Method and system for wireless charging in a portable terminal

• US 9,461,498 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Son, In-Gu, Kang, Chang-Taek
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US13/435,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• 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 50/80 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

Abstract

A method for wirelessly charging a portable terminal using a Radio Frequency (RF) is provided. A charging system detects one or more portable terminals within a predetermined area, and preferably requests information needed for charging to the one or more portable terminals via short-range communication, receives the information in response needed for charging from each of the one or more portable terminals. A portable terminal to be wirelessly charged from among the one or more portable terminals is selected, based on the received information needed for charging, and the charging system transmits a predetermined RF for charging to the selected portable terminal.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly charging a portable terminal using a Radio Frequency (RF), the method comprising:

detecting by a charging system one or more portable terminals within a predetermined chargeable area, requesting information associated with wireless charging to at least one of the one or more portable terminals, and receiving in response by the charging system the information associated with wireless charging from each said at least one or more portable terminals;

selecting by the charging system at least one portable terminal to be wirelessly charged from among the at least one of the one or more portable terminals that responded to the previously-requested information, based on the received information, according to the determination result; and

transmitting by the charging system an RF set for charging to the selected portable terminal, wherein an output level of the set RF is controlled based on the received information,

wherein the information associated with charging includes subscription information regarding a wireless communication service the subscription information including at least one of information indicating whether the portable terminal is subscribed to a wireless charging service, authentication information related to the wireless charging service, and information about an RF channel used for wireless charging; and

wherein when the portable terminal responds that there is no subscription to the wireless charging service, or the portable terminal is subscribed to a different wireless charging service, the charging system prompts the portable terminal to display an offer to subscribe to the charging service at least to receive one battery chare from the charging system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with charging includes battery information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the battery information includes a current storage level or a remaining capacity level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with charging includes information indicating whether the portable terminal is wirelessly chargeable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with charging includes information indicating whether or not an automatic charging function has been activated for the portable terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer is provided via a text message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting by the charging system comprises selecting a portable terminal having a battery power level equal to or lower than a predetermined level from among the one or more portable terminals, based on the received information associated with charging.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting of the RF by the charging system comprises increasing the output level of the RF for charging and transmitting the RF at the increased output level to the selected portable terminal in which a battery information provided to the charging system indicates that a battery power level of the selected portable terminal is equal to or lower than a predetermined level.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the output level of the set RF is controlled to increase when the selected portable terminal has a battery power level equal to or lower than a predetermined level.

10. A system for wirelessly charging a portable terminal using a Radio Frequency (RF), the system comprising:

a charging system that detects one or more portable terminals within a predetermined chargeable area, requests information associated with wirelessly charging to the one or more portable terminals, receives the information associated with charging from at least one of the one or more portable terminals, determines whether to provide the wireless charging to the one or more portable terminals or not, based on the received information associated with wireless charging, selects a portable terminal to be wirelessly charged from among the one or more portable terminals that previously responding to the charging system based on the received information associated with wirelessly charging the one or more portable terminals, according to determination result, and transmits an RF set for charging to the selected portable terminal, wherein an output level of the set RF is controlled based on the received information; and

the portable terminal for, when entering the predetermined chargeable area, notifying the charging system of the entry into the predetermined chargeable area, transmitting to the charging system the information associated with wirelessly charging to the charging system, and charging a battery with the received RF,

wherein the selected portable terminal has a battery power level equal to or lower than a predetermined level from among the one or more portable terminals, and

wherein when the portable terminal responds that there is no subscription to a wireless charging service, or the portable terminal is subscribed to a different wireless charging service, the charging system prompts the portable terminal to display an offer subscribe to the charging service at least to receive one battery charge from the char Yin system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the portable terminal and the charging system communicate via a short range communication.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the charging system transmits the RF for charging at a different frequency than a frequency in which the charging system and the portable terminal communicate.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the information associated with charging includes battery information.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the battery information includes a current storage level or a remaining capacity level.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the information associated with charging includes information indicating whether or not the portable terminal responding is wirelessly chargeable.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the information associated with charging includes subscription information regarding a wireless communication service, the subscription information including at least one of information indicating whether the portable terminal has subscribed to a wireless charging service, authentication information related to the wireless charging service, and information about an RF channel used for wireless charging.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the information associated with charging includes information indicating whether or not an automatic charging function has been activated for the portable terminal.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the charging system increases the output level of the RF for charging and transmits the RF at the increased output level to a particular portable terminal having a battery power level equal to or lower than the predetermined level.

19. A portable terminal having a wireless charging structure, said portable terminal comprising:

a wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting wireless communication;

an audio processor;

a controller;

a wireless charger unit that receives Radio Frequency (RF) for charging the portable terminal;

a short-range communication unit for receiving and transmitting charging information with a wireless charging system; and

a display;

wherein the controller controls the short-range communication unit to transmit and receive information associated with receiving the charging RF received by the wireless charger unit; and

wherein the controller controls the display to output a text message prompting a user to subscribe to a particular charging service in a current communicative range with the portable terminal at least to receive one wireless charge of the portable terminal.

20. A portable device having a wireless charging structure, comprising:

a wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting wireless communication;

an audio processor;

a controller;

a wireless charger unit that receives Radio Frequency (RF) for charging the portable device;

a short-range communication unit for receiving and transmitting charging information with a wireless charging system; and

a display,

wherein the controller controls the short-range communication unit to transmit and receive information associated with receiving the charging RF received by the wireless charger unit, and wherein the controller controls the display to indicate there is no subscription to a particular charging service in a current communicative range, and to display a prompt to subscribe to the particular charging service at least to receive one battery charge from the wireless charging system.