Device for performing wireless charging and method thereof

• US 10,819,133 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2019
• Issued: 10/27/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ha, Young Mi, Noh, Gil Young, Kim, Byung Wook, Lee, Jung Min, Ha, Jae Mu
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US16/587,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20200028376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic device is disclosed. The disclosed electronic device includes a display, a charging circuit that transmits and receives power to and from an external electronic device, a sensor circuit that senses a spatial relationship of the electronic device with the external electronic device, a processor that is electrically connected with the display, the charging circuit, and the sensor circuit. When wirelessly transmitting or receiving power to or from the external electronic device using the charging circuit, the processor may transmit and receive information associated with the wireless transmission or reception of power and display the information based on the spatial relationship.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display;

a charging circuit configured to transmit and receive power to and from an external electronic device;

a sensor circuit, including a gyro sensor, configured to detect whether the electronic device is facing away from a surface of an external object such that the display is visible to a user or facing toward the surface such that the display is obscured from the user by the surface of the external object; and

a processor electrically connected with the display, the charging circuit, and the sensor circuit,

wherein, when wirelessly transmitting or receiving power to or from the external electronic device using the charging circuit, the processor is configured to;

receive information associated with the wireless transmission of power to the external electronic device or wireless reception of power from the external electronic device;

determine whether a front surface containing the display faces a top side or a bottom side opposite to the top side by using the gyro sensor;

determine the electronic device is detected to be facing away from the surface of the external object when the gyro sensor satisfies a specific condition; and

display a user interface according to the information associated with the wireless transmission of power to the external electronic device or wireless reception of power from the external electronic device when the gyro sensor satisfies the specific condition.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the information includes at least one of a battery level of the electronic device, an amount of power consumed by the electronic device, a temperature of the electronic device, when the wireless transmission or reception of power started, an estimated time for completing the wireless transmission or reception of power, a charging current of the electronic device, and time elapsed since a start of the wireless transmission or reception of power.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the displayed user interface includes information generated by the electronic device and information received from the external electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a first frequency used to wirelessly transmit or receive power is different from a second frequency used to transmit and receive the information.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to not display the user interface if the electronic device is detected to be facing toward the surface.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, if the electronic device transmits power to the external electronic device, the processor is further configured to execute only a pre-defined application.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, if the electronic device transmits power to the external electronic device, the processor is further configured to enter a low-power mode to execute only one or more pre-defined functions.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, if the electronic device transmits power to the external electronic device, the processor is further configured to display, in the display, a first user interface displaying at least one of a current power capacity of the electronic device, a target capacity remaining after the wireless transmission of power is completed, a progress indicator, and an estimated time remaining for the wireless transmission of power.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, if the electronic device receives power from the external electronic device, the processor is further configured to display, in the display, a second user interface displaying at least one of a current power capacity of the external electronic device, a target capacity remaining after the wireless transmission of power is completed, and an estimated time remaining for the wireless transmission of power.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the target capacity based on an input from the user.

11. A control method of an electronic device including a display, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting or receiving power to or from an external electronic device;

detecting whether the electronic device is facing away from a surface of an external object such that the display is visible to a user or facing toward the surface such that the display is obscured from the user by the surface of the external object by using a gyro sensor;

receiving information associated with the wireless transmission of power to the external electronic device or wireless reception of power from the external electronic device; and

determining the electronic device is detected to be facing away from the surface of the external object when the gyro sensor satisfies a specific condition; and

displaying a user interface according to the information associated with the wireless transmission of power to the external electronic device or wireless reception of power from the external electronic device when the gyro sensor satisfies the specific condition.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information includes at least one of a battery level of the electronic device, an amount of power consumed by the electronic device, a temperature of the electronic device, when the wireless transmission or reception of power started, an estimated time for completing the wireless transmission or reception of power, a charging current of the electronic device, and time elapsed since a start of the wireless transmission or reception of power.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed user interface includes information generated by the electronic device and information received from the external electronic device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the method includes:

not displaying the user interface if the electronic device is detected to be facing toward the surface.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein, if the electronic device transmits power to the external electronic device, the method further comprises:

executing only a pre-defined application.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein, if the electronic device transmits power to the external electronic device, the method further comprises:

entering a low-power mode to execute only one or more pre-defined functions.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein, if the electronic device transmits power to the external electronic device, the method further comprises:

displaying, in the display, a first user interface displaying at least one of a current power capacity of the electronic device, a target capacity remaining after the wireless transmission of power is completed, a progress indicator, and an estimated time remaining for the wireless transmission of power.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein, if the electronic device receives power from the external electronic device, the method further comprises:

displaying, in the display, a second user interface displaying at least one of a current power capacity of the external electronic device, a target capacity remaining after the wireless transmission of power is completed, and an estimated time remaining for the wireless transmission of power.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method includes:

adjusting the target capacity based on an input from the user.

20. A recording medium storing instructions for an electronic device including a display, the instructions, when executed by a processor of the electronic device, perform a method of:

wirelessly transmitting or receiving power to or from an external electronic device;

detecting whether the electronic device is facing away from a surface of an external object such that the display is visible to a user or facing toward the surface such that the display is obscured from the user by the surface of the external object by using a gyro sensor;

receiving information associated with the wireless transmission of power to the external electronic device or wireless reception of power from the external electronic device; and

determining the electronic device is detected to be facing away from the surface of the external object when the gyro sensor satisfies a specific condition; and

displaying a user interface according to the information associated with the wireless transmission of power to the external electronic device or wireless reception of power from the external electronic device when the gyro sensor satisfies the specific condition.