Integrated wireless resonant power charging and communication channel

• US 8,111,042 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Lamarr
• Application Number:
  US12/241,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/137, 320/106, 320/115, 455/573, 455/572, 307/149
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation

Abstract

A power delivery system wirelessly deliver electric power and a communication signal to a target device. The power delivery system includes a power transmitting unit having a power source operable to source alternating current power and a sending resonant coupling component operable to couple the alternating current power to a coil for wireless power transmission by a non-radiated magnetic field at a target resonant frequency. The power transmitting unit is capable of dynamically tuning the wireless power transmission to the target resonant frequency wherein the target resonant frequency is specified dynamically. A communication module couples to the power transmitting unit and is operable to couple the communication signal to the non-radiated magnetic field. Operations may include target device authentication, target resonant frequency information communication, billing, and device management.

Claims

1. A power delivery system for wirelessly delivering electric power to a target device and for delivering a communication signal to the target device, the power delivery system comprising:

a power transmitting unit comprising;

a power source operable to source alternating current power;

a sending resonant coupling component operable to couple the alternating current power to a coil for wireless power transmission by a non-radiated magnetic field at a target resonant frequency associated with the target device ;

the power transmitting unit configured to dynamically tune the wireless power transmission to the target resonant frequency wherein the target resonant frequency is specified dynamically; and

a communication module coupled to the power transmitting unit and operable to couple the communication signal to the non-radiated magnetic field.

2. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the sending resonant coupling component comprises a coil that is operable to source the non-radiated magnetic field at the target resonant frequency.

3. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the sending resonant coupling component forms the non-radiated magnetic field substantially omni-directionally.

4. The power delivery system of claim 1 wherein the communication module is operable to communicate the target resonant frequency to the target device.

5. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the power transmitting unit is operable to adjust the target resonant frequency based upon feedback received from the target device via the communication module.

6. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises a Radio Frequency (RF) interface operable to communicate with the target device in an RF spectrum.

7. The power delivery system of claim 6, wherein the communication module is operable to communicate the target resonant frequency to the target device via the RF interface.

8. The power delivery system of claim 6, wherein the RF interface is operable to receive data from the target device that comprises at least one of:

a target device identity;

target device billing information;

target device power receipt level(s); and

a target device battery charge state.

9. The power delivery system of claim 6, wherein the RF interface is operable to receive a request for power delivery from the target device.

10. The power delivery system of claim 6, wherein the RF interface is operable to receive authentication information from the target device.

11. The power delivery system of claim 10, wherein the power transmitting unit is operable to select the target resonant frequency based upon the target device authentication information.

12. A power transmitting unit that is communicatively coupled to a target device to which it provides power, the power transmitting unit comprising:

a power source operable to source alternating current power

a sending resonant coupling component operable to couple the alternating current power to a coil for wireless power transmission by a non-radiated magnetic field at a target resonant frequency associated with the target device;

the power transmitting unit configured to dynamically tune the wireless power transmission to the target resonant frequency wherein the target resonant frequency is specified dynamically;

a token generator that generates and a token for delivery to the target device during a target device registration operation; and

the power transmitting unit operable to authenticate the target device during subsequent power transmission operations based partially on the token.

13. The power transmitting unit of claim 12 wherein:

the token generator includes a pseudorandom number generator operable to generate the token; and

the power transmitting unit is operable to deliver power to the target device only after authenticating the target device.

14. A method performed by a rechargeable electronic device comprising a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

authenticating with a power transmitting unit including receiving a token from the power transmitting unit;

requesting power transmission by a non-radiated magnetic field from the power transmitting unit;

receiving power non-radiated magnetic field at the target resonant frequency from the power transmitting unit; and

recharging a rechargeable battery of the rechargeable electronic device.

15. The method performed by the rechargeable electronic device of claim 14 wherein recharging comprises:

applying received power to a rechargeable battery;

periodically sending a charging status to the power transmitting unit;

monitoring the charging status until it exceeds a high charging limit; and

communicating a request for termination of power delivery to the power transmitting unit when the high charging limit is reached.

16. The method performed by the rechargeable electronic device of claim 14 wherein the token is communicated to the power transmitting unit along with the request for power transmission, and wherein the token is updated and stored when a new token is communicated by the power transmitting unit.

17. The method performed by the rechargeable electronic device of claim 14 wherein the token is communicated to the power transmitting unit along with the request for power transmission and wherein the rechargeable electronic device authenticates with the power transmitting unit employing a username and password.

18. A method for wirelessly delivering electric power and a communication signal to a target device comprising:

receiving a request for power from the target device;

generating alternating current power;

coupling the alternating current power to a coil to source wireless power transmission by a non-radiated magnetic field at a target resonant frequency to a target device;

dynamically tuning the wireless power transmission to the target resonant frequency wherein the target resonant frequency is specified dynamically; and

coupling the communication signal to the non-radiated magnetic field.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming the non-radiated magnetic field substantially omni-directionally.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating the target resonant frequency to the target device.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting the target resonant frequency based upon feedback received from the target device via the communication module.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating with the target device via a Radio Frequency interface.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising communicating the target resonant frequency to the target device via the Radio Frequency interface.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving a request for power delivery from the target device via the Radio Frequency interface.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving authentication information from the target device via a Radio Frequency interface.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising selecting the target resonant frequency based upon the target device authentication information.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving data from the target device that comprises at least one of:

a target device identity;

target device billing information;

target device power receipt level(s); and

a target device battery charge state.