Efficiencies and flexibilities in inductive charging

• US 10,044,229 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2017
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Inventors: Partovi, Afshin, Sears, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Application Number:
  US15/463,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20170194809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320114, 320115, 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2804 Printed windings
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/36 Electric or magnetic shields or screens movable for varying inductance H01F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/361 made of combinations of electrically conductive material and ferromagnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/363 made of electrically conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/366 made of ferromagnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/003 Printed circuit coils
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for inductive powering and/or charging of electric or electronic devices or batteries. For example, a system may comprise a base unit, such as a charger or power supply, which includes one or more primary coils generally having a planar or curved surface. Each primary coil can be activated to generate a magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar or curved surface to provide power to one or more inductive power receiver coils of a receiver to power or charge one or more portable devices or batteries. The base unit is capable of detecting a wireless communication signal or a modulation communication signal in the one or more primary coils created by modulation of the receiver'"'"'s impedance and is capable of using the wireless communication signal or the modulation communication signal to control output voltage, current or power from the receiver.

Claims

1. A system for inductive powering or charging of electric or electronic devices or batteries, comprising:

a base unit which includes one or more primary coils generally having a planar or curved surface,

wherein each of the one or more primary coils can be activated to generate a magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar or curved surface to provide power to one or more inductive power receiver coils of one or more receivers to power or charge one or more portable devices or batteries, and

further wherein the base unit is capable of detecting a wireless communication signal or a modulation communication signal in the one or more primary coils created by modulation of one or more receivers'"'"' impedance or impedances and is capable of using the wireless communication signal or the modulation communication signal to control output voltage, current or power from the one or more receivers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication signal or the modulation communication signal is of a Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless USB, Near Field Communication, RFID or proprietary communication technique.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit incorporates magnets, fasteners, or mechanical, audible or visible means to help in alignment of the one or more base unit coils and the one or more receiver coils.

4. The system of claim 1, whereby the one or more primary coils is of one or more conductive non-ferrite material sputtered, deposited, evaporated, electroplated, painted, stamped, or formed into a shape of a circular, rectangular, spiral, hexagon or other shape for efficient wireless power transfer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base unit or the one or more receivers include a microcontroller unit that monitors current flow and/or voltage and/or provides communication between the base unit and the one or more receivers for use in controlling charging or power transfer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one primary coil is driven by one or more drive circuits to selectively power on and off the at least one primary coil when appropriate, and provide power to a nearby receiver.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein a group of one or more primary coils includes a switching component, and

further wherein the microcontroller unit

periodically starts switching to an on-state the one or more primary coils of the group in a sequence or individually monitors current flow through the primary coil being switched,

uses the current flow to sense proximity of the one or more receivers and device or battery to the one or more primary coils in the on-state, and

thereafter activate powering or charging of the device or battery via the one or more primary coils in the on-state, or a selection of primary coils in a region containing the one or more primary coils in the on-state.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein part or all of the base unit and/or the receiver or their coils or circuitry is covered by a thin layer of a conductor to reduce undesirable electromagnetic emission from the system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the conductor is comprised of a metal, metal alloy, organic conductor, nanotech material, nanotubes or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the conductor is applied by sputtering, evaporation, spraying, electroplating, coating through dipping, Langmuir Blodgett, painting, or a combination thereof or by first applying the conductive layer to a substrate that is then applied to part or all of the base unit and/or the receiver or their coils or circuitry.

11. A method for inductive powering or charging of electric or electronic devices or batteries, comprising:

providing a base unit which includes one or more primary coils generally having a planar or curved surface,

wherein each of the one or more primary coils can be activated to generate a magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar or curved surface to provide power to one or more inductive power receiver coils of one or more receivers to power or charge one or more portable devices or batteries, and

further wherein the base unit is capable of detecting a wireless communication signal or a modulation communication signal in the one or more primary coils created by modulation of one or more receivers'"'"' impedance or impedances and is capable of using the wireless communication signal or the modulation communication signal to control output voltage, current or power from the one or more receivers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication signal or the modulation communication signal is of a Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless USB, Near Field Communication, RFID or proprietary communication technique.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit incorporates magnets, fasteners, or mechanical, audible or visible methods to help in alignment of the one or more base unit coils and the one or more receiver coils.

14. The method of claim 11, whereby the one or more primary coils is of one or more conductive non-ferrite material sputtered, deposited, evaporated, electroplated, painted, stamped, or formed into a shape of a circular, rectangular, spiral, hexagon or other shape for efficient wireless power transfer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the base unit or the one or more receivers include a microcontroller unit that monitors current flow and/or voltage and/or provides communication between the base unit and the one or more receivers for use in controlling charging or power transfer.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one primary coil is driven by one or more drive circuits to selectively power on and off the at least one primary coil when appropriate, and provide power to a nearby receiver.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a group of one or more primary coils includes a switching component, and

further wherein the microcontroller unit

periodically starts switching to an on-state the one or more primary coils of the group in a sequence or individually monitors current flow through the primary coil being switched,

uses the current flow to sense proximity of the one or more receivers and device or battery to the one or more primary coils in the on-state, and

thereafter activate powering or charging of the device or battery via the one or more primary coils in the on-state, or a selection of primary coils in a region containing the one or more primary coils in the on-state.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein part or all of the base unit and/or the receiver or their coils or circuitry is covered by a thin layer of a conductor to reduce undesirable electromagnetic emission.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the conductor is comprised of a metal, metal alloy, organic conductor, nanotech material, nanotubes or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the conductor is applied by sputtering, evaporation, spraying, electroplating, coating through dipping, Langmuir Blodgett, painting, or a combination thereof or by first applying the conductive layer to a substrate that is then applied part or all of the base unit and/or the receiver or their coils or circuitry.