Wireless power transfer control

• US 10,333,352 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Von Novak, III, William Henry, Irish, Linda Stacey, Wheeland, Cody Burton, Jeong, Seong Heon
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US15/241,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20180054090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for controlling a power level of wireless power transfer. Certain aspects provide a wireless power receiver. The wireless power receiver includes an antenna and a rectifier. The rectifier includes a first diode and a second diode. The wireless power receiver further includes a resistor in parallel with the first diode. A first terminal of the resistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first diode. A second terminal of the resistor is coupled to a second terminal of the first diode.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver comprising:

an antenna;

a rectifier comprising a first diode and a second diode; and

a resistor in parallel with the first diode, wherein a first terminal of the resistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first diode, and wherein a second terminal of the resistor is coupled to a second terminal of the first diode.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the first diode is configured to generate second harmonics when the first diode is conducting and the second diode is not conducting, and wherein the first diode and second diode are configured to generate third harmonics when the first diode and the second diode are conducting.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 2, wherein generation of the second harmonics is indicative of a first level of power received via the antenna, and wherein generation of the third harmonics is indicative of a second level of power received via the antenna, wherein the second level of power is greater than the first level of power.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the wireless power receiver comprises a medical implant.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the antenna is coupled in parallel with the first diode.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising a switch coupled in series to the resistor, the switch being coupled between the second terminal of the resistor and the second terminal of the first diode.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 6, wherein the rectifier is configured to selectively generate harmonics based on selective opening and closing of the switch.

8. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to inductively couple power from a wireless field.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the wireless field is configured to induce an alternating current signal in the antenna, and wherein the rectifier is configured to produce a direct current signal to apply to a load based on the alternating current signal.

10. The wireless power receiver of claim 9, wherein a level of power of the alternating current signal induced in the antenna is based on a position of the wireless power receiver in a body, wherein the wireless power receiver comprises an implant.

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the first diode is configured to generate second harmonics when the first diode is conducting and the second diode is not conducting, and wherein the first diode and second diode are configured to generate third harmonics when the first diode and the second diode are conducting, and wherein a power level of the wireless field is based on the generation of the second harmonics and the third harmonics.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a coil electrically coupled to a capacitor.