Systems and method for wireless power transfer

• US 10,115,520 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Inventors: Partovi, Afshin
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Arun
• Application Number:
  US13/829,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 : for controlling the temperature of batteries
• 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: H02J 50/12 : of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 : using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 : the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 : involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 : involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 : with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 : Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 : Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 : Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 : Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 : of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0045 : Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3376 : with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 : using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 : Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 : One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling efficient wireless power transfer, and charging of devices and batteries, in a manner that allows freedom of placement of the devices or batteries in one or multiple (e.g., one, two or three) dimensions. In accordance with various embodiments, applications include inductive or magnetic charging and power, and wireless powering or charging of, e.g., mobile, electronic, electric, lighting, batteries, power tools, kitchen, military, medical or dental, industrial applications, vehicles, trains, or other devices or products. In accordance with various embodiments, the systems and methods can also be generally applied, e.g., to power supplies or other power sources or charging systems, such as systems for transfer of wireless power to a mobile, electronic or electric device, vehicle, or other product.

Claims

1. A base unit for wireless power transfer through a magnetic field, comprising:

one or more components including a magnetic material or layer, that modify the magnitude and/or phase of the magnetic field and/or guide a corresponding magnetic flux generated by one or more coils in the base unit in one or multiple dimensions and/or to guide the magnetic flux in such a manner as to create a preferential path for returning flux flow in one or multiple dimensions,

wherein, when one or more power receivers each having one or more receiver coils or receivers associated therewith, is placed in proximity to a base unit, the one or more coils in the base unit are used to inductively generate a current in the one or more receiver coils or receivers associated with the one or more power receivers, and

further wherein the base unit and the one or more power receivers have a coupling coefficient therebetween of less than 0.5.

2. The base unit of claim 1, provided as or integrated within a pad, bag, container, case or similar apparatus for use in receiving and charging or powering one or more mobile devices, cases, skins, battery doors, dongles, or batteries.

3. The base unit of claim 1, including multiple charger sections that are tiled to be adjacent or overlapping to provide a continuous active charging surface.

4. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the one or more receivers are a component of, or is attached to a shell, case, skin, door or other cover or a dongle of a mobile device.

5. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the one or more receivers are a component of, or is attached to a shell, case, skin or other cover of the mobile device, and is provided as an after-market accessory for use with the mobile device, and replaces an original shell, case, skin or cover of a mobile device.

6. The base unit of claim 1, provided within an automobile, bus, motorcycle, truck or other vehicle or train, airplane or boat or ship or other transport system or vehicle, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices, cases, skins, battery doors, dongles, or batteries within the automobile, bus, motorcycle, truck or other vehicle or train, airplane or boat or ship or other transport system or vehicle.

7. The base unit of claim 1, used to charge the automobile, bus, motorcycle, truck or other vehicle or train or other transport system or vehicle.

8. The base unit of claim 1, provided as a kiosk that allows users to purchase or receive an occasional charge for their mobile devices or batteries.

9. The base unit of claim 1, used to charge any of batteries, cell phones, smart phones, cordless phones, communication devices, pagers, personal data assistants, portable media players, global positioning (GPS) devices, Bluetooth headsets and other devices, headsup or display glasses, 3-d display glasses, shavers, watches, tooth brushes, calculators, cameras, optical scopes, infrared viewers, computers, laptops, tablets, netbooks, key boards, computer mice, book readers or email devices, pagers, computer monitors, televisions, music or movie players and recorders, storage devices, radios, clocks, speakers, gaming devices, game controllers, toys, remote controllers, power tools, scanners, construction tools, office equipment, robots including vacuum cleaning robots, floor washing robots, pool cleaning robots, gutter cleaning robots or robots used in hospital, clean room, military or industrial environments, industrial tools, mobile vacuum cleaners, medical or dental tools, military equipment or tools, kitchen appliances, mixers, cookers, can openers, food or beverage heaters or coolers such as electrically powered beverage mugs, massagers, adult toys, lights or light fixtures, signs or displays, or advertising applications, electronic magazines or newspapers, or magazines or newspapers containing an electronic part, printers, fax machines, scanners, automobiles, buses, trains, motorcycles or bicycles, personal mobility (e.g., Segway) devices, or other vehicles or mobile transportation machines, and other battery or electrically powered devices or products or a product that is a combination of the products listed above that can include or be attached to the one or more power receivers.

10. The base unit of claim 1, forming a system configured as a multi-protocol system for use with different communication and/or control protocols, or different means of communication.

13. The base unit of claim 1 where the one or more power receivers are integrated into mobile devices, cases, skins, battery doors, dongles, or batteries, to charge or power the mobile devices, cases, skins, battery doors, dongles, or batteries.

11. A method for wireless power transfer through a magnetic field, comprising:

providing a base unit that comprises one or more components including a magnetic material or layer, that modify the magnitude and/or phase of the magnetic field and/or guide a corresponding magnetic flux generated by one or more coils in the bases unit in one or multiple dimensions and/or to guide the magnetic flux in such a manner as to create a preferential path for returning flux flow in one or multiple dimensions,

wherein, when one or more power receivers, each having one or more receiver coils or receivers associated therewith, is placed in proximity to a base unit, one or more coils in the base unit are used to inductively generate a current in the one or more receiver coils or receivers associated with the one or more power receivers, and

further wherein the base unit and the one or more power receivers have a coupling coefficient therebetween of less than 0.5.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more power receivers are integrated into mobile devices, cases, skins, battery doors, dongles, or batteries, to charge or power the mobile devices, cases, skins, battery doors, dongles, or batteries.