Wireless power for charging devices

• US 9,130,394 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Burdo, Rinat, Kirby, Miles A., Ozaki, Ernest T., Keating, Virginia Walker, Jaffee, James I., Cook, Nigel P., Hunsicker, Harry M., Mangan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/618,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,125 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/007 Detection of the absence of a load

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A host device peripheral may comprise a wireless power charging apparatus, which may include transmit circuitry and at least one antenna coupled to the transmit circuitry. The at least one antenna may be configured to wirelessly transmit power within an associated near-field region. Additionally, the host device peripheral may be configured to couple to a host device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless power charging, comprising:

a receive circuit configured to wirelessly receive power and charge an energy storage device using the wirelessly received power; and

a charging device configured to charge an electronic device in a charging mode, the charging device comprising a transmit circuit configured to;

receive power from the energy storage device and wirelessly transmit the received power to the electronic device, and

detect a presence or an absence of the electronic device positioned within a wireless field of the transmit circuit while the transmit circuit is operating in a normal operating state,

wherein the charging device is further configured to transition to the charging mode from a power savings mode to charge the electronic device when the presence of the electronic device is detected by the transmit circuit and remain in the power savings mode if the absence of the electronic device is detected by the transmit circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit are configured to be positioned within a cavity of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cavity comprises a drive bay.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the host device comprises a laptop computer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is configured to receive power from an external power source, and wherein the transmit circuit is further configured to receive power from the energy storage device using the external power source.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit form a peripheral device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit are integrated into a peripheral device, the peripheral device integrated into a host device comprising the energy storage device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit are integrated into a host device comprising the energy storage device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a portion configured to extend from a host device comprising the energy storage device, the portion comprising a loop antenna coupled to the transmit and receive circuits.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit are detachable from a host device comprising the energy storage device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a loop antenna, wherein the loop antenna is coupled to an outside surface of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an attachment device coupled to the outside surface of the host device, the attachment device configured to attach an electronic device to the outside surface of the host device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a receptacle coupled to the outside surface of the host device, the receptacle configured to receive and secure an electronic device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the loop antenna is coupled to a portion of a cover of the host device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the loop antenna is configured to be placed substantially around a circumference of a portion of the host device, the circumference determined by an outer dimension of the host device.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the loop antenna is characterized by a shape forming a square.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the loop antenna is characterized by a shape conforming to a shape determined by an outer dimension of the host device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a charging pad, the charging pad comprising the transmit circuit and the receive circuit.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit are configured to mechanically couple to a host device comprising the energy storage device, the transmit circuit and the receiver circuit further configured to pivot about a base of the host device.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit are located within a portion of a host device and are configured to deploy therefrom and return into the portion of the host device.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a loop antenna, wherein the loop antenna is coupled to a surface of a base of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a chargeable battery.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit form a peripheral device detachable from a host device comprising the energy storage device.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit for a peripheral device configured to mechanically couple to a host device comprising the energy storage device.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit circuit and the receive circuit form a peripheral device located within a portion of a host device, wherein the peripheral device is configured to deploy therefrom and return into the portion of the host device.

26. A method, comprising:

wirelessly receiving power via a wireless field;

charging an energy storage device with power received wirelessly;

receiving power from the energy storage device;

wirelessly transmitting power to an electronic device via a transmit circuit;

detecting a presence or an absence of the electronic device positioned within a wireless field of the transmit circuit while the transmit circuit is operating in a normal operating state;

transitioning a charging device comprising the transmit circuit to a charging mode from a power saving mode when the presence of the electronic device is detected by the transmit circuit;

remaining in the power savings mode if the absence of the electronic device is detected; and

charging the electronic device when the charging device transitions to the charging mode.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising mechanically coupling the transmit circuit within a cavity of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising deploying a portion comprising a loop antenna to extend from the host device.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein wirelessly transmitting power to an electronic device comprises wirelessly transmitting power to an electronic device positioned on a surface coupled to the transmit circuit.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting comprises detecting the presence or the absence of the electronic device via near-field communication.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting comprises detecting a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag connected to the electronic device.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein transitioning the charging device from the power savings mode to the charging mode comprises transitioning the charging device from at least one of a standby mode and a sleep mode to the charging mode.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising mechanically coupling the transmit circuit as a peripheral device within a cavity of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

34. An apparatus for wireless power charging, comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving power;

means for charging an energy storage device using the wirelessly received power;

means for receiving power from the energy storage device;

means for wirelessly transmitting the received power to an electronic device;

means for charging the electronic device comprising the means for wirelessly transmitting; and

means for detecting a presence or an absence of the electronic device positioned within a wireless field of the means for wirelessly transmitting while operating the means for wirelessly transmitting in a normal operating state,

wherein the means for charging is configured to;

transition from a power savings mode to a charging mode when the means for detecting detects the presence of the electronic device positioned within the wireless field,

remain in the power savings mode when the means for detecting detects the absence of the electronic device positioned within the wireless field, and

charge the electronic device when in the charging mode.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for mechanically coupling the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving within a cavity of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the cavity comprises a drive bay.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for deploying a portion to extend from a host device comprising the energy storage device, the portion comprising a loop antenna coupled to the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting power to an electronic device comprises means for wirelessly transmitting power to an electronic device positioned on a surface coupled to the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for detecting comprises means for detecting the presence or the absence of the electronic device via near-field communication.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for detecting comprises detecting a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag connected to the electronic device.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for charging being configured to transition from a power savings mode to a charging mode comprises being configured to transition from at least one of a standby mode and a sleep mode to the charging mode.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for receiving power from an external power source.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving are integrated into a host device comprising the energy storage device.

44. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for detaching the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving from a host device comprising the energy storage device.

45. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for coupling a loop antenna to an outside surface of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising means for attaching an electronic device to the outside surface of the host device.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the means for attaching comprises a receptacle coupled to the outside surface of the host device, the receptacle configured for placement of the electronic device.

48. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for coupling a loop antenna to a portion of a cover of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

49. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving are configured to be positioned within a charging pad.

50. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for mechanically coupling the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving to the a device comprising the energy storage device and means for pivoting the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving about a base of the host device.

51. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for deploying the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving out from and returning the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving into a portion of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

52. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for coupling a loop antenna to a surface of a base of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

53. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for positioning a loop antenna substantially around a circumference of a portion of the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving, the circumference determined by an outer dimension of the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving.

54. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a loop antenna characterized by a shape forming a square.

55. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a loop antenna characterized by a shape conforming to a shape determined by an outer dimension of the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving.

56. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the energy storage device comprises a chargeable battery.

57. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the energy storage device is configured to be positioned within a laptop computer.

58. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for mechanically coupling the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving as a peripheral device within a cavity of a host device comprising the energy storage device.

59. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for detaching the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving from a host device comprising the energy storage device, wherein the means for wirelessly transmitted and the means for wirelessly receiving form a peripheral device.

60. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for deploying a peripheral device comprising the means for wirelessly transmitting and the means for wirelessly receiving out from and returning the peripheral device into a portion of a host device comprising the energy storage device.