Apparatuses having different modes of operation for inductive wireless power transfer and related method
First Claim
1. A first inductive wireless power enabled device coupled to a first battery, comprising:
- a transceiver including a full-bridge circuit operable as a full-bridge inverter and a full-bridge rectifier, the full-bridge circuit including a plurality of first switches coupled in a full-bridge configuration with a resonant tank circuit, wherein the transceiver is coupled to the first battery through a second switch;
a charger coupled between the transceiver and the first battery through a third switch, wherein the charger is arranged in parallel with the second switch; and
control logic configured to;
detect a presence of a second inductive wireless power enabled device coupled to a second battery;
determine which of the first and second batteries has a higher remaining charge;
while the first battery has the higher remaining charge, drive the plurality of first switches to operate the resonant tank circuit in a transmit mode, close the second switch, and open the third switch; and
while the second battery has the higher remaining charge, drive the plurality of first switches to operate the resonant tank circuit in a receive mode, open the second switch, and close the third switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inductive wireless power enabled device may comprise a transceiver including a plurality of switches coupled with a resonant tank, and control logic configured to drive the plurality of switches to operate the resonant tank in one of a transmit mode and a receive mode. Another inductive wireless power enabled device may comprises a transceiver including a plurality of switches coupled with a resonant tank. The transceiver may be configured to both transmit a wireless power signal through the resonant tank and generate power from an incoming wireless power signal through the resonant tank depending on a current operational mode. A related method for operating a wireless power enabled device according to either a transmit mode or a receive mode is also disclosed.
21 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A first inductive wireless power enabled device coupled to a first battery, comprising:
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a transceiver including a full-bridge circuit operable as a full-bridge inverter and a full-bridge rectifier, the full-bridge circuit including a plurality of first switches coupled in a full-bridge configuration with a resonant tank circuit, wherein the transceiver is coupled to the first battery through a second switch; a charger coupled between the transceiver and the first battery through a third switch, wherein the charger is arranged in parallel with the second switch; and control logic configured to; detect a presence of a second inductive wireless power enabled device coupled to a second battery; determine which of the first and second batteries has a higher remaining charge; while the first battery has the higher remaining charge, drive the plurality of first switches to operate the resonant tank circuit in a transmit mode, close the second switch, and open the third switch; and while the second battery has the higher remaining charge, drive the plurality of first switches to operate the resonant tank circuit in a receive mode, open the second switch, and close the third switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A first battery-powered inductive wireless power enabled device, comprising:
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a transceiver including a full-bridge circuit operable as a full-bridge inverter and a full-bridge rectifier, the full-bridge circuit including a plurality of first switches coupled in a full-bridge configuration with a resonant tank circuit, wherein the transceiver is configured to drive the plurality of first switches to transmit a wireless power signal through the resonant tank circuit when operating in a transmit mode and generate power from an incoming wireless power signal through the resonant tank circuit when operating in a receive mode; an energy storage device coupled to the transceiver through a second switch; and a charger coupled between the transceiver and the energy storage device through a third switch, wherein the charger is arranged in parallel with the second switch, wherein; the transceiver operates in the transmit mode, the second switch is closed, and the third switch is opened when, in a presence of a second battery-powered inductive wireless power enabled device, it is determined that the first battery-powered inductive wireless power enabled device has more remaining battery charge than the second battery-powered inductive wireless power enabled device; and the transceiver operates in the receive mode, the second switch is opened, and the third switch is closed when, in the presence of the second battery-powered inductive wireless power enabled device, it is determined that the second battery-powered inductive wireless power enabled device has more remaining battery charge than the first battery-powered inductive wireless power enabled device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a first wireless power enabled device coupled to a first energy storage device through a first switch, the method comprising:
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detecting a presence of a second wireless power enabled device coupled to a second energy storage device; determining which of the first and second energy storage devices has a higher remaining charge; while the first energy storage device has the higher remaining charge, operating the first wireless power enabled device in a transmit mode and closing the first switch, wherein during the transmit mode, a wireless power signal is transmitted through a resonant tank circuit of the first wireless power enabled device by operating a full-bridge circuit as a full-bridge inverter to transmit power; and while the second energy storage device has the higher remaining battery charge, operating the first wireless power enabled device in a receive mode, opening the first switch, and closing a second switch to electrically couple the first wireless power enabled device to the first energy storage device through a charger arranged in parallel with the first switch, wherein during the receive mode, an output power signal is generated responsive to receiving an incoming wireless power signal through the resonant tank circuit of the first wireless power enabled device by operating the full-bridge circuit as a full-bridge rectifier to receive power. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification