WIRELESS CHARGER AND CHARGING SYSTEM WITH MULTI-COMPATIBILITY

• US 20140253025A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Hrecznyj, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,197,094 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 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A wireless charger and charging system compatible with several wireless charging solutions is provided. The wireless charger includes a charging module having a transmitting member that transfers wireless power to a receiving member of a chargeable device so that a battery of the chargeable device can be charged. If the chargeable device is compliant with a recognized wireless charging solution, a charging session can be initiated and the charging module can charge the chargeable device using a charging protocol that is compatible with the wireless charging solution.

Claims

1. A wireless charger for a chargeable device that is compliant with a specific wireless charging solution and has a receiving member configured to receive wireless power, the wireless charger comprising:

a charging module having a transmitting member configured to transfer wireless power to the receiving member according to a charging protocol that is selected from a plurality of charging protocols, the charging protocol being compatible with the specific wireless charging solution.

2. The wireless charger of claim 1, further comprising a processing unit configured to determine the specific wireless charging solution and select the charging protocol based thereon.

3. The wireless charger of claim 2, wherein the processing unit communicates the charging protocol to a controller that is configured to trigger the charging protocol.

4. The wireless charger of claim 3, further comprising a power circuit connected to a power source and configured to supply the controller with electrical power.

5. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the charging module further comprises a charging surface that supports the chargeable device and a holding assembly that removably secures the chargeable device during a wireless charging session.

6. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the receiving member comprises a receiving coil and the transmitting member comprises a plurality of transmitting coils, wherein at least one of the plurality of transmitting coils is aligned with the receiving coil to enable wireless induction to occur.

7. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the specific wireless charging solution comprises one of a first inductive charging technology and a second inductive charging technology.

8. The wireless charger of claim 7, wherein the plurality of charging protocols comprises a first charging protocol associated with inductively charging a first chargeable device that is compliant with the first inductive charging technology and a second charging protocol associated with inductively charging a second chargeable device that is compliant with the second inductive charging technology.

9. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the charging module further comprises a plurality of status indicators associated with at least one of the charging protocol and a state of charge of the chargeable device.

10. The wireless charger of claim 1, further comprising a USB port such that a first chargeable device may be charged by plugging the first chargeable device into the USB port and a second chargeable device may be wirelessly charged simultaneously with the first chargeable device by using the charging module.

11. A vehicle wireless charging system usable with chargeable devices compliant with specific wireless charging solutions, comprising:

at least one charging module configured to wirelessly charge a chargeable device according to a charging protocol that is selected from a plurality of charging protocols, the charging protocol being compatible with a specific wireless charging solution.

12. The wireless charger of claim 11, further comprising a processing unit configured to determine the specific wireless charging solution and select the charging protocol based thereon.

13. The wireless charger of claim 12, wherein the processing unit communicates the charging protocol to a controller that is part of the at least one charging module and configured to trigger the charging protocol.

14. The wireless charger of claim 13, further comprising a power circuit connected to a power source and configured to supply the controller with electrical power.

15. The wireless charger of claim 14, wherein the processing unit and power circuit and provided in a main module, wherein the main is separate from the at least one charging module.

16. The wireless charger of claim 11, wherein the at least one charging module comprises a transmitting member configured to transfer wireless power to a receiving member of the chargeable device, further wherein the transferred wireless power is used to charge a battery of the chargeable device.

17. The wireless charger of claim 11, wherein the specific wireless charging solution comprises one of a first inductive charging technology and a second inductive charging technology.

18. The wireless charger of claim 17, wherein the plurality of charging protocols comprises a first charging protocol associated with inductively charging a first chargeable device that is compliant with the first inductive charging technology and a second charging protocol associated with inductively charging a second chargeable device that is compliant with the second inductive charging technology.

19. The wireless charger of claim 12, wherein the main module is networked with the vehicle and the at least one charging module.

20. The wireless charger of claim 19, wherein the at least one charging module comprises a plurality of charging modules under the control of the main module.