Power supply apparatus and method for wireless power transmission

• US 10,199,883 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Nam Yun, Kwon, Sang Wook, Park, Yun Kwon, Choi, Jin Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Inge, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/177,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20160294226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• 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: 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 50/12 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 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• 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

Provided is an apparatus and method that may stably perform wireless transmission. According to one general aspect, a power supply for a wireless power transmitter may include: a detecting unit configured to detect voltage, current, or both supplied to a power amplifier (PA); a controller configured to determine power supplied to the PA based on the detected voltage, the detected current, or both, and to determine a reference current based on the determined power supplied to the PA; and a breaker configured to cut off the power supplied to the PA based on a comparison of current supplied to the PA and the reference current.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive information including a requested power from a wireless power receiver;

a power converter configured to output a supply power supplied to a power amplifier (PA) based on the information;

a controller configured to determine a reference value based on the information;

a detecting unit configured to detect an electrical value of the supply power to the PA, wherein the electrical value includes at least one of a current and a voltage; and

a power switch configured to cut off an electrical connection between the PA and the power converter, based on a comparison of the detected electrical value and the reference value.

2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is configured to measure voltage across a resistor or a transistor connected to the PA, measure current flowing through the resistor or the transistor, or both.

3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is configured to measure voltage across a resistor having a predetermined resistance connected to the PA, and determine the current based on the predetermined resistance and the measured voltage.

4. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the reference value using a reference table in which reference values, predetermined supply powers, and corresponding supply voltages, are provided.

5. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control a signal input to the PA based on the comparison.

6. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the supply power based on the comparison.

7. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, further comprising:

a comparing unit configured to compare the detected electrical value and the reference value.

8. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the power switch is configured to determine a state of a switch that connects the PA and the power converter based on the comparison.

9. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the power switch is configured to determine an operation of a transistor that connects the PA and the power converter based on the comparison.

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

a leakage current breaker configured to cut off a leakage current from the power converter.

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

a source resonance unit configured to transmit power output from the PA to the wireless power receiver; and

a matching network configured to match an output impedance of the PA and an input impedance of the source resonance unit.

12. A power supply method for wireless power transmission, the method comprising:

receiving information including a requested power from a wireless power receiver;

outputting a supply power supplied to a power amplifier (PA) based on the information;

determining a reference value based on the information;

detecting an electrical value of the supply power to the PA, wherein the electrical value includes at least one of a current and a voltage;

cutting off an electrical connection between the PA and a power converter, based on a comparison of the detected electrical value and the reference value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the detecting comprises:

measuring voltage across a resistor or a transistor connected to the PA, measuring current flowing through the resistor or the transistor, or both.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the detecting comprises:

measuring voltage across a resistor having a predetermined resistance connected to the PA; and

determining the current supplied to the PA based on the predetermined resistance and the measured voltage.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

controlling the supply power based on the comparison.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a state of a switch that connects the PA and the power converter based on the comparison.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting power output from the PA to the wireless power receiver.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

matching an output impedance of the PA and an input impedance of the source resonance unit.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

cutting off a leakage current from the power converter.