Apparatus and method for transmitting wireless power

• US 10,554,051 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2017
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung-Woo, Byun, Kang-Ho, Park, Se-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitmore, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US15/704,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20180006465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 455522
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for determining, by a wireless power transmitter, whether a wireless power receiver is removed from a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter. The method includes transmitting a command signal to report power information of the wireless power receiver at stated periods; determining whether a report signal corresponding to the command signal is received from the wireless power receiver; and determining that the wireless power receiver is removed from the wireless power network, if the report signal is not received after transmitting the command signal a predetermined number of times at the stated periods.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

outputting a first power for a wireless power receiver;

detecting an error condition while outputting the first power;

based on detecting the error condition, providing an indication with regard to the error condition and periodically outputting a second power for detecting a load variation; and

in response to detecting the load variation, determining that a cause of the error condition is removed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a load of a power transmitter of the wireless power transmitter; and

detecting a load variation of the power transmitter of the wireless power transmitter.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing a first value of the load of the power transmitter before the wireless power receiver is placed on a charging area; and

detecting a second value of the load of the power transmitter when the wireless power receiver is placed on the charging area,

wherein detecting the load variation of the power transmitter comprises detecting that the load of the power transmitter is changed from the second value to the first value.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining that the cause of the error condition is removed in response to detecting that the load of the power transmitter is changed from the second value to the first value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power is used by the wireless power receiver to communicate with the wireless power transmitter.

6. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

a power transmitter; and

a controller configured to;

control outputting a first power for a wireless power receiver,

detect an error condition while outputting the first power,

based on detecting the error condition, provide an indication with regard to the error condition and control periodically output a second power for detecting a load variation, and

in response to detecting the load variation, determine that a cause of the error condition is removed.

7. The wireless power transmitter of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control storing a first value of the load of the power transmitter before the wireless power receiver is placed on a charging area,

detect a second value of the load of the power transmitter when the wireless power receiver is placed on the charging area, and

detect that the load of the power transmitter is changed from the second value to the first value.

8. The wireless power transmitter of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the cause of the error condition is removed in response to detecting that the load of the power transmitter is changed from the second value to the first value.

9. The wireless power transmitter of claim 6, wherein the first power is used by the wireless power receiver to communicate with the wireless power transmitter.