Systems and methods for controlling output power of a wireless power transmitter

• US 9,461,481 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tseng, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US14/829,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20150357832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Systems and methods for feedback control of output power in a wireless power transmitter are disclosed. According to one aspect, one of a voltage level at an input of a wireless power transmit coil and a level of current passing through the wireless power transmit coil are sensed. The wireless power transmitter includes a controller configured to adjust an electrical characteristic of the wireless power transmitter to maintain at least one of the level of current and the voltage level at a constant level.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

a wireless power transmit circuit configured to transmit power to a wireless power receiver via a magnetic field, the wireless power transmit circuit having a transmit circuit voltage at an input of the wireless power transmit circuit;

a sensor configured to sense a level of the transmit circuit voltage and generate a sensing signal; and

a controller configured to receive a receiver feedback signal from the wireless power receiver and further configured to adjust an electrical characteristic of the wireless power transmit circuit based on the sensing signal and based at least in part on the receiver feedback signal to maintain the transmit circuit voltage at a substantially constant voltage level.

2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a driver configured to generate a driving signal, wherein the wireless power transmit circuit is configured to receive the driving signal and generate the magnetic field based on the driving signal.

3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a voltage level of the driving signal.

4. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2, wherein the driver is configured to receive a drive voltage and generate the driving signal based on the received drive voltage, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust a voltage level of the drive voltage.

5. The wireless power transmitter of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to decrease the voltage level of the drive voltage when the sensing signal indicates that the transmit circuit voltage is greater than a threshold value.

6. The wireless power transmitter of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to increase the voltage level of the drive voltage when the sensing signal indicates that the transmit circuit voltage is less than a threshold value.

7. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a frequency of the driving signal.

8. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to increase a voltage level of the driving signal when the sensing signal indicates that the transmit circuit voltage is less than a threshold value.

9. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to decrease a voltage level of the driving signal when the sensing signal indicates that the transmit circuit voltage is greater than a threshold value.

10. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a coil impedance adjustment circuit, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust an impedance of the coil impedance adjustment circuit to maintain the transmit circuit voltage at the substantially constant voltage level.

11. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to perform a first adjustment based at least in part on the receiver feedback signal and to perform a second adjustment based at least in part on the sensing signal.

12. A method for transferring power via a wireless field comprising:

transmitting power from a wireless power transmitter to a wireless power receiver via a magnetic field, the wireless power transmitter including a wireless power transmit circuit having a transmit circuit voltage at an input of the transmit circuit;

receiving a receiver feedback signal from the wireless power receiver;

sensing a level of the wireless power transmit circuit voltage; and

adjusting an electrical characteristic of the wireless power transmit circuit based on the sensed level of transmit circuit voltage and based at least in part on the receiver feedback signal to maintain the transmit circuit voltage at a substantially constant voltage level.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a driving signal, wherein the wireless power transmit circuit is configured to receive the driving signal and generate the magnetic field based on the driving signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the electrical characteristic comprises adjusting a voltage level of the driving signal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the electrical characteristic comprises adjusting a frequency of the driving signal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the electrical characteristic comprises increasing a voltage level of the driving signal when the sensing signal indicates that the voltage through the wireless power transmit circuit is less than a threshold value.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the electrical characteristic comprises decreasing a voltage level of the driving signal when the sensing signal indicates that the voltage through the wireless power transmit circuit is greater than a threshold value.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the driving signal is generated based on a drive voltage, and wherein adjusting the electrical characteristic comprises adjusting a voltage level of the drive voltage.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the electrical characteristic comprises increasing the voltage level of the drive voltage when the sensing signal indicates that the voltage through the wireless power transmit circuit is less than a threshold value.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the electrical characteristic comprises decreasing the voltage level of the drive voltage when the sensing signal indicates that the voltage through the wireless power transmit circuit is greater than a threshold value.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein adjusting the electrical characteristic comprises adjusting an impedance of the wireless power transmit circuit to maintain the transmit circuit voltage at the substantially constant voltage level.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

performing a first adjustment based at least in part on the receiver feedback signal; and

performing a second adjustment based at least in part on the sensing signal.

23. An apparatus for transferring power via a wireless field comprising:

means for transmitting power from a wireless power transmitter to a wireless power receiver via a magnetic field;

means for receiving a receiver feedback signal from the wireless power receiver;

means for sensing a voltage level at an input of the means for transmitting power; and

means for adjusting an electrical characteristic of the transmitter based on the sensed voltage level and based at least in part on the receiver feedback signal to maintain the voltage at the input of the means for transmitting power at a substantially constant voltage level.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting power comprises a transmit circuit current, the means for sensing a voltage level comprises a voltage sensor, and the means for adjusting the electrical characteristic of the transmitter comprises a controller.