WIRELESS POWER FOR CHARGING DEVICES

• US 20100194206A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hunsicker, Harry M., Jaffee, James I., Cook, Nigel P., Burdo, Rinat, Kirby, Miles A., Keating, Virginia W., Mangan, Michael J., Ozaki, Ernest T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,130,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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: H02J 9/007 Detection of the absence of a load

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A host device peripheral may comprise a wireless power charging apparatus, which may include transmit circuitry and at least one antenna coupled to the transmit circuitry. The at least one antenna may be configured to wirelessly transmit power within an associated near-field region. Additionally, the host device peripheral may be configured to couple to a host device.

Claims

1. A host device peripheral, comprising:

a wireless power charging apparatus, including;

transmit circuitry; and

at least one antenna coupled to the transmit circuitry and configured to wirelessly transmit power within an associated near-field region;

wherein the host device peripheral is configured to couple to a host device.

2. The host device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the host device peripheral is configured to be positioned within a drive bay of the host device.

3. The host device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the host device peripheral is configured to electrically couple to each of a chargeable battery of the host device and an external power source electrically coupled to the host device.

4. The host device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the host device peripheral further comprises an energy storage device configured to receive power from a power source.

5. The host device peripheral of claim 4, wherein the host device peripheral is configured to convey power to at least one of the chargeable battery, an electronic device, and the energy storage device.

6. The host device peripheral of claim 4, wherein the host device peripheral is configured to wirelessly transmit power received from at least one of the chargeable battery, the energy storage device, and the external power source.

7. The host device peripheral of claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to receive wireless power.

8. The host device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the host device peripheral is integrated into the host device.

9. The host device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the host device peripheral comprises a portion configured to extend from the host device and comprising the at least one antenna.

10. The host device peripheral of claim 1, wherein host device peripheral further comprises an energy storage device and is detachable from the host device.

11. The host device peripheral of claim 1, wherein host device peripheral is further configured to:

detect an electronic device; and

transition from a power saving mode to a charging mode upon detection of the electronic device.

12. The host device peripheral of claim 11, wherein one or more antennas of the at least one antenna is coupled to a cover of the host device.

13. The host device peripheral of claim 12, further comprising an attachment device coupled to the cover of the host device and configured to attach at least one electronic device thereto.

14. The host device peripheral of claim 12, further comprising a pocket positioned proximate the cover of the host device and configured for placement of one or more electronic devices.

15. The host device peripheral of claim 11, further comprising a charging pad coupled to the charging device and including one or more antennas of the at least one antenna.

16. The host device peripheral of claim 11, wherein the host device peripheral mechanically couples to and is configured to pivot about a base of the host device.

17. The host device peripheral of claim 11, wherein the host device peripheral is configured to slide out from and retract into a portion of the host device.

18. The host device peripheral of claim 11, wherein one or more antennas of the at least one antenna is coupled to a surface of base of the host device proximate a keyboard.

19. A method, comprising:

electrically coupling a host device peripheral to a host device; and

transmitting wireless power from the host device peripheral to at least one of a chargeable battery and an electronic device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising mechanically coupling the host device peripheral within a cavity of a host device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising deploying a portion of the host device peripheral comprising a transmit antenna to extend from the host device.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein electrically coupling the host device peripheral to the host device comprises electrically coupling the host device peripheral to a chargeable battery of the host device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein transmitting power from the host device peripheral to at least one chargeable battery comprises transmitting power to the chargeable battery of the host device.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting power from the host device peripheral to at least one of a chargeable battery and an electronic device comprises wirelessly transmitting power to an electronic device positioned on a surface of the host device peripheral.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising wirelessly transmitting power from a transmit antenna to the host device peripheral.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

detecting at least one electronic device with the host device peripheral; and

switching the host device from a power saving mode to a charging mode upon detection of the at least one electronic device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting comprises detecting the at least one electronic device with a wireless transmitter of the host device peripheral.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting comprises detecting at least one electronic device via near-field communication between a transmit antenna coupled to the host device peripheral and an antenna within the at least one electronic device.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting comprises detecting a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag connected to the at least one electronic device.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein switching the host device from a power saving mode to a charging mode comprises switching the host device from at least one of a standby mode and a sleep mode to a charging mode upon detection of the at least one electronic device.

31. A wireless power system, the system comprising:

means for electrically coupling a host device peripheral to a host device; and

means for transmitting power from the host device peripheral to at least one chargeable battery.