DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR INDUCTIVE CHARGING

• US 20120212178A1
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: KIM, Jae Ki
• Application Number:
  US13/289,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20120212178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

In a device system, and method for inductive charging, an efficiency of transmission of electromagnetic induced power may be maximized. Specifically, a control portion of a charging device may change an attribute, such as position or area, of a primary coil as to be more aligned with a secondary coil of to be charged device.

Claims

1. An inductive charging device to supply power to a subject charging terminal, the device comprising:

a primary coil to induce a current in a secondary coil of the subject charging terminal;

a power supply section to supply a voltage to the primary coil; and

a first control section to control the supply of the voltage and to change an attribute of the primary coil to maximize transmission efficiency of the electromagnetic induction.

2. The inductive charging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an area-adjusting section to switch an on-off state of a connection between a first portion of the primary coil and a second portion of the primary coil,

wherein the attribute is area, and the area is based on the on-off state.

3. The inductive charging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first communication section to transmit and to receive information with the subject charging terminal,

wherein the first control section receives magnitude information of induced voltage of the secondary coil via the first communication section.

4. The inductive charging device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a position driving section to move the position of the primary coil,

wherein the attribute is the position.

5. The inductive charging device according to claim 3,

wherein the first control section receives voltage information of a voltage supply section of the subject charging terminal, the voltage supply section supplies power to a battery of the subject charging terminal, the voltage information being received via the first communication section, and

wherein the first control section controls the supply of induced current based on the voltage information.

17. The inductive charging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a safety condition section to stop the power supply section based on an abnormal condition.

6. An inductive charging system, the system comprising:

an inductive charging device to supply power to the subject charging terminal,

the inductive charging device comprising;

a primary coil to induce a current,

a power supply section to supply a voltage to the primary coil, and

a first control section to control the power supply section; and

the subject charging terminal comprising;

the secondary coil magnetically coupled to the primary coil and to generate an induced voltage, and

a battery to receive the induced voltage,

wherein the first control section changes an attribute of the primary coil to maximize transmission efficiency of the electromagnetic induction.

7. The inductive charging system according to claim 6,

wherein the inductive charging device further comprises an area-adjusting section to switch an on-off state of a connection between a first portion of the primary coil and a second portion of the primary coil,

wherein the attribute is area, and the area is based on the on-off state of the connection.

8. The inductive charging system according to claim 6,

wherein the inductive charging device further comprises:

a first communication section to transmit and to receive information with the subject charging terminal;

wherein the subject charging terminal further comprises;

an induced voltage detecting section to detect information about an amount of the induced voltage of the secondary coil, and

a second communication section to transmit and to receive information with the inductive charging device;

wherein the second communication section transmits the information about the amount of the induced voltage to the first communication section; and

wherein the first control section determines a point at which the maximal transmission efficiency of the electromagnetic induction is achieved based on the transmitted information about the amount of the induced voltage, and the attribute is the point.

9. The inductive charging system according to claim 8,

wherein the inductive charging device further comprises a position driving section to move the position of the primary coil,

wherein the attribute is the position.

10. The inductive charging system according to claim 8,

wherein the subject charging terminal further comprises:

a voltage supply section to supply the induced voltage to a battery,

a charging circuit section to control a charging to the battery by controlling the supply of the induced voltage from the voltage supply section, and

a second control section to control the charging circuit section;

wherein the second control section transmits voltage information of the voltage supply section to the first communication section via the second communication section; and

wherein the first control section controls the power supply section based on the received voltage information.

18. The inductive charging system according to claim 6, further comprising

a safety condition section to stop the power supply section based on an abnormal condition.

11. A method for inductive charging, the method comprising:

detecting whether a subject charging terminal is placed on an inductive charging device;

applying power to a primary coil of the inductive charging device;

changing an attribute of the primary coil to achieve a maximum transmission efficiency of electromagnetic induction between a secondary coil of the subject charging terminal and the primary coil;

detecting an induced voltage of the secondary coil;

detecting a point at which the maximum transmission efficiency is achieved; and

fixing the attribute corresponding to the point.

12. The inductive charging method according to claim 11, further comprising:

requesting terminal information of the subject charging terminal;

receiving the requested terminal information;

determining whether the received terminal information matches a stored terminal information; and

applying power to the primary coil based on the determination.

13. The inductive charging method according to claim 11, further comprising:

switching an on-off state of a connection between a first portion of the primary coil and a second portion of the primary coil,

wherein the attribute is the area, and the area is based on the on-off state of the connection.

14. The inductive charging method according to claim 11, further comprising:

moving a position of the primary coil,

wherein the attribute is the position.

15. The inductive charging method according to claim 11,

wherein the attribute is at least one of:

a position of the primary coil and an area of the primary coil.

16. The inductive charging method according to claim 11, wherein the applying of the power is based on voltage information of a voltage supply of the subject charging terminal.

19. The inductive charging method according to claim 11, further comprising:

stopping the application of power to the primary coil based an abnormal condition.

20. The inductive charging method according to claim 11, further comprising:

moving the primary coil to an approximate position of the secondary coil.