Wireless Power Repeater and Method Thereof

• US 20140125145A1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nera Innovations Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Bae, Su Ho
• Granted Patent: US 9,865,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems

Abstract

A wireless power repeater for relaying power transmission between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver according to the embodiment includes a position detector for detecting a position of the wireless power receiver, a repeater resonator unit including a plurality of repeater resonators, and a controller for operating a specific repeater resonator, which is located closest to an extension line of the wireless power transmitter and the wireless power receiver, based on position information detected by the position detector.

Claims

1. A wireless power repeater for relaying power transmission in which a wireless power receiver is disposed between a wireless power transmitter and the wireless power repeater, the wireless power repeater comprising:

a position detector for detecting a position of the wireless power receiver;

a repeater resonator unit including a plurality of repeater resonators; and

a controller for operating one repeater resonator of the plurality of repeater resonators, which is located close to an extension line of the wireless power transmitter and the wireless power receiver, based on position information detected by the position detector.

3. The wireless power repeater of claim 1, wherein the position detector detects the position of the wireless power receiver by using real time locating systems.

4. The wireless power repeater of claim 3, wherein the position detector detects the position of the wireless power receiver based on distance information received from an adjacent wireless power repeater and distance information acquired by the position detector.

5. The wireless power repeater of claim 1, wherein the position detector detects the position of the wireless power receiver by using a GPS (global positioning system) scheme.

6. The wireless power repeater of claim 1, wherein a coupling coefficient between the repeater resonator unit and a transmission resonant coil of the wireless power transmitter is equal to or higher than a critical value.

7. The wireless power repeater of claim 1, wherein each of the repeater resonators has a predetermined inductance value and a predetermined variable capacitance value.

8. The wireless power repeater of claim 1, wherein the controller controls switches provided in the repeater resonators, respectively, to operate the one repeater resonator of the plurality of repeater resonators.

10. The wireless power repeater of claim 1, wherein the controller operates the repeater resonator based on the position information detected by the position detector and position information of the wireless power transmitter which is previously stored.

11. The wireless power repeater of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitter and the wireless power repeater are resonance-coupled with each other and the wireless power repeater and the wireless power receiver are resonance-coupled with each other to inter-exchange power.

2. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

12-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A wireless power repeater for relaying power transmission in which a wireless power receiver is disposed between a wireless power transmitter and the wireless power repeater, the wireless power repeater comprising:

a position detector for detecting a position of the wireless power receiver;

a controller for operating one repeater resonator from among a plurality of repeater resonators based on position information detected by the position detector; and

a repeater resonator unit for supplying wireless power to the wireless power receiver located between the wireless power transmitter and the repeater resonator under a control of the controller.

20. The wireless power repeater of claim 19, wherein the position detector detects the position of the wireless power receiver by using real time locating systems.

21. The wireless power repeater of claim 19, wherein the position detector detects the position of the wireless power receiver by using a GPS (global positioning system) scheme.

22. The wireless power repeater of claim 19, wherein a coupling coefficient between the repeater resonator unit and a transmission resonant coil of the wireless power transmitter is equal to or higher than a critical value.

23. The wireless power repeater of claim 19, wherein each of the repeater resonators has a predetermined inductance value and a predetermined variable capacitance value.

24. The wireless power repeater of claim 19, wherein the controller controls switches provided in the repeater resonators, respectively, to operate the one repeater resonator of the plurality of repeater resonators.

25. A wireless power repeater for relaying power transmission in which a wireless power receiver is disposed between a wireless power transmitter and the wireless power repeater, the wireless power repeater comprising:

a position detector located near the wireless power receiver for obtaining a position information of the wireless power receiver;

a plurality of repeater resonators operable to the position information; and

a controller for controlling the plurality of repeater resonators based on the position information such that one repeater resonator of the plurality of repeater resonators is operable, the one repeater resonator is the closest to a virtual line between the wireless power transmitter and the wireless power receiver.

26. The wireless power repeater of claim 25, wherein the wireless power receiver makes the resonance with both the wireless power transmitter and the wireless power repeater.

27. The wireless power repeater of claim 25, wherein the respective repeater resonators include a inductor, a capacitor and a switch, the switch connected to at least one of the inductor and the capacitor in parallel.

28. The wireless power repeater of claim 25, wherein the position detector detects the position of the wireless power receiver by using real time locating systems or by using a GPS (global positioning system) scheme.