APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING WIRELESS POWER

• US 20130154557A1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Kyung-Woo, Byun, Kang-Ho, Park, Se-Ho
• Granted Patent: US 9,425,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting wireless power to a wireless power receiver. The method includes detecting wireless power receiver within a service area of a wireless power transmitter; transmitting driving power for driving the wireless power receiver; joining the wireless power receiver in a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter; and transmitting charging power to the wireless power receiver.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting wireless power to a wireless power receiver by a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

detecting the wireless power receiver;

transmitting driving power for driving the wireless power receiver;

joining the wireless power receiver in a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter; and

transmitting charging power to the wireless power receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a communication network with the wireless power receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein forming the communication network with the wireless power receiver comprises:

receiving a wireless power transmitter search signal from the wireless power receiver; and

transmitting a wireless power transmitter search response signal in response to the wireless power transmitter search signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless power transmitter search signal includes at least one of a protocol version, a sequence number, company information, product information, impedance information, and capacity information.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless power transmitter search response signal includes at least one of a sequence number, and network IDentifier (ID) information of the wireless power transmitter.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein joining the wireless power receiver in the wireless power network comprises:

receiving a request join signal from the wireless power receiver;

determining whether to permit the wireless power receiver to join the wireless power network; and

transmitting a response join signal indicating whether or not the wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an Acknowledgement (Ack) signal for the response join signal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the request join signal includes at least one of a sequence number, a network IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power transmitter, product information, a maximum voltage value allowable at a front end of a Direct Current (DC)/DC converter of the wireless power receiver, a minimum voltage value allowable at the front end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver, a rated voltage value at a rear end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver, and a rated current value at the rear end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the response join signal includes at least one of a sequence number, a network ID of the wireless power transmitter, join permission information, and a session ID of the wireless power receiver.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the join permission information is written as 0 or 1 in a permission field of the response join signal, and

wherein the permission field indicates that the wireless power receiver is not permitted to join the wireless power network, when a value of the permission field is 0, and indicates that the wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network, when a value of the permission field is 1.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the charging power comprises transmitting a command signal indicating a charge start command to the wireless power receiver.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving an Acknowledgement (Ack) signal for the command signal from the wireless power receiver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the command signal includes at least one of a session IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power receiver, a sequence number, a network ID of the wireless power transmitter, a command type, and command type-related information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the charge start command is written in a field for the command type.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the command signal turns on a switching unit connected to a charging unit of the wireless power receiver.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting another command signal to the wireless power receiver.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a command type of another command signal is a charge finish command, and

wherein the charge finish command is a command to finish the charging by turning off a switching unit of the wireless power receiver.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a report signal from the wireless power receiver, if the command signal is not a signal for the charge start.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the report signal includes at least one of a session IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power receiver, a sequence number, a network ID of the wireless power transmitter, a voltage value applied to a front end of a DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver, a voltage value applied to a rear end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver, and a current value applied to the rear end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the wireless power receiver within the service area of the wireless power transmitter comprises detecting an abrupt change in at least one of a load, a current value, a voltage value, a phase and a temperature at a point of the wireless power transmitter.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein detecting the wireless power receiver within the service area of the wireless power transmitter further comprises applying detection power to a power transmitter of the wireless power transmitter at stated periods.

22. A wireless power transmitter for transmitting wireless power, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

a controller that detects a wireless power receiver; and

a power transmitter that transmits driving power for driving the wireless power receiver,

wherein the controller joins the wireless power receiver in a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter, and transmits charging power to the wireless power receiver.

23. The wireless power transmitter of claim 22, further comprising a communication unit that forms a communication network with the wireless power receiver.

24. The wireless power transmitter of claim 23, wherein the communication unit receives a wireless power transmitter search signal from the wireless power receiver, and transmits a wireless power transmitter search response signal in response to the wireless power transmitter search signal.

25. The wireless power transmitter of claim 24, wherein the wireless power transmitter search signal comprises at least one of:

a protocol version;

a sequence number;

company information;

product information;

impedance information; and

capacity information.

26. The wireless power transmitter of claim 24, wherein the wireless power transmitter search response signal comprises at least one of:

a sequence number; and

network IDentifier (ID) information of the wireless power transmitter.

27. The wireless power transmitter of claim 23, wherein the communication unit receives a request join signal from the wireless power receiver, and

wherein the controller determines whether to permit the wireless power receiver to join the wireless power network, and controls the communication unit to transmit a response join signal indicating whether or not the wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network.

28. The wireless power transmitter of claim 27, wherein the communication unit receives an Acknowledgement (Ack) signal for the response join signal.

29. The wireless power transmitter of claim 27, wherein the request join signal comprises at least one of:

a sequence number;

a network IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power transmitter;

product information;

a maximum voltage value allowable at a front end of a Direct Current (DC)/DC converter of the wireless power receiver;

a minimum voltage value allowable at the front end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver;

a rated voltage value at a rear end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver; and

a rated current value at the rear end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver.

30. The wireless power transmitter of claim 27, wherein the response join signal comprises at least one of:

a sequence number;

a network IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power transmitter;

join permission information; and

a session ID of the wireless power receiver.

31. The wireless power transmitter of claim 30, wherein the join permission information is written as 0 or 1 in a permission field of the response join signal, and

wherein the permission field indicates that the wireless power receiver is not permitted to join the wireless power network, when a value of the permission field is 0, and indicates that the wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network, when a value of the permission field is 1.

32. The wireless power transmitter of claim 22, wherein the power transmitter transmits charging power to the wireless power receiver, if the communication unit transmits a command signal indicating a charge start command to the wireless power receiver.

33. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the communication unit receives an Acknowledgement (Ack) signal for the command signal from the wireless power receiver.

34. The wireless power transmitter of claim 33, wherein the command signal comprises at least one of:

a session IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power receiver;

a sequence number;

a network ID of the wireless power transmitter;

a command type; and

command type-related information.

35. The wireless power transmitter of claim 34, wherein the charge start command is written in a field for the command type.

36. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the command signal turns on a switching unit connected to a charging unit of the wireless power receiver.

37. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the communication unit transmits another command signal to the wireless power receiver.

38. The wireless power transmitter of claim 37, wherein a command type of another command signal is a charge finish command, and

wherein the charge finish command is a command to finish the charging by turning off a switching unit of the wireless power receiver.

39. The wireless power transmitter of claim 32, wherein the communication unit receives a report signal from the wireless power receiver, if the command signal is not a signal for the charge start.

40. The wireless power transmitter of claim 39, wherein the report signal comprises at least one of:

a session IDentifier (ID) of the wireless power receiver;

a sequence number;

a network ID of the wireless power transmitter;

a voltage value applied to a front end of a DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver;

a voltage value applied to a rear end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver; and

a current value applied to the rear end of the DC/DC converter of the wireless power receiver.

41. The wireless power transmitter of claim 22, wherein the controller detects the wireless power receiver by detecting an abrupt change in at least one of a load, a current value, a voltage value, a phase, and a temperature at a point of the wireless power transmitter.

42. The wireless power transmitter of claim 41, wherein the controller detects the wireless power receiver by applying detection power to the power transmitter at stated periods.

43. A method for transmitting wireless power by a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

detecting a wireless power receiver;

transmitting driving power for driving the wireless power receiver; and

determining whether to permit the wireless power receiver to join a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising forming a communication network with the wireless power receiver.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein determining whether to permit the wireless power receiver to join the wireless power network comprises:

receiving a request join signal from the wireless power receiver;

determining whether or not the wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network;

transmitting a response join signal indicating whether or not the wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network; and

receiving an acknowledgement (Ack) signal for the response join signal from the wireless power receiver.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising determining that the wireless power receiver has failed to join the wireless power network, if reception of the request join signal, transmission of the response join signal, or reception of the Ack signal has failed three times.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising notifying an occurrence of an error, if it is determined that the joining of the wireless power receiver is failed.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein notifying the occurrence of the error is repeatedly performed until a criterion for detecting the wireless power receiver returns to an initial value thereof.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein notifying the occurrence of the error is repeatedly performed until a load returns to an initial load value.

50. The method of claim 45, further comprising determining that the wireless power receiver has failed to join the wireless power network, if reception of the request join signal, transmission of the response join signal, and reception of the Ack signal are not performed within a join limit time.

51. A wireless power transmitter for transmitting wireless power, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

a controller that detects a wireless power receiver; and

a power transmitter that transmits driving power for driving the wireless power receiver,

wherein the controller determines whether the wireless power receiver is permitted to join a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter.

52. The wireless power transmitter of claim 51, further comprising a communication unit that forms a communication network with the wireless power receiver.

53. The wireless power transmitter of claim 52, wherein the communication unit receives a request join signal from the wireless power receiver, and

wherein the controller determines whether the wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network, controls the communication unit to transmit a response join signal indicating whether or not the wireless power receiver is permitted to join the wireless power network, and determines whether the communication unit receives an acknowledgement (Ack) signal, from the wireless power receiver, in response to the response join signal.

54. The wireless power transmitter of claim 53, wherein the controller determines that the wireless power receiver has failed to join the wireless power network, if reception of the request join signal, transmission of the response join signal, or reception of the Ack signal has failed three times.

55. The wireless power transmitter of claim 54, further comprising a display that notifies a user of an occurrence of an error, if it is determined that the wireless power receiver has failed to join the wireless power network.

56. The wireless power transmitter of claim 55, wherein the controller controls the display to continuously notify the occurrence of the error until a criterion for detecting the wireless power receiver returns to an initial value thereof.

57. The wireless power transmitter of claim 56, wherein the controller controls the display to continuously notify the occurrence of the error until a load returns to an initial load value.

58. The wireless power transmitter of claim 53, wherein the controller determines that the wireless power receiver has failed to join the wireless power network, if reception of the request join signal, transmission of the response join signal, and reception of the Ack signal are not performed within a join limit time.

59. A method for determining, by a wireless power transmitter, whether a wireless power receiver is removed from a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

transmitting a command signal to report power information of the wireless power receiver at stated periods;

determining whether a report signal corresponding to the command signal is received from the wireless power receiver; and

determining that the wireless power receiver is removed from the wireless power network, if the report signal is not received after transmitting the command signal a predetermined number of times at the stated periods.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising transmitting a notice signal including information about the wireless power transmitter at a regular cycle;

wherein the stated period is the regular cycle.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the predetermined number of times is three.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

reducing charging power; and

applying detection power for detecting an object.

63. A wireless power transmitter for transmitting wireless power, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

a communication unit that transmits a command signal to report power information of a wireless power receiver, at stated periods; and

a controller that determines whether a report signal corresponding to the command signal is received from the wireless power receiver, and determines that the wireless power receiver is removed from a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter, if the report signal is not received after transmitting the command signal a predetermined number of times, at the stated periods.

64. The wireless power transmitter of claim 63, wherein the communication unit transmits a notice signal including information about the wireless power transmitter at a regular cycle;

and

wherein the stated period is the regular cycle.

65. The wireless power transmitter of claim 63, wherein the predetermined number of times is three.

66. The wireless power transmitter of claim 63, further comprising a power transmitter that transmits charging power,

wherein when the controller determines that the wireless power receiver is removed, the controller reduces the charging power and controls the power transmitter to apply detection power for detecting an object.

67. A method for transmitting wireless power by a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

detecting a wireless power receiver;

transmitting driving power for driving the wireless power receiver;

joining the wireless power receiver in a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter; and

transmitting charging power to the wireless power receiver.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising forming a communication network with the wireless power receiver.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein forming the communication network with the wireless power receiver comprises:

receiving device information of the wireless power receiver from the wireless power receiver;

transmitting device information of the wireless power transmitter in response to the received device information; and

receiving a response signal from the wireless power receiver.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the device information of the wireless power receiver comprises at least one of:

a protocol version;

a sequence number;

company information;

product information;

impedance information;

capacity information;

device Identifier (ID) information;

network ID information; and

wireless charging service profile information.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the device information of the wireless power transmitter comprises at least one of:

a protocol version;

a sequence number;

wireless power transmitter'"'"'s network ID information;

power rating and device ID information;

wireless power receiver'"'"'s device ID information; and

wireless charging service profile information.

72. The method of claim 69, wherein the response signal comprises at least one of:

a protocol version;

a sequence number;

company information;

product information;

impedance information;

information about a required amount of power; and

wireless charging service profile information.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein joining the wireless power receiver in the wireless power network comprises:

receiving information about a required amount of power from the wireless power receiver;

determining whether to transmit wireless power to the wireless power receiver, based on the information about the required amount of power; and

transmitting, to the wireless power receiver, a response join signal indicating whether the wireless power transmitter will transmit wireless power.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the response join signal comprises at least one of:

time information for network joining;

channel information for network joining;

join permission information; and

a power rating for network joining.

75. The method of claim 68, wherein forming the communication network with the wireless power receiver comprises:

receiving device information of the wireless power receiver from the wireless power receiver; and

transmitting a join permission signal indicating that the wireless power receiver is permitted to join the communication network.