Apparatus and method for wirelessly receiving power

• US 10,037,847 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Ui Kun, Kim, Sang Joon, Yoon, Seung Keun
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHILLON, JAGDEEP S
• Application Number:
  US13/940,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 307149, 307 66, 307 101, 307 64, 307 82, 307 80, 320137, 320104, 320110, 320109, 375224, 375225, 343867, 343850
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/025 using non-contact coupling, e.g. inductive, capacitive

Abstract

A wireless power receiver includes a receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive power through a resonance between a source resonator and a target resonator. The wireless power receiver further includes a control unit configured to connect the target resonator to at least one capacitor to control a range of a voltage output from the target resonator.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver, comprising:

a receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive power through a resonance between a source resonator and a target resonator; and

a control unit configured to control an electrical connection between the target resonator and at least one capacitor disposed in the wireless power receiver,

wherein the control unit electrically connects the target resonator with the at least one capacitor and electrically connects the target resonator with a rectifier, and

in response to the target resonator being electrically connected with each of the at least one capacitor and the rectifier, an amplitude of a voltage input to the rectifier is adapted.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitor comprises a first capacitor comprising a capacitance greater than or equal to a capacitance of a capacitor of the target resonator, and a second capacitor comprising a capacitance less than the capacitance of the capacitor of the target resonator.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

connect the target resonator to the at least one capacitor to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a timing controller configured to

control a first timing in which the at least one capacitor is connected to the target resonator, and

control a second timing in which a capacitor of the target resonator is connected to an inductor of the target resonator.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 4, wherein the timing controller is further configured to:

control the first timing to attenuate the voltage output from the target resonator; and

control the first and second timings to amplify the voltage output from the target resonator.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a first switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to a load; and

a second switch unit configured to connect the at least one capacitor to the target resonator in parallel between the target resonator and the load.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one capacitor comprises a first capacitor and a second capacitor; and

the wireless power receiver further comprises

a first switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to a load,

a second switch unit configured to connect the first capacitor to the target resonator in parallel between the target resonator and the load, and

a third switch unit configured to connect the second capacitor to the target resonator in parallel between the load and the first capacitor.

8. The wireless power receiver of claim 7, wherein the first switch unit is between the second capacitor and the load.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, further comprising:

a default capacitor configured to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator, the default capacitor being between the first switch unit and the load.

10. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a first switch unit configured to disconnect a capacitor of the target resonator from an inductor of the target resonator in response to a voltage of the capacitor of the target resonator being less than or equal to a predetermined value;

a second switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the at least one capacitor in parallel between the target resonator and a load to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator; and

a third switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the load.

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a first switch unit configured to disconnect a capacitor of the target resonator from an inductor of the target resonator in response to a voltage of the capacitor of the target resonator being less than or equal to a predetermined value;

a second switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the at least one capacitor in parallel between the target resonator and a load during the resonance; and

a third switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the load.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one capacitor comprises a first capacitor and a second capacitor; and

the wireless power receiver further comprises

a first switch unit configured to disconnect a capacitor of the target resonator from an inductor of the target resonator in response to a voltage of the capacitor of the target resonator being less than or equal to a predetermined value,

a second switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the first capacitor in parallel between the target resonator and a load to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator, and disconnect the target resonator from the first capacitor in response to the voltage of the capacitor of the target resonator being less than or equal to the predetermined value,

a third switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the second capacitor in parallel between the load and the first capacitor to change the resonant frequency of the target resonator, and

a fourth switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the load.

13. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one capacitor comprises a first capacitor and a second capacitor; and

the wireless power receiver further comprises

a first switch unit configured to disconnect a capacitor of the target resonator from an inductor of the target resonator in response to a voltage of the capacitor of the target resonator being less than or equal to a predetermined value,

a second switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the first capacitor in parallel between the target resonator and a load to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator, and disconnect the target resonator from the first capacitor in response to the voltage of the capacitor of the target resonator being less than or equal to the predetermined value,

a third switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the second capacitor in parallel between the load and the first capacitor during the resonance, and

a fourth switch unit configured to connect the target resonator to the load.

21. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control another electrical connection between the at least one capacitor and a rectifier simultaneously with the control of the electrical connection between the target resonator and at least one capacitor.

14. A wireless power receiver, comprising:

a receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive power through a resonance between a source resonator and a target resonator; and

a control unit configured to control an electrical connection between the target resonator and a passive device disposed in the wireless power receiver,

wherein the control unit electrically connects the target resonator with the passive device and electrically connects the target resonator with a rectifier, and

wherein in response to the target resonator being electrically connected with each of the passive device and the rectifier, an amplitude of a voltage input to the rectifier is adapted.

15. The wireless power receiver of claim 14, wherein the passive device comprises a first capacitor comprising a capacitance greater than or equal to a capacitance of a capacitor of the target resonator, and/or a second capacitor comprising a capacitance less than the capacitance of the capacitor of the target resonator.

16. The wireless power receiver of claim 15, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

connect the target resonator to the first capacitor and/or the second capacitor to attenuate the range.

17. The wireless power receiver of claim 15, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

connect the target resonator to the second capacitor, and disconnect the capacitor of the target resonator from an inductor of the target resonator, to amplify the range.

18. The wireless power receiver of claim 15, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

connect the target resonator to the first capacitor and the second capacitor during the resonance; and

in response to a voltage of the capacitor of the target resonator being less than or equal to a predetermined value,

disconnect the capacitor of the target resonator from an inductor of the target resonator,

disconnect the target resonator from the first capacitor, and

connect the target resonator to a load to transfer power stored in the target resonator to the load.

19. A wireless power reception method, comprising:

wirelessly receiving power through a resonance between a source resonator and a target resonator; and

controlling a connection between the target resonator and at least one capacitor disposed in the wireless power receiver, and a connection between the target resonator and a rectifier,

wherein in response to the target resonator being electrically connected with each of the at least one capacitor and the rectifier, an amplitude of a voltage input to the rectifier is adapted.

20. The wireless power reception method of claim 19, further comprising:

controlling a first timing in which the at least one capacitor is connected to the target resonator to attenuate the voltage output from the target resonator; and

controlling the first timing and a second timing in which a capacitor of the target resonator is connected to an inductor of the target resonator to amplify the voltage output from the target resonator.