BI-DIRECTIONAL WIRELESS CHARGER

• US 20120229071A1
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schuessler, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,901,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• 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 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A bi-directional charging device includes a rechargeable battery, a coil coupled to the rechargeable battery, a selection mechanism that selectively causes power to be delivered from the coil to the battery and selectively causes power to be delivered from the battery to the coil, and a control mechanism. Upon determining that the coil is to provide power to the battery, the control mechanism causes the selection mechanism to selectively cause power to be delivered from the coil to the battery, and upon determining that the coil is to receive power from the battery, the control mechanism causes the selection mechanism to selectively cause power to be delivered from the battery to the coil.

The bi-directional charging device includes a housing enclosing the rechargeable battery, the coil, the selection mechanism, and the control mechanism.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a rechargeable battery;

a coil coupled to the rechargeable battery;

a selection mechanism that selectively causes power to be provided from the coil to the battery and selectively causes power to be provided from the battery to the coil; and

a control mechanism that

upon determining that the coil is to provide power to the battery, causes the selection mechanism to selectively cause power to be provided from the coil to the battery; and

upon determining that the coil is to receive power from the battery, causes the selection mechanism to selectively cause power to be provided from the battery to the coil.

a housing including the rechargeable battery, the coil, the selection mechanism, and the control mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a solar panel attached to the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the solar panel being removeably attached to the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one indicator viewable on a surface of the housing that indicates the battery state.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, battery state including one of a battery state of charge, a selection of power being provided from the coil to the battery, a selection of power being provided from the battery to the coil, and low battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a connection mechanism accessible on the surface of the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the connection mechanism being at least one of a USB (universal serial bus) and a mini-USB interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the connection mechanism configured to provide power from the rechargeable battery to an external device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, the connection mechanism configured to provide power from an external device to the rechargeable battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a protective cover for the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, the rechargeable battery being one of a plurality of rechargeable batteries in the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, the coil being one of a plurality of coils in the housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication interface configured for communicating with external devices to coordinate transfers of energy.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, the apparatus receiving a request via the communication interface from an external device to provide power to the external device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, the apparatus providing power based on the request.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, the request including a preferred frequency for receiving an energy transfer.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, the apparatus making a request via the communication interface to an external device for the external device to provide power to the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus being one of a portable computer and a mobile telephone.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving in a bi-directional charging device a request via a communication interface, the request being from an external device, and the request being to provide power to the external device;

controlling a selection mechanism to route power from a rechargeable battery to a coil for delivering power to the external device;

receiving an indication via the communication interface that the external device is fully charged; and

controlling the selection mechanism to disconnect the rechargeable battery from the coil;

the selection mechanism, the rechargeable battery, and the coil being within the bi-directional charging device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

sending a request via the communication interface to an external device, the request being for power delivery to the bi-directional device; and

controlling a selection mechanism to route power from the coil to the rechargeable battery.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

sending a request via the communication interface to an external device, the request being for power delivery to the bi-directional charging device; and

controlling a selection mechanism to route power from a second coil in the bi-directional charging device to the rechargeable battery.

22. The method of claim 19, the bi-directional charging device being one of a portable computer and a mobile phone.

23. The method of claim 22, the bi-directional charging device being a first bi-directional charging device and the external device being a second bi-directional charging device.