshold value refers to a minimum current value required to detect the wireless power receiver location;

wherein the power supplied by the power supply unit is AC power, and

wherein the second frequency differs from the first frequency by a mutual inductance component between a reception coil of the wireless power receiver and the one or plurality of the transmission coils corresponding to the location of the wireless power receiver.

2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the switch unit is operated such that the power is transmitted only through a transmission coil that is most greatly overlapped with the wireless power receiver in the transmission coils.

3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a pad provided thereon with the transmission coils, wherein the transmission coils are arranged in a form of a lattice or a matrix.

4. A power transmission method of a wireless power transmitter for wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless power receiver using resonance, the power transmission method comprising:

applying detection power to a plurality of transmission coils, each having a variable capacitor using a first frequency by a switching of a switch unit;

measuring variable current value based on an impedance variance of the plurality of transmission coils based on the applied detection power;

comparing the measured current value of each of the transmission coils, with a threshold value;

determining at least one transmission coil corresponding to a location of the wireless power receiver when the measured current value exceeds the threshold value; and

transmitting power to the at least one transmission coil corresponding to the location of the wireless power receiver detected by the detection power using a second frequency by a switching of the switch unit;

wherein the first frequency differs from the second frequency,

wherein the second frequency is a power receive frequency of the detected wireless power receiver and varies according to the wireless power receiver by the variable capacitor, and

wherein the second frequency differs from the first frequency by a mutual inductance component between a reception coil of the wireless power receiver and the at least one transmission coil corresponding to the location of the wireless power receiver.

5. The power transmission method of claim 4, wherein the power is transmitted to the at least one transmission coil according to the measured current value.