METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS CHARGING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20140055098A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Joohoon
• Granted Patent: US 9,450,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A wireless charging method for an electronic device using an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) circuit is provided. The wireless charging method includes receiving an event input through the EMR circuit, controlling an input function according to a signal received through the EMR circuit in response to an input event, and controlling a wireless charging of a target device or electronic device using energy generated through the EMR circuit in response to a charge event.

Claims

1. A wireless charging method of an electronic device having an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) circuit, the method comprising:

determining a mode of operation based on an input sensed by the EMR circuit;

controlling, when the mode is an input mode, an input function according to a signal received through the EMR circuit in response to the input mode; and

controlling, when the mode is a charging mode, a wireless charging using energy generated through the EMR circuit in response to the charging mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation is determined based on at least one of a distribution of an area sensed by the EMR circuit and a frequency band received by the EMR circuit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the wireless charging comprises controlling a wireless charging of a target device or a wireless charging of an internal battery of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein controlling the wireless charging comprises determining a type of the charging mode, wherein the type of the charging mode includes an energy reception mode for charging the internal battery of the electronic device and an energy supply mode for charging the target device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the type of the charging mode comprises distinguishing the type of the charging mode based on the distribution of an area sensed by the EMR circuit.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining of the type of the charging mode comprises:

determining the charging mode as the energy reception mode when the distribution of an area sensed by the EMR circuit is detected in an entire area of the EMR circuit; and

determining the charging mode as the energy supply mode when the distribution of an area sensed by the EMR circuit is detected in only a portion of the EMR circuit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the controlling of the wireless charging comprises:

entering, when the charging mode is the energy reception mode, the charging mode for receiving energy supplied from a source device using the EMR circuit in response to the energy reception mode;

receiving a magnetic field induced from the source device through the EMR circuit during the charging mode;

converting the receive magnetic field into electric energy; and

charging the internal battery of the electronic device by the converted electric energy.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein controlling of the wireless charging comprises:

entering, when the charging mode is the energy supply mode, the charging mode for supplying energy to the target device in response to the energy supply mode;

determining a valid charging area for a charging of the target device during the charging mode; and

generating a magnetic field on the determined valid charging area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining of the valid charging area comprises:

detecting a location where the target device is placed on the entire area of the EMR circuit;

determining an area corresponding to the location of the target device as the valid charging area; and

supplying a driving current to the valid charging area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the detecting location of the target device is achieved by a pen location recognition scheme or a surface scanning scheme by the EMR.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a guide interface guiding the target device to be placed on the area of the EMR circuit when the target device is not detected.

19. A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs comprising instructions which, when executed by an electronic device, cause the device to execute the method according to claim 1.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a charge unit for generate a magnetic field for supporting a wireless charging of a target device or for inducing a magnetic field supplied from a source device; and

a controller for identifying an event sensed by the charge unit, for controlling an input function based on a signal received via the charge unit in response to an input event, and for controlling the wireless charging in response to a charging event.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the charge unit comprises an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) circuit.

14. The user device of claim 13, wherein the controller identifies the event using at least one of a distribution of an area sensed by the EMR circuit and a frequency band received by the EMR circuit, and, if the event is identified as a charging event, identifies whether the charging event is a first charge event corresponding to an energy reception mode where an internal battery of the electronic device is charged or a second charge event corresponding to an energy supply mode for charging the target device.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the controller enters a charging mode for receiving energy generated in the source device using the EMR circuit in response to the first charge event, controls charging of the internal battery of the electronic device using a magnetic field induced through the EMR circuit during the charging mode.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the controller enters a charging mode for supplying energy to the target device in response to the second charge event, determines a valid charging area for charging the target device during the charging mode, and controls a generation of a magnetic field on the determined valid charge area.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, where the controller receives a signal received from another device to determine whether the charging event is the first charge event or the second charge event.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the controller the EMR circuit to increase the energy generated by the EMR circuit by a predetermined amount in response to a presence of another device.