Method and apparatus for closed loop power estimation for determination of optimal placement of a power receive unit on a power transmit unit with visual and/or haptic feedback

• US 10,122,215 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shevde, Sumukh Ashok, Carobolante, Francesco, Maalouf, Joseph Najib
• Primary Examiner(s): Tra, Quan
• Application Number:
  US15/081,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20170047783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An apparatus for receiving wireless power is provided. The apparatus comprises a coupler configured to receive a first amount of wireless power via a wireless field generated by a wireless power transmitter. The apparatus comprises a sensor circuit configured to measure the first amount of wireless power. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to instruct a feedback circuit to provide an indication to a user based on a comparison of the first amount of wireless power measured by the sensor circuit to a power threshold.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving wireless power, comprising:

a coupler configured to receive a first amount of wireless power via a wireless field generated by a wireless power transmitter;

a sensor circuit configured to measure the first amount of wireless power; and

a controller configured to instruct a feedback circuit to provide an indication on the apparatus to a user whether at least at least a minimum power required to boot up a controller of the apparatus or establish communications with the wireless power transmitter, or a combination thereof has been met based on a comparison of the first amount of wireless power measured by the sensor circuit to a power threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store the power threshold, wherein the power threshold is at least the minimum power required to boot up the apparatus or establish communications with the wireless power transmitter, or the combination thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises one or more indicators illuminated in response to the first amount of wireless power measured by the sensor circuit satisfying the power threshold.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises one or more indicators illuminated in response to the first amount of wireless power measured by the sensor circuit not satisfying the power threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises haptic feedback in response to the first amount of wireless power measured by the sensor circuit satisfying the power threshold.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises haptic feedback in response to the first amount of wireless power measured by the sensor circuit not satisfying the power threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store the power threshold, wherein the power threshold is one of a plurality of selectable power thresholds stored in the memory, the power threshold selected by a manufacturer of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store the power threshold, wherein the power threshold is one of a plurality of selectable power thresholds stored in the memory, the controller configured to select the power threshold based on one or more operating conditions of the apparatus.

9. A method for receiving wireless power, comprising:

receiving a first amount of wireless power at a power receiving unit via a wireless field generated by a wireless power transmitter;

measuring the first amount of wireless power; and

providing an indication to a user on the power receiving unit whether at least a minimum power required to boot up a controller of the power receiving unit or establish communications with the wireless power transmitter, or a combination thereof has been met based on a comparison of the first amount of wireless power to a stored power threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored power threshold is at least the minimum power required to boot up the controller or establish communications with the wireless power transmitter, or the combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the indication comprises providing one or more indicators illuminated in response to the first amount of wireless power satisfying the stored power threshold.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing the indication comprises providing one or more indicators illuminated in response to the first amount of wireless power not satisfying the stored power threshold.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing the indication comprises providing haptic feedback in response to the first amount of wireless power satisfying the stored power threshold.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the indication comprises providing haptic feedback in response to the first amount of wireless power not satisfying the stored power threshold.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored power threshold is one of a plurality of selectable power thresholds stored in a memory, the stored power threshold selected by a manufacturer.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored power threshold is one of a plurality of selectable power thresholds stored in a memory, the method further comprising selecting the stored power threshold based on one or more operating conditions.

17. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus for receiving wireless power to:

receive a first amount of wireless power at a power receiving unit via a wireless field generated by a wireless power transmitter;

measure the first amount of wireless power; and

provide an indication to a user on the power receiving unit whether at least a minimum power required to boot up a controller of the power receiving unit or establish communications with the wireless power transmitter, or a combination thereof has been met based on a comparison of the first amount of wireless power to a stored power threshold.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the stored power threshold is at least the minimum power required to boot up the controller or establish communications with the wireless power transmitter, or the combination thereof.

19. The medium of claim 17, wherein providing the indication comprises providing one or more indicators illuminated in response to the first amount of wireless power satisfying the stored power threshold.

20. The medium of claim 17, wherein providing the indication comprises providing one or more indicators illuminated in response to the first amount of wireless power not satisfying the stored power threshold.

21. The medium of claim 17, wherein providing the indication comprises providing haptic feedback in response to the first amount of wireless power satisfying the stored power threshold.

22. The medium of claim 17, wherein providing the indication comprises providing haptic feedback in response to the first amount of wireless power not satisfying the stored power threshold.

23. The medium of claim 17, wherein the stored power threshold is one of a plurality of selectable power thresholds stored in a memory, the stored power threshold selected by a manufacturer.

24. The medium of claim 17, wherein the stored power threshold is one of a plurality of selectable power thresholds stored in a memory, the code, when executed, further causing the apparatus to select the stored power threshold based on one or more operating conditions.

25. An apparatus for receiving wireless power, comprising:

means for receive a first amount of wireless power at the apparatus via a wireless field generated by a wireless power transmitter;

means for measuring the first amount of wireless power;

means for storing a power threshold; and

means for instructing a feedback circuit to provide an indication to a user on the power receiving unit whether at least a minimum power required to boot up the apparatus or establish communications with the wireless power transmitter, or a combination thereof has been met based on a comparison of the first amount of wireless power to a selected one of the power threshold.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the power threshold is at least the minimum power required to boot up the apparatus or establish communications with the wireless power transmitter, or the combination thereof.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the indication comprises one or more indicators illuminated in response to the first amount of wireless power satisfying the power threshold or in response to the first amount of wireless power not satisfying the power threshold.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the indication comprises haptic feedback in response to the first amount of wireless power satisfying the power threshold or in response to the first amount of wireless power not satisfying the power threshold.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the power threshold is one of a plurality of selectable power thresholds stored in a memory, the power threshold selected by a manufacturer of the apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the power threshold is one of a plurality of selectable power thresholds stored in a memory, the apparatus further comprising means for selecting the power threshold based on one or more operating conditions of the apparatus.