Wireless power transmitter configuration for power transmission through a partition

• US 10,193,390 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2015
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Riehl, Patrick Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnett, Joel
• Application Number:
  US14/872,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20160261120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for configuring power settings of a wireless power transmitter installed adjacent to a partition are described. A wireless power receiver may detect an amount of power transmitted through the partition from the power transmitter, and identify at least one power setting to the power transmitter that produces an acceptable level of wirelessly transferred power at the wireless power receiver. The power transmitter may store an identified power setting and subsequently operate at the setting identified by the wireless power receiver to provide wireless power through the partition for powering or charging a wirelessly powered device. By configuring a wireless power transmitter at an installation site, various partition thicknesses may be accommodated for through-table, wireless power transfer, for example.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a wireless power transmitter to transmit power wirelessly through a partition between a wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

detecting, at the wireless power receiver, a plurality of signals representative of wirelessly received power levels by at least one receiving coil of the wireless power receiver, wherein the power levels correspond to wireless power transmitted in a sequence of power levels by the wireless power transmitter through the partition;

indicating, on a display of the wireless power receiver, a direction in which to move the wireless power receiver to receive a higher magnetic field from the wireless power transmitter; and

identifying by the wireless power receiver, to the wireless power transmitter, at least one transmit power level of the power levels received from the wireless power transmitter that provides a received power level at the at least one receiving coil that is suitable for charging and/or operating a wireless power device, wherein the identifying occurs after the plurality of signals have been detected by the wireless power receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the partition comprises a tabletop, desktop, or countertop and the wireless power transmitter is mounted on an underside of the partition.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the wireless power receiver, a first gradient in wireless power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter; and

indicating the direction to move the wireless power receiver based on at least the first gradient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

rectifying an alternating current produced in at least one receiving coil; and

producing a rectified voltage corresponding to the rectified alternating current.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

comparing the rectified voltage to a voltage threshold value for wireless power transfer; and

determining whether the rectified voltage exceeds the voltage threshold value for wireless power transfer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

detecting an amplitude of an alternating current produced in at least one receiving coil;

computing a level of magnetic field at the at least one receiving coil based upon the detected amplitude of alternating current;

comparing the level of magnetic field to a magnetic field threshold value for wireless power transfer; and

determining whether the level of magnetic field exceeds the magnetic field threshold value for wireless power transfer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating a fault condition if at least one transmit power level does not provide the power level at the at least one receiving coil that is suitable for charging and/or operating the wireless power device and the wireless power transmitter has trialed a full range of transmit power levels.

8. A wireless power receiver for configuring a wireless power transmitter to transmit power wirelessly through a partition between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter, the wireless power receiver comprising:

at least one receiving coil;

a signal transmitter;

a display that indicates a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in which to move the wireless power receiver to receive a higher magnetic field from the wireless power transmitter; and

circuitry configured to detect a plurality of signals representative of wirelessly received power levels at the at least one receiving coil, wherein the power levels correspond to wireless power transmitted in a sequence of power levels by the wireless power transmitter through the partition and to provide, by the wireless power receiver after the plurality of signals have been detected, data to at least one other device, wherein the data identifies at least one transmit power level of the wireless power transmitter that provides a received power level at the at least one receiving coil that is suitable for charging and/or operating a wireless power device and wherein at least one of the plurality of signals represents a received power level that is not acceptable for charging and/or operating the wireless power device.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the received power level that is suitable for charging and/or operating a wireless power device is within a predefined range of power levels.

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

a memory device;

a processor; and

non-transitory machine-readable instructions stored on the memory device that, when executed by the processor, adapt the wireless power receiver to identify, to the wireless power transmitter via the signal transmitter, the at least one transmit power level of the wireless power transmitter that provides the received power level at the at least one receiving coil that is suitable for charging and/or operating a wireless power device.

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, further comprising rectification circuitry configured to rectify an alternating current generated in the at least one receiving coil and produce a rectified voltage, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power receiver to:

compare the rectified voltage to a voltage threshold value for wireless power transfer; and

determine whether the rectified voltage exceeds the voltage threshold value.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, further comprising a current sensor configured to detect an amplitude of alternating current generated in the at least one receiving coil, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power receiver to:

determine a level of magnetic field at the location of the at least one receiving coil;

compare the level of magnetic field to a magnetic field threshold value for wireless power transfer; and

determine whether the level of magnetic field exceeds the magnetic field threshold value for wireless power transfer.

13. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power receiver to:

detect a gradient in an oscillating magnetic field produced by the wireless power transmitter; and

indicate a direction on the display to move the wireless power receiver based on the gradient.

14. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the at least one receiving coil comprises a pair of elongated coils that are orthogonal to each other.

15. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the at least one receiving coil comprises two pairs of receiving coils that have centers located at different positions.

16. A memory device storing non-transitory machine-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless power receiver, adapt the wireless power receiver to:

detect a first gradient in an oscillating magnetic field at the wireless power receiver;

detect a second gradient in the oscillating magnetic field at the wireless power receiver;

indicate on a display at the wireless power receiver a direction to move the wireless power receiver based on the first gradient and the second gradient;

detect a plurality of received power levels transmitted wirelessly in a sequence of power levels by a wireless power transmitter through a partition to at least one receiving coil of the wireless power receiver at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter; and

identify by the wireless power receiver, to the wireless power transmitter, at least one transmit power level of the received power levels that provides a received power at the location of the at least one receiving coil that is suitable for charging and/or operating a wireless power device, wherein the identifying occurs after the plurality of signals have been detected by the wireless power receiver.

17. The memory device of claim 16, wherein the received power that is suitable for charging and/or operating the wireless power device corresponds to a predefined range of power values.

18. A method for configuring a wireless power transmitter to transmit power wirelessly through a partition that is adjacent to the wireless power transmitter at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

applying, by the wireless power transmitter, a plurality of wireless power levels to transmit power in a sequence of power levels through the partition to at least one receiving coil of a wireless power receiver; and

receiving, from the wireless power receiver in response to application of the plurality of wireless power levels and after transmitting the sequence of power levels, identification of at least one transmit power level from the plurality of wireless power levels that provides a received power level at the location of the at least one receiving coil that is suitable for charging and/or operating a wireless power device, wherein at least one of the power levels in the sequence of power levels is not acceptable for charging and/or operating the wireless power device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing, by the wireless power transmitter, the at least one transmit power level; and

applying a stored transmit power level from the at least one stored transmit power level responsive to detecting a device configured to be charged or powered by the wireless power transmitter.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing, by the wireless power transmitter, plural transmit power levels in association with plural device identifiers corresponding to different types of wirelessly powered devices;

detecting, by the wireless power transmitter, a first type of wirelessly powered device; and

applying, responsive to detecting the first type of wirelessly powered device, a transmit power level stored in association with an identifier for the first type of wirelessly powered device.

21. A memory device storing non-transitory machine-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless power transmitter located adjacent to a partition at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter, adapt the wireless power transmitter to:

apply a plurality of wireless power levels to transmit power in a sequence of power levels through the partition to at least one receiving coil of a wireless power receiver; and

receive, from the wireless power receiver in response to application of the plurality of wireless power levels and after transmitting the sequence of power levels, identification of at least one transmit power level from the plurality of wireless power levels that provides a received power level at the location of the at least one receiving coil that is suitable for charging and/or operating a wireless power device, wherein at least one of the power levels in the sequence of power levels is not acceptable for charging and/or operating the wireless power device.

22. The memory device of claim 21, further comprising non-transitory machine readable instructions that adapt the wireless power transmitter to:

store the at least one transmit power level; and

apply a stored transmit power level from the at least one stored transmit power level responsive to detecting a device configured to be charged or powered by the wireless power transmitter.

23. A wireless power transmitter adapted to be installed adjacent to and transmit power through a partition that is separate from the wireless power transmitter, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

at least one power transmitting coil;

a signal transceiver; and

circuitry configured to;

apply a plurality of wireless power levels to transmit power in a sequence of power levels through the partition to at least one receiving coil of a wireless power receiver;

receive, from the wireless power receiver in response to application of the plurality of wireless power levels and after transmitting the sequence of power levels, identification of at least one transmit power level from the plurality of wireless power levels that provides a received power level at the location of the at least one receiving coil that is suitable for charging and/or operating a wireless power device, wherein at least one of the power levels in the sequence of power levels is not acceptable for charging and/or operating the wireless power device; and

store the at least one transmit power level.

24. The wireless power transmitter of claim 23, further comprising:

a memory device;

a processor; and

non-transitory machine-readable instructions stored on the memory device that, when executed by the processor, adapt the wireless power transmitter to apply the plurality of wireless power levels and store the at least one transmit power level.

25. The wireless power transmitter of claim 24, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power transmitter to apply a transmit power level from the at least one stored transmit power level responsive to detecting a device configured to be charged or powered by the wireless power transmitter.

26. The wireless power transmitter of claim 24, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power transmitter to:

store plural transmit power levels in association with plural device identifiers corresponding to different types of wirelessly powered devices;

detect a first type of wirelessly powered device; and

apply a transmit power level stored in association with an identifier for the first type of wirelessly powered device.

27. A system comprising:

a wireless power transmitter adapted to be installed adjacent to and transmit power through a partition at an installation site of the wireless power transmitter;

at least one power transmitting coil;

a signal transmitter;

at least one memory device;

a processor;

non-transitory machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, adapt the wireless power transmitter to;

apply a plurality of wireless power levels to transmit power in a sequence of power levels through the partition to at least one receiving coil of a wireless power receiver;

receive, from the wireless power receiver in response to application of the plurality of wireless power levels, identification of at least one transmit power level from the plurality of wireless power levels that provides a received power level at the location of the at least one receiving coil that is suitable for charging and/or operating a wireless power device; and

store the at least one transmit power level; and

non-transitory machine-readable instructions that adapt the wireless power receiver to;

detect a first gradient in an oscillating magnetic field received at the wireless power receiver;

detect a second gradient in the oscillating magnetic field at the wireless power receiver;

indicate on a display at the wireless power receiver a first direction to move the wireless power receiver based on the first gradient;

indicate on the display a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction, to move the wireless power receiver based on the second gradient;

detect, by the wireless power receiver, a plurality of received wireless power levels transmitted by a wireless power transmitter through the partition to at least one receiving coil of the wireless power receiver; and

identify by the wireless power receiver, to the wireless power transmitter, the at least one transmit power level after the plurality of signals have been detected by the wireless power receiver.