Signaling charging in wireless power environment

• US 9,130,407 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Toncich, Stanley Slavko, Von Novak, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/249,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20090286475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,524 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 307/41, 370/334
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• 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 50/20 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 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/502 the energy repeater being integrated together with the emitter or the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 : for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer including generating an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency of a transmitter to create a coupling-mode region within a near field of the transmitter during a synchronization portion of a time-multiplexed recurring period. During a power transmission portion of the recurring period, the electromagnetic field will continue to be generated when there is a receiver within the coupling-mode region, or the electromagnetic field will be disabled when there are no receivers within the coupling-mode region. Different segments of the power transmission portion are allocated to different receivers. The transmitter issues serial commands to the receivers by on/off keying the electromagnetic field. The receivers issue serial replies by changing the amount of power consumed from the electromagnetic field between two different states. The serial commands and serial replies are used to determine the number of receivers, their power requirements, and the allocation of segments.

Claims

1. A method of wireless power transfer, comprising:

generating an electromagnetic field, during a first portion of a recurring period, to wirelessly transfer power at a resonant frequency of a transmitter within a coverage region;

continuing generation of the electromagnetic field, during a second portion of the recurring period, when there is at least one receiver detected within the coverage region; and

discontinuing generation of the electromagnetic field, during a second portion of a subsequent recurring period, when the transmitter fails to receive a status message from all receivers wirelessly receiving power via the electromagnetic field and positioned within the coverage region.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating a command from the transmitter to a receiver during the first portion.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a response from the receiver in response to the command during a portion of the recurring period between the first portion and the second portion by consuming power from the electromagnetic field at two different levels to indicate two different digital states.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining when there are a plurality of receivers within the coverage region;

allocating segments of the second portion to at least some of the plurality of receivers;

communicating, to the plurality of receivers, information regarding a segment allocated to a respective receiver of the plurality of receivers during the first portion; and

transmitting power to at least some of the plurality of receivers during the segment which is allocated to the respective receiver of the plurality of receivers.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising periodically re-allocating the segments of the second portion of the recurring period in response to an event selected from the group comprising a new receiver entering the coverage region;

a receiver leaving the coverage region;

a receiver responding to a command, that requests a status of the receiver, with a change in amount of power requested;

or a previously identified receiver failing to respond to the command requesting the status of the receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining when a new receiver has entered the coverage region by:

issuing a command for a new device request during the first portion;

receiving a new device reply from the new receiver during a portion of the recurring period between the first portion and the second portion; and

issuing a command for a power segment allocation and a device identification to the new receiver if the new device reply is received correctly.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a new device reply is received by more than one new receiver, and further comprising:

detecting that the new device reply was not received correctly;

issuing subsequent new device requests during subsequent recurring periods; and

for each new receiver, waiting a random number of the subsequent new device requests before receiving an additional new device reply.

8. A wireless power transfer system, comprising:

means for generating an electromagnetic field, during a first portion of a recurring period, to wirelessly transfer power at a resonant frequency of a transmitter within a coverage region;

means for continuing generation of the electromagnetic field, during a second portion of the recurring period, when there is at least one receiver detected within the coverage region; and

means for discontinuing generation of the electromagnetic field, during a second portion of a subsequent recurring period, when the transmitter fails to receive a status message from all receivers wirelessly receiving power via the electromagnetic field and positioned within the coverage region.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for communicating a command from the transmitter to a receiver during the first portion.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for receiving a response from the receiver in response to the command, during a portion of the recurring period between the first portion and the second portion, the response represented by consumption of power from the electromagnetic field at two different levels to indicate two different digital states.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for determining when there are a plurality of receivers within the coverage region;

means for allocating segments of the second portion to at least some of the plurality of receivers;

means for communicating, to the plurality of receivers, information regarding a segment allocated to a respective receiver of the plurality of receivers during the first portion; and

means for transmitting power to at least some of the plurality of receivers during the segment which is allocated to the respective receiver of the plurality of receivers.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for periodically re-allocating the segments of the second portion of the recurring period in response to an event selected from the group comprising a new receiver entering the coverage region;

a receiver leaving the coverage region;

a receiver responding to a command, that requests a status of the receiver, with a change in amount of power requested;

or a previously identified receiver failing to respond to the command requesting the status of the receiver.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for determining when a new receiver has entered the coverage region by:

issuing a command for a new device request during the first portion;

receiving a new device reply from the new receiver during a portion of the recurring period between the first portion and the second portion; and

issuing a command for a power segment allocation and a device identification to the new receiver if the new device reply is received correctly.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a new device reply is received by more than one new receiver, and further comprising:

means for detecting that the new device reply was not received correctly;

means for issuing subsequent new device requests during subsequent recurring periods; and

for each new receiver, means for waiting a random number of the subsequent new device requests before receiving an additional new device reply.

15. An apparatus for wireless power transfer, comprising:

a transmit antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic field, during a first portion of a recurring period, to wirelessly transfer power at a resonant frequency of a transmitter within a coverage region, the transmit antenna further configured to continue generating the electromagnetic field, during a second portion of the recurring period, when there is at least one receiver detected within the coverage region, the transmit antenna further configured to discontinue generating the electromagnetic field, during a second portion of a subsequent recurring period, when the transmitter fails to receive a status message from all receivers wirelessly receiving power via the electromagnetic field and positioned within the coverage region; and

an amplifier configured to apply a signal to the transmit antenna.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmit antenna is further configured to communicate a command to a receiver during the first portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transmit antenna is further configured to receive a response from the receiver in response to the command during a portion of the recurring period between the first portion and the second portion by consuming power from the electromagnetic field at two different levels to indicate two different digital states.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a processor configured to determine when there are a plurality of receivers within the coverage region and allocate segments of the second portion to at least some of the plurality of receivers, wherein the transmit antenna is further configured to communicate, to the plurality of receivers, information regarding a segment allocated to a respective receiver of the plurality of receivers during the first portion and transmit power to at least some of the plurality of receivers during the segment which is allocated to the respective receiver of the plurality of receivers.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to periodically re-allocate the segments of the second portion of the recurring period in response to an event selected from the group comprising a new receiver entering the coverage region;

a receiver leaving the coverage region;

a receiver responding to a command, that requests a status of the receiver, with a change in amount of power requested;

or a previously identified receiver failing to respond to the command requesting the status of the receiver.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a processor configured to issue a command for a new device request during the first portion, receive a new device reply from the new receiver during a portion of the recurring period between the first portion and the second portion, and issue a command for a power segment allocation and a device identification to the new receiver if the new device reply is received correctly.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a new device reply is received by more than one new receiver, and wherein the processor detects that the new device reply was not received correctly, issues subsequent new device requests during subsequent recurring periods, and, for each new receiver, waits a random number of the subsequent new device requests before receiving an additional new device reply.

22. A method of transferring power wirelessly via a transmitter, comprising:

generating a magnetic field, during a first portion of a recurring period, to wirelessly transfer power within a coverage region;

continuing generation of the magnetic field, during a second portion of the recurring period, when there is at least one receiver detected and previously registered with the transmitter within the coverage region; and

discontinuing generation of the magnetic field, during a second portion of a subsequent recurring period, when the transmitter fails to receive a status message from all receivers wirelessly receiving power via the magnetic field and positioned within the coverage region.