Wireless power transmission for portable wireless power charging

• US 8,901,880 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cook, Nigel P., Sieber, Lukas, Widmer, Hanspeter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US12/543,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,932 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/107, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/418
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/005 with variable reactance for tuning the antenna
• 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: H04B 5/70 specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. A portable wireless power charger includes an antenna configured to generate a magnetic near-field for coupling of wireless power to a wireless powered device including a receiver. The antenna is substantially disposed around the perimeter of the charging pad. The portable wireless power charger further includes a feeder cable for coupling the input power to the charging pad.

Claims

1. A portable wireless power charger, comprising:

a mouse pad; and

a relay antenna located within the mouse pad, the relay antenna comprising a resonant tank, the resonant tank configured to generate a magnetic field for coupling of wireless power to a wireless powered device including a receiver, the resonant tank further configured to receive power wirelessly from a transmitter exterior to the mouse pad and to the wireless powered device.

2. The portable wireless power charger of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a transmit antenna, the transmit antenna configured to generate the magnetic field for direct coupling to the receiver of the wireless powered device.

3. The portable wireless power charger of claim 2, further comprising transmit circuitry configured to drive the transmit antenna and separated from the mouse pad by a feeder cable, the feeder cable configured to couple a resonant frequency signal between the transmit circuitry and the transmit antenna.

4. The portable wireless power charger of claim 1, wherein the relay antenna comprises a substantially continuous conductor, a portion of the conductor extending around substantially an entire perimeter of the mouse pad.

5. The portable wireless power charger of claim 1, wherein the transmit antenna is located to cause the relay antenna to resonate in response to an electromagnetic field generated by the transmit antenna.

6. The portable wireless power charger of claim 1, further comprising transmit circuitry configured to drive the transmit antenna and separated from the mouse pad by a feeder cable, the feeder cable configured to couple a signal different from the resonant frequency signal between the transmit circuitry and the transmit antenna.

7. The portable wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the relay antenna is configured to resonate at a substantially unmodulated radio frequency (RF).

8. The portable wireless charger of claim 7, wherein the substantially unmodulated RF comprises one of a first frequency band between 119 kHz to 135 kHz, a second frequency band between 6.765 MHz to 6.795 MHz and a third frequency band between 13.553 MHz to 13.567 MHz.

9. The portable wireless charger of claim 3, wherein mains power is separated from the mouse pad by the feeder cable.

10. The portable wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the wireless powered device is configured as a wireless powered computer mouse.

11. The portable wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the wireless powered device is configured as a wireless powered/rechargeable novelty.

12. A wireless power transmission system, comprising:

a portable wireless power charger comprising;

a mouse pad including a relay antenna located within the mouse pad, the relay antenna comprising a resonant tank, the resonant tank configured to generate a magnetic field, the resonant tank further configured to receive power wirelessly from a transmitter; and

a wireless powered device including a receive antenna, the receive antenna formed substantially about a physical interface of the wireless powered device and the mouse pad, the transmitter exterior to the mouse pad and to the wireless powered device.

13. A method of transmitting wireless power, comprising:

receiving a resonant frequency signal from a power source; and

generating a magnetic field about a mouse pad, the mouse pad including a relay antenna located within the mouse pad, the relay antenna comprising a resonant tank, the resonant tank configured to couple wireless power to a wireless powered device in response to the magnetic field, the power source exterior to the mouse pad and to the wireless powered device.

14. The method of transmitting wireless power of claim 13, wherein generating a magnetic field comprises generating a magnetic field by a transmit antenna exterior to the mouse pad.

15. The method of transmitting wireless power of claim 13, wherein the relay antenna comprises a substantially continuous conductor, a portion of the conductor extending around substantially an entire perimeter of the mouse pad.

16. The method of transmitting wireless power of claim 14, wherein receiving a resonant frequency signal from the power source further comprises spatially separating the transmit antenna from circuitry coupled to mains power.

17. A portable wireless power charger, comprising:

means for receiving a resonant frequency signal from a power source; and

means for generating a magnetic field about a mouse pad, the mouse pad including a relay antenna located within the mouse pad, the relay antenna comprising a resonant tank, the resonant tank configured to couple wireless power to a wireless powered device in response to the magnetic field, the power source exterior to the mouse pad and to the wireless powered device.

18. The portable wireless power charger of claim 17, wherein the means for generating a magnetic field comprises means for generating a magnetic field by a transmit antenna exterior to the mouse pad.

19. The portable wireless power charger of claim 17, wherein the relay antenna comprises a substantially continuous conductor, a portion of the conductor extending around substantially an entire perimeter of the mouse pad.

20. The portable wireless power charger of claim 18, wherein the means for receiving a resonant frequency signal from the power source further comprises means for spatially separating the transmit antenna from circuitry coupled to mains power.