APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CHARGING POWER OF WIRELESS POWER RECEIVER

• US 20130127410A1
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Young-Min, Kim, Ki-Hyun, Park, Se-Ho, PARK, Sung-Kweon, Ko, Kil-Soo, Park, Jin-Hyoung
• Granted Patent: US 9,407,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters

Abstract

In an apparatus for adjusting charging power of a wireless power receiver, when one or more wireless power receivers require charging, it is determined whether the sum of required charging powers required by the one or more wireless power receivers exceeds maximum supplied power provided by a wireless power transmitter. When a result indicates that the sum exceeds the maximum supplied power, a control operation is performed to adjust the required charging power of each wireless power receiver. Therefore, it is possible to wirelessly charge each wireless power receiver without interruption.

Claims

1. A transmission apparatus for adjusting charging power of a wireless power receiver, the transmission apparatus comprising:

a power supply unit which outputs a power signal; and

a transmission controller which calculates a sum of required charging powers of one or more wireless power receivers when a data signal for wireless charging is received from the one or more wireless power receivers, and generates a charging power adjustment signal for adjusting the required charging power of each of the one or more wireless power receivers and transmitting the generated charging power adjustment signal to each of the one or more wireless power receivers, when the calculated sum exceeds maximum supplied power capable of being supplied by the transmission apparatus.

2. The transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data signal includes identification information and characteristic information of each of the one or more wireless power receivers.

3. The transmission apparatus of claim 2, wherein the characteristic information includes information on total power of the one or more wireless power receivers.

4. The transmission apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transmission controller calculates a sum of maximum charging powers in a constant current mode for the one or more wireless power receivers by using the characteristic information, and determines whether the calculated sum of the maximum charging power exceeds the maximum supplied power capable of being output by the transmission apparatus.

5. The transmission apparatus of claim 4, wherein, when the calculated sum of the maximum charging power exceeds the maximum supplied power capable of being output by the transmission apparatus, the transmission controller generates a charging power adjustment signal for reducing the maximum charging power of each of the one or more wireless power receivers, and transmits the generated charging power adjustment signal to each of the one or more wireless power receivers.

6. The transmission apparatus of claim 4, wherein, when the calculated sum of the maximum charging power does not exceed the maximum supplied power capable of being output by the transmission apparatus, the transmission controller transmits the required charging power, that each of the one or more wireless power receivers has required, to each of the one or more wireless power receivers.

7. The transmission apparatus of claim 5, wherein, when charging of at least one wireless power receiver is completed, the transmission controller generates a charging power adjustment signal for increasing maximum charging powers of each of remaining wireless power receivers except for the at least one wireless power receiver for which charging is completed, and transmits the generated charging power adjustment signal to each of the remaining wireless power receivers.

8. The transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when a response signal to the charging power adjustment signal is received from each of the one or more wireless power receivers, the power supply unit transmits an adjusted power signal to each of the one or more wireless power receivers.

9. A reception apparatus for adjusting charging power, the reception apparatus comprising:

a battery unit which stores a power signal;

a charging control circuit unit which receives the power signal, and delivers the received power signal to the battery unit; and

a reception controller which generates a data signal for wireless charging, transmits the generated data signal to a wireless power transmitter, and controls the charging control circuit unit to adjust required charging power of the reception apparatus when a charging power adjustment signal for adjusting the required charging power of the reception apparatus is received from the wireless power transmitter.

10. The reception apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data signal includes identification information and characteristic information of each of the one or more wireless power receivers.

11. The reception apparatus of claim 9, wherein the characteristic information includes information on total power of the one or more reception apparatuses.

12. The reception apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reception controller receives a charging power adjustment signal for reducing a maximum charging power of the reception apparatus from the wireless power transmitter.

13. The reception apparatus of claim 12, wherein the reception controller controls the charging control circuit unit to reduce the maximum charging power of the reception apparatus to first threshold power, generates a response signal, and transmits the generated response signal to the wireless power transmitter.

14. The reception apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reception controller receives a charging power adjustment signal for increasing the maximum charging power of the reception apparatus from the wireless power transmitter.

15. The reception apparatus of claim 14, wherein the reception controller controls the charging control circuit unit to increase the maximum charging power of the reception apparatus to the second threshold power, and generates a response signal and transmits the generated response signal to the wireless power transmitter.

16. A method for adjusting charging power of a wireless power receiver in a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

receiving a data signal for wireless charging from one or more wireless power receivers;

calculating a sum of required charging powers of the one or more wireless power receivers;

determining whether the calculated sum of the required charging powers exceeds maximum supplied power capable of being supplied by the wireless power transmitter;

generating a charging power adjustment signal for adjusting the required charging power of each of the one or more wireless power receivers, when a result of the determination indicates that the calculated sum of the powers required for the charging exceeds the maximum supplied power; and

transmitting the generated charging power adjustment signal to each of the one or more wireless power receivers.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting an adjusted power signal to each of the one or more wireless power receivers when a response signal to the charging power adjustment signal is received from each of the one or more wireless power receivers.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the data signal includes identification information and characteristic information of each of the one or more wireless power receivers.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the characteristic information includes information on a total power of the one or more wireless power receivers.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein determining whether the calculated sum of the required charging powers exceeds the maximum supplied power capable of being supplied by the wireless power transmitter comprises:

calculating a sum of maximum charging powers in a constant current mode for the one or more wireless power receivers by using the characteristic information; and

determining whether the calculated sum of the maximum charging powers exceeds maximum supplied power capable of being output by the wireless power transmitter.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein determining whether the calculated sum of the maximum charging powers exceeds the maximum supplied power capable of being output by the wireless power transmitter comprises:

generating a charging power adjustment signal for reducing the maximum charging power of each of the one or more wireless power receivers when the calculated sum of the maximum charging power exceeds the maximum supplied power capable of being output by the wireless power transmitter; and

transmitting the generated charging power adjustment signal to each of the one or more wireless power receivers.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein determining whether the calculated sum of the maximum charging powers exceeds the maximum supplied power capable of being output by the wireless power transmitter further comprises:

transmitting the required charging power that each of the one or more wireless power receivers has required, to each of the one or more wireless power receivers when the calculated sum of the maximum charging powers does not exceed the maximum supplied power capable of being output by the wireless power transmitter.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

generating a charging power adjustment signal for increasing maximum charging powers of each of remaining wireless power receivers except for at least one wireless power receiver for which charging is completed, when the charging of the at least one wireless power receiver is completed; and

transmitting the generated charging power adjustment signal to each of the remaining wireless power receivers.

24. A method for adjusting charging power in a wireless power receiver, the method comprising:

generating a data signal for wireless charging, and transmitting the generated data signal to a wireless power transmitter;

receiving a charging power adjustment signal for adjusting required charging power of the wireless power receiver from the wireless power transmitter; and

adjusting the required charging power of the wireless power receiver, according to the charging power adjustment signal.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising, after adjusting the required charging power of the wireless power receiver, transmitting a response signal to the charging adjustment signal to the wireless power transmitter.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the characteristic information includes information on total power of the one or more wireless power receivers.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving the charging power adjustment signal comprises receiving a charging power adjustment signal for reducing a maximum charging power of the wireless power receiver, from the wireless power transmitter.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein adjusting the required charging power of the wireless power receiver comprises:

reducing the maximum charging power of the wireless power receiver to a first threshold power;

generating a response signal; and

transmitting the generated response signal to the wireless power transmitter.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving the charging power adjustment signal comprises receiving a charging power adjustment signal for increasing a maximum charging power of the wireless power receiver, from the wireless power transmitter.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein adjusting the required charging power of the wireless power receiver comprises:

increasing the maximum charging power of the wireless power receiver to a second threshold power;

generating a response signal; and

transmitting the generated response signal to the wireless power transmitter.