Wireless multi-charger system and controlling method thereof

• US RE46,392 E1
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Jung, Chun-Kil
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Linh M
• Application Number:
  US14/457,095
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 320106, 320108, 320132, 320111, 320114, 320115, 323363, 363 17
• 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 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/0027 Stations for charging mobile units, e.g. of electric vehicles, of mobile telephones H02J7/0021, H02J7/0026 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/025 using non-contact coupling, e.g. inductive, capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/027 with safety or indicating device
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer

Abstract

Disclosed are a wireless multi-charger system capable of saving the total charging time of a large number of wireless power transmission devices since one wireless multi-power transmission device includes a plurality of the wireless power transmission devices so that a large number of the wireless power transmission devices can be charged with electricity, and preventing the damage of the wireless power transmission devices and the wireless multi-power transmission device although foreign substances are put on charger blocks that are not charged. The wireless multi-charger system (A) according to the present invention includes an external body formed as a wireless charger case 11, wherein the wireless charger case 11 has a wireless charger table 12 formed in an upper surface thereof, wherein the wireless charger table 12 has a plurality of charger blocks 14, each of which includes a primary charging core 13, wherein the full-bridge resonant converter 22 is present in a plural form and coupled respectively to a plurality of the charger blocks 14, wherein a multi-gate driver module 23 is provided to transmit a converted power signal to each of a plurality of the full-bridge resonant converters 22 under the control of the central controller 21, and wherein a reception signal processor module 24 coupled to a plurality of the charger blocks 14 to process a signal transmitted from the wireless power transmission device 30 and supply the processed signal to the central controller 21 is provided.

Claims

1. A wireless multi-charger system comprising a wireless multi-power transmission device for transmitting a power signal to a wireless power transmission device in a wireless manner,

wherein the wireless multi-power transmission device include a wireless charger case formed as an external body, the wireless charger case having a full-bridge resonant converter and a central controller mounted thereinside to transmit a power signal to the wireless power transmission device in a wireless manner,

wherein the wireless charger case has a wireless charger table formed in an upper surface thereof,

wherein the wireless charger table has a plurality of charger blocks, each of which includes a primary charging core,

wherein the full-bridge resonant converter is present in a plural form and coupled respectively to a plurality of the charger blocks,

wherein a multi-gate driver module is provided to transmit a converted power signal to each of a plurality of the full-bridge resonant converters under the control of the central controller,

wherein a reception signal processor module coupled to a plurality of the charger blocks to process a signal transmitted from the wireless power transmission device and supply the processed signal to the central controller is provided, and

wherein the central controller comprises:

a power supply block coupled to the power supply unit to supply a power source of the wireless multi-power transmission device;

a signal output block for outputting a display signal into an LCD panel and a charging LED;

a gate output signal processor block coupled to the multi-gate driver module to transmit a power signal transmitted from the primary charging core;

a received signal processor block coupled to one side of the primary charging core for processing a signal transmitted from the reception signal processor module for processing a signal transmitted from the wireless power transmission device; and

a main controller for controlling the power supply block, the signal output block, the gate output signal processor block and the received signal processor block.

2. The wireless multi-charger system according to claim 1, wherein the central controller controls the request for data information on charging capacity to the wireless power transmission device, receives data of the information on charging capacity and data of the power signal voltage transmitted from the wireless power transmission device to determine voltage data of the transmitted power signal, performs an arithmetic operation on the frequency of the power signal to compensate for a transmitted power relative to the voltage data of the power signal of the determined wireless power transmission device, and controls the transmission of the power signal as the compensated frequency to transmit a compensated power signal to the wireless power transmission device.

3. A method for controlling a wireless multi-charger system as defined in claim 1, comprising:

transmitting a power signal via the primary charging core from wireless multi-power transmission device of the wireless multi-charger system in every cycle, the power signal including a call signal for calling a native ID value of the wireless power transmission device, and waiting for the receipt of a response signal for the power signal;

determining the presence of an object by checking a detected detection signal according to load modulation in the primary charging core of one of the charger blocks and determining whether the detected detection signal is a normal signal;

determining whether a native ID signal of the wireless power transmission device is received by analyzing the detected reception signal;

transmitting a fully charged transmission power from the primary charging core of the corresponding charger block via the multi-gate driver module when the received native ID signal is determined to be a native ID transmitted from the wireless power transmission device;

requesting information on the charging state to the wireless power transmission device and adjusting a charging level according to the charging information of the wireless power transmission device;

displaying a fully charged state in the LCD panel or the charging LED corresponding to the corresponding charger block and stopping a charging operation when the information on the fully charged state is received from the wireless power transmission device.

4. The method for controlling the wireless multi-charger system according to claim 3, wherein the object detection step comprises:

converting a plurality of the charger blocks into a foreign substance detection mode when a detection signal detected through the corresponding primary charging core and the reception signal processor module according to the load modulation generated by objects is not a normal signal, displays a foreign substance error in the LCD panel or the charging LED when the detected foreign substance is a metal or electronic equipment, and stops a charging operation on the corresponding charger block.

5. The method for controlling the wireless multi-charger system according to claim 3, wherein the charging control step comprises:

requesting data information on the charging capacity to the wireless power transmission device;

receiving data information on the charging capacity and the voltage data of the power signal transmitted from the wireless power transmission device;

determining the voltage data of the power signal transmitted from the wireless power transmission device;

performing an arithmetic operation on a frequency of the power signal to compensate for the transmitted power for the voltage data of the power signal transmitted from the wireless power transmission device;

transmitting a power signal as a compensated frequency to transmit a compensated power signal to the wireless power transmission device.

6. A method for controlling the wireless multi-charger system as defined in claim 2, comprising:

transmitting a power signal via the primary charging core from the wireless multi-power transmission device of the wireless multi-charger system in every cycle, the power signal including a call signal for calling a native ID value of the wireless power transmission device, and waiting for the receipt of a response signal for the power signal;

determining the presence of an object by checking a detected detection signal according to load modulation in the primary charging core of one of the charger blocks and determining whether the detected detection signal is a normal signal;

determining whether a native ID signal of the wireless power transmission device is received by analyzing the detected reception signal;

transmitting a fully charged transmission power from the primary charging core of the corresponding charger block via the multi-gate driver module when the received native ID signal is determined to be a native ID transmitted from the wireless power transmission device;

requesting information on the charging state to the wireless power transmission device and adjusting a charging level according to the charging information of the wireless power transmission device;

displaying a fully charged state in an LCD panel or a charging LED corresponding to the corresponding charger block and stopping a charging operation when the information on the fully charged state is received from the wireless power transmission device.

7. The wireless multi-charger system according to claim 1, wherein the LCD panel is configured to display a total charging state of the plurality of the charger blocks, and the charging LED is configured to display a charging state of each of the plurality of the charger blocks.

8. A wireless multi-charger system comprising a wireless multi-power transmission device for transmitting a power signal to a wireless power transmission device in a wireless manner,

wherein the wireless multi-power transmission device include a wireless charger case formed as an external body, the wireless charger case having a full-bridge resonant converter and a central controller mounted thereinside to transmit a power signal to the wireless power transmission device in a wireless manner,

wherein the wireless charger case has a wireless charger table formed in an upper surface thereof,

wherein the wireless charger table has a plurality of charger blocks, each of which includes a primary charging core,

wherein the full-bridge resonant converter is present in a plural form and coupled respectively to a plurality of the charger blocks,

wherein a multi-gate driver module is provided to transmit a converted power signal to each of a plurality of the full-bridge resonant converters under the control of the central controller,

wherein a reception signal processor module coupled to a plurality of the charger blocks to process a signal transmitted from the wireless power transmission device and supply the processed signal to the central controller is provided, and

wherein the wireless power transmission device comprises:

a secondary charging core for transmitting an induced electric current from the magnetic field to correspond to the primary charging core of the wireless multi-power transmission device;

a rectifier block coupled to the secondary charging core to rectify the induced electric current;

a smoothing filter block coupled to the rectifier block to filter an electric current;

a charger IC block coupled to the smoothing filter block to charge a power source in the battery cell;

a protection circuit module block provided between the charger IC block and the battery cell to detect an electric current charged in the battery cell and transmit information on a charging state of the battery cell to the power receiver controller;

a positive-voltage regulator block provided to supply a power source to the power receiver controller; and

a power receiver controller for controlling the rectifier block, the smoothing filter block, the charger IC block, the protection circuit module block and the positive-voltage regulator block.

9. The wireless multi-charger system according to claim 8, wherein the power receiver controller comprises:

a power signal processor block coupled to the smoothing filter block to process a transmission signal for the data information on the power signal received from the wireless power transmission device;

a charge signal processor block coupled to the charger IC block and the protection circuit module block to process a transmission signal for the data information on the charging capacity and charging state of the battery cell;

a signal processor block for processing information on the charging capacity and data information on the native ID that are transmitted to the wireless multi-power transmission device under the control of the device controller;

a device memory unit for storing data information on the native ID, temporally storing the data information of the charging capacity and the charging state transmitted from the protection circuit module block and the charger IC block and storing the data transmitted from the wireless multi-power transmission device; and

a device controller.

10. The wireless multi-charger system according to claim 9, wherein the main controller of the wireless multi-power transmission device controls the transmission of a native code signal for the respective charger blocks in addition to the charge power signal to the charger blocks that are on charge,

wherein the device controller analyzes the native code signal for the corresponding charger block transmitted from the wireless multi-power transmission device, and

wherein the device memory unit stores a data value of the native code signal for the corresponding charger block transmitted from the device controller.

11. The wireless multi-charger system according to claim 9, wherein the device controller controls transmission of a data value to the wireless multi-power transmission device, the data value including a voltage value of the power signal received for the received request signal from the wireless multi-power transmission device.

12. A wireless multi-power transmission device for detecting a foreign substance, the wireless multi-power transmission device comprising:

a plurality of charger blocks each of which includes a primary charging core for generating a magnetic field to perform a wireless charging operation; and

a main controller to;

initiate a standby mode at the plurality of charger blocks, wherein during the standby mode a power signal is to be transmitted via the primary charging core of each charger block of the plurality of charger blocks; and

convert a first charger block on which a secondary charging core of a wireless device is detected into a charge mode and convert a second charger block on which no secondary charging core of the wireless device is detected into a foreign substance detection mode in response to detecting a presence of the wireless device at both the first charger block and the second charger block.

13. The wireless multi-power transmission device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the main controller is to stop an operation of the second charger block during the foreign substance detection mode.

14. The wireless multi-power transmission device in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a reception signal processor module coupled to the plurality of charger blocks to detect a detection signal received through the primary charging core, wherein the main controller is to detect a foreign substance if the detection signal is not a normal signal.

15. The wireless multi-power transmission device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the reception signal processor module is to detect the detection signal according to a load modulation.

16. The wireless multi-power transmission device in accordance with claim 12, wherein other charger blocks on which a secondary charging core of other wireless device is positioned perform the wireless charging operation.

17. The wireless multi-power transmission device in accordance with claim 12, further comprising:

an LCD panel to display a foreign substance error in the second charger block.

18. The wireless multi-power transmission device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the second charger block is to be converted into a standby mode in response to detecting a removal of the device from the second charger block and an input of a re-start signal into the second charger block.

19. A method for detecting a foreign substance by a wireless multi-power transmission device, the method comprising:

generating a magnetic field to perform a wireless charging operation at a plurality of charger blocks, each of which includes a primary charging core;

initiating a standby mode at the plurality of charger blocks, wherein during the standby mode a power signal is to be transmitted via the primary charging core of each charger block of the plurality of charger blocks; and

converting a first charger block on which a secondary charging core of a wireless device is detected into a charge mode and converting a second charger block on which no secondary charging core of the wireless device is detected into a foreign substance detection mode in response to detecting a presence of the wireless device at both the first charger block and the second charger block.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

stopping an operation of the second charger block during the foreign substance detection mode.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising:

detecting a detection signal received through the primary charging core,

wherein a foreign substance is detected if the detection signal is not a normal signal.

22. The method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the detection signal is detected according to a load modulation.

23. The method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the wireless charging operation is performed at other charger blocks on which a secondary charging core of other wireless device is positioned.

24. The method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

displaying a foreign substance error in the second charger block.

25. The method in accordance with claim 20, wherein when the operation of the second charger block is stopped, the second charger block is in a standby mode until a restart signal is input into the second charger block.