Method and power transmitter for controlling power transmission

• US 10,797,531 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2020
• Issued: 10/06/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Byun, Kang-Ho, Park, Se-Ho, Jun, Hae-Young, Jung, Hee-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Emeaba, Kalu Kelly
• Application Number:
  US16/931,059
• Time in Patent Office: 82 Days
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling power transmission in a power transmitter. Voltage information including a minimum voltage, a maximum voltage, and a first voltage, is received from each of a plurality of power receivers. Power is transmitted to the plurality of power receivers based on the voltage information. A respective report about a power reception condition is received from each of the plurality of power receivers while transmitting the power. Each respective report includes a measured voltage at a corresponding power receiver of the plurality of power receivers. A power receiver is selected from among the plurality of power receivers based on the received reports. An amount of the power is adjusted by reducing a difference between a first voltage of the selected power receiver and a measured voltage of the selected power receiver.

Claims

1. A method of controlling power transmission in a power transmitter, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first power receiver, first voltage information including a first minimum voltage, a first maximum voltage, and a first set voltage that is between the first minimum voltage and the first maximum voltage;

based on receiving the first voltage information, outputting a first level of power;

receiving, from the first power receiver, first measurement information including a voltage measured at an output of a rectifier of the first power receiver;

receiving, from a second power receiver, second voltage information including a second minimum voltage, a second maximum voltage, and a second set voltage that is between the second minimum voltage and the second maximum voltage;

receiving, from the second power receiver, second measurement information including a voltage measured at an output of a rectifier of the second power receiver;

selecting a power receiver from the first power receiver and the second power receiver based on the first measurement information and the second measurement information; and

adjusting a level of power from the first level to a second level to reduce a difference between a set voltage of the selected power receiver and a measured voltage of the selected power receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set voltage of the selected power receiver is a voltage which is set corresponding to the selected power receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first maximum voltage is a reference voltage of the first power receiver, and the first maximum voltage is between the first minimum voltage and a maximum value considering a circuitry on a power transmission line of the first power receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping power transmission, if the measured voltage of the selected power receiver is greater than a predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the power receiver comprises selecting the power receiver with a highest power usage rate from the first power receiver and the second power receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the power receiver comprises selecting the power receiver with a highest reference reception power from the first power receiver and the second power receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting an amount of power to increase an entire efficiency for the first power receiver and the second power receiver, when a measured voltage at each of the first power receiver and the second power receiver is between a minimum voltage and at maximum voltage for each of the first power receiver and the second power receiver.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first minimum voltage, the first maximum voltage, and the first set voltage are included in a request frame sent by the first power receiver to join a wireless power network hosted by the power transmitter or a report frame sent by the first power receiver to announce a power reception condition after the first power receiver joins the wireless power network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the each of the first measurement information and the second measurement information includes at least one of a voltage at a charger of a corresponding power receiver, and a current measured at the corresponding power receiver during power reception, a changed first maximum voltage, a changed first set voltage, and a measured temperature.

10. A power transmitter for controlling power transmission, the power transmitter comprising:

a resonator;

a power supply configured to output power through the resonator;

a wireless communication unit configured to;

receive, from a first power receiver, first voltage information including a first minimum voltage, a first maximum voltage, and a first set voltage that is between the first minimum voltage and the first maximum voltage,

receive, from the first power receiver, first measurement information including a voltage measured at an output of a rectifier of the first power receiver,

receive, from a second power receiver, second voltage information including a second minimum voltage, a second maximum voltage, and a second set voltage that is between the second minimum voltage and the second maximum voltage, and

receive, from the second power receiver, second measurement information including a voltage measured at an output of a rectifier of the second power receiver; and

a controller configured to;

based on receiving the first voltage information, control the power supply to output a first level of power,

select a power receiver from the first power receiver and the second power receiver based on the first measurement information and the second measurement information, and

control the power supply to adjust a level of power from the first level to a second level to reduce a difference between a set voltage of the selected power receiver and a measured voltage of the selected power receiver.

11. The power transmitter of claim 10, wherein the set voltage of the selected power receiver is a voltage which is set corresponding to the selected power receiver.

12. The power transmitter of claim 10, wherein the first maximum voltage is a reference voltage of the first power receiver, and the first maximum voltage is between the first minimum voltage and a maximum value considering a circuitry on a power transmission line of the first power receiver.

13. The power transmitter of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to stop power transmission, if the measured voltage at the selected power receiver is greater than a predetermined value.

14. The power transmitter of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to select the power receiver with a highest power usage rate from the first power receiver and the second power receiver.

15. The power transmitter of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to select the power receiver with a highest reference reception power from the first power receiver and the second power receiver.

16. The power transmitter of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust an amount of power to increase an entire efficiency for the first power receiver and the second power receiver, when a measured voltage at each of the first power receiver and the second power receiver is between a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage for each of the first power receiver and the second power receiver.

17. The power transmitter of claim 10, wherein the first minimum voltage, the first maximum voltage, and the first set voltage are included in a request frame sent by the first power receiver to join a wireless power network hosted by the power transmitter or a report frame sent by the first power receiver to announce a power reception condition after the first power receiver joins the wireless power network.

18. The power transmitter of claim 10, wherein the each of the first measurement information and the second measurement information includes at least one of a voltage at a charger of a corresponding power receiver, and a current measured at the corresponding power receiver during power reception, a changed first maximum voltage, a changed set voltage, and a measured temperature.