Wireless charging optimization utilizing an NFC module that detects induced current and provides an indication of induced current

• US 9,496,744 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rea, Adam D, Porat, Shahar, Matos, Gary, Yang, Songnan
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitmore, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US13/721,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 320107-108, 320107-105
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/003 Printed circuit coils
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

Described herein are techniques related to near field coupling and wireless charging or wireless power transfer (WPT). More particularly, an induced current at a receiving coil antenna is measured and utilized as a basis for re-alignment with a transmitting coil antenna is described.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a coil antenna of continuous loop; and

a near field communications (NFC) module coupled to the coil antenna, the NFC module comprising;

an amplitude detector that is configured to measure an induced current in the coil antenna at receive mode;

an indicator that is configured to indicate receive power,

wherein the NFC module is configured to transmit an amount of the measured induced current to another portable device, wherein the amount is utilized by an algorithm as a basis for stopping or continuing transmission of charging power by the another portable device.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, the receiver threshold is configured to include a minimum value of the measured induced current to determine if realigning is required.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the amplitude detector receives and measures a direct current (DC).

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is selected from one of an Ultrabook, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a netbook, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a multimedia playback device, a digital music player, a digital video player, a navigational device, and a digital camera.

5. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a rectifier to convert alternating induced current into a direct current (DC).

6. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) that receives and transforms an output of the amplitude detector into a digital signal, wherein the digital signal is utilized by the indicator or is further processed by an algorithm that is configured in the device.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a coil antenna of continuous loop; and

a near field communications (NFC) module coupled to the coil antenna, the NFC module comprising;

a rectifier that is configured to convert an alternating induced current into a direct current (DC);

an amplitude detector that is configured to measure the DC;

an analog to digital converter (ADC) that is configured to transform the measured DC into a digital signal; and

a receiver power indicator that is configured to display an amount of the digital signal;

wherein the NFC module is configured to transmit the digital signal to another portable device, wherein the digital signal is utilized by an algorithm as a basis for stopping or continuing transmission of charging power by the another portable device.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the coil antenna includes multiple loops to form a rectangular or elliptical coil antenna.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the coil antenna is installed at a base of a device.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the NFC module is configured to inject a transmission current to the coil antenna at transmit mode.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the amount of digital signal is utilized as a basis for realigning a position of the coil antenna if the amount is lower than a receiver threshold, the receiver threshold is configured to include a minimum value of the alternating induced current to determine if realigning is required.

12. A device comprising:

the apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the device is selected from one of an Ultrabook, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a netbook, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a multimedia playback device, a digital music player, a digital video player, a navigational device, and a digital camera.

13. A method of optimizing wireless charging in a device, the method comprising:

establishing a near field coupling through a coil antenna of continuous loop;

receiving magnetic fields by the coil antenna during receive mode;

measuring an induced current that is generated by the magnetic fields;

displaying the measured induced current, the measured induced current is utilized as a basis for re-aligning a position of the coil antenna if the measured induced current is lower than a receiver threshold, the receiver threshold is configured to include a minimum value of the measured induced current to determine if the re-aligning is required;

receiving, at transmit mode, an amount of the measured induced current from another device, wherein the amount is utilized by an algorithm as a basis for stopping or continuing transmission of charging power to the another portable device.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein establishing near field coupling includes the coil antenna that is installed at a base of the portable device.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein establishing near field coupling includes the coil antenna that includes multiple loops to form a rectangular or elliptical coil antenna.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising injecting a transmission current to the coil antenna at transmit mode.

17. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising converting an alternating measured induced current into measured direct current (DC).