MULTIMODE WIRELESS POWER TRANSMITTERS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20170126071A1
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Incorporated (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Integrated Deivce Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: AIOANEI, Ovidiu
• Application Number:
  US15/405,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20170126071A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A wireless power transmitter comprises a bridge inverter configured to receive a DC power signal and generate an AC power signal according to an operating frequency, a resonant tank configured to receive the AC power signal and generate an electromagnetic field responsive thereto, and control logic configured to cause the resonant tank to reconfigure and adjust its resonant frequency for a particular receiver type of a wireless power receiver with which a mutual inductance relationship is desired. A method comprises determining a receiver type for a wireless power receiver with which it is desired to establish a mutual inductance relationship for wireless power transfer, and generating a wireless power signal with a wireless power transmitter having an operating frequency and resonant tank that is adjusted for a particular receiver type.

Claims

1-16. -16.

17. A method for operating a multimode wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

determining a receiver type for a wireless power receiver with which it is desired to establish a mutual inductance relationship for wireless power transfer; and

generating a wireless power signal with a wireless power transmitter having an operating frequency and resonant tank that is adjusted for a particular receiver type.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein generating the wireless power signal includes at least one of:

adjusting a capacitance of the resonant tank while maintaining a fixed inductance;

adjusting a inductance of the resonant tank while maintaining a fixed capacitance; and

adjusting both a capacitance an inductance of the resonant tank.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the receiver type includes:

transmitting a first communication signal from the wireless power transmitter to the wireless power receiver, the first communication signal having a first characteristic associated with a first receiver type; and

if no response is received by the wireless power transmitter during a waiting period, reconfiguring the resonant tank and operating frequency and transmitting second communication signal from the wireless power transmitter to the wireless power receiver, the second communication signal having a second characteristic associated with a second receiver type.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic differ by at least one of an operating frequency, an encoding/decoding scheme, and ping structure.