WIRELESS POWER TRANSMITTER CONFIGURATION FOR POWER TRANSMISSION THROUGH A PARTITION

• US 20160261120A1
• Filed: 10/01/2015
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: RIEHL, PATRICK STANLEY
• Granted Patent: US 10,193,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for configuring power settings of a wireless power transmitter installed adjacent to a partition are described. A wireless power receiver may detect an amount of power transmitted through the partition from the power transmitter, and identify at least one power setting to the power transmitter that produces an acceptable level of wirelessly transferred power at the wireless power receiver. The power transmitter may store an identified power setting and subsequently operate at the setting identified by the wireless power receiver to provide wireless power through the partition for powering or charging a wirelessly powered device. By configuring a wireless power transmitter at an installation site, various partition thicknesses may be accommodated for through-table, wireless power transfer, for example.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a wireless power transmitter to transmit power wirelessly through a partition between a wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

detecting, at the wireless power receiver, a plurality of signals representative of wirelessly received power levels at a receiving coil of the wireless power receiver, wherein the power levels correspond to wireless power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter through the partition; and

identifying, to the wireless power transmitter, at least one transmit power level of the wireless power transmitter that provides an acceptable wirelessly received power level at the at least one receiving coil.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the partition comprises a tabletop, desktop, or countertop and the wireless power transmitter is mounted on an underside of the partition.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the wireless power receiver, a gradient in wireless power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter; and

indicating a direction to move the wireless power receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

rectifying an alternating current produced in the receiving coil; and

producing a rectified voltage corresponding to the rectified alternating current.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

comparing the rectified voltage to a voltage standard for wireless power transfer; and

determining whether the rectified voltage complies with the voltage standard for wireless power transfer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

detecting an amplitude of an alternating current produced in the receiving coil;

computing a level of magnetic field at the receiving coil based upon the detected amplitude of alternating current;

comparing the level of magnetic field to a magnetic field standard for wireless power transfer; and

determining whether the level of magnetic field complies with the magnetic field standard for wireless power transfer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating a fault condition if at least one transmit power level does not provide an acceptable wirelessly received power level at the receiving coil and the wireless power transmitter has trialed a full range of transmit power levels.

8. A wireless power receiver for configuring a wireless power transmitter to transmit power wirelessly through a partition between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter, the wireless power receiver comprising:

at least one receiving coil;

a signal transmitter; and

circuitry configured to detect a plurality of signals representative of wirelessly received power levels at the at least one receiving coil, wherein the power levels correspond to wireless power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter through the partition and to provide data to at least one other device, wherein the data identifies at least one transmit power level of the wireless power transmitter that provides an acceptable wirelessly received power level at the at least one receiving coil.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the acceptable wirelessly received power level is predefined and corresponds to a wireless power transfer standard.

10. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, further comprising:

a memory device;

a processor; and

machine-readable instructions stored on the memory device that, when executed by the processor, adapt the wireless power receiver to identify, to the wireless power transmitter via the signal transmitter, the at least one transmit power level of the wireless power transmitter that provides an acceptable wirelessly received power level at the at least one receiving coil

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, further comprising rectification circuitry configured to rectify an alternating current generated in the at least one receiving coil and produce a rectified voltage, wherein the machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power receiver to:

compare the rectified voltage to a voltage standard for wireless power transfer; and

determine whether the rectified voltage complies the voltage standard.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, further comprising a current sensor configured to detect an amplitude of alternating current generated in the at least one receiving coil, wherein the machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power receiver to:

determine a level of magnetic field at the location of the at least one receiving coil;

compare the level of magnetic field to a magnetic field standard for wireless power transfer; and

determine whether the level of magnetic field complies with the magnetic field standard for wireless power transfer.

13. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, wherein the machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power receiver to:

detect a gradient in an oscillating magnetic field produced by the wireless power transmitter; and

indicate a direction to move the wireless power receiver.

14. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the at least one receiving coil comprises a pair of elongated coils.

15. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the at least one receiving coil comprises two pairs of receiving coils that have centers located at different positions.

16. A memory device storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless power receiver, adapt the wireless power receiver to:

detect a plurality of received power levels transmitted wirelessly by a wireless power transmitter through a partition to at least one receiving coil of the wireless power receiver at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter; and

identify, to the wireless power transmitter, at least one transmit power level that provides an acceptable wirelessly received power at the location of the at least one receiving coil.

17. The memory device of claim 16, wherein the acceptable wirelessly received power corresponds to a value defined according to a wireless power transfer standard.

18. A method for configuring a wireless power transmitter to transmit power wirelessly through a partition that is adjacent to the wireless power transmitter at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

applying, by the wireless power transmitter, a plurality of wireless power levels to transmit power through the partition to at least one receiving coil of a wireless power receiver; and

receiving, from the wireless power receiver, identification of at least one transmit power level that provides an acceptable wirelessly received power level at the location of the at least one receiving coil.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing, by the wireless power transmitter, the at least one transmit power level; and

applying a stored transmit power level from the at least one stored transmit power level responsive to detecting a device configured to be charged or powered by the wireless power transmitter.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing, by the wireless power transmitter, plural transmit power levels in association with plural device identifiers corresponding to different types of wirelessly powered devices;

detecting, by the wireless power transmitter, a first type of wirelessly powered device; and

applying, responsive to detecting the first type of wirelessly powered device, a transmit power level stored in association with an identifier for the first type of wirelessly powered device.

21. A memory device storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless power transmitter located adjacent to a partition at an installation location of the wireless power transmitter, adapt the wireless power transmitter to:

apply a plurality of wireless power levels to transmit power through the partition to at least one receiving coil of a wireless power receiver; and

receive, from the wireless power receiver, identification of at least one transmit power level that provides an acceptable wirelessly received power level at the location of the at least one receiving coil.

22. The memory device of claim 21, further comprising machine readable instructions that adapt the wireless power transmitter to:

store the at least one transmit power level; and

apply a stored transmit power level from the at least one stored transmit power level responsive to detecting a device configured to be charged or powered by the wireless power transmitter.

23. A wireless power transmitter adapted to be installed adjacent to and transmit power through a partition that is separate from the wireless power transmitter, the wireless power transmitter comprising:

at least one power transmitting coil;

a signal transceiver; and

circuitry configured to;

apply a plurality of wireless power levels to transmit power through the partition to at least one receiving coil of a wireless power receiver;

receive, from the wireless power receiver, identification of at least one transmit power level that provides an acceptable wirelessly received power level at the location of the at least one receiving coil; and

store the at least one transmit power level.

24. The wireless power transmitter of claim 23, further comprising:

a memory device;

a processor; and

machine-readable instructions stored on the memory device that, when executed by the processor, adapt the wireless power transmitter to apply the plurality of wireless power levels and store the at least one transmit power level.

25. The wireless power transmitter of claim 24, wherein the machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power transmitter to apply a transmit power level from the at least one stored transmit power level responsive to detecting a device configured to be charged or powered by the wireless power transmitter.

26. The wireless power transmitter of claim 24, wherein the machine-readable instructions further adapt the wireless power transmitter to:

store plural transmit power levels in association with plural device identifiers corresponding to different types of wirelessly powered devices;

detect a first type of wirelessly powered device; and

apply a transmit power level stored in association with an identifier for the first type of wirelessly powered device.

27. A system comprising:

a wireless power transmitter adapted to be installed adjacent to and transmit power through a partition at an installation site of the wireless power transmitter;

at least one power transmitting coil;

a signal transmitter;

at least one memory device;

a processor;

machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, adapt the wireless power transmitter to;

apply a plurality of wireless power levels to transmit power through the partition to at least one receiving coil of a wireless power receiver;

receive, from the wireless power receiver, identification of at least one transmit power level that provides an acceptable wirelessly received power level at the location of the at least one receiving coil; and

store the at least one transmit power level; and

machine-readable instructions that adapt the wireless power receiver to;

detect a plurality of wireless power levels transmitted by a wireless power transmitter through the partition to at least one receiving coil of the wireless power receiver; and

identify, to the wireless power transmitter, the at least one transmit power level.