Portable device capable of sensing an amount of wirelessly transferred power and optimizing coil selection

• US 9,479,012 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nahidipour, Aram
• Primary Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/537,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20140001874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 304/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 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 mobile device is disclosed that is not only capable of wirelessly receiving power from a source device, but also of wirelessly transmitting power to a destination device. The device includes one or more power modules and corresponding coils for transmitting/receiving signals from which power can be loaded/extracted. In addition, the device can receiving initiation information identifying power transfer standards supported by each of the source and destination devices, and can control its one or more power modules to operate in accordance with the standards identified in the initiation information.

Claims

1. A mobile device capable of transferring power to a destination device, the mobile device comprising:

a power storage module that stores power;

an initiation module configured to receive initiation information, the initiation information including at least one parameter associated with the destination device;

a power transmitter module configured to wirelessly transmit power to the destination device, the power transmitter module including;

a coil module configured to transmit a power transfer signal to the destination device; and

a load module configured to load the coil module with the power transfer signal;

a sensor module configured to sense an amount of power transmitted to the destination device based at least on an amount of power change that has occurred within the power storage module during the power transmission; and

a controller module configured to control the power transmitter module based on the at least one parameter and the amount of power transmitted to the destination device that is sensed by the sensor module.

2. The mobile device of claim 1,

wherein the sensor module is further configured to detect the amount of power transmitted to the destination device as the amount of power removed from the power storage module.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is further configured to detect the amount of power transmitted to the destination device as the amount of power loaded onto the coil module by the load module.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter includes a desired amount of power to be transferred, and

wherein the controller module receives the amount of power transmitted to the destination device from the sensor module and controls the power transmitter module to transmit power to the destination device until the amount of power transmitted to the destination device is equal to or greater than the desired amount of power to be transmitted.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a billing module configured to determine a cost of the power transmitted to the destination device.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the billing module is configured to receive, from the sensor module, the amount of power transmitted to the destination device, and

wherein the billing module is configured to calculate the cost based on the amount of power transmitted to the destination device and a cost of power.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the billing module is configured to receive the cost of power from a wireless network.

8. A power transfer device, comprising:

a power storage module that stores electrical power;

a power transmitter module configured to wirelessly transmit power from the power storage module to a destination device;

a sensor module configured to sense an amount of power transmitted to the destination device based at least on a change in an amount of electrical power stored in the power storage module that has occurred during the power transmission; and

a controller module configured to control the power transmitter module based on the sensed amount of power transmitted to the destination device.

9. The power transfer device of claim 8, wherein the controller module is configured to receive a parameter indicating a desired amount of power to be transferred to the destination device, and

wherein the controller module controls the power transmitter module to stop transmitting power to the destination device based on the amount of power transmitted to the destination device sensed by the sensor module and the parameter.

10. The power transfer device of claim 9, further comprising a billing module configured to determine a cost of the power transmitted to the destination device.

11. The power transfer device of claim 10, further comprising a communication module configured to receive billing information from the destination device.

12. The power transfer device of claim 11, wherein the billing information includes a payment amount and information sufficient to facilitate a transfer of funds from a user of the destination device to a user of the power transfer device.

13. The power transfer device of claim 12, wherein the controller module is configured to control the power transmitter module to transmit power to the destination device only after the billing information has been received and authenticated, and

wherein the controller module is configured to control the power transmitter to stop transmitting power to the destination device when the cost of the power transmitted to the destination device is equal to the payment amount.

14. The power transfer device of claim 13, wherein after the controller module has controlled the power transmitter module to stop transmitting power to the destination device, the billing module initiates a transfer of funds from the user of the destination device to the user of the power transfer device using the billing information.

15. A mobile device capable of wirelessly transferring power to a destination device, the mobile device comprising:

a wireless communication receiver configured to receive initiation information from the destination device, the initiation information including a plurality of configuration parameters;

a power storage module that stores electrical power;

a power transmitter configured to transmit power to the destination device from the power storage module;

a sensor configured to detect an amount of power transmitted to the destination device based on an amount of change in the electrical power stored in the power storage module; and

a controller configured to control the power transmitter based on the plurality of configuration parameters and the detected amount of power transmitted,

wherein the plurality of configuration parameters includes an amount of power to be transmitted.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of configuration parameters includes a direction of power transfer, an amount of power requested, and a power transfer standard.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the control of the power transmitter includes stopping of power transmission.