Wireless power for chargeable and charging devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9407327-B2
Application number	US-69591110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2010
Priority date	Feb 13, 2009
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A method may comprise detecting one or more transmit elements positioned within an associated charging region. The method may further comprise selecting at least one transmit element of the detected one or more transmit elements to receive wireless power therefrom to enable for optimal charging of a charging device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chargeable device, comprising:
at least one receive element configured to receive wireless power; and
a receive circuit configured to:
detect a plurality of wireless chargers according to one or more protocols, or one or more frequencies, or both, a first charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers,
receive an amount of power from at least the first and second chargers of the detected plurality of wireless chargers,
determine the amount of power received from the first and second chargers,
select one of the first charger or the second charger from which to receive the wireless power based on (a) the associated protocol or frequency and (b) the amount of power received, and
receive the wireless power to charge or power a load.

2. The chargeable device of claim 1 , the receive circuit further configured to detect the plurality of wireless chargers by sampling for wireless chargers operating with at least one of the one or more protocols.

3. The chargeable device of claim 2 , the receive circuit further configured to detect the plurality of wireless chargers by sampling for wireless chargers operating with a near-field resonance protocol, or an inductive coupling protocol, or both.

4. The chargeable device of claim 1 , the receive circuit further configured to detect the plurality of wireless chargers by sampling for wireless chargers resonating at the one or more frequencies.

5. The chargeable device of claim 4 , the receive circuit further configured to detect the plurality of wireless chargers by sampling for wireless chargers resonating at one or more unlicensed ISM band frequencies.

6. The chargeable device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a processor configured to determine which one of the plurality of chargers provides most efficient transfer of wireless power to the load based on a position of the first and second chargers relative to the load; and
a location device configured for determining a location thereof.

7. The chargeable device of claim 1 , the at least one receive element comprising at least one of a receive antenna and a coil.

8. The chargeable device of claim 1 , the receive circuit further configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers.

9. The chargeable device of claim 1 , the receive circuit further configured to control at least one operation of at least one charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers.

10. A method of operating a: chargeable device, comprising:
detecting a plurality of wireless chargers according to one or more protocols, or one or more specific frequencies, or both, a first charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers;
receiving an amount of power from at least the first and second chargers of the detected plurality of wireless chargers;
determining the amount of power received from the first and second chargers; and
selecting one of the first charger or the second charger from which to receive the wireless power based on (a) the associated protocol or frequency and (b) the amount of power received to enable charging of the chargeable device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein detecting the plurality of wireless chargers comprises detecting a plurality of wireless chargers according to a near-field resonance protocol, or an inductive coupling protocol, or both.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of wireless chargers comprises detecting a plurality of wireless chargers resonating at least one unlicensed ISM band frequency.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein selecting comprises:
sequentially receiving wireless power from each charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers sufficient to power or charge the chargeable device.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein selecting comprises selecting chargers from among the detected plurality of wireless chargers to receive wireless power therefrom in a time-domain multiplexing method.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising detecting a version of one or more chargers of the detected plurality of wireless chargers.

16. A chargeable device, comprising:
means for detecting a plurality of wireless chargers according to one or more protocols, or one or more frequencies, or both, a first charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second charger of the detected plurality of wireless chargers;
means for receiving an amount of power from at least the first and second chargers of the detected plurality of wireless chargers;
means for determining the amount of power received from the first and second chargers; and
means for selecting one of the first charger or the second charger from which to receive the wireless power based (a) on the associated protocol or frequency and (b) the amount of power received to enable charging of the chargeable device.

17. A charger for transmitting wireless power, comprising:
at least one transmit element configured to wirelessly transmit the wireless power; and
a transmit circuit configured to:
detect a plurality of chargeable devices positioned within an associated charging region according to one or more protocols, or one or more frequencies, or both, a first chargeable device of the detected chargeable devices associated with a protocol or frequency different than a corresponding protocol or frequency for a second chargeable device of the detected chargeable devices,
transmit an amount of power to at least the first and second chargeable devices of the detected plurality of chargeable devices,
determine the amount of power received by the first and second chargeable devices,
select one of the first chargeable device or the second chargeable device to transmit the wireless power to based on (a) the associated protocol or frequency, and (b) the amount of power received, and
transmit the wireless power to at least one of the detected chargeable devices.

18. The charger of claim 17 , the transmit circuit further configured to detect the plurality of chargeable devices by sampling for chargeable devices operating with at least one of the one or more protocols.

19. The charger of claim 18 , the transmit circuit further configured to detect the plurality of chargeable devices by sampling for chargeable devices operating with a near-field resonance protocol, or an inductive coupling protocol, or both.

20. The charger of claim 17 , the transmit circuit further configured to detect the plurality of chargeable devices by sampling for chargeable devices resonating at least one of the one or more frequencies.

21. The charger of claim 17 , the transmit circuit further configured to detect the plurality of chargeable devices by sampling for chargeable devices resonating at least one unlicensed ISM band.

22. The Charger of claim 17 , further comprising a location device configured for determining a location thereof.

23. The charger of claim 17 , the at least one transmit element comprising at least one of a transmit antenna and a coil.

24. A me

Assignees

• Kirby Miles A
• Grob Matthew S
• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Kirby Miles A
• Grob Matthew S

Classifications

• H04B5/266

  One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils · CPC title

• H02J7/025

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04B5/0031

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04B5/0037

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J50/12

  of the resonant type · CPC title