WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIRELESS POWER RECEPTION APPARATUS, AND WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20180166905A1
• Filed: 05/02/2016
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: PARK, Soo Young, PARK, Su Bin, LEE, Jong Heon
• Application Number:
  US15/573,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20180166905A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

Disclosed is a wireless power transmission apparatus. The present apparatus comprises: a first wireless power transmission unit which is connected to a first sensing unit to wirelessly transmit power to a wireless power reception apparatus; a second wireless power transmission unit which is connected to a second sensing unit; and a control unit for controlling the second sensing unit to sense induced current which is induced to the second wireless power transmission unit if the wireless power reception apparatus moves in the direction of the second wireless power transmission unit while power is being wirelessly transmitted to the wireless power reception apparatus, wherein the control unit can wirelessly transmit power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission unit if the magnitude of the sensed induced current exceeds a predetermined reference level. Accordingly, apparatus efficiency and user convenience can be improved.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a wireless power transmission apparatus including a plurality of wireless power transmission units, the method comprising:

transmitting wireless power to a wireless power reception apparatus through a first wireless power transmission unit;

sensing an induced current induced in a second wireless power transmission unit when the wireless power reception unit is moved toward the second wireless power transmission unit; and

transmitting wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission unit when a magnitude of the induced current sensed in the second wireless power transmission unit meets a preset criterion.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the first wireless power transmission unit comprises:

transmitting the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus according to an electromagnetic induction scheme using a current applied to the first wireless power transmission unit.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission unit comprises:

seamlessly transmitting the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus even when a transmission channel is changed from the first wireless power transmission unit to the second wireless power transmission unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

stopping transmitting the wireless power through the first wireless power transmission unit when the wireless power is transmitted to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission unit.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission unit comprises:

transmitting the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the first wireless power transmission unit while transmitting the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission unit.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a notification signal to the wireless power reception apparatus when a wireless power transmission channel is changed to the second wireless power transmission unit.

7. A wireless power transmission apparatus including a plurality of wireless power transmission units, comprising:

a first wireless power transmission unit connected to a first sensing unit to transmit wireless power to a wireless power reception apparatus;

a second wireless power transmission unit connected to a second sensing unit;

a controller configured to control the second sensing unit to sense an induced current induced in the second wireless power transmission unit when the wireless power reception apparatus is moved toward the second wireless power transmission unit while the wireless power is being transmitted to the wireless power reception apparatus,

wherein the controller transmits the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission unit when a magnitude of the sensed induced current exceeds a preset reference.

8. The wireless power transmission apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller transmits the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus according to an electromagnetic induction scheme using a current applied to the first wireless power transmission unit.

9. The wireless power transmission apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller seamlessly transmits the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus even when a transmission channel is changed from the first wireless power transmission unit to the second wireless power transmission unit.

10. The wireless power transmission apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, when the wireless power is transmitted to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission unit, the controller stops transmitting the wireless power through the first wireless power transmission unit.

11. The wireless power transmission apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller transmits the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the first wireless power transmission unit while transmitting the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission unit.

12. The wireless power transmission apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller transmits a notification signal to the wireless power reception apparatus when a wireless power transmission channel is changed to the second wireless power transmission unit.

13. A method for controlling a wireless power transmission apparatus including a plurality of wireless power transmission units, the method comprising:

transmitting wireless power to a wireless power reception apparatus through at least one of the wireless power transmission units;

sensing, when the wireless power reception apparatus is moved in a specific direction during transmission of the wireless power, an induced current induced in each of at least one of the wireless power transmission units arranged on a side corresponding to the specific direction; and

transmitting, when a magnitude of the induced current sensed in at least one of the wireless power transmission units arranged on the side corresponding to the specific direction exceeds a preset reference, the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the at least one wireless power transmission unit having the induced current exceeding the preset reference.

14. A wireless power transmission apparatus including a plurality of wireless power transmission units, comprising:

at least one first wireless power transmission unit configured to transmit wireless power to a wireless power reception apparatus;

at least one second wireless power transmission unit arranged on a side corresponding to a specific direction and connected to each of at least one sensing unit in a one-to-one correspondence manner; and

a controller configured to sense, when the wireless power reception apparatus is moved in the specific direction during transmission of the wireless power, an induced current induced in at least one of the at least one second wireless power transmission unit, through at least one of the at least one sensing unit,

wherein, when a magnitude of the induced current sensed in at least one of the at least one second wireless power transmission unit arranged on the side corresponding to the specific direction exceeds a preset reference, the controller transmits the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the at least one wireless power transmission unit having the induced current exceeding the preset reference.

15. A method for controlling a wireless power reception apparatus for receiving wireless power from a wireless power transmission apparatus including a plurality of wireless power transmission units, the method comprising:

receiving the wireless power from the wireless power transmission apparatus; and

broadcasting a command signal when a reception efficiency of the received wireless power is less than a preset reference value.

16. A method for controlling a wireless power transmission apparatus including a plurality of wireless power transmission units, the method comprising:

receiving, by at least one of the wireless power transmission units, a command signal transmitted from a wireless power reception apparatus;

measuring a reception sensitivity of each of the at least one wireless power transmission unit receiving the command signal; and

transmitting the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus using a specific wireless power transmission unit having the measured reception sensitivity that meets a predetermined criterion.

17. A method for transmitting wireless power in a wireless power transmission system including a plurality of wireless power transmission apparatuses, the method comprising:

transmitting the wireless power to a wireless power reception apparatus through a first wireless power transmission apparatus;

sensing, when the wireless power reception apparatus is moved toward a second wireless power transmission apparatus during transmission of the wireless power, an induced current induced in the second wireless power transmission apparatus; and

transmitting, when a magnitude of an induced current sensed in the second wireless power transmission apparatus meets a preset criterion, the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus through the second wireless power transmission apparatus.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

the second wireless power transmission apparatus receiving device information about the wireless power reception apparatus from the first wireless power transmission apparatus.

19. A wireless power transmission system including a plurality of wireless power transmission apparatuses, comprising:

a first wireless power transmission apparatus configured to transmit wireless power to a wireless power reception apparatus; and

a second wireless power transmission apparatus disposed on a side corresponding to a direction of movement of the wireless power reception apparatus to sense an induced current when the wireless power reception apparatus is moved during transmission of the wireless power,

wherein, when a magnitude of the sensed induced current meets a predetermined criterion, the wireless power transmission apparatus transmits the wireless power to the wireless power reception apparatus.

20. The wireless power transmission system according to claim 19, wherein the second wireless power transmission apparatus receives device information about the wireless power reception apparatus from the first wireless power transmission apparatus.