Wireless power and data transfer for electronic devices

• US 8,947,042 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirby, Miles A., Ozaki, Ernest T., Burdo, Rinat, Keating, Virginia Walker, Mangan, Michael J., Konertz, Anne Katrin, Jacobs, Paul E., Von Novak, William, Quick, Roy F. Jr., Davis, Roy H., Cook, Nigel P., Sieber, Lukas, Widmer, Hanspeter
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US12/614,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/106
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A wireless charging device may comprise a charging region configured for placement of one or more chargeable devices. The charging device may further include at least one transmit antenna configured for transmitting wireless power within the charging region. Furthermore, the charging device is configured to exchange data between at least one chargeable device of the one or more chargeable devices.

Claims

1. A wireless charging device, comprising:

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power at a level sufficient to charge or power a chargeable device via a wireless power transfer field; and

a controller configured to;

detect a request for wireless charging via the wireless power transfer field, the request received from the chargeable device;

receive an indication signal that the chargeable device is ready to transmit or receive information, the indication signal received from the chargeable device via a field disturbance of the wireless power transfer field; and

establish a wireless data link with the chargeable device in response to the received indication signal, the wireless data link being over a wireless medium different than the wireless power transfer field.

2. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a detection circuit configured to detect a field disturbance of a magnetic field established between the transmitter and a receiver of the chargeable device, the field disturbance indicative of the request for wireless charging.

3. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the wireless data link comprises at least one of an NFC connection, a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, a 60 GHz connection, or a UWB connection.

4. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to perform an authentication process between the wireless charging device and the chargeable device before establishing the wireless data link.

5. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect or receive the request via a wireless charging protocol.

6. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to initiate a key exchange to pair the chargeable device and the wireless charging device before establishing the wireless data link.

7. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to exchange data between the wireless charging device and the chargeable device via the wireless data link.

8. The wireless charging device of claim 7, wherein the data comprises at least one of photographs, videos, or music.

9. The wireless charging device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to allow a user to interact with the data.

10. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive initiation data via the wireless power transfer field to establish the wireless data link.

11. The wireless charging device of claim 10, wherein the initiation data comprises pairing data to establish a Bluetooth connection.

12. The wireless charging device of claim 10, wherein the initiation data comprises an identifier corresponding to the chargeable device.

13. A method for wireless charging, the method comprising:

detecting, at a wireless charging device, a request for wireless charging via a wireless power transfer field, the request received from a chargeable device;

receiving, via a field disturbance of the wireless power transfer field, an indication signal that the chargeable device is ready to transmit or receive information;

establishing a wireless data link with the chargeable device in response to the received indication signal, the wireless data link being over a wireless medium different than the wireless power transfer field; and

wirelessly transmitting power at a level sufficient to charge or power the chargeable device via the wireless power transfer field.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the request comprises detecting a field disturbance of a magnetic field established between a transmitter and a receiver of the chargeable device indicating that the chargeable device is ready to receive wireless power.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising initiating a key exchange to pair the chargeable device and the wireless charging device before establishing the wireless data link.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising exchanging data between the wireless charging device and the chargeable device via the wireless data link.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless data link comprises at least one of an NFC connection, a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, a 60 GHz connection, or a UWB connection.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing an authentication process between the wireless charging device and the chargeable device before establishing the wireless data link.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving initiation data via the wireless power transfer field for establishing the wireless data link.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the initiation data comprises an identifier corresponding to the chargeable device.

20. The method of 19, wherein the initiation data comprises pairing data for establishing a Bluetooth connection.

22. A wireless charging device, comprising:

means for wirelessly transmitting power at a level sufficient to power or charge a chargeable device via a wireless power transfer field;

,

means for detecting a request for wireless charging via the wireless power transfer field, the request received from the chargeable device;

means for receiving, via a field disturbance of the wireless power transfer field, an indication signal that the chargeable device is ready to transmit or receive information; and

means for establishing a wireless data link with the chargeable device in response to the received indication signal, the wireless data link being over a wireless medium different than the wireless power transfer field.

23. The wireless charging device of claim 22, wherein the means for detecting the request comprises means for detecting a field disturbance of a magnetic field established between the means for wirelessly transmitting power and a receiver of the chargeable device indicating that the chargeable device is ready to receive wireless power or ready to transmit or receive information.

24. The wireless charging device of claim 22, wherein the wireless data link comprises at least one of an NFC connection, a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, a 60 GHz connection, or a UWB connection.

25. The wireless charging device of claim 22, wherein the detecting means is configured to detect or receive the request via a wireless charging protocol.

26. The wireless charging device of claim 22, further comprising means for receiving initiation data via the wireless power transfer field to establish the wireless data link.

27. The wireless charging device of claim 26, wherein the initiation data comprises pairing data to establish a Bluetooth connection.

28. The wireless charging device of claim 26, wherein the initiation data comprises an identifier corresponding to the chargeable device.

29. A chargeable device configured to wirelessly receive power, the chargeable device comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving power from a wireless charging device via a wireless power transfer field at a level sufficient to charge or power the chargeable device;

means for providing a request for wireless charging to the wireless charging device via the wireless power transfer field;

means for transmitting, via a field disturbance of the wireless power transfer field, an indication signal that the chargeable device is ready to transmit or receive information;

means for establishing a wireless data link with the wireless charging device in response to transmitting an indication signal, the wireless data link being over a wireless medium different than the wireless power transfer field.

30. The chargeable device of claim 29, wherein the means for providing the request comprises means for causing a field disturbance of a magnetic field established between a transmitter of the wireless charging device and the means for receiving power indicating that the chargeable device is ready to receive wireless power or ready to transmit or receive information.

31. The chargeable device of claim 29, where the wireless data link comprises at least one of an NFC connection, a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, a 60 GHz connection, or a UWB connection.

32. The chargeable device of claim 29, wherein the chargeable device further comprises means for exchanging data between the chargeable device and the wireless charging device via the wireless data link.

33. The wireless charging device of claim 29, further comprising means for detecting charging level of a battery of the chargeable device and means for establishing the wireless data link in response to the detected charging level of the battery.

34. A chargeable device configured to wirelessly receive power, the chargeable device comprising:

a receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from a wireless charging device via a wireless power transfer field at a level sufficient to charge or power the chargeable device; and

a processor configured to;

provide a request to the wireless charging device for wireless charging, the request provided via the wireless power transfer field;

transmit an indication signal of readiness to transmit or receive information, the indication signal provided via a field disturbance of the wireless power transfer field; and

establish a wireless data link with the wireless charging device in response to transmitting the indication signal, the wireless data link being over a wireless medium different than the wireless power transfer field.

35. The chargeable device of claim 34, wherein the processor is configured to provide the request by causing a field disturbance of a magnetic field established between a transmitter of the wireless charging device and receiver, the field disturbance indicative that the chargeable device is ready to receive wireless power or ready to transmit or receive information.

36. The chargeable device of claim 34, wherein the wireless data link comprises at least one of an NFC connection, a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, a 60 GHz connection, or a UWB connection.

37. The chargeable device of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange data between the chargeable device and the wireless charging device via the wireless data link.

38. The wireless charging device of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured to detect charging level of a battery of the chargeable device and establish the wireless data link in response to the detected charging level of the battery.

39. A method for wirelessly receiving power, the method comprising:

providing a request from a chargeable device to a wireless charging device, the request provided via a wireless power transfer field;

transmitting an indication signal that the chargeable device is ready to transmit or receive information, the indication signal provided via a field disturbance of the wireless power transfer field;

establishing a wireless data link with the wireless charging device in response to transmitting the indication signal, the wireless data link being over a wireless medium different than the wireless power transfer field; and

wirelessly receiving power from the wireless charging device via the wireless power transfer field at a level sufficient to charge or power the chargeable device.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein providing the request comprises causing a field disturbance of a magnetic field established between a transmitter and a receiver of the chargeable device.

41. The method of claim 39, where the wireless data link comprises at least one of an NFC connection, a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, a 60GHz connection, or a UWB connection.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the method further comprising exchanging data between the chargeable device and the wireless charging device via the wireless data link.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising detecting charging level of a battery of the chargeable device and establishing the wireless data link in response to the detected charging level of the battery.

44. A chargeable device configured to wirelessly receive power, the chargeable device comprising:

a receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from a wireless charging device via a wireless power transfer field at a level sufficient to charge or power the chargeable device; and

a processor configured to;

send a first request to the wireless charging device for wireless charging, the first request provided via the wireless power transfer field;

send a second request to establish a wireless data link, the second request provided via the wireless power transfer field; and

transfer data to the wireless charging device via the wireless data link in response to providing the second request.

45. A wireless charging device, comprising:

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power at a level sufficient to charge or power a chargeable device via a wireless power transfer field; and

a controller configured to;

detect a first request for wireless charging via the wireless power transfer field, the request received from the chargeable device;

receive a second request to establish a wireless data link with the chargeable device, the second request received via the wireless power transfer field from the chargeable device; and

send initiation data to the chargeable device via the wireless power transfer field in response to the second request to establish the wireless data link.