Detecting objects placed on wireless charger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11201492-B2
Application number	US-201514757918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 24, 2015
Priority date	Dec 24, 2015
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

A method of wirelessly charging batteries of devices includes detecting at least two devices being simultaneously present on a charging mat. It is determined, for each of the at least two devices, whether the device is compatible with a wireless charging standard. It is determined, for each of the two devices, whether the device is enabled for a near field communication. Charging of the devices is prevented if at least one of the devices is enabled for a near field communication but not compatible with the wireless charging standard.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of wirelessly charging batteries of devices, comprising:
detecting a wireless power receiving device being present on a charging apparatus;
determining that the wireless power receiving device is communicating with the charging apparatus via a first communication protocol;
determining that a Near Field Communication (NFC) device is in communication range of the charging apparatus, wherein the NFC device is configured to communicate via a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol;
determining whether the NFC device is built into the wireless power receiving device based on information received from the wireless power receiving device via the first communication protocol that identifies whether the NFC device is a component of the wireless power receiving device;
if determined that the NFC device is not built into the wireless power receiving device, mute a wireless power transfer from the charging apparatus; and
if determined that the NFC device is built into the wireless power receiving device, enable a wireless power transfer from the charging apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the wireless power receiving device comprises using a capacitive sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the wireless power receiving device comprises using a capacitive sensor to sense a change in capacitance associated with a grounded body placing the wireless power receiving device onto the charging apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the wireless power receiving device comprises measuring a change in charging impedance due to the wireless power receiving device being introduced onto the charging apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that an NFC device is in communication range of the charging apparatus comprises using an NFC reader to determine whether a NFC standard compliant device is placed on the charging apparatus.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the NFC device is built into the wireless power receiving device comprises reading a bit in an A4WP standard compliant response that indicates existence of NFC in the device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the A4WP standard compliant response is compliant with a Bluetooth low energy standard.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power receiving device is a telephone, an near field communication tag, a tablet computer, a wearable device, or a laptop computer.

9. A system for wirelessly charging batteries of devices, comprising:
a transmission coil to wirelessly transmit electrical current to a wireless power receiving device present on a charging apparatus;
a capacitive sensor to detect the wireless power receiving device being moved toward the charging apparatus;
a wireless communication device to receive signals from the wireless power receiving device via a first communication protocol, the signals indicating whether the wireless power receiving device is compatible with a wireless charging standard;
a Near Field Communication (NFC) reader to communicate with an NFC device in communication range of the charging apparatus wherein the NFC reader is configured to communicate via a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol; and
an electronic processor communicatively coupled to each of the transmission coil, the capacitive sensor, the wireless communication device, and the NFC reader, the electronic processor to:
determine that an NFC device is in communication range of the NFC reader;
determine whether the NFC device is built into the wireless power receiving device based on the data received from the wireless power receiving device via the first communication protocol that identifies whether the NFC device is a component of the wireless power receiving device;
if determined that the NFC device is not built into the wireless power receiving device, mute a wireless power transfer from the transmission coil; and
if determined that the NFC device is built into the wireless power receiving device, enable a wireless power transfer from the charging apparatus.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the capacitive sensor detects a change in capacitance associated with a grounded body placing the wireless power receiving device onto the charging apparatus.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein a sensing range of the capacitive sensor is greater than a reading range of a near field communication tag.

12. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a current sensor detecting a change in charging impedance due to the wireless power receiving device being introduced onto the charging apparatus.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the wireless communication device receives an A4WP standard compliant response from an A4WP compliant receiver.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the wireless communication device reads a bit in the A4WP standard compliant response that indicates existence of a near field communication component in the wireless power receiving device.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the A4WP standard compliant response is compliant with a Bluetooth low energy standard.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein each of the wireless power receiving device is a telephone, a near field communication tag, a tablet computer, or a laptop computer.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that control the processor to:
detect a wireless power receiving device being present on a charging apparatus;
determine that the wireless power receiving device is communicating with the wireless power receiving device via a first communication protocol;
determine that a Near Field Communication (NFC) device is in communication range of the charging apparatus, wherein the NFC device is configured to communicate via a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol;
determine whether the NFC device is built into the wireless power receiving device based on information received from the wireless power receiving device via the first communication protocol that identifies whether the NFC device is a component of the wireless power receiving device;
if determined that the NFC device is not built into the wireless power receiving device, mute a wireless power transfer from the charging apparatus; and
if determined that the NFC device is built into the wireless power receiving device, enable a wireless power transfer from the charging apparatus.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein to detect the wireless power receiving device comprises to use a capacitive sensor to sense a change in capacitance associated with a grounded body placing the wireless power receiving device onto the charging apparatus.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein a sensing range of the capacitive sensor is greater than a reading range of a near field communication tag.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein to detect the wireless power receiving device comprises to measure a change in charging impedance due to the wireless power receiving device being introduced onto the charging apparatus.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein to determine that the NFC device is in communication range of the charging apparatus comprises to use a NFC reader to ascertain that a NFC standard compliant device has been placed on the chargin

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Konanur Anand S
• Shao Lei
• Gaskill Steven G
• Lin Xintian E
• Yang Songnan
• Ku Jason
• Gao Jie

Classifications

• H02J7/47

  Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source · CPC title

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title

• H02J7/485

  with provisions for charging different types of batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/80

  including monitoring or indicating arrangements · CPC title

• H02J7/44 Primary

  between battery management systems and power sources · CPC title