Detection and protection of devices within a wireless power system

• US 9,106,086 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Low, Zhen Ning, Mudrick, Adam A., Estrada, Sergio P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US12/939,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20110221388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/115, 320/134
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to detecting and limiting power transfer to non-compliant devices. A method may include detecting one or more non-compliant devices positioned within a charging region of a wireless power transmitter. The method may further include limiting an amount of power delivered to at least one of the one or more non-compliant devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wirelessly transferring power, comprising:

a wireless power transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power at a level sufficient to power or charge a first device positioned within a charging region; and

a controller configured to;

determine a first amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is an amount of power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter; and

determine a second amount of power, wherein the second amount of power is an amount of power received by the first device when positioned within the charging region, the wireless power transmitter configured to reduce power transmission in response to determining unaccounted power based on a difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a non-compliant device is detected based on determining the unaccounted power, and wherein the wireless power transmitter is configured to reduce the power transmission to the non-compliant device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wireless power transmitter is configured to reduce the power transmission to the non-compliant device by signaling to the first device to reduce a load impedance of the first device.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-compliant device comprises a near-field communication (NFC) device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitter is configured to stop power transmission.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the first amount of power by monitoring at least one of a supply voltage of the wireless power transmitter, a supply current of the wireless power transmitter, an RF voltage of the wireless power transmitter, or an RF current of the wireless power transmitter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the first amount of power by at least one of determining a coil parasitic resistance via a lookup table for a plurality of loading conditions or determining a power amplifier efficiency of a power amplifier for the plurality of loading conditions.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive one or more reverse link signals from the first device to determine the second amount of power, the one or more reverse link signals indicating the second amount of power.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the second amount of power by at least one of:

receiving an indication of a coil parasitic resistance from the first device for a plurality of loading conditions;

receiving an indication of a load impedance from the first device based on a first current sensed by a first current sensor and a rectifier voltage at a rectifier voltage port at the first device;

receiving an indication of a rectifier efficiency from the first device based on the rectifier voltage at the rectifier voltage port;

or

receiving an indication of a buck converter efficiency from the first device based on a buck converter voltage at a buck voltage port and a second current sensed by a second current sensor of the first device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the first amount of power while the wireless power transmitter is transmitting at a constant level, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the second amount of power while the first device receives power at the constant level.

11. The Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first amount of power is transmitted via a wireless field and wherein the first device is coupled to the wireless field so as to receive the second amount of power.

12. A method for wirelessly transferring power, comprising:

determining a first amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is an amount of power transmitted by a wireless power transmitter within a charging region;

determining a second amount of power, wherein the second amount of power is an amount of power received by a first device when positioned within the charging region of the wireless power transmitter; and

reducing power transmission in response to determining unaccounted power based on a difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a non-compliant device is detected based on determining the unaccounted power, and wherein reducing power transmission comprises reducing the power transmission to the non-compliant device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein reducing power transmission to the non-compliant device comprises signaling to the first device to reduce a load impedance of the first device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the non-compliant device comprises a near-field communication (NFC) device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein reducing power transmission comprises stopping power transmission.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the first amount of power comprises monitoring at least one of a supply voltage of the wireless power transmitter, a supply current of the wireless power transmitter, an RF voltage of the wireless power transmitter, or an RF current of the wireless power transmitter.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the first amount of power comprises at least one of determining a coil parasitic resistance via a lookup table for a plurality of loading conditions or determining a power amplifier efficiency of a power amplifier for the plurality of loading conditions.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the second amount of power comprises receiving one or more reverse link signals from the first device, the one or more reverse link signals indicating the second amount of power.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the second amount of power comprises at least one of:

receiving an indication of a coil parasitic resistance from the first device for a plurality of loading conditions;

receiving an indication of a load impedance from the first device based on a first current sensed by a first current sensor and a rectifier voltage at a rectifier voltage port at the first device;

receiving an indication of a rectifier efficiency from the first device based on the rectifier voltage at the rectifier voltage port;

or

receiving an indication of a buck converter efficiency from the first device based on a buck converter voltage at a buck voltage port and a second current sensed by a second current sensor of the one first device.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the first amount of power comprises determining the first amount of power while the wireless power transmitter is transmitting at a constant level, and wherein determining the second amount of power comprises determining the second amount of power while the first device receives power at the constant level.

22. An apparatus for wirelessly transferring power, comprising:

means for wirelessly transmitting power at a level sufficient to power or charge a first device positioned within a charging region;

means for determining a first amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is an amount of power transmitted by the transmitting means;

means for determining a second amount of power, wherein the second amount of power is an amount of power received by the first device when positioned within the charging region; and

means for reducing power transmission of the transmitting means in response to determining unaccounted power based on a difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a non-compliant device is detected based on determining the unaccounted power, and wherein the means for reducing power transmission comprises means for reducing power transmission to the non-compliant device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the non-compliant device comprises a near-field communication (NFC) device.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for determining the first amount of power comprises means for monitoring at least one of a supply voltage of the transmitting means, a supply current of the transmitting means, an RF voltage of the transmitting means, or an RF current of the transmitting means.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for determining the second amount of power comprises means for receiving one or more reverse link signals from the first device, the one or more reverse link signals indicating the second amount of power.