Apparatus and method for determining whether a power receiver is removed from the apparatus

• US 9,806,537 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung-Woo, Byun, Kang-Ho, Park, Se-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitmore, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US14/657,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20150188322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 320107-108, 455522
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for determining, by a wireless power transmitter, whether a wireless power receiver is removed from a wireless power network managed by the wireless power transmitter. The method includes transmitting a command signal to report power information of the wireless power receiver at stated periods; determining whether a report signal corresponding to the command signal is received from the wireless power receiver; and determining that the wireless power receiver is removed from the wireless power network, if the report signal is not received after transmitting the command signal a predetermined number of times at the stated periods.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

applying a first power for a wireless power receiver;

detecting an error condition while applying the first power;

after detecting the error condition, periodically applying a second power for detecting load variation; and

detecting the load variation indicating that the wireless power receiver is removed from the wireless power transmitter by a user while applying the second power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the load variation comprises:

detecting a load of a power transmitter of the wireless power transmitter; and

detecting the load variation of the power transmitter of the wireless power transmitter.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing a first value of the load of the power transmitter before the wireless power receiver is placed on a charging area; and

detecting a second value of the load of the power transmitter when the wireless power receiver is placed on the charging area,

wherein detecting the load variation comprises detecting that the load of the power transmitter is changed from the second value to the first value.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining that the wireless power receiver is removed from the charging area of the wireless power transmitter in response to detecting that the load of the power transmitter is changed from the second value to the first value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power is used by the wireless power receiver to communicate with the wireless power transmitter.

6. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

a power transmitter; and

a controller configured to;

control to apply a first power to the power transmitter,

detect an error condition while applying the first power,

after detecting the error condition, control to periodically apply a second power for detecting load variation of the power transmitter, and

detect the load variation indicating that a wireless power receiver is removed from the wireless power transmitter by a user while applying the second power.

7. The wireless power transmitter of claim 6, wherein the controller:

controls to store a first value of the load of the power transmitter before the wireless power receiver is placed on a charging area,

detects a second value of the load of the power transmitter when the wireless power receiver is placed on the charging area, and

detects that the load of the power transmitter is changed from the second value to the first value.

8. The wireless power transmitter of claim 7, wherein the controller determines that the wireless power receiver is removed from the charging area of the wireless power transmitter in response to detecting that the load of the power transmitter is changed from after the second value to the first value.

9. The wireless power transmitter of claim 6, wherein the first power is used by the wireless power receiver to communicate with the wireless power transmitter.