Intelligent initiation of inductive charging process

• US 8,901,881 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Inventors: Partovi, Afshin
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US13/708,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20130093389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0247 Orientating, locating, transporting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for intelligent initiation of an inductive charging process. In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a receiver coil or receiver associated with a mobile device, and provided as a separable or after-market accessory for use with the mobile device. When the mobile device is placed in proximity to a base unit having one or more charger coils, the charger coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device. The base unit and mobile device communicate with each other prior to and/or during charging or powering to determine a protocol to be used to charge or power the mobile device.

Claims

1. A system for intelligent initiation of an inductive charging process, comprising:

a receiver coil or receiver associated with a mobile device, and provided as a separable or after-market accessory for use with the mobile device;

wherein, when the mobile device is placed in proximity to a base unit having one or more charger coils, the charger coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device; and

wherein the base unit and mobile device communicate with each other prior to or during charging or powering, to determine a charging protocol to be used to charge or power the mobile device, including that

the base unit verifies the presence of the mobile device by periodically pinging according to a frequency or pattern; and

a nearby mobile device is activated by the received power, and determines the pinging frequency or pattern and uses such information to perform an initiation process whereby one or more of a mobile device presence, receiver identifier, power or voltage requirement, temperature, or state of charge is communicated to the base unit, and

the base unit validates the mobile device, and selects the charging protocol from within a plurality of different charging protocols wherein different charger types and different mobile device types can be associated with different charging protocols, to be used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit and mobile device communicate with each other to verify the authenticity, power requirements and/or other characteristics of the mobile device or a battery therein and/or verify or handshake the presence of the mobile device proximate the base unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit and/or mobile device includes a microcontroller that determines the authenticity, power requirements and/or other characteristics of the mobile device or a battery therein and determines the protocol to be used to charge or power the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit periodically powers its charger coil and checks for the presence of a mobile device in proximity to the base unit which receiver coil or receiver can receive power from the charger coil.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit periodically pings for the presence of a mobile device in proximity to the base unit, and wherein a receiver coil or receiver thereby activated performs an initiation process whereby its ID, presence, power, voltage or other requirements are communicated to the base unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit periodically pings for the presence of a mobile device in proximity to the base unit, and wherein the length of a ping is of sufficient length for a receiver to power up its microcontroller and to respond back, and for the response to be received and understood.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit pings for the presence of a mobile device only upon discovery of a nearby receiver coil or receiver.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit and/or mobile device includes a microcontroller that implements in firmware an algorithm for supporting multiple different charging protocols, for use with the mobile device, and/or to communicate parameters to increase or decrease power or voltage provided to the receiver coil or receiver.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit and/or mobile device includes a microcontroller, and wherein the system supports different protocols to be used to charge or power the mobile device, including wherein the microcontroller receives and decodes signals and in response takes action to provide more or less power to the charger coil, by adjusting the frequency, duty cycle and/or input voltage to the charger coil.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein

the base unit is provided within an automobile, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices within the automobile, and/or

the mobile device is an automobile that can be charged by a base unit.

11. A method of intelligent initiation of an inductive charging process, comprising the steps of:

providing a receiver coil or receiver associated with a mobile device, and provided as a separable or after-market accessory for use with the mobile device;

wherein, when the mobile device is placed in proximity to a base unit having one or more charger coils, the charger coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device; and

wherein the base unit and mobile device communicate with each other prior to or-during charging or powering, to determine a charging protocol to be used to charge or power the mobile device, including that

the base unit verifies the presence of the mobile device by periodically pinging according to a frequency or pattern; and

a nearby mobile device is activated by the received power, and determines the pinging frequency or pattern and uses such information to

perform an initiation process whereby one or more of a mobile device presence, receiver identifier, power or voltage requirement, temperature, or state of charge is communicated to the base unit, and

the base unit validates the mobile device, and selects the charging protocol from within a plurality of different charging protocols wherein different charger types and different mobile device types can be associated with different charging protocols, to be used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit and mobile device communicate with each other to verify the authenticity, power requirements and/or other characteristics of the mobile device or a battery therein and/or verify or handshake the presence of the mobile device proximate the base unit.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit and/or mobile device includes a microcontroller that determines the authenticity, power requirements and/or other characteristics of the mobile device or a battery therein and determines the protocol to be used to charge or power the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit periodically powers its charger coil and checks for the presence of a mobile device in proximity to the base unit which receiver coil or receiver can receive power from the charger coil.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit periodically pings for the presence of a mobile device in proximity to the base unit, and wherein a receiver coil or receiver thereby activated performs an initiation process whereby its ID, presence, power, voltage or other requirements are communicated to the base unit.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit periodically pings for the presence of a mobile device in proximity to the base unit, and wherein the length of a ping is of sufficient length for a receiver to power up its microcontroller and to respond back, and for the response to be received and understood.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit pings for the presence of a mobile device only upon discovery of a nearby receiver coil or receiver.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit and/or mobile device includes a microcontroller that implements in firmware an algorithm for supporting multiple different charging protocols, for use with the mobile device, and/or to communicate parameters to increase or decrease power or voltage provided to the receiver coil or receiver.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit and/or mobile device includes a microcontroller, and wherein the system supports different protocols to be used to charge or power the mobile device, including wherein the microcontroller receives and decodes signals and in response takes action to provide more or less power to the charger coil, by adjusting the frequency, duty cycle and/or input voltage to the charger coil.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein

the base unit is provided within an automobile, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices within the automobile, and/or

the mobile device is an automobile that can be charged by a base unit.