Wireless power transmission and communication between devices

• US 9,166,654 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jaesung, Chu, Inchang
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLEMING-HALL, ERICA L
• Application Number:
  US13/538,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20130005252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 320/108, 307/104, 307/149
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An electronic device includes: a device main body having a battery; a power reception unit configured to receive a first wireless power signal formed by a first apparatus; a charging unit configured to charge the battery based on the received first wireless power signal; a power conversion unit configured to form a second wireless power signal for transmitting power to a second apparatus by using power of the battery; and a controller configured to determine whether to activate a power reception function or a power transmission function, wherein when the power reception function is activated, the controller controls the power reception unit to receive the first wireless power signal, and when the power transmission function is activated, the controller controls the power conversion unit to form the second wireless power.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a battery;

a power reception unit configured to receive a first wireless power signal formed by a first apparatus;

a charging unit configured to charge the battery based on the received first wireless power signal;

a sensor unit configured to sense a position of a second apparatus and monitor whether or not the second apparatus accesses a charging available area;

a power conversion unit configured to form a second wireless power signal by using power of the battery and transmit the second wireless power signal to the second apparatus based on the sensed position of the second apparatus; and

a controller configured to determine whether to activate a power reception function or a power transmission function,

wherein when the power reception function is activated, the controller controls the power reception unit to receive the first wireless power signal,

wherein when the power transmission function is activated, the controller controls the power conversion unit to form the second wireless power signal,

wherein the power conversion unit comprises;

a primary coil configured to generate a varied magnetic field so as to induce a current to a secondary coil of the second apparatus according to inductive coupling;

a transmission coil configured to form a magnetic field having a particular resonance frequency so as to generate a resonance phenomenon in the second apparatus according to electromagnetic resonance couplings; and

a driving unit configured to move the primary coil such that a distance between a center of the primary coil and a center of the secondary coil fall within a certain range, or to rotate the primary coil such that the center of the primary coil and the center of the secondary coil overlap, based on the sensed position of the second apparatus, and

wherein the power conversion unit transmits the second wireless power signal by using one or more of inductive coupling and electromagnetic coupling.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller receives a power control message from the second apparatus and determines whether to activate the power transmission function based on the received power control message.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the power control message is a transmission request message of the second wireless power signal, and the controller activates the power transmission function based on the transmission request message.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the power conversion unit receives a modulated version of the second wireless power signal from the second apparatus, and the power control message is received through the modulated version of the second wireless power signal.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to transmit and receive user data through a connection with the second apparatus,

wherein when the power transmission function with respect to the second apparatus is activated, the controller controls the communication unit to transmit and receive user data through the connection.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the controller establishes the connection with the second apparatus based on access information, and the access information is included in the power control message received by the power conversion unit so as to be received.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the access information is an address of the second apparatus, authentication information, device identification information, control information for a relay service, or control information for tethering.

8. The electronic device of claim 5, further comprising:

a display unit,

wherein the controller displays the user data of the second apparatus received through the communication unit on the display unit.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the user data is screen data of the second apparatus or information regarding an event which has occurred in the second apparatus.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller forms the second wireless power signal by using transmitted power based on the first wireless power signal.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a power reception unit configured to receive a first wireless power signal formed by a first apparatus;

a sensor unit configured to sense a position of a second apparatus and monitor whether or not the second apparatus accesses a charging available area;

a power conversion unit configured to form a second wireless power signal by using power obtained based on the first wireless power signal, transmit the second wireless power signal to the second apparatus based on the sensed position of the second apparatus, and receive a modulated version of the second wireless power signal from the second apparatus;

a communication unit configured to transmit and receive user data through a connection with the second apparatus; and

a controller configured to receive access information through the modulated version of the second wireless power signal and establish the connection with the second apparatus based on the access information,

wherein the power conversion unit comprises;

a primary coil configured to generate a varied magnetic field so as to induce a current to a secondary coil of the second apparatus according to inductive coupling;

a transmission coil configured to form a magnetic field having a particular resonance frequency so as to generate a resonance phenomenon in the second apparatus according to electromagnetic resonance couplings; and

a driving unit configured to move the primary coil such that a distance between a center of the primary coil and a center of the secondary coil fall within a certain range, or to rotate the primary coil such that the center of the primary coil and the center of the secondary coil overlap, based on the sensed position of the second apparatus,

wherein the power conversion unit transmits the second wireless power signal by using one or more of inductive coupling and electromagnetic coupling.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a sensor unit configured to sense a position of a power reception device and monitor whether or not the power reception device accesses a charging available area;

a power reception unit configured to receive a wireless power signal for transmitting power from a power transmission device and modulating the wireless power signal such that it includes a power control message;

a communication unit configured to transmit and receive user data through a connection with the power transmission device;

a controller configured to transmit a power control message for requesting a transmission of the wireless power signal to the power transmission device, transmit a control message including access information for establishing the connection to the power transmission device, establish the connection based on the access information, and transmit screen data or event information to the power transmission device through the communication unit;

a primary coil configured to generate a varied magnetic field so as to induce a current to a secondary coil of the power reception device according to inductive coupling;

a transmission coil configured to form a magnetic field having a particular resonance frequency so as to generate a resonance phenomenon in the power reception device according to electromagnetic resonance couplings; and

a driving unit configured to move the primary coil such that a distance between a center of the primary coil and a center of the secondary coil fall within a certain range, or to rotate the primary coil such that the center of the primary coil and the center of the secondary coil overlap, based on the sensed position of the power reception device,

wherein the power reception unit receives the wireless power signal by using one or more of inductive coupling and electromagnetic coupling.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

a charging unit configured to charge a battery,

wherein the controller controls the charging unit to charge the battery based on the received wireless power signal.