WIRELESS POWER TRANSMITTER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME

• US 20140253028A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Kyung-Woo, BYUN, Kang-Ho, JUNG, Hee-Won
• Granted Patent: US 9,472,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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 50/70 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

A method for controlling a wireless power transmitter that transmits charging power to a wireless power receiver is provided. The method includes driving the wireless power transmitter; determining whether latch fault mode entry conditions are met, in which the wireless power transmitter is allowed to enter a latch fault mode in which the wireless power transmitter periodically applies first power having a first power value in a first cycle; and if the latch fault mode entry conditions are met, periodically applying the first power in the first cycle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a wireless power transmitter that transmits charging power to a wireless power receiver, the method comprising:

driving the wireless power transmitter;

determining whether latch fault mode entry conditions are met, in which the wireless power transmitter is allowed to enter a latch fault mode in which the wireless power transmitter periodically applies first power having a first power value in a first cycle; and

if the latch fault mode entry conditions are met, periodically applying the first power in the first cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining, after driving the wireless power transmitter and before determining whether the latch fault mode entry conditions are met, a power save mode in which the wireless power transmitter periodically applies second detection power having a second power value in a second cycle, and periodically applies third detection power having a third power value in a third cycle.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting a change in impedance of the wireless power transmitter, while applying at least one of the second detection power and the third detection power;

applying, upon detecting the change in impedance, driving power for driving the wireless power receiver; and

after applying the driving power, whether a signal for joining a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter is received.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the latch fault mode entry conditions correspond to conditions in which the signal for joining a wireless power network is not received for a preset time.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein periodically applying the first power in the first cycle comprises:

determining that an object placed on the wireless power transmitter is a rogue object, upon failure to receive the signal for joining a wireless power network for a preset time; and

maintaining the latch fault mode until the rogue object is removed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein maintaining the latch fault mode comprises determining whether the rogue object is removed, depending on whether an impedance measured by application of the first power returns to an initial value;

and

if the rogue object is removed, entering the power save mode in which the wireless power transmitter periodically applies the second detection power having the second power value in the second cycle, and periodically applies the third detection power having the third power value in the third cycle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting charging power to the wireless power receiver, after driving the wireless power transmitter and before determining whether the latch fault mode entry conditions are met.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the latch fault mode entry conditions correspond to conditions in which an error occurs while transmitting charging power to the wireless power receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the error corresponds to a failure to receive the signal for joining a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter for a preset period, if an object is placed on the wireless power transmitter while transmitting the charging power.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the error corresponds to case in which a wireless power receiver placed on another wireless power transmitter is cross-connected to the wireless power transmitter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein periodically applying the first power in the first cycle comprises applying the first power until the wireless power receiver placed on the another wireless power transmitter is removed.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the error corresponds to meeting at least one of an over-voltage condition, an over-current condition and an over-temperature condition of the wireless power transmitter and wherein periodically applying the first power in the first cycle comprises applying the first power until at least one of the over-voltage condition, the over-current condition and the over-temperature condition is released.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein periodically applying the first power in the first cycle comprises outputting at least one of a lamp light and a beep sound.

14. A wireless power transmitter for transmitting charging power to a wireless power receiver, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

a driver configured to drive the wireless power transmitter;

a power transmitting unit configured to transmit the charging power to the wireless power receiver; and

a controller configured to determine whether latch fault mode entry conditions are met, in which the wireless power transmitter is allowed to enter a latch fault mode in which the wireless power transmitter periodically applies first power having a first power value in a first cycle, and if the latch fault mode entry conditions are met, to periodically apply the first power to the power transmitting unit in the first cycle.

15. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein before determining whether the latch fault mode entry conditions are met, the controller maintains a power save mode in which the wireless power transmitter periodically applies second detection power having a second power value in a second cycle, and periodically applies third detection power having a third power value in a third cycle.

16. The wireless power transmitter of claim 15, wherein the controller detects a change in impedance of the wireless power transmitter, while applying at least one of the second detection power and the third detection power, applies driving power for driving the wireless power receiver, to the power transmitting unit when the change in impedance is detected and determines whether a signal for joining a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter is received through a communication unit.

17. The wireless power transmitter of claim 16, wherein the latch fault mode entry conditions correspond to conditions in which the signal for joining a wireless power network is not received by the communication unit for a preset time.

18. The wireless power transmitter of claim 17, wherein if the signal for joining a wireless power network is not received by the communication unit for a preset time, the controller determines that an object placed on the wireless power transmitter is a rogue object and maintains the latch fault mode until the rogue object is removed, determines whether the rogue object is removed, depending on whether an impedance measured by application of the first power returns to an initial value, if the rogue object is removed, and enters the power save mode in which the wireless power transmitter periodically applies the second detection power having the second power value in the second cycle, and periodically applies the third detection power having the third power value in the third cycle.

19. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the power transmitting unit transmits charging power to the wireless power receiver, after driving the wireless power transmitter and before determining whether the latch fault mode entry conditions are met, wherein the latch fault mode entry conditions correspond to conditions in which an error occurs while transmitting charging power to the wireless power receiver.

20. The wireless power transmitter of claim 19, wherein the error corresponds to a failure to receive the signal for joining a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter for a preset period, if an object is placed on the wireless power transmitter while transmitting the charging power.

21. The wireless power transmitter of claim 19, wherein the error corresponds to case in which a wireless power receiver placed on another wireless power transmitter is cross connected with the wireless power transmitter.

22. The wireless power transmitter of claim 19, wherein the error corresponds to meeting at least one of an over-voltage condition, an over-current condition and an over-temperature condition of the wireless power transmitter, wherein the controller applies the first power to the power transmitting unit until at least one of the over-voltage condition, the over-current condition and the over-temperature condition is released.

23. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, further comprising an output unit for outputting at least one of a lamp light and a beep sound;

wherein the controller controls the output unit to output at least one of the lamp light and the beep sound, if the latch fault mode entry conditions are met.