System integration of wireless power transmission subsystem

• US 9,698,628 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cain, Gamil A., Walsh, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbaszadeh, Jaweed A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks, Austin
• Application Number:
  US13/325,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 713300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• 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

Abstract

In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, systems, methods, and devices are disclosed that include a power source integrated with a host computing device, and configured to provide power to the host computing device, and a wireless power transmission module coupled to the host computing device. The wireless power transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit power derived from the power source independent of whether the host computing device is in a powered-off state or not. The host computing device may be configured to stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that at least one of one or more predetermined transmission policies has been violated or that an unrecoverable error has occurred at the host computing device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a power source integrated with a host computing device, and configured to provide power to the host computing device;

a wireless power transmission module, coupled to the host computing device, configured to wirelessly transmit power derived from the power source, wherein the wireless power transmission module is to derive power from the power source during a plurality of operational states of the host computing device including a powered-off state; and

a controller to control power transmission by the wireless power transmission module including terminate active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a time duration during which the wireless power transmission module is kept active exceeds a time duration threshold, and terminate active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a remaining power level of the power source is below a power level threshold, wherein, to terminate active power transmission, the controller is to determine whether or not a control signal is detected on a Universal Serial Bus connection between the wireless power transmission module and the host computing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the host computing device is a personal computer, or a mobile computing device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source is coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source or a direct current (DC) power source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the host computing device is configured to stop the wireless power transmission from the wireless power transmission module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless power transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit power based upon one or more predetermined transmission policies.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more predetermined transmission policies are provided through a user interface associated with the host computing device, and stored in a memory associated with the host computing device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more predetermined transmission policies include a first threshold for a remaining energy level at the power source to maintain the wireless power transmission, a second threshold related to a time duration for keeping the wireless power transmission module activated, an activation time instant of the wireless power transmission module, and an amount of power to be transmitted by the wireless power transmission module.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the host computing device is configured to stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that at least one of the one or more predetermined transmission policies has been violated.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the host computing device is configured to stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that an unrecoverable error occurred at the host computing device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmission module is further configured to monitor an energy level of the power source.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmission module is further configured to periodically poll the host computing device to determine a current energy level of the power source, whether the power source is coupled to an AC power source, or both.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a total amount of power provided by the power source is configured in accordance with a maximum amount of power drawn by the wireless power transmission module.

13. A device, comprising:

a processor;

a power source configured to provide power to one or more components of the device; and

a wireless power transmission module configured to wirelessly transmit power derived from the power source, wherein the wireless power transmission module is to derive power from the power source during a plurality of operational states of the device including a powered-off state,

wherein the processor is to control power transmission by the wireless power transmission module including terminate active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a time duration during which the wireless power transmission module is kept active exceeds a time duration threshold, and terminate active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a remaining power level of the power source is below a power level threshold, wherein, to terminate active power transmission, the processor is to determine whether or not a control signal is detected on a Universal Serial Bus connection of the device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the power source is coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source or a direct current (DC) power source.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is a personal computer or a mobile computing device.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to stop the wireless power transmission from the wireless power transmission module.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the wireless power transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit power based upon one or more predetermined transmission policies.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more predetermined transmission policies are provided through a user interface associated with the device, and stored in a memory associated with the device.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more predetermined transmission policies include a first threshold for a remaining energy level at the power source to maintain the wireless power transmission, a second threshold related to a time duration for keeping the wireless power transmission module activated, an activation time instant of the wireless power transmission module, and an amount of power to be transmitted by the wireless power transmission module.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to:

monitor one or more operational characteristics of the power source and the wireless power transmission module related to the one or more predetermined transmission policies, and

stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that the one or more monitored operational characteristics have violated at least one of the one or more predetermined transmission policies.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that an unrecoverable error occurred at the device.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein, to stop the wireless transmission, the processor is configured to change a state of a Universal Serial Bus interface connection between the wireless power transmission module and the processor.

23. The device of claim 13, wherein the wireless power transmission module is further configured to monitor an energy level of the power source.

24. The device of claim 13, wherein the wireless power transmission module is further configured to periodically poll the processor to determine a current energy level of the power source, whether the power source is coupled to an AC power source, or both.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

an antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic field to transmit power wirelessly;

a power reception module adapted to be coupled with a power source of a computing device, and receive power therefrom during a plurality of operational states of the computing device including a powered-off state, wherein active power transmission from the computing device is controlled such that the active power transmission is terminated when a time duration during which the antenna is kept active for wireless power transmission exceeds a predetermined time duration threshold, and the active power transmission is terminated when a remaining power level of the power source is below a power level threshold;

wherein, a controller configured to terminate active power transmission based on a determination whether or not a control signal is detected on a Universal Serial Bus connection between the apparatus and the computing device; and

a power processing module configured to process the received power, and energize the antenna in accordance with the processed power.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the power processing module is further configured to adjust the power provided to the antenna in accordance with an adjustment signal received from the computing device.

26. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a wireless power transmission module operatively associated to a computing device, power from a power source of the computing device during a plurality of operational states of the computing device including a powered-off state;

transmitting, from the wireless power transmission module, power wirelessly; and

adjusting, at the wireless power transmission module, said transmitting power operation, said adjusting including terminating active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a time duration during which the wireless power transmission module is kept active exceeds a predetermined time duration threshold and terminating active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a remaining power level of the power source is below a power level threshold, wherein, terminating active power transmission includes determining whether or not a control signal is detected on a Universal Serial Bus connection between the wireless power transmission module and the computing device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising sending a polling signal from the wireless power transmission module to the computing device to determine a current energy level of the power source, whether the power source is coupled to an AC power source, or both.

28. The method of claim 27, said adjusting further comprising adjusting, at the wireless power transmission module, said transmitting power wirelessly operation, if the polling signal indicates that the current energy level of the power source is below a predetermined threshold and the power source is not coupled to the AC power source.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said adjusting operation includes stopping said transmitting power wirelessly operation responsive to a determination that the time period has exceeded the predetermined time threshold.