Apparatus and method for providing compatibility in wireless power transmission system

• US 10,651,693 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2019
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Hybrid Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: GE Hybrid Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Yoon, Yong Gu, Jung, Choon Kil
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Hal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Xuan
• Application Number:
  US16/298,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20190207436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for providing compatibility with a wireless power transmitting device in a wireless power transmitting system. The method includes the steps of: detecting a wireless power receiving device on the basis of a load change; transmitting a request signal for requesting information for a receiving device to the wireless power receiving device; receiving the information for the receiving device from the wireless power receiving device, wherein the information selectively includes version information on standard technical specifications for realizing the wireless power receiving device; and, when the version information is included in the information for the receiving device, performing a wireless power transmitting operation according to the standard technical specifications corresponding to the version information.

Claims

1. A method performed by a wireless power transmitting device in a wireless power transmission system, the method comprising:

receiving a communication from a wireless power receiving device;

determining, by the wireless power transmitting device, an operational version of a standard technical specification supported by the wireless power receiving device based, at least in part, on whether the communication received from the wireless power receiving device includes a version field, wherein the operational version is a first version of the standard technical specification when the communication does not include the version field, and wherein the operational version is determined by the version field when the communication does include the version field; and

performing a wireless power transmitting operation according to the operational version of the standard technical specification supported by the wireless power receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first version is a legacy version of the standard technical specification, and wherein a second version of the standard technical specification requires the communication to include the version field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication from the wireless power receiving device further includes a level of reception power which the wireless power receiving device receives from the wireless power transmitting device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an approach of the wireless power receiving device based on a load change; and

transmitting a signal to the wireless power receiving device, wherein the communication is received in response to the signal.

5. A wireless power transmitting device for use in a wireless power transmission system, the wireless power transmitting device comprising:

a primary coil for transmitting wireless power based on magnetic induction or magnetic resonance;

an electric drive unit connected to the primary coil and configured to provide an electric drive signal to the primary coil to allow the primary coil to generate the magnetic induction or the magnetic resonance; and

a control unit connected to the electric drive unit and configured to control the electric drive signal, the control unit further configured to;

receive a communication from a wireless power receiving device;

determine an operational version of a standard technical specification supported by the wireless power receiving device based, at least in part, on whether the communication received from the wireless power receiving device includes a version field, wherein the operational version is a first version of the standard technical specification when the communication does not include the version field, and wherein the operational version is determined by the version field when the communication does include the version field; and

perform a wireless power transmitting operation according to the operational version of the standard technical specification supported by the wireless power receiving device.

6. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 5, wherein the first version is a legacy version of the standard technical specification, and wherein a second version of the standard technical specification requires the communication to include the version field.

7. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 5, wherein the communication from the wireless power receiving device further includes a level of reception power which the wireless power receiving device receives from the wireless power transmitting device.

8. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 5, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

detect a load change associated with an approach of the wireless power receiving device, and

transmit a signal to the wireless power receiving device, wherein the communication is received in response to the signal.

9. A system, comprising:

means for receiving a communication from a wireless power receiving device;

means for determining, by the wireless power transmitting device, an operational version of a standard technical specification supported by the wireless power receiving device based, at least in part, on whether the communication received from the wireless power receiving device includes a version field, wherein the operational version is a first version of the standard technical specification when the communication does not include the version field, and wherein the operational version is determined by the version field when the communication does include the version field; and

means for performing a wireless power transmitting operation according to the operational version of the standard technical specification supported by the wireless power receiving device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first version is a legacy version of the standard technical specification, and wherein a second version of the standard technical specification requires the communication to include the version field.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication from the wireless power receiving device further includes a level of reception power which the wireless power receiving device receives from the wireless power transmitting device.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for detecting an approach of the wireless power receiving device based on a load change; and

means for transmitting a signal to the wireless power receiving device, wherein the communication is received in response to the signal.