Apparatus for wireless power transmission using multi antenna and method for controlling the same

• US 9,130,389 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LS Cable And System Limited (LS Cable)
• Original Assignee: LS Cable And System Limited (LS Cable)
• Inventors: Lee, Ji-Hyung, Park, Lae-Hyuk, Park, Un-Kyoo
• Primary Examiner(s): DO, THUAN V
• Application Number:
  US13/602,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

A wireless power transmission apparatus includes at least one power transmission antenna for transmitting a wireless power signal in a magnetic resonance manner by using a resonant frequency having different bandwidths from each other; a wireless power signal generating module for generating the wireless power signal; at least one wireless power converting module for converting a power level of the wireless power signal generated by the wireless power signal generating module and having different power level conversion ranges corresponding to the bandwidth of the resonant frequency of the power transmission antenna; a multiplexer matching module for selectively connecting the wireless power converting module to a corresponding power transmission antenna; and a control unit for selectively connecting the power transmission antenna and the wireless power converting module according to a required power of a device to be charged to adjust the power level of the wireless power signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless power transmission, comprising:

a plurality of power transmission antennas configured to transmit a wireless power signal in a magnetic resonance manner by using resonant frequencies, the resonant frequencies having different bandwidths from each other;

a wireless power signal generating module configured to generate the wireless power signal;

a plurality of wireless power converting modules configured to convert a power level of the wireless power signal generated by the wireless power signal generating module, the wireless power converting modules having different power level conversion ranges from each other corresponding to the bandwidths of the resonant frequencies of the power transmission antenna;

a multiplexer matching module configured to selectively connect the wireless power converting modules to a corresponding power transmission antennas and to match impedances between the connected wireless power converting modules and the power transmission antennas;

a wireless communication module configured to send a detecting signal to detect a device to be charged, and configured to perform data communication with the detected device to be charged; and

a controller configured to calculate a required power of the device to be charged, based on a charge state information of the device which received by the wireless communication module and, configured to select the power transmission antennas and the wireless power converting modules to be connected according to the required power of the device to be charged, to adjust the power level of the wireless power signal,

wherein the plurality of wireless power converting modules respectively include amplifiers with different gains, and the amplifiers convert the wireless power signal in different power level conversion ranges according to the gains.

2. The apparatus for wireless power transmission according to claim 1, wherein the controller receives charge state information of the device to be charged, detected by the wireless communication module.

3. The apparatus for wireless power transmission according to claim 1, wherein the charge state information of the device to be charged includes an identification code for distinctively identifying the corresponding device to be charged and the required power.

4. The apparatus for wireless power transmission according to claim 1, wherein the controller continuously monitors the charge state information of the device to be charged, recalculates a required power of the device to be charged according to the monitoring result, and adjusts the power level of the wireless power signal according to the recalculated required power.

5. The apparatus for wireless power transmission according to claim 1, wherein, the controller transmits a wireless power signal to each device to be charged by means of time division control.

6. A method for controlling wireless power transmission, comprising:

(a) sending, by a wireless communication module, a detecting signal for detecting a device to be charged; and

(b) performing, by the wireless communication module, data communication with the detected device to be charged and receiving, by a wireless communication module, charge state information of the device to be charged;

(c) calculating, by a controller, a required power of the device to be charged, based on the charge state information of the device to be charged;

(d) selecting, by the controller, a power transmission antenna having a bandwidth of a resonant frequency capable of transmitting a wireless power signal corresponding to the required power of a device to be charged, and a wireless power converting module having a power level conversion range corresponding to the bandwidth of the resonant frequency of the corresponding power transmission antenna;

(e) controlling, by the controller, the selected wireless power converting module to adjust a power level of the wireless power signal according to the required power of the device to be charged; and

(f) connecting, by a multiplexer matching module, the selected wireless power converting module to the power transmission antennas to transmit the wireless power signal and performing, by the multiplexer matching module, impedances matching between the wireless power converting module and the power transmission antenna,

wherein the plurality of wireless power converting modules respectively include amplifiers with different gains, and the amplifiers convert the wireless power signal in different power level conversion ranges according to the gains.

7. The method for controlling wireless power transmission according to claim 6, wherein the charge state information of the device to be charged includes an identification code for distinctively identifying the corresponding device to be charged and the required power.

8. The method for controlling wireless power transmission according to claim 6, after the step (f), further comprising:

constantly monitoring the charge state information of the device to be charged;

recalculating a required power of the device to be charged according to the monitoring result; and

adjusting the power level of the wireless power signal according to the recalculated required power.

9. The method for controlling wireless power transmission according to claim 6, wherein, in the step (d), in the case where the number of the device to be charged is greater than one, the wireless power signal is transmitted to each device to be charged by means of time division control.