APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FULL-ORIENTATION OVER-THE-AIR CHARGING IN PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20160141899A1
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: OO, Wei Lun, CHONG, Chee Khon, LEE, Sin Keng
• Granted Patent: US 9,614,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

An apparatus and method for full-orientation over-the-air charging includes a receiver coil associated with a portable electronic device for wireless charging; and a repeater coil associated with a device selectively configured to engage or support the portable electronic device for wireless charging, wherein the device is one of a cover, holster, or case for the portable electronic device; wherein, when the device is selectively engaged or supporting the portable electronic device, a portion of the repeater coil overlaps a portion of the receiver coil forming a magnetic coupling therebetween and supporting wireless charging of the portable electronic device in a plurality of orientations of the portable electronic device relative to a transmitter coil.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device system for wirelessly charging a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device system comprising:

a receiver coil associated with the portable electronic device for wireless charging; and

a repeater coil associated with a device selectively configured to engage or support the portable electronic device for wireless charging, wherein the device is one of a cover, holster, or case for the portable electronic device;

wherein, when the device is selectively engaged or supporting the portable electronic device, a portion of the repeater coil overlaps a portion of the receiver coil forming a magnetic coupling therebetween and supporting wireless charging of the portable electronic device in a plurality of orientations of the portable electronic device relative to a transmitter coil.

2. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of orientations comprise a front side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil and a back side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil and a bottom side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil.

3. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil each are L-shaped with a bottom portion of each overlapping forming a magnetic coupling therebetween.

4. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the receiver coil in a first plane and a second portion of the receiver coil in a second plane;

and

wherein the repeater coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the repeater coil in a first plane and a second portion of the repeater coil in a second plane, the second portion of the repeater coil and the second portion of the receiver coil form a magnetic coupling therebetween, and the first portion of the repeater coil and the first portion of the receiver coil have substantially no magnetic coupling therebetween due to a chassis of the portable electronic device.

5. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil is located on or at a back side and a bottom side of the portable electronic device, and the repeater coil is located on or at an inside and a bottom side of the device.

6. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil are formed on a flexible substrate with an approximately 90 degree bend therein.

7. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to cover a front side of the portable electronic device, the front side of the portable electronic device comprises a display and user interface mechanisms which prevent inclusion of a coil in the portable electronic device at the front side.

8. The portable electronic device system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil is coupled to a battery associated with the portable electronic device and the repeater coil is not physically connected to the battery or the receiver coil.

9. A coil arrangement for wirelessly charging a portable electronic device, the coil arrangement comprising:

a receiver coil associated with the portable electronic device for wireless charging, wherein the receiver coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the receiver coil in a first plane and a second portion of the receiver coil in a second plane;

wherein the receiver coil is configured to operate cooperatively with a repeater coil disposed in a device selectively engaged to the portable electronic device for, wherein the device is one of a cover, holster, or case for the portable electronic device; and

wherein the repeater coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the repeater coil in a first plane and a second portion of the repeater coil in a second plane, the second portion of the repeater coil and the second portion of the receiver coil form a magnetic coupling therebetween, and the first portion of the repeater coil and the first portion of the receiver coil have substantially no magnetic coupling therebetween due to a chassis of the portable electronic device.

10. The coil arrangement of claim 9, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil support charging of the portable electronic device in a plurality of orientations relative to a transmitter coil

11. The coil arrangement of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orientations comprise a front side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil and a back side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil.

12. The coil arrangement of claim 9, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil each are L-shaped with a bottom portion of each overlapping forming a magnetic coupling therebetween.

13. The coil arrangement of claim 9, wherein the receiver coil is located on or at a back side and a bottom side of the portable electronic device, and the repeater coil is located on or at an inside and a bottom side of the device.

14. The coil arrangement of claim 9, wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil are formed on a flexible substrate with an approximately 90 degree bend therein.

15. The coil arrangement of claim 9, wherein the device is configured to cover a front side of the portable electronic device, the front side of the portable electronic device comprises a display and user interface mechanisms which prevent inclusion of a coil in the portable electronic device at the front side.

16. The coil arrangement of claim 9, wherein the receiver coil is coupled to a battery associated with the portable electronic device and the repeater coil is not physically connected to the battery or the receiver coil.

17. A method for wirelessly charging a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

engaging the portable electronic device with a device covering at least a front side and a bottom portion of the portable electronic device, wherein the device is one of a cover, holster, or case for the portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device has a receiver coil for wireless charging and the device has a repeater coil for wireless charging; and

wirelessly charging the portable electronic device, in a plurality of orientations, with the receiver coil and the repeater coil operating cooperatively.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of orientations comprise a front side of the portable electronic device facing a transmitter coil and a back side of the portable electronic device facing the transmitter coil;

and

wherein the receiver coil and the repeater coil each are L-shaped with a bottom portion of each overlapping forming a magnetic coupling therebetween.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiver coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the receiver coil in a first plane and a second portion of the receiver coil in a second plane;

and

wherein the repeater coil occupies two planes with a first portion of the repeater coil in a first plane and a second portion of the repeater coil in a second plane, the second portion of the repeater coil and the second portion of the receiver coil form a magnetic coupling therebetween, and the first portion of the repeater coil and the first portion of the receiver coil have substantially no magnetic coupling therebetween due to a chassis of the portable electronic device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiver coil is located on or at a back side and a bottom side of the portable electronic device, and the repeater coil is located on or at an inside and a bottom side of the device.