User indication of compatible wireless charging area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9559547-B2
Application number	US-201414301244-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2014
Priority date	Jun 10, 2014
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method, which may include detecting a presence of an object at least proximate to a first wireless power transmitter; determining whether the object is compatible with a first wireless power protocol of the first wireless power transmitter; and providing an indication representative of a location of a second wireless power transmitter, when the determining indicates the object is incompatible with the first wireless power protocol of the first wireless power transmitter. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method comprising:
detecting a presence of an object at least proximate to a first wireless power transmitter;
determining whether the object is compatible with a first wireless power protocol of the first wireless power transmitter; and
providing an indication representative of a location of a second wireless power transmitter, when the determining indicates the object is incompatible with the first wireless power protocol of the first wireless power transmitter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether the object is compatible with the first wireless power protocol comprises:
sending a ping signal according to the first wireless power protocol; and
determining whether a response is received in a predetermined time.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the response is a ping response.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
sending a ping signal according to a second wireless power protocol of the second wireless power transmitter; and
determining whether a second ping response is received in a predetermined time.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining whether the object is compatible with the first wireless power protocol comprises:
detecting a load modulation of the ping signal;
decoding the load modulation of the ping signal to obtain a ping response; and
determining that the ping response is not compatible with the first wireless power protocol.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that the ping response is compatible with a second wireless power protocol of the second wireless power transmitter.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless power transmitter supports a plurality of wireless power protocols or protocol versions, and wherein the method further comprises:
providing the indication representative of the location of the second wireless power transmitter, in response to determining that the object is compatible with the first wireless power transmitter and the second wireless power transmitter.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a detector to detect a presence of an object at least proximate to a first wireless power transmitter; and
at least one processor at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus determine whether the object is compatible with a first wireless power protocol of the first wireless power transmitter and provide an indication representative of a location of a second wireless power transmitter, when the determining indicates the object is incompatible with the first wireless power protocol of the first wireless power transmitter.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least send a ping signal according to the first wireless power protocol and determine whether a response is received in a predetermined time.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the response is a ping response.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least send a ping signal according to a second wireless power protocol of the second wireless power transmitter and determine whether a second ping response is received in a predetermined time.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least detect a load modulation of the ping signal, decode the load modulation of the ping signal to obtain a ping response, and determine that the ping response is not compatible with the first wireless power protocol.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least determine that the ping response is compatible with a second wireless power protocol of the second wireless power transmitter.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first wireless power transmitter supports a plurality of wireless power protocols or protocol versions, and wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least provide the indication representative of the location of the second wireless power transmitter, in response to determining that the object is compatible with the first wireless power transmitter and the second wireless power transmitter.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including computer program code which when executed by at least one processor causes operations comprising:
detecting a presence of an object at least proximate to a first wireless power transmitter;
determining whether the object is compatible with a first wireless power protocol of the first wireless power transmitter; and
providing an indication representative of a location of a second wireless power transmitter, when the determining indicates the object is incompatible with the first wireless power protocol of the first wireless power transmitter.

Assignees

• Nokia Corp
• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Muurinen Jari Juhani
• Vuori Petri

Classifications

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J50/80

  involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H02J50/12

  of the resonant type · CPC title