APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FOREIGN OBJECTS IN WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

• US 20140015334A1
• Filed: 07/10/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Hybrid Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Spacon Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Chun-Kil, Hong, Sug Ky
• Granted Patent: US 9,762,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for detecting foreign objects in a wireless power transmission system. This specification provides a wireless power reception apparatus for detecting foreign objects, including a power measurement unit for generating required power information indicative of required power for the wireless power reception apparatus, sending the required power information to a wireless power transmission apparatus, and measuring power induced from the wireless power transmission apparatus and a secondary coil for receiving the power induced from the wireless power transmission apparatus. In accordance with the present invention, foreign objects intervened between the wireless power transmission apparatus and the wireless power reception apparatus are recognized, and a user removes the foreign objects. Accordingly, damage to a device attributable to foreign objects can be prevented.

Claims

1. A wireless power reception apparatus for detecting foreign objects, comprising:

a secondary coil magnetically or resonantly coupled with a primary coil included in a wireless power transmission apparatus and configured to receive a wireless power; and

a power measurement unit configured to generate required power information indicative of a power required by the wireless power reception apparatus, send the required power information to the wireless power transmission apparatus, and measure the received wireless power,

wherein the power measurement unit configures a reception power measurement result obtained by comparing the required power with the measured wireless power and sends the reception power measurement result to the wireless power transmission apparatus.

2. The wireless power reception apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power measurement unit configures a difference between the required power and the measured wireless power as the reception power measurement result.

3. The wireless power reception apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power measurement unit configures a flag indicative of whether or not there is a difference between the required power and the measured wireless power as the reception power measurement result.

4. The wireless power reception apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power measurement unit determines whether a difference between the required power and the measured wireless power is greater than or equal to or smaller than a threshold value and configures a result of the determination as the reception power measurement result.

5. A wireless power reception method of a wireless power reception apparatus detecting foreign objects, comprising:

generating required power information indicative of a power required by the wireless power reception apparatus;

sending the required power information to a wireless power transmission apparatus;

receiving a wireless power using a secondary coil magnetically or resonantly coupled with a primary coil included in the wireless power transmission apparatus;

measuring the received wireless power;

configuring a reception power measurement result obtained by comparing the required power with the measured wireless power; and

sending the reception power measurement result to the wireless power transmission apparatus.

6. The wireless power reception method of claim 5, wherein the reception power measurement result comprises a difference between the required power and the measured wireless power.

7. The wireless power reception method of claim 5, wherein the reception power measurement result comprises a flag indicative of whether or not there is a difference between the required power and the measured wireless power.

8. The wireless power reception method of claim 5, wherein the reception power measurement result comprises a determination of whether a difference between the required power and the measured wireless power is greater than or equal to or smaller than a threshold value.

9. A wireless power transmission apparatus for detecting foreign objects, comprising:

a control unit configured to receive from a wireless power reception apparatus required power information, indicative of a power required by the wireless power reception apparatus, generate a control signal for providing the required power, and send the control signal to an electricity driving unit;

the electricity driving unit configured to apply an electricity driving signal to a primary coil in response to the control signal; and

a primary coil coupled with the electricity driving unit, coupled magnetically or resonantly with a secondary coil included in the wireless power reception apparatus, and configured to send a wireless power,

wherein the control unit receives a reception power measurement result, obtained by comparing wireless power measured by the wireless power reception apparatus with the required power, from the wireless power reception apparatus.

10. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 9, wherein, when the reception power measurement result indicates that a foreign object is present, the control unit suspends the transmission of the wireless power from the primary coil.

11. A wireless power transmission method of a wireless power transmission apparatus detecting foreign objects, comprising:

receiving a wireless power reception apparatus required power information indicative of a power required by the wireless power reception apparatus;

generating and applying an electricity driving signal to a primary coil included in the wireless power transmission apparatus for providing the required power;

sending a wireless power, generated from the primary coil in response to the electricity driving signal, to the wireless power reception apparatus comprising a secondary coil coupled magnetically or resonantly with the primary coil; and

receiving from the wireless power reception apparatus a reception power measurement result, obtained by comparing wireless power measured by the wireless power reception apparatus with the required power.

12. The wireless power transmission method of claim 11, wherein the reception power measurement result comprises a difference between the required power and the measured wireless power.

13. The wireless power transmission method of claim 11, wherein the reception power measurement result comprises a flag indicative of whether or not there is a difference between the required power and the measured wireless power.

14. The wireless power transmission method of claim 11, wherein the reception power measurement result comprises a determination of whether a difference between the required power and the measured wireless power is greater than or equal to or smaller than a threshold value.