Wireless charging systems and methods

• US 9,362,776 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Low, Zhen Ning, Jenwatanavet, Jatupum, Nguyen, Ngo Van
• Primary Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US13/802,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20140143933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/137, 320/107, 320/110, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 307/104, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/00 Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces circuits G04G19/00; mounting, assembling of components of electromechanical watches G04C3/008, of electronic watches G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 50/90 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: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition

Abstract

An embodiment of a system for wirelessly charging a wrist-worn device may include a radio frequency (RF) charging energy generating element, and an antenna configured to radiate the RF charging energy, the antenna comprising a first coil and a second coil, the first coil and the second coil each comprising a plurality of windings, the windings of the first coil being wound in a direction opposite the direction of the windings of the second coil. An embodiment of a wrist-worn charge-receiving device may include an antenna coil adapted to receive radio frequency (RF) charging energy, the antenna coil comprising non-uniform windings; and a rechargeable power source coupled to the antenna coil, the antenna coil adapted to provide the RF charging energy to the rechargeable power source.

Claims

1. A wrist-worn charge-receiving device, comprising:

an antenna coil adapted to receive radio frequency (RF) charging energy, the antenna coil comprising non-uniform windings, wherein the non-uniform windings comprise a first area and a second, different area, wherein a spacing of the windings in the first area is narrower than a spacing of the windings in the second area, wherein the first area is located in a plane that is different than a plane in which the second area is located, wherein the non-uniform windings are spaced so as to create tilts in a plurality of charging planes with respect to the planes formed by the major axes of a Cartesian coordinate system, and wherein the planes formed by the major axes of the Cartesian coordinate system comprise an x-y plane, an x-z plane, and a y-z plane; and

a rechargeable power source coupled to the antenna coil, the antenna coil adapted to provide the RF charging energy to the rechargeable power source.

2. The wrist-worn charge-receiving device of claim 1, wherein the antenna coil comprises a “

C”

shaped position.

3. The wrist-worn charge-receiving device of claim 2, wherein the antenna coil comprises a loop-shaped position and is configured to be moved between the loop-shaped position and the C-shaped position.

4. The wrist-worn charge-receiving device of claim 1, wherein the wrist-worn charge-receiving device further comprises a wristband, the wristband including the antenna coil and the rechargeable power source.

5. The wrist-worn charge-receiving device of claim 4, wherein the wristband is configured to be moved between a loop-shaped position and a C-shaped position.

6. A system for wirelessly charging a wrist-worn device, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) charging energy generating element;

a transmit antenna configured to radiate the RF charging energy, the transmit antenna comprising a first coil and a second coil, the first coil and the second coil each comprising a plurality of windings, the windings of the first coil being wound in a direction opposite the direction of the windings of the second coil, and wherein the second coil is located within a periphery of the first coil and the first and second coils are configured to produce a magnetic field that is focused in an area between the first coil and the second coil; and

a charge receiving device located between the first coil and the second coil, the charge receiving device comprising a receive antenna coil and a rechargeable power source coupled to the receive antenna coil, the receive antenna coil comprising non-uniform windings adapted to receive the RF charging energy and provide the RF charging energy to the rechargeable power source, wherein the non-uniform windings comprise a first area and a second, different area, wherein a spacing of the windings in the first area is narrower than a spacing of the windings in the second area, wherein the first area is located in a plane that is different than a plane in which the second area is located, wherein the non-uniform windings are spaced so as to create tilts in a plurality of charging planes with respect to the planes formed by the major axes of a Cartesian coordinate system, and wherein the planes formed by the major axes of the Cartesian coordinate system comprise an x-y plane, an x-z plane, and a y-z plane.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the receive antenna coil comprises a “

C”

shaped position.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the receive antenna coil comprises a loop-shaped position and is configured to be moved between the loop-shaped position and the C-shaped position.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the charge-receiving device further comprises a wristband, the wristband including the receive antenna coil and the rechargeable power source.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the wristband is configured to be moved between a loop-shaped position and a C-shaped position.

11. A wireless charging system, comprising:

a wireless rechargeable device configured to rest on at least two of its surfaces, the wireless rechargeable device comprising a first inductive receiver coil positioned on or near a first of the at least two surfaces, and a second inductive receiver coil positioned on or near a second of the at least two surfaces; and

a wireless charger comprising one or more inductive transmit coils configured to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless rechargeable device, wherein to wirelessly transmit power, the wireless charger is configured to generate an alternating magnetic field, in the one or more inductive transmit coils, that induces an alternating current in at least one of the first inductive receiver coil or the second inductive receiver coil when the one or more inductive transmit coils are aligned with at least one of the first inductive receiver coil or the second inductive receiver coil.

12. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein the one or more inductive transmit coils comprises two inductive transmit coils.

13. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein the wireless rechargeable device is configured to rest on only two of its surfaces.

14. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein:

the wireless rechargeable device is configured to rest on more than two of its surfaces,

each of the wireless rechargeable device'"'"'s surfaces includes its own inductive receiver coil, and

the wireless charger is configured to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless rechargeable device when any of the wireless rechargeable device'"'"'s inductive receiver coils aligns with the one or more inductive transmit coil.

15. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein the wireless rechargeable device comprises more than one inductive receiver coil on any of its surfaces.

16. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein the one or more inductive transmit coils comprise two or more inductive transmit coils.

17. The wireless charging system of claim 16, wherein the two or more inductive transmit coils comprise four inductive transmit coils.

18. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein the two or more inductive receiver coils of the wireless rechargeable device are connected in series.

19. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein the wireless rechargeable device further comprises a rectifier circuit electrically coupled to one or more of the inductive receiver coils.

20. The wireless charging system of claim 19, wherein the rectifier circuit is a two diode voltage double rectifier.

21. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein the inductive transmit coils of the wireless charger are connected in series.

22. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein each of the inductive transmit coils of the wireless charger are connected to a respective power amplifier.

23. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein the wireless charger comprises packaging in which the wireless rechargeable device is sold.

24. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein a charging surface of the wireless charger includes a graphic guide to assist a user in aligning the wireless rechargeable device on the wireless charger.