Method and system for wireless charging in a portable terminal

• US 10,230,277 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Son, In-Gu, Kang, Chang-Taek
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US15/260,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20160380470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

A method for wirelessly charging a portable terminal using a Radio Frequency (RF) is provided. A charging system detects one or more portable terminals within a predetermined area, and preferably requests information needed for charging to the one or more portable terminals via short-range communication, receives the information in response needed for charging from each of the one or more portable terminals. A portable terminal to be wirelessly charged from among the one or more portable terminals is selected, based on the received information needed for charging, and the charging system transmits a predetermined RF for charging to the selected portable terminal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

power circuitry;

a battery; and

a processor configured to;

identify, using the power circuitry, an external electronic device configured to provide a wireless charging service for transmitting a wireless power;

receive a request for information associated with charging from the identified external electronic device;

in response to receiving the request, transmit, using the power circuitry, state information of the apparatus associated with the charging to the external electronic device, wherein the state information includes information indicating whether or not the apparatus is wirelessly chargeable;

receive, using the power circuitry, a power from the external electronic device based at least in part on a determination that the apparatus is wirelessly chargeable; and

charge the battery using at least part of the power received from the external electronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to:

transmit, based at least in part on the identifying, a notification indicating that the apparatus is within a specified range with respect to the wireless charging service to the external electronic device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising communication circuitry, wherein the processor is adapted to:

receive, using the communication circuitry, a request for identification information from the external electronic device prior to the transmitting of the identification information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power circuitry comprises communication circuitry to be used for the transmitting of the identification information to the external electronic device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a strength of the power is adjusted from a first specified level to a second specified level during the receiving, and wherein the processor is adapted to:

adjust, as at least part of the charging, a charging current for the battery from a first current corresponding to the first specified level to a second current corresponding to the second specified level .

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to:

present, via a display operatively coupled with the processor, an indication indicative of a state with respect to the charging of the battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is adapted to:

present, via the display, the indication as at least part of a notification bar.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to:

present, via a display operatively coupled with the processor, a notification indicative of unavailability of the wireless charging service to the apparatus based at least in part on a determination that the apparatus is not subscribed to the wireless charging service.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to:

transmit, as at least part of the transmitting of the identification information, power information indicative of a power level with respect to the battery, or activation information indicative of whether to activate or deactivate a wireless charging function of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises information indicative of a subscription state of the apparatus for the wireless charging service.

11. An apparatus comprising:

power circuitry;

a battery; and

a processor adapted to;

identify an external electronic device adapted to provide a wireless charging service;

transmit, based at least in part on identifying the external electronic device, identification information indicative of a subscription state of the apparatus for the wireless charging service to the external electronic device;

when the subscription state of the apparatus includes a subscription;

receive, using the power circuitry, a power from the external electronic device in response to the identification information, and

charge the battery using at least part of the power received from the external electronic device; and

present, via a display operatively coupled with the processor, a notification indicative of unavailability of the wireless charging service to the apparatus based at least in part on a determination that the apparatus is not subscribed to the wireless charging service.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is adapted to:

receive, in response to the identification information, a result of authentication of the apparatus with respect to the receiving of the power from the external electronic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is adapted to:

present, via a display operatively coupled with the processor, an indication indicative of a state with respect to the charging of the battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a strength of the power is adjusted from a first specified level to a second specified level during the receiving, and wherein the processor is adapted to:

adjust, as at least part of the charging, a charging current for the battery from a first current corresponding to the first specified level to a second current corresponding to the second specified level.

15. An apparatus for providing a wireless charging service, the apparatus comprising:

power circuitry; and

a processor adapted to;

transmit a request for information associated with charging to a plurality of external electronic devices;

receive state information associated with charging from the plurality of external electronic devices in a specified range from the apparatus with respect to the wireless charging service, wherein the state information includes information indicating which ones of the plurality of electronic devices are wirelessly chargeable;

determine a power to be transmitted to each of the ones of the plurality of external electronic devices that are wirelessly chargeable based at least in part on the state information, wherein the determined power is different according to the ones of the plurality of external electronic devices that are wirelessly chargeable; and

transmit, using the power circuitry, the determined power to the ones of the plurality of external electronic devices that are wirelessly chargeable.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the power circuitry comprises communication circuitry to be used for the receiving of the state information, wherein the processor is adapted to:

receive, using the communication circuitry, a notification indicating that the plurality of external electronic devices enter the specified range from the plurality of external electronic devices prior to receiving of the state information.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the state information includes,

power information indicative of a power level with respect to a battery of each of the plurality of external electronic devices.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is adapted to:

refrain from transmitting the power to each of the plurality of external electronic devices based at least in part on a determination that the power level falls into a specified power level.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is adapted to:

adjust, as at least part of the transmitting, a strength of the power from a first specified level to a second specified level based at least in part on the power information.