FORWARD LINK SIGNALING WITHIN A WIRELESS POWER SYSTEM

• US 20110124305A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Von Novak, William H., Toncich, Stanley Slavko, Lee, Kevin D., Tan, Cheng F., Irish, Linda S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,559,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.2
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• 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: H03F 1/0211 with control of the supply voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/15 the supply or bias voltage or current at the drain side of a FET being continuously controlled by a controlling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/321 Use of a microprocessor in an amplifier circuit or its control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/21193 the supply voltage of a power amplifier being continuously controlled, e.g. by an active potentiometer
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to forward link signaling. A method may include modulating an input bias signal of a power amplifier according to data to be transmitted on a wireless power transmit signal. The method may further include modulating an amplitude of the wireless power transmit signal generated by the power amplifier in response to the modulated input bias signal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

modulating an input bias signal of a power amplifier according to data to be transmitted on a wireless power transmit signal; and

modulating an amplitude of the wireless power transmit signal generated by the power amplifier in response to the modulated input bias signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a power level at the power amplifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein measuring a power level at the power amplifier comprises detecting at least one of a voltage at the power amplifier and a current at the power amplifier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein modulating an input bias signal comprises modulating the input bias signal having power levels at least partially based on the measured power level at the power amplifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating an input bias signal comprises generating a digital amplitude signal at a controller and conveying a modulated DC power signal to a bias input of the power amplifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating an input bias signal further comprises conveying the digital amplitude signal to at least one converter to generate the DC power signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying the modulated wireless power transmit signal to a transmit antenna.

8. A method, comprising:

sensing a power level at a power amplifier;

conveying a signal in accordance with data to be transmitted on a wireless power transmit signal and at least partially based on the sensed power level to a bias input of the power amplifier; and

modulating an amplitude of the signal to vary an amplitude of the wireless power transmit signal generated by the power amplifier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sensing a power level at a power amplifier comprises sensing at least one of a voltage at the power amplifier and a current at the power amplifier.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting the amplified signal with an associated near-field region.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein conveying a signal in accordance with data to be transmitted comprises generating a digital amplitude signal at a controller and conveying a modulated DC power signal to the bias input of the power amplifier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein conveying a signal in accordance with data to be transmitted further comprises converting the digital amplitude signal to an analog signal prior to generating the DC power signal.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein conveying a signal in accordance with data to be transmitted comprises generating a digital amplitude signal having an amplitude that varies over time according to the data to be transmitted.

14. A wireless power transmitter, comprising:

a power amplifier including a bias input;

a control unit operably coupled to the bias input and configured modulate a bias input signal according to data to be transmitted; and

wherein an output of the power amplifier is modulated in response to receipt of the modulated bias input signal.

15. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the control unit is further configured to detect a power level of the power amplifier.

16. The wireless power transmitter of claim 15, wherein the control unit is further configured to determine a power level of the bias input signal at least partially in response to the detected power level of the power amplifier.

17. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the control unit comprises a controller configured to generate a digital amplitude signal according to the data to be transmitted.

18. The wireless power transmitter of claim 17, wherein the controller comprises a microcontroller.

19. The wireless power transmitter of claim 17, wherein the control unit further comprises a first converter coupled to the controller and configured to convert the digital amplitude signal to an analog signal.

20. The wireless power transmitter of claim 19, wherein the control unit further comprises a DC-to-DC converter coupled between bias input and the first converter and configured to receive the analog signal and generate the bias input signal.

21. A wireless power device, comprising:

a control unit configured to modulate a bias signal in response to a desired message; and

a power amplifier including a bias input configured to receive the modulated bias signal and an output configured to convey a modulated output signal at least partially based on the modulated bias signal;

22. The wireless power device of claim 21, wherein the control unit comprises a feedback unit configured to detect a power level of the power amplifier.

23. The wireless power device of claim 22, wherein a power level of the modulated bias signal at least partially depends on the power level of the power amplifier.

24. The wireless power device of claim 21, wherein the control unit comprises:

a controller configured to generate a digital amplitude signal;

a first converter coupled to the controller and configured to generate an analog signal in response to receipt of the digital amplitude signal; and

a second converter coupled between the first converter and the bias input and configured to generate the modulated bias signal in response to receipt of the analog signal.

25. The wireless power device of claim 24, wherein the first converter comprises at least one of digital POT and a digital to analog converter and the second converter comprises a DC-to-DC converter.

26. A device, comprising:

means for modulating an input bias signal of a power amplifier according to data to be transmitted on a wireless power transmit signal; and

means for modulating an amplitude of the wireless power transmit signal generated by the power amplifier in response to the modulated input bias signal.

27. The device of claim 26, further comprising means for measuring a power level at the power amplifier.

28. The device of claim 27, further comprising means for modulating the input bias signal having power levels at least partially based on the measured power level at the power amplifier.

29. A device, comprising:

means for sensing a power level at a power amplifier;

means for conveying a signal in accordance with data to be transmitted on a wireless power transmit signal and at least partially based on the sensed power level to a bias input of the power amplifier; and

means for modulating an amplitude of the signal to vary an amplitude of the wireless power transmit signal generated by the power amplifier.

30. The device of claim 29, further comprising means for sensing at least one of a voltage at the power amplifier and a current at the power amplifier.

31. The device of claim 29, further comprising means for generating a digital amplitude signal at a controller and conveying a modulated DC power signal to the bias input of the power amplifier.