Wireless energy transmission apparatus and method, and wireless energy reception apparatus

A wireless energy transmission apparatus wirelessly transmits energy through resonance between a source resonator and a target resonator. The apparatus scans an amount of energy stored in the source resonator for a scanning period, calculates a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator and the target resonator during an off-resonant interval between the source resonator and the target resonator based on the amount of energy scanned, and estimates an amount of energy induced in the target resonator based on the amount of energy stored in the source resonator and the total amount of energy calculated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0041056 filed on Apr. 19, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The following description relates to an apparatus and a method for transmitting energy wirelessly.

2. Description of Related Art

A number of various types of mobile devices, for example, smart phones, tablet computers, and laptop computers, has been increasing. Also, with the development of near-field communication, for example, wireless local area network (WLAN) and Bluetooth, a number of systems for implementing and operating a single application in a plurality of mobile devices, as well as exchanging information between mobile devices of the same user or a plurality of users, is increasing. Most systems include mobile devices. Since mobile devices are currently faced with a limitation of a charging capacity of a battery, the battery needs to be charged more frequently than before. As one of the solutions for resolving this issue, wireless power transmission has recently been attracting more attention.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, a wireless energy transmission apparatus for wirelessly transmitting energy through resonance between a source resonator and a target resonator includes a scanning unit configured to scan an amount of energy stored in the source resonator for a scanning period; and an induced energy estimating unit configured to calculate a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator and the target resonator during an off-resonant interval between the source resonator and the target resonator based on the amount of energy scanned by the scanning unit, and estimate an amount of energy induced in the target resonator based on the amount of energy stored in the source resonator and the total amount of energy calculated.

The resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator may be mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator.

The scanning period may correspond to a number of samples and a sample length.

The induced energy estimating unit may include a transmitting end energy calculating unit configured to calculate the amount of energy stored in the source resonator per sample unit time for each of the samples based on the amount of energy scanned; a total energy calculating unit configured to calculate a greatest amount of energy among the amounts of energy calculated for each of the samples in the off-resonant interval, and determine the greatest amount of energy to be a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator and the target resonator at a predetermined time; and a receiving end energy estimating unit configured to estimate, for each of the samples, an amount of energy having a greatest difference between the total amount of energy calculated by the total energy calculating unit and the amount of energy stored in the source resonator calculated by the transmitting end energy calculating unit to be the amount of energy induced in the target resonator.

The apparatus may further include a control unit configured to determine whether the target resonator is present and receiving energy from the source resonator based on a distribution of the amount of induced energy estimated for each of the samples by the receiving end energy estimating unit.

The control unit may be further configured to determine whether a first receiving end switch configured to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator is active based on the distribution of the amount of induced energy estimated for each of the samples by the receiving end energy estimating unit.

The control unit may be further configured to control operation of a first transmitting end switch to connect the source resonator to a power source configured to supply the source resonator with energy based on the amount of induced energy estimated for each of the samples by the receiving end energy estimating unit.

The control unit may include a measuring unit configured to measure an interval in which a maximum amount of induced energy estimated for each of the samples by the receiving end energy estimating unit is maintained when the first receiving end switch is determined to be active; a first determining unit configured to determine an operating time of the first transmitting end switch based on a last sample in the interval in which the maximum amount of induced energy is maintained and the sample length; and a second determining unit configured to determine an operating cycle of the first transmitting end switch to have a same value as an operating cycle of the first receiving end switch.

The control unit may be further configured to control the first transmitting end switch to connect the source resonator to the power source before the operating time of the first transmitting end switch determined by the first determining unit; and control the first transmitting end switch to disconnect the source resonator from the power source at the operating time of the first transmitting end switch.

The control unit may include a first determining unit configured to determine an operating time of the first transmitting end switch to be an arbitrary sample start time, and an operating cycle of the first transmitting end switch to be a predetermined operating cycle, when the first receiving end switch is determined to be inactive.

The control unit may further include a second determining unit configured to determine a time when the amount of energy scanned by the scanning unit is a minimum to be an operating time of a second transmitting end switch configured to change a resonant frequency of the source resonator.

The second determining unit may be further configured to determine an earliest time the amount of energy scanned is a minimum to be the operating time of the second transmitting end switch when there are a plurality of times the amount of energy scanned is a minimum.

The control unit may be further configured to control the first transmitting end switch to connect the source resonator to the power source before the operating time of the first transmitting end switch determined by the first determining unit; control the first transmitting end switch to disconnect the source resonator from the power source at the operating time of the first transmitting end switch; control the second transmitting end switch to disconnect the source resonator from an impedance configured to change the resonant frequency of the source resonator at the operating time of the first transmitting end switch; and control the second transmitting end switch to connect the source resonator to the impedance configured to change the resonant frequency of the source resonator at the operating time of the second transmitting end switch determined by the second determining unit.

A value obtained by adding an operating cycle of a first receiving end switch configured to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator to an integer multiple of a sample unit time may be determined to be the sample length; and a value obtained by dividing the operating cycle of the first receiving end switch by the integer multiple of the sample unit time may be determined to be the number of samples.

In another general aspect, a wireless energy transmission apparatus including a source resonator configured to wirelessly transmit energy to and receive energy from a target resonator through resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator includes a scanning unit configured to scan an amount of energy stored in the source resonator for a scanning period; and a control unit configured to change a resonant frequency of the source resonator at a time when the amount of energy scanned reaches a predetermined reference value.

The resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator may be mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator.

The scanning period may correspond to a number of samples; the scanning unit may be further configured to scan the amount of energy stored in the source resonator for each of the samples; and the control unit may be further configured to change a resonant frequency of the source resonator at a time when the amount of energy scanned for each of the samples reaches a predetermined reference value.

The control unit may be further configured to change the resonant frequency of the source resonator at an earliest time the amount of energy scanned reaches the predetermined reference value when the amount of energy scanned reaches the predetermined reference value a plurality of times in one sample.

In another general aspect, a wireless energy reception apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive wireless energy from a source resonator through resonance between the source resonator and a target resonator; and a control unit configured to determine whether the source resonator is present based on whether the receiving unit receives the wireless energy, and control operation of a first receiving end switch and a second receiving end switch by determining whether an amount of energy stored in a load is less than a predetermined threshold.

The resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator may be mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator.

When the amount of energy stored in the load is greater than the predetermined threshold, the control unit may be further configured to control, during an off-resonant interval, the first receiving end switch to connect the target resonator to an impedance configured to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator, and control the second receiving end switch to connect the target resonator to the load; and control, during a resonant interval, the first receiving end switch to disconnect the target resonator from the impedance configured to change the resonant frequency of the target resonator, and control the second receiving end switch to disconnect the target resonator from the load.

When the amount of energy stored in the load is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the control unit may be further configured to control the first receiving end switch to disconnect the target resonator from the impedance configured to change the resonant frequency of the target resonator, and control the second receiving end switch to connect the target resonator to the load.

In another general aspect, a wireless energy transmission method for wirelessly transmitting energy through resonance between a source resonator and a target resonator includes scanning an amount of energy stored in the source resonator for a scanning period; calculating a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator and the target resonator during an off-resonant interval between the source resonator and the target resonator based on the amount of energy scanned; and estimating an amount of energy induced in the target resonator based on the amount of energy stored in the source resonator and the total amount of energy calculated.

The resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator may be mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator.

The scanning period may correspond to a number of samples and a sample length.

The estimating of the amount of energy may include calculating the amount of energy stored in the source resonator per sample unit time for each of the samples based on the amount of energy scanned; calculating a greatest amount of energy among the amounts of energy calculated for the samples in the off-resonant interval; determining the greatest amount of energy to be a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator and the target resonator at a predetermined time; and estimating, for each of the samples, an amount of energy having a greatest difference between the total amount of energy calculated and the amount of energy stored in the source resonator to be an amount of energy induced in the target resonator.

In another general aspect, a wireless energy transmission apparatus for wirelessly transmitting energy through resonance between a source resonator and a target resonator includes an induced energy estimating unit configured to estimate an amount of energy induced in the target resonator during the resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator; and a control unit configured to synchronize an operation of a transmitting end switch configured to connect the source resonator to a power source configured to supply power to the source resonator with an operation of a receiving end switch configured to connect the target resonator to a load based on the estimated amount of energy induced in the target resonator.

The resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator may be mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator.

The control unit may be further configured to determine an interval in which the estimated amount of energy induced in the target resonator is a maximum; determine an operating time of the transmitting end switch based on an elapsed time between a start time of the determining of the interval and an end of the interval; and determine a length of an operating cycle of the transmitting end switch to be equal to a length of an operating cycle of the receiving end switch.

The control unit may be further configured to synchronize the operation of the transmitting end switch with an operation of a receiving end switch configured to change a resonant frequency of the target resonator based on the estimated amount of energy induced in the target resonator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the expression “turning on a switch” refers to closing the switch to connect a first element to a second element, and the expressing “turning off a switch” refers to opening the switch to disconnect the first element from the second element. Thus, the switch is turned on when it is closed, and is turned off when it is open. Also, when a switch is described as “active,” this indicates that the switch is turned on or closed, and when the switch is described as “inactive,” this indicates that the switch is turned of or open. The switch may be a mechanical switch or an electronic switch.

Near-field wireless power transmission and reception are wireless power transmission and reception that occur when a distance between a transmitting coil and a receiving coil used in transmitting and receiving power is sufficiently shorter than a wavelength at an operating frequency. A wireless power transmission and reception system using resonance properties include a source to supply power and a target to receive power.

A wireless energy transmission and reception system may be used for controlling an information storage apparatus without a power source remotely. The wireless energy transmission and reception system may be applied to a system for wirelessly loading information stored in an information storage apparatus as well as supplying power to operate the information storage apparatus remotely.

The wireless energy transmission and reception system store energy from a power supplier in a source resonator for signal generation, and induce self-resonance of the source resonator by turning off a switch electrically connecting the power supplier to the source resonator. When a target resonator having the same resonant frequency as the source resonator is present at a sufficiently short distance to enable mutual resonance with the source resonator capable of self-resonance, mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator will occur.

The source resonator may correspond to a resonator for receiving energy from the power supplier, and the target resonator may correspond to a resonator to receive energy from the source resonator by mutual resonance.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating an example of an equivalent circuit of a wireless energy transmission and reception system in which a power input unit and a power transmitting unit are physically separated by a capacitor and a switch, and a receiving unit and a power output unit are physically separated by a capacitor and a switch. Referring toFIG. 1, the wireless energy transmission and reception system has a source-target structure including a source and a target. The wireless energy transmission and reception system include a wireless energy transmission apparatus corresponding to the source and a wireless energy reception apparatus corresponding to the target. An amount of wireless energy corresponds to a value obtained by integrating an amount of wireless power for a predetermined period, and accordingly wireless energy transmission and reception correspond to wireless power transmission and reception.

The wireless energy transmission apparatus includes a power input unit110, a power transmitting unit120, and a switch unit130. Using a power supplier, the power input unit110stores an amount of energy in a capacitor C. The switch unit130connects the capacitor C1to the power input unit110while an amount of energy is being stored in the capacitor C1, and connects the capacitor C1to the power transmitting unit120while an amount of energy stored in the capacitor C1is being discharged. The switch unit130prevents concurrent connection of the capacitor C1to the power input unit110and the power transmitting unit120.

The power transmitting unit120transmits an amount of electromagnetic energy to the receiving unit140through mutual resonance. That is, a transmitting coil L1of the power transmitting unit120transmits an amount of power to a receiving coil L2of the receiving unit140through mutual resonance. A degree of mutual resonance between the transmitting coil L1and the receiving coil L2is influenced by a mutual inductance M between the transmitting coil L1and the receiving coil L2.

The power transmitting unit120quantizes and transmits an amount of energy stored in the capacitor C1per symbol. That is, the power transmitting unit120transmits information with a varying amount of energy transmitted per symbol. As used herein, a symbol refers to one bit of information transmitted between a source and a target. That is, the symbol corresponds to a period in which an amount of energy is charged in the capacitor C1and discharged once through operation of the switch unit130.

The power input unit110is modeled as an input voltage VDC, an internal resistance Rin, and a capacitor C1, the power transmitting unit120is modeled as basic circuit devices R1, L1, and C1configuring a source resonator, and the switch unit130is modeled as at least one switch. The switch may include, for example, a passive device performing on and off functions. R1corresponds to a resistance component of the source resonator, L1corresponds to an inductor component of the source resonator, and C1corresponds to a capacitor component of the source resonator. A voltage applied to the capacitor C1is indicated as V.

The wireless energy reception apparatus includes a receiving unit140, a power output unit150, and a switch unit160. The receiving unit140receives an amount of electromagnetic energy from the power transmitting unit120. The receiving unit140stores the received amount of electromagnetic energy in a capacitor C2. The switch unit160connects the capacitor C2to the receiving unit140while an amount of energy is being stored in the capacitor C2, and connects the capacitor C2to the power output unit150while an amount of energy stored in the capacitor C2is being transmitted to a load. The load includes, for example, a battery. The switch unit160prevents concurrent connection of the capacitor C2to the receiving unit140and the power output unit150.

That is, a receiving coil L2of the receiving unit140receives an amount of power from a transmitting coil L1of the power transmitting unit120through mutual resonance between the transmitting coil L1and the receiving coil L2. The capacitor C2connected to the receiving coil L2is charged with the received amount of power. The power output unit150transmits the amount of power charged in the capacitor C2to a battery. Alternatively, the power output unit150may transmit an amount of power to a target device requiring a load or power instead of to the battery.

The receiving unit140receives an amount of energy from the power transmitting unit120per symbol, and demodulates information transmitted from the source based on the received amount of energy.

The receiving unit140is modeled as basic circuit devices R2, L2, and C2configuring a target resonator, the power output unit150is modeled as a capacitor C2and a battery, and the switch unit160is modeled as at least one switch. A voltage applied to the capacitor C2is denoted as Vout.

The wireless energy transmission and reception system in which the power input unit110is physically separated from the power transmitting unit120, and the receiving unit140is physically separated from the power output unit150, is known as a resonator isolation (RI) system, and has many advantages when compared to a conventional system using impedance matching. First, since power is supplied directly from a direct current (DC) power source to a source resonator, the need for a power amplifier may be eliminated. Secondly, since energy is captured from power charged in a capacitor C2of a receiver, the need for rectification through a rectifier may be eliminated. Thirdly, with the need for impedance matching being eliminated, an energy transmission efficiency is not affected by changes in a distance between a transmitter and a receiver. Also, expansion may be easily implemented from a wireless energy transmission and reception system including a single transmitter and a single receiver to a wireless energy transmission and reception system including a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers.

FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating an example of an equivalent circuit of a wireless energy transmission and reception system in which a power charging unit and a transmitting unit are physically separated by a switch, and a charging unit and a power output unit are physically separated by a switch. Referring toFIG. 2, the wireless energy transmission and reception system has a source-target structure including a source and a target. That is, the wireless energy transmission and reception system includes a wireless energy transmission apparatus corresponding to the source and a wireless energy reception apparatus corresponding to the target.

The wireless energy transmission and reception system includes a power charging unit210, a control unit220, and a transmitting unit230. The power charging unit210includes a power supplier Vinand a resistance Rin. A source resonator operating as the transmitting unit230includes a capacitor C1and an inductor L1. The transmitting unit230transmits an amount of energy stored in the source resonator to a target resonator through mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator. The control unit220turns on a switch to supply power from the power charging unit210to the source resonator. A voltage is applied from the power supplier Vinto the capacitor C1and an electric current is applied to the inductor L1. When the source resonator reaches a steady state due to the voltage applied from the power supplier Vin, the voltage applied to the capacitor C1is ‘0’ and the electric current flowing through the inductor L1has a value of Vin/Rin. In the steady state, the inductor L1is charged with power through the applied electric current.

When power charged in the source resonator reaches a predetermined value in the steady state, the control unit220turns off the switch. Information about the predetermined value may be set by the control unit220. The power charging unit210and the transmitting unit230are separated when the control unit220turns off the switch. When the power charging unit210and the transmitting unit230are separated, self-resonance occurs between the capacitor C1and the inductor L1of the source resonator. The amount of energy stored in the source resonator is transmitted to the target resonator through mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator in consideration of a mutual inductance M270between the source resonator and the target resonator. A resonant frequency f1of the source resonator and a resonant frequency f2of the target resonator are respectively expressed by the following Equations 1 and 2, and are equal to each other as expressed by the following Equation 3.

Although Equation 3 above indicates that the resonant frequency f1of the source resonator and a resonant frequency f2of the target resonator are equal to each other, energy stored in the source resonator may still be transmitted to the target resonator even if the resonant frequency f1of the source resonator and a resonant frequency f2of the target resonator are not equal to each other, but the energy transmission efficiency may be less than when the resonant frequency f1of the source resonator and a resonant frequency f2of the target resonator are equal to each other.

The transmitting unit230quantizes and transmits an amount of energy stored in the source resonator per symbol. That is, the power transmitting unit230transmits information with an amount of energy transmitted varying per symbol. The symbol corresponds to a period in which an amount of energy is charged in the capacitor C1and the inductor L1and discharged once through operation of the switch unit220.

The wireless energy reception apparatus includes a charging unit240, a control unit250, and a power output unit260. The target resonator operating as the charging unit240includes a capacitor C2and an inductor L2. When mutual resonance occurs between the source resonator and the target resonator, the source resonator is separated from the power supplier Vinand the target resonator is separated from a load and a capacitor CL. The capacitor C2and the inductor L2of the target resonator are charged through the mutual resonance. The control unit250turns off a switch to charge the target resonator with power. While the switch is turned off, mutual resonance occurs between the target resonator and the source resonator because the target resonator and the source resonator have the same resonant frequency as expressed by Equation 3 above. When an amount of power charged in the target resonator reaches a predetermined value, the control unit250turns on the switch. Information about the predetermined value may be set by the control unit250. When the control unit250turns on the switch, the capacitor CLis connected to the charging unit240, thereby changing the resonant frequency of the target resonator to a changed resonant frequency f2′ expressed by the following Equation 4.

Since the changed resonant frequency f2′ of the target resonator is no longer equal to the resonant frequency f1of the source resonator, mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator stops. That is, when f2′ is sufficiently smaller than f2in consideration of Q of the target resonator, a mutual resonance channel between the source resonator and the target resonator is interrupted. Also, when the control unit250turns on the switch, the power output unit260transmits an amount of power charged in the capacitor C2and the inductor L2to the load.

When an amount of power charged in the target resonator is less than the predetermined value, the control unit250turns off the switch, mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator reoccurs, and the charging unit240recharges the target resonator with an amount of power through the mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator.

The charging unit240receives an amount of energy from the transmitting unit230per symbol, and demodulates information transmitted from the source based on the received amount of energy.

When mutual resonance occurs between the source resonator and the target resonator, a connection between the charging unit240and the power output unit260through the switch is interrupted because the control unit250opens the switch. Accordingly, a reduction in an energy transmission efficiency caused by connection through the switch is prevented.

The controlling of the time of capturing energy stored in the target resonator according toFIG. 2is easier than transmitting energy charged in the capacitor according toFIG. 1. The transmission of energy charged in the capacitor according toFIG. 1only captures energy charged in the capacitor. However, capturing energy by changing the resonant frequency according toFIG. 2captures energy stored in both the inductor and the capacitor of the target resonator, thereby improving freedom in controlling the energy capture time.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating another example of an equivalent circuit of a wireless energy transmission and reception system. Referring toFIG. 3, the wireless energy transmission and reception system has a source-target structure including a source and a target. That is, the wireless energy transmission and reception system include a wireless energy transmission apparatus corresponding to the source and a wireless energy reception apparatus corresponding to the target.

An energy transfer process from the wireless energy transmission apparatus to the wireless energy reception apparatus in an RI system includes the five operations described below.

In a first operation of supplying an amount of energy to the wireless energy transmission apparatus, when a source resonator310is connected to a power source Vinthrough SWTX, an amount of energy is supplied to the source resonator310.

In a second operation of mutual resonance between the wireless energy transmission apparatus and the wireless energy reception apparatus, when the source resonator310is disconnected from the power source Vin, the source resonator310transmits energy to and receives energy from a target resonator320during a predetermined cycle through mutual resonance.

In a third operation of synchronization between the wireless energy transmission apparatus and the wireless energy reception apparatus, a start time of energy transmission and reception between the wireless energy transmission apparatus and the wireless energy reception apparatus, and cycles of SWTXand SWRX1respectively located in the wireless energy transmission apparatus and the wireless energy reception apparatus, are estimated.

In a fourth operation of off-resonance between the wireless energy transmission apparatus and the wireless energy reception apparatus, when most of the amount of energy has been transmitted to the wireless energy reception apparatus during mutual resonance, off-resonance is implemented between the wireless energy transmission apparatus and the wireless energy reception apparatus energy to disable energy retransmission from the wireless energy reception apparatus energy to the wireless energy transmission apparatus. Off-resonance is implemented by changing the resonant frequency of the source resonator and/or the target resonator.

In a fifth operation of transmitting an amount of energy induced in the wireless energy reception apparatus to a load, the target resonator320is connected to the load through SWRX2to transmit an amount of energy induced in the target resonator320to the load.

The wireless energy transmission and reception system ofFIG. 3includes an additional switch SWRX2in the target compared to the wireless energy transmission and reception system ofFIG. 2. The switch SWRX1serves to change the resonant frequency of the target resonator320, and the switch SWRX2serves to transmit an amount of energy charged in the target resonator320to the load.

Synchronization between SWTXand SWRX1is needed for the target resonator310to receive energy or data modulated using energy from the source resonator310.

When an operating cycle of turning SWRX1on and off is predetermined, the wireless energy transmission apparatus may determine a turn-off time and an operating cycle of SWTXby estimating an amount of energy induced in the target resonator320through mutual resonance between the source resonator310and the target resonator320.

A process of estimating an amount of energy induced in the target resonator320and a process of determining a turn-off time and an operating cycle of SWTXwill now be described.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating an example of a wireless energy transmission apparatus. Referring toFIG. 4, the wireless energy transmission apparatus includes a scanning unit410, an induced energy estimating unit420, and a control unit430. In the following description, the wireless energy transmission apparatus may be referred to as a transmitting end, and a wireless energy reception apparatus may be referred to as a receiving end.

The scanning unit410scans an amount of energy stored in a source resonator401for a scanning period corresponding to a predetermined number of samples each having a sample length. The scanning unit410scans an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401while the amount of energy is being wirelessly transmitted from the source resonator401through mutual resonance between the source resonator401and a target resonator. The amount of energy stored in the source resonator401by mutual resonance is transmitted from the source resonator401to the target resonator, and may subsequently be retransmitted from the target resonator to the source resonator401.

The scanning unit410scans an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401per sample. A sample is a unit of energy supplied from a power source to the source resonator401, and corresponds to a period between one energy supply to the source resonator101and a next energy supply to the source resonator401. Each sample has a predetermined period. For example, a first sample corresponds to a period between a first energy supply to the source resonator401and a second energy supply to the source resonator401, a second sample corresponds to a period between the second energy supply to the source resonator401and a third energy supply to the source resonator401, and so forth.

A length of a sample corresponds to a duration of the sample, that is, to a value obtained by adding an operating cycle of a receiving end switch, that is, SWRX1ofFIG. 3, to an integer multiple of a sample unit time. The sample length may be expressed by the following Equation 5.
TSample=TRX+sTC(5)

In Equation 5, TSampledenotes a sample length, TRXdenotes an operating cycle of SWRX1ofFIG. 3, TCdenotes a sample unit time, and ‘s’ denotes an integer greater than ‘0’. The sample unit time corresponds to a smallest unit of time taken to process a signal in a sample.

The number of samples corresponds to the number of samples taken to estimate an amount of energy induced in the wireless energy reception apparatus from the wireless energy reception apparatus. A value obtained by dividing an operating cycle of SWRX1ofFIG. 3by an integer multiple of a sample unit time is determined to be the number of samples. The number of samples and a maximum number of samples may be expressed by the following Equations 6 and 7.

In Equation 6, N denotes the number of samples. In Equation 7, NMAXdenotes a maximum number of samples obtained when ‘s’ is equal to 1. Since the number of samples used in estimating an amount of induced energy is a maximum at NMAX, the amount of induced energy may be estimated more accurately if the number of samples is NMAX.

The scanning unit410scans an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401for a scanning period corresponding to a product of the sample length TSampleand the number of samples N or NMAX.

The number of samples increases with an increase in energy scanning time ‘t’ starting from t=0. As a sample number N increases, a turn-on time of SWRX1ofFIG. 3moves up by an integer multiple of a sample unit time sTCearlier than a start time of a previous sample.

The scanning unit410scans an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401per sample at a time moved up by an integer multiple of a sample unit time sTC.

The induced energy estimating unit420calculates a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator401and the target resonator during an off-resonant interval between the source resonator401and the target resonator based on the amount of energy scanned. The induced energy estimating unit420estimates an amount of energy induced in the target resonator based on the amount of energy stored in the source resonator401and the total amount of energy calculated.

The induced energy estimating unit420includes a transmitting end energy calculating unit421, a total energy calculating unit423, and a receiving end energy estimating unit425.

The transmitting end energy calculating unit421calculates an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401per sample unit time of each sample based on the amount of energy scanned. SWRX1ofFIG. 3is turned on at different times in each sample, and accordingly off-resonance occurs at different intervals in each sample.

The total energy calculating unit423calculates, during an off-resonant interval, a greatest amount of energy among the amounts of energy calculated per sample, and determines the greatest amount of energy to be a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator401and the target resonator at a predetermined time. Since off-resonance occurs at different intervals in each sample, the greatest amount of energy is determined to be a total amount of energy per sample unit time.

The receiving end energy estimating unit425may estimate, in each sample, to be an amount of energy induced in the target resonator, an amount of energy having a greatest difference between the total amount of energy calculated by the total energy calculating unit423and the amount of energy stored in the source resonator401, calculated by the transmitting end energy calculating unit421.

An amount of energy induced in the receiving end, in particular, in the target resonator, at a predetermined time is calculated as a difference between a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator401and the target resonator at the predetermined time and an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401at the predetermined time. When off-resonance occurs at a predetermined time, a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator401and the target resonator at the predetermined time is equal to an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401at the predetermined time. Accordingly, during an off-resonant interval, a total amount of energy may be calculated by calculating an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401.

The control unit430determines whether a target resonator receiving energy from the source resonator401is present based on a distribution of an amount of induced energy estimated per sample by the receiving end energy estimating unit425. When the target resonator is present within a distance allowing mutual resonance to occur between the source resonator401and the target resonator, an amount of induced energy estimated per sample is estimated to have a value other than ‘0’. The amount of induced energy may be estimated as shown in the distribution in graphs ofFIGS. 15 and 16.

The control unit430determines whether the receiving end switch, that is, SWRX1ofFIG. 3is active, based on a distribution of an amount of induced energy estimated per sample by the receiving end energy estimating unit425. SWRX1ofFIG. 3changes a resonant frequency of the target resonator by connecting the target resonator to an impedance such as an inductor or a capacitor.

When SWRX1ofFIG. 3is active, that is, when SWRX1is turned on, off-resonance occurs and an estimated amount of induced energy per sample has a maximum value and a minimum value. That is, an amount of induced energy may be estimated as shown in the distribution in the graph ofFIG. 15.

When SWRX1ofFIG. 3is inactive, that is, when SWRX1is turned off, continuous resonance occurs and an estimated amount of induced energy per sample may continuously have another value aside from a value of ‘0’. That is, an amount of induced energy may be estimated as shown on the distribution in the graph ofFIG. 16.

When the receiving end switch, that is, SWRX1ofFIG. 3is inactive, the control unit430controls operation of a transmitting end switch, that is, SWTXofFIG. 3, based on an amount of induced energy estimated per sample by the receiving end energy estimating unit425. The transmitting end switch electrically connects the source resonator401to a power source supplying the source resonator401with energy and electrically disconnects the source resonator401from the power source.

The control unit430includes a measuring unit431, a first determining unit433, and a second determining unit435.

When SWRX1ofFIG. 3is determined to be active, the measuring unit431measures an interval in which a maximum amount of induced energy estimated per sample by the receiving end energy estimating unit425is maintained. The measuring unit431may measure an interval in which a difference between an amount of induced energy estimated per sample and a maximum amount of induced energy is less than a predetermined critical value.

The first determining unit433determines an operating time of the transmitting end switch based on a last sample of an interval in which a maximum amount of induced energy is maintained and a length of the sample. A sample NSyncimmediately before the fall of an amount of induced energy after maintaining a maximum value may correspond to a sample in which operation of SWRX1ofFIG. 3is synchronized with energy supply of a transmitting end, that is, a sample in which a time of a maximum instantaneous energy transmission amount from the source resonator401is exactly matched with a turn-on time of SWRX1. An operating time and an operating cycle of the transmitting end switch may be determined using the sample NSync. The first determining unit433determines an operating time of the transmitting end switch based on a time elapsed in NSync*TSamplefrom a scan start time of energy stored in the source resonator401.

The second determining unit435determines an operating cycle of the transmitting end switch to have the same value as an operating cycle of the receiving end switch. The second determining unit435may determine an operating cycle of the transmitting end switch to have the same value as an operating cycle of the receiving end switch based on a time elapsed in NSync*TSamplefrom a scan start time of energy stored in the source resonator401. This assumes that the operating cycle of the receiving end switch is already known at the transmitting end.

The control unit430controls the transmitting end switch before the operating time of the transmitting end switch determined by the first determining unit433to connect the source resonator401to the power source. The control unit430controls the transmitting end switch at the operating time of the transmitting end switch to disconnect the source resonator401from the power source. That is, the operating time of the transmitting end switch corresponds to a turn-off time of SWTXofFIG. 3.

When the receiving end switch is determined to be inactive, the first determining unit433determines an operating time of a first transmitting end switch to be an arbitrary sample start time, and determines an operating cycle of the first transmitting end switch to be a predetermined operating cycle. The first transmitting end switch corresponds to SWTXofFIG. 3.

The second determining unit435determines a time when the amount of energy scanned by the scanning unit410is a minimum to be an operating time of a second transmitting end switch of the source resonator401. The second transmitting end switch corresponds to SWTX2ofFIG. 20. The second determining unit435determines an earliest time the amount of energy scanned is a minimum to be an operating time of the second transmitting end switch when there are a plurality of times the amount of energy scanned is a minimum. The operating time of the second transmitting end switch corresponds to a turn-on time of SWTX2ofFIG. 20. Off-resonance occurs between the source resonator401and the target resonator at the operating time of the second transmitting end switch so that energy stored in the target resonator is not transmitted to the source resonator401.

The control unit430controls the first transmitting end switch before the operating time of the first transmitting end switch determined by the first determining unit433to connect the source resonator401to the power source. The control unit430controls, at the operating time of the first transmitting end switch, the first transmitting end switch to disconnect the source resonator401from the power source, and controls the second transmitting end switch to disconnect the source resonator401from an impedance changing the resonant frequency. The control unit430controls the second transmitting end switch at the operating time of the second transmitting end switch determined by the second determining unit435to connect the source resonator401to the impedance changing the resonant frequency.

The scanning unit410scans an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401in sample units. That is, the scanning unit410scans an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401per sample. The control unit430changes the resonant frequency of the source resonator401when an amount of energy scanned per sample reaches a predetermined reference value. The predetermined reference value may be a minimum amount among the amounts of energy scanned per sample. For example, the predetermined reference value may be ‘0’. The predetermined reference value may vary depending on a degree of scan precision of the scanning unit410, or may be changed by a user.

The control unit430changes the resonant frequency of the source resonator401by connecting the source resonator401to an additional impedance indicated by ‘D’. As shown inFIG. 20, the control unit430may connect the source resonator401to the additional impedance by controlling an operation of a switch SWTX2.

The control unit430changes the resonant frequency of the source resonator401at an earliest time an amount of energy scanned in one sample reaches a predetermined reference value when there are a r plurality of times an amount of energy scanned in one sample reaches a predetermined reference value.

The control unit430may generally control the wireless energy transmission apparatus and may perform functions of the scanning unit410and the induced energy estimating unit420. Although the example ofFIG. 4shows the scanning unit410, the induced energy estimating unit420, and the control unit430as separate components to distinguish each function, a product may actually be implemented to allow the control unit430to perform some or all of the functions of the scanning unit410and the induced energy estimating unit420.

FIG. 5is a block diagram illustrating an example of a wireless energy reception apparatus. Referring toFIG. 5, the wireless energy reception apparatus includes a receiving unit510and a control unit520.

The receiving unit510receives an amount of wireless energy from a source resonator through mutual resonance between the source resonator and a target resonator501. That is, an amount of energy is induced in the target resonator through mutual resonance between the source resonator and the target resonator501.

The control unit520determines whether the source resonator is present based on whether the receiving unit510receives an amount of wireless energy.

The control unit520controls operation of a first receiving end switch and a second receiving end switch by determining whether an amount of energy stored in a load is less than a predetermined critical value. As an example, the load may include a battery. The predetermined critical value may correspond to a minimum amount of energy necessary to operate the first receiving end switch or the second receiving end switch.

When the amount of energy stored in the load is greater than the predetermined critical value, the control unit520controls, during an off-resonant interval, the first receiving end switch to connect the target resonator501to an impedance changing a resonant frequency of the target resonator501, and controls the second receiving end switch to connect the target resonator501to the load to transmit the amount of energy stored in the target resonator501to the load. Also, the control unit520controls, during a resonant interval, the first receiving end switch to disconnect the target resonator501from the impedance changing the resonant frequency of the target resonator501, and controls the second receiving end switch to disconnect the target resonator501from the load. During the resonant interval, the amount of energy is stored in the target resonator501.

When the amount of energy stored in the load is less than or equal to the predetermined critical value, the control unit520controls the first receiving end switch to disconnect the target resonator501from the impedance changing the resonant frequency of the target resonator501, and controls the second receiving end switch to connect the target resonator501to the load to transmit the amount of energy stored in the target resonator501to the load while continuously maintaining mutual resonance with the source resonator.

The control unit520may generally control the wireless energy reception apparatus and may perform a function of the receiving unit510. Although the example ofFIG. 5shows the receiving unit510and the control unit520as separate components to distinguish each function, a product may actually be implemented to allow the control unit520to perform some or all functions of the receiving unit510.

FIG. 6is a graph illustrating an example of an amount of energy measured at a transmitting end and a receiving end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system. The wireless energy transmission and reception system includes a transmitting end to transmit energy and a receiving end to receive energy through mutual resonance. The transmitting end may be referred to as TX and the receiving end may be referred to as RX.

FIG. 6illustrates an amount of energy stored in TX and RX during mutual resonance in a state in which a source resonator of TX is physically separated from a power source and a target resonator of RX is physically separated from a load, immediately after energy from a power source is supplied to TX. The amount of energy transmitted from TX to RX through mutual resonance may be repeatedly transmitted between TX and RX in one sample.

InFIG. 6, the amount of energy stored in TX and RX is represented by a normalized voltage on a y axis of the graph. A normalized time on an x axis corresponds to a value obtained by dividing an energy measuring time by a sample unit time, and the sample unit time TCcorresponds to a smallest unit of time taken to process a signal.

FIG. 7is a graph illustrating an example of an amount of energy stored in a receiving end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system when off-resonance occurs at the receiving end.FIG. 7illustrates an amount of energy remaining in RX that is not transmitted to TX when off-resonance occurs due to SWRX1ofFIG. 3being turned on at a time710during mutual resonance between TX and RX.

The amount of energy remaining in RX during an off-resonant interval, that is, from the time710to a time720, is determined by an amount of energy induced in RX at the time710when off-resonance occurs. Accordingly, to transmit a maximum possible amount of energy from RX, SWRX1ofFIG. 3needs to be turned on when an amount of energy induced in RX is a maximum. In a case in which SWRX1ofFIG. 3has a predetermined operating cycle of turn-on and turn-off, a TX switch needs to be open when an amount of energy induced in RX is a maximum. Accordingly, when a time in which an amount of energy induced in RX is a maximum is estimated at TX, the TX switch may be synchronized with the RX switch through control of the TX switch.

FIGS. 8A and 8Bare graphs illustrating an example of a time when an amount of energy stored in a receiving end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system is a maximum during mutual resonance and an amount of energy stored in a transmitting end at the corresponding time.

FIG. 8Aillustrates a change in an amount of energy stored in RX during mutual resonance between TX and RX, andFIG. 8Billustrates a change in an amount of energy stored in TX during mutual resonance between TX and RX.

InFIGS. 8A and 8B, since an amount of energy stored in TX is not a minimum at a time when an amount of energy stored in RX is a maximum, it is difficult to determine at TX a time at which an amount of energy induced in RX is a maximum.

The time inconsistency may be caused by a difference between an energy attenuation rate at RX and an energy transmission rate from TX to RX. That is, when the energy attenuation rate at RX is higher than the energy transmission rate from TX to RX, a time when an amount of energy induced in RX is a maximum may be earlier than a moment when energy is completely transmitted from TX to RX.

FIG. 9is a graph illustrating an example of a total amount of energy stored in a transmitting end and a receiving end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system. Referring toFIG. 9, when mutual resonance occurs between TX and RX as well as self-resonance of TX, a total amount of energy stored in TX and RX may be uniformly reduced irrespective of a value of a mutual inductance M.

A total amount of energy stored in TX and RX at a predetermined time and an amount of energy induced from TX into RX at the corresponding time may be estimated.

Accordingly, to estimate an amount of energy induced in RX at a predetermined time, a total amount of energy stored in TX and RX may be needed as well as an amount of energy stored in TX at the corresponding time. However, the total amount of energy stored in TX and RX may be obtained by analyzing a signal of TX.

FIGS. 10A and 10Bare graphs illustrating an example of an amount of energy stored in a transmitting end and a receiving end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system by operation of a switch of the receiving end.

An off-resonant interval ‘OR’ between TX and RX inFIG. 10Amay be different from an off-resonant interval ‘OR’ between TX and RX inFIG. 10B. Off-resonance occurs when SWRX1ofFIG. 3is turned on, and may not result in energy exchange between TX and RX.

InFIG. 10A, SWRX1is turned off at 20 TC, and is turned on at 70 TC. That is, an interval between 20 TCand 70 TCindicated by hatching corresponds to a resonant interval ‘R’, and the remainder corresponds to an off-resonant interval ‘OR’.

Referring toFIG. 10A, when an amount of energy stored in RX is ‘0’ during an off-resonant interval between 0 and 20 TC, an amount of energy stored in TX equals a total amount of energy stored in RX and TX.

In contrast toFIG. 10A, inFIG. 10B, SWRX1is turned on at 20 TC, and is turned off at 70 TC. That is, an interval between 20 TCand 70 TCcorresponds to an off-resonant interval ‘OR’, and the remainder corresponds to a resonant interval ‘R’.

In order to estimate, at TX, an amount of energy stored in RX at a predetermined time, a total amount of energy at the predetermined time is needed. Further, in order to estimate, at TX, a change in a total amount of energy, it may be convenient to measure a change in an amount of energy stored in TX during self-resonance of TX, i.e., when mutual resonance does not occur between TX and RX.

Also, when verification as to whether RX is present within a distance from TX allowing mutual resonance is impossible, a change in a total amount of energy may be verified by analyzing a signal of TX. When a sample start time is included in an off-resonant interval as shown inFIG. 10A, a scanning time in one sample extends from the sample start time to an initial end time of the off-resonant interval. When the sample start time is included in the resonant interval as shown inFIG. 10B, some amount of energy may be transmitted from TX to RX during an interval from the sample start time to the initial start time of the off-resonant interval, and accordingly using only a signal of TX may be insufficient to estimate a total amount of energy.

As a resonant duration becomes shorter in a sample, that is, as an off-resonant duration becomes longer in a sample, more information about a total amount of energy may be obtained. However, since a time at which an amount of energy stored in RX is a maximum occurs during mutual resonance, an amount of energy induced in RX may not be a maximum when a resonant duration is too short.

InFIGS. 10A and 10B, a turn-on time and turn-off time of SWRX1ofFIG. 3are each 50% of a total operating cycle of SWRX1. That is, SWRX1is turned on 50% of the time, and turned off 50% of the time. In this case, a maximum interval during which a total amount of energy may be estimated extends from a sample start time to TRX/2. That is, when the sample start time is included in the resonant interval, the maximum interval may correspond to the off-resonant interval.

As a result, a maximum amount of energy stored in TX, scanned per sample unit time TCduring an interval of 0≦T≦TRX/2 in one sample, equals a total amount of energy at each corresponding time shown inFIG. 9.

Also, since an off-resonant interval is not greater than TRX/2, there is no need to estimate, in an interval of T>TRX/2, a total amount of energy or a time when an amount of energy stored in RX is a maximum.

FIG. 11is a graph illustrating an example of an amount of energy stored in a receiving end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system for a sample duration of energy transmitted from a transmitting end.

While SWRX1ofFIG. 3is turned on and off during a predetermined operating cycle TRX, a source resonator is periodically supplied with energy at TX, and TX scans an amount of energy stored in the source resonator.

When a sample refers to a unit of energy supply from a power source, a sample length may be defined as TSample=TRX+sTC, where ‘s’ denotes an integer greater than ‘0’, and TCis defined as a smallest unit of time taken for a wireless energy transmission apparatus to process a signal. The number of samples increases with an increase in TX signal scanning time ‘t’ starting from t=0. As a sample number N increases, an on time of SWRX1ofFIG. 3is moved up by sTCfrom a sample start time, that is, an energy supply time.

FIG. 11illustrates an amount of energy stored in RX estimated at TX, for example, when TRX=100 TC, sTC=20 TC, and TSample=120 TC. When estimated at TX, an on time of SWRX1ofFIG. 3is advanced by 20 TCin a second sample corresponding to an interval between 120 TCand 240 TCcompared to a first sample corresponding to an interval between 0 TCand 120 TC. InFIG. 11, scanning is performed at a time earlier by 20 TCin each sample. Also, when the number of samples is TRX/sTC=5, scanning is performed during five samples. Accordingly, when s=1, scanning may be performed during the maximum number of samples NMAX=TRX/TC, so that the on time of SWRX1ofFIG. 3may be estimated more accurately.

FIGS. 12 through 14are graphs illustrating an example of an amount of energy induced in a wireless energy reception apparatus, estimated at a wireless energy transmission apparatus, for a duration of an arbitrary sample.

FIG. 12illustrates an amount of energy induced in RX, estimated at TX, in an arbitrary sample. Referring toFIG. 12, a maximum amount1210of energy is induced in RX at 13 T0. The maximum amount1210corresponds to an instantaneous maximum amount of energy transmission from TX in an arbitrary sample. R denotes a resonant interval.

FIG. 13illustrates a tenth sample based on the time ofFIG. 12. Referring toFIG. 13, a maximum amount1310is induced in RX at 13 TC.

FIG. 14illustrates a twentieth sample based on the time ofFIG. 12. Referring toFIG. 14, a maximum amount1410is induced in RX at 5 TC. A difference between the maximum amount1310inFIG. 13and the maximum amount1410inFIG. 14is caused by an off-resonant interval being moved up by TCper sample. As a resonant interval becomes longer, an amount of energy induced in RX may increase. This is because as an off-resonant interval becomes closer to a sample start time, a resonant interval becomes shorter and thus an amount of energy induced in RX decreases.

FIG. 15is a graph illustrating an example of an amount of energy induced in a wireless energy reception apparatus, estimated at a wireless energy transmission apparatus, per sample.

When a number of a sample scanned at TX is N (0≦N<NMAX), a time in a sample is T (0≦T<TSample), and an amount of energy scanned at TX is ETX(t) (0≦t<NMAX*TSample), a total amount of energy ETotal(T) at the predetermined time T may be calculated using the following Equations 8 and 9.

In the above equations, TSample=TRX+TC, and NMAX=TRX/TC. While an amount of energy is being scanned at TX, a maximum amount MRX(N) of energy induced in RX per sample may be calculated at TX using the following Equation 10.

MRX(N) denotes an instantaneous maximum amount of energy transmission from TX to RX in an Nth sample.

FIG. 15is a graph illustrating an estimated amount of energy induced in RX when SWRX1ofFIG. 3is active during mutual resonance between TX and RX.

An interval in which an amount of energy induced in a target resonator is absorbed at RX through a battery corresponds to an interval in which SWRX1ofFIG. 3is turned on, and is indicated as a non-hatched interval as shown inFIGS. 12 through 14.

For a maximum amount of energy induced in RX, a turn-on time of SWRX1ofFIG. 3needs to be synchronized with a time when an instantaneous amount of energy transmission from TX to RX is a maximum. The maximum amount of energy induced in RX may be uniformly maintained at 13 TCin samples ofFIGS. 12 and 13. However, since the turn-on time of SWRX1ofFIG. 3is moved up in a sample ofFIG. 14, the maximum amount of energy induced in RX is reduced.

Referring toFIG. 15, with the increasing sample number N, a maximum amount MRX(N) may be uniformly maintained during an interval XN. In this interval, a sample immediately before the fall of a maximum amount MRX(N) corresponds to a sample NSyncin which the turn-on time of SWRX1ofFIG. 3is synchronized with a time1510when an instantaneous energy transmission amount of TX is a maximum. An operating time tTX_startand an operating cycle TTXof a TX switch may be calculated based on the sample NSyncusing the following Equations 11-14.

In Equation 12, ‘s.t.’ is an abbreviation for ‘such that’, and XNCdenotes the complement of XN. The interval XNin which the maximum amount MRX(n) is maintained may be calculated using the maximum amount MRX(N) and a critical value mthr. Using the last sample NSyncin the interval XN, a period of time that has elapsed from a scan start time t=0 may be calculated at TX.

When an operating cycle TTXof TX equals an operating cycle TRXof RX based on the time elapsed in NSync*TSamplefrom the scan start time, an energy supply time tTX_startin a subsequent sample may be synchronized with operation of SWRX1ofFIG. 3. The energy supply time tTX_startcorresponds to a turn-off time of SWTXofFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 15, NSync=89, TSample=101 TC, and TRX=100 TC. Since a time tTX_startof energy supply to TX is (8989+100 k) TCfrom the above Equation 13, and a scan end time is NMAX*TSample=10100 TC, a time of initial energy supply to TX after synchronization corresponds to k=12, that is, 10189 TC. Accordingly, in a synchronized state, an energy supply time to TX corresponds to {10189 TC, 10289 TC, 10389 TC, 10489 TC. . . } based on a scan start time. Whether SWRX1is active may be determined at TX using a distribution of the maximum amount MRX(N).

FIG. 16is a graph illustrating an example of an amount of energy induced in a wireless energy reception apparatus when a switch of a receiving end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system is inactive.

When SWRX1ofFIG. 3is inactive, i.e., turned off, during mutual resonance between TX and RX, a maximum amount MRX(N) may be uniformly maintained at a value greater than ‘0’ as shown inFIG. 16. Whether SWRX1is inactive may be determined at TX using a distribution of the maximum amount MRX(N).

When data communication is not performed and only energy reception is performed at RX, SWRX1ofFIG. 3may be turned off to continuously maintain mutual resonance, and SWRX2ofFIG. 3may be turned on to allow a battery to continuously receive energy.

When an amount of energy stored in the battery of RX is insufficient for communication and when mutual resonance between TX and RX initially starts, RX controls SWRX1to be inactive.

When SWRX1does not operate, i.e., does not turn on, a maximum amount of MRX(N) does not change. Accordingly, a operating time tTX_startand an operating cycle TTXof the TX switch are determined to be an arbitrary sample start time and a predetermined operating cycle without using the maximum amount MRX(N). The arbitrary sample start time may be expressed by the following Equation 15.
tTX_start=kTTX(k:integer)  (15)

When SWRX1does not operate and mutual resonance continuously occurs, an amount of energy induced in RX may be retransmitted to TX. Accordingly, to prevent energy from being retransmitted to TX and maintain a maximum possible amount of energy at RX, mutual resonance needs to be stopped by changing a resonant frequency of the source resonator at TX. The stopping of mutual resonance corresponds to off-resonance.

FIG. 17is a graph illustrating an example of an amount of energy induced in a wireless energy reception apparatus when mutual resonance fails to occur due to absence of a receiving end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system.

When self-resonance of TX occurs due to absence of RX within a distance allowing mutual resonance between RX and TX, a maximum amount MRX(N) always has a value of ‘0’ as shown in the graph ofFIG. 17.

When a maximum amount MRX(N) always has a value of ‘0’, TX determines that RX is absent. The maximum amount MRX(N) may be repeatedly measured at TX to find an RX again after waiting for a predetermined period.

FIG. 18is a graph illustrating an example of a change in energy at a transmitting end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system when off-resonance occurs due to a switch of the transmitting end being turned on. That is,FIG. 18illustrates a voltage change of TX when SWTX2ofFIG. 20is turned on at a time 17 TCwhen an amount of energy stored in TX is a minimum. The voltage change of TX may be interpreted as an energy change. When SWTX2ofFIG. 20is turned on, a resonant frequency of a source resonator changes and mutual resonance stops. That is, off-resonance occurs.

FIG. 19is a graph illustrating an example of a change in energy at a receiving end of a wireless energy transmission and reception system when off-resonance occurs due to a switch of a transmitting end being turned on. That is,FIG. 19illustrates an amount of energy stored in RX when SWTX2ofFIG. 20is turned on at a time 17 TCwhen an amount of energy stored in TX is a minimum. When SWRX2is turned on and a target resonator is connected to a load, the load is continuously supplied with energy from the target resonator, causing the energy stored in the target resonator to decrease over time as shown inFIG. 19.

FIG. 20is a diagram illustrating another example of an equivalent circuit of a wireless energy transmission and reception system. Referring toFIG. 20, a switch SWTX2and an additional impedance2030are further provided in TX compared to the equivalent circuit inFIG. 3. When a source resonator2010is connected to the additional impedance2030through SWTX2, a resonant frequency of the source resonator2010changes, and thus off-resonance occurs between the source resonator2010and a target resonator2020. The additional impedance2030is shown as a device D, and the device D may include an inductor component and/or a capacitor component.

At tTX_start, SWTX2is turned off again and resonance reoccurs between TX and RX. Since an off-resonant time determined by SWTX2is determined to be a time at which an amount of energy remaining in TX is negligible, an energy transmission efficiency may be affected rather modestly. Accordingly, a component or material used for SWTX2and the device D may be more freely selected than CLof RX. When SWTX2is in a turn-off state during operation of SWRX1, the wireless energy transmission and reception system has the same structure as the RI system ofFIG. 3.

An off-resonant time toff_resonantcaused by turning SWTX2on needs only one sample, and corresponds to a time at which an amount of energy ETXstored in TX is a minimum during mutual resonance.

During mutual resonance, an amount of energy stored in TX may be ‘0’ a plurality of times, and in this case, an earliest time is determined to be an off-resonant time as expressed by the following Equation 16.

Aside from a case in which an amount of energy stored in TX continues to be reduced for one cycle TTXand becomes ‘0’, energy supply may be directly performed without off-resonance occurring. In this case, SWTX2may be maintained in an off state.

FIG. 21is a flowchart illustrating an example of a wireless energy transmission method. In2105, the wireless energy transmission apparatus determines the number of samples and a sample length. The sample length, the number of samples, and the maximum number of samples may be expressed by the following Equations 17-19.

In Equations 17-19, TRXdenotes an operating cycle of a receiving end switch, TCdenotes a sample unit time, and ‘s’ denotes an integer greater than ‘0’.

In2110, the wireless energy transmission apparatus scans an amount of energy stored in TX. That is, the wireless energy transmission apparatus scans an amount of energy ETX(t) stored in a source resonator for a scanning period (0 t≦t<NMAX*TSample) corresponding to a predetermined number of samples each having a sample length.

In2115, the wireless energy transmission apparatus calculates an amount of energy stored in the source resonator401per sample unit time of each sample based on the amount of scanned energy using the following Equation 20.
ESample(T,N)=ETX(T+NTSample)(0≦T<TSample,0≦N<NMax)  (20)

The wireless energy transmission apparatus calculates, during an off-resonant interval, a greatest amount of energy among the amounts of energy calculated per sample using the following Equation 21, and determines the greatest amount of energy to be a total amount of energy stored in the source resonator and the target resonator at a predetermined time.

The wireless energy transmission apparatus calculates, in each sample, an amount of energy having a greatest difference between the total amount of energy and the amount of energy stored in the source resonator using the following Equation 22, and estimates the calculated amount of energy to be an amount of energy induced in the target resonator.

In2120, the wireless energy transmission apparatus determines whether a wireless energy reception apparatus is present. The wireless energy reception apparatus corresponds to RX of a wireless energy transmission and reception system. The wireless energy transmission apparatus determines whether the wireless energy reception apparatus is present based on whether a maximum amount MRX(N) continuously maintains a value of ‘0’.

In2125, when the wireless energy reception apparatus is determined to be absent, the wireless energy transmission apparatus waits for a predetermined period before performing another scan.

In2130, when the wireless energy reception apparatus is determined to be present, the wireless energy transmission apparatus determines whether a switch SWRXof the wireless energy reception apparatus is active. The wireless energy transmission apparatus determines whether the switch SWRXof the wireless energy reception apparatus is active based on whether a maximum amount MRX(N) continuously has a value other than ‘0’.

In2135, when the switch SWRXis determined to be active, the wireless energy transmission apparatus measures an interval in which a maximum amount of induced energy estimated per sample is maintained using the following Equation 23.

The wireless energy transmission apparatus determines an operating time of a transmitting end switch SWTX1based on a last sample and a length of the sample in the interval in which a maximum amount of energy is maintained. The last sample and the operating time of SWTX1may be expressed by the following Equations 24 and 25.
NSync=Ns.t.NεXN,N+1εXNC(24)
tTX_start=NSyncTSample+kTRX(k:integer)  (25)

The wireless energy transmission apparatus determines an operating cycle of the transmitting end switch SWTX1to have the same value as an operating cycle of a receiving end switch SWRX.

In2140, when the switch SWRXis determined to be inactive, the wireless energy transmission apparatus determines the operating time tTX_startof the transmitting end switch SWTX1to be an arbitrary sample start time using the following Equation 26, and determines the operating cycle of the transmitting end switch SWTX1to be a predetermined operating cycle.
tTX_start=kTTX(k:integer)  (26)

The wireless energy transmission apparatus determines the operating time toff_resonantof the transmitting end switch SWTX2to be a time at which an amount of energy scanned is a minimum using the following Equations 27 and 28.

When there are a plurality of instances at which an amount of energy scanned is a minimum, the wireless energy transmission apparatus determines an earliest time to be the operating time of the transmitting end switch SWTX2using the following Equation 29.

In2145, the wireless energy transmission apparatus turns on the transmitting end switch SWTX1at a time Δt earlier than the operating time tTX_startof the transmitting end switch SWTX1to connect a source resonator to a power source to supply the source resonator with energy. Δt may be much less than a sample unit time TCso that a signal processing is not affected. The wireless energy transmission apparatus turns off the transmitting end switch SWTX1at the operating time tTX_startto start mutual resonance. The transmitting end switch SWTX2is maintained in an off state.

In2150, the wireless energy transmission apparatus turns on the transmitting end switch SWTX1at a time Δt earlier than the operating time tTX_startof the transmitting end switch SWTX1to connect the source resonator to the power source to supply the source resonator with energy. Δt may be much less than a sample unit time TCso that a signal processing is not affected. The wireless energy transmission apparatus turns off the transmitting end switch SWTX1at the operating time tTX_startof the transmitting end switch SWTX1to start mutual resonance. The wireless energy transmission apparatus turns on the transmitting end switch SWTX2at the operating time toff_resonantof the transmitting end switch SWTX2to start off-resonance, and turns off the transmitting end switch SWTX2at the operating time tTX_startof the transmitting end switch SWTX1to start mutual resonance.

FIG. 22is a flowchart illustrating an example of a wireless energy reception method. In2210, the wireless energy reception apparatus determines whether a wireless energy transmission apparatus is present based on whether an amount of energy is stored in a target resonator.

In2220, when the wireless energy transmission apparatus is determined to be absent, the wireless energy reception apparatus waits for a predetermined period. After the wireless energy reception apparatus waits for a predetermined period, the wireless energy reception apparatus repeats operation2210.

In2230, when the wireless energy transmission apparatus capable of mutual resonance is determined to be present, the wireless energy reception apparatus determines whether a charging amount of a battery in the wireless energy reception apparatus is greater than a critical value.

In2240, when the charging amount of the battery is determined to be greater than the critical value, the wireless energy reception apparatus turns on SWRX1in an off-resonant interval of (0≦t<TRX/2) to connect a target resonator to an impedance changing a resonant frequency of the target resonator, and turns on SWRX2to connect the target resonator to the battery. In this case, 50% of a cycle of SWRX1is a turn-on time and the other 50% is a turn-off time.

In a resonant interval of TRX/2≦t<TRX, the wireless energy reception apparatus turns off SWRX1to disconnect the target resonator from the impedance changing the resonant frequency of the target resonator, and turns off SWRX2to disconnect the target resonator from the battery.

In2250, when the charging amount of the battery is determined to be not greater than the critical value, the wireless energy reception apparatus turns off SWRX1to disconnect the target resonator from the impedance changing the resonant frequency of the target resonator, and turns on SWRX2to connect the target resonator to the battery to enable an amount of energy stored in the target resonator to be transmitted to the battery through continuous mutual resonance with a source resonator.

According to the examples described above, the operations necessary for synchronization between a transmitting end transmitting wireless energy and a receiving end receiving wireless energy may be processed at the transmitting end, so that energy consumed at the receiving end for synchronization may be saved.

According to the examples described above, the synchronization necessary for transmission and reception of energy and data between a transmitting end and a receiving end may be processed at the transmitting end, so that a control operation of the receiving end may be eased and a complex circuit of the receiving end may be simplified.

The switch unit130, the switch unit160, the control unit220, the control unit250, the scanning unit410, the induced energy estimating unit420, the transmitting end energy calculating unit421, the total energy calculating unit423, the receiving end energy estimating unit425, the control unit430, the measuring unit431, the first determining unit433, the second determining unit435, the receiving unit510, and the control unit520described above may be implemented using one or more hardware components, one or more software components, or a combination of one or more hardware components and one or more software components.

A hardware component may be, for example, a physical device that physically performs one or more operations, but is not limited thereto. Examples of hardware components include resistors, capacitors, inductors, power supplies, frequency generators, operational amplifiers, power amplifiers, low-pass filters, high-pass filters, band-pass filters, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and processing devices.

A software component may be implemented, for example, by a processing device controlled by software or instructions to perform one or more operations, but is not limited thereto. A computer, controller, or other control device may cause the processing device to run the software or execute the instructions. One software component may be implemented by one processing device, or two or more software components may be implemented by one processing device, or one software component may be implemented by two or more processing devices, or two or more software components may be implemented by two or more processing devices.

A processing device may be implemented using one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers, such as, for example, a processor, a controller and an arithmetic logic unit, a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field-programmable array, a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, or any other device capable of running software or executing instructions. The processing device may run an operating system (OS), and may run one or more software applications that operate under the OS. The processing device may access, store, manipulate, process, and create data when running the software or executing the instructions. For simplicity, the singular term “processing device” may be used in the description, but one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a processing device may include multiple processing elements and multiple types of processing elements. For example, a processing device may include one or more processors, or one or more processors and one or more controllers. In addition, different processing configurations are possible, such as parallel processors or multi-core processors.

A processing device configured to implement a software component to perform an operation A may include a processor programmed to run software or execute instructions to control the processor to perform operation A. In addition, a processing device configured to implement a software component to perform an operation A, an operation B, and an operation C may have various configurations, such as, for example, a processor configured to implement a software component to perform operations A, B, and C; a first processor configured to implement a software component to perform operation A, and a second processor configured to implement a software component to perform operations B and C; a first processor configured to implement a software component to perform operations A and B, and a second processor configured to implement a software component to perform operation C; a first processor configured to implement a software component to perform operation A, a second processor configured to implement a software component to perform operation B, and a third processor configured to implement a software component to perform operation C; a first processor configured to implement a software component to perform operations A, B, and C, and a second processor configured to implement a software component to perform operations A, B, and C, or any other configuration of one or more processors each implementing one or more of operations A, B, and C. Although these examples refer to three operations A, B, C, the number of operations that may implemented is not limited to three, but may be any number of operations required to achieve a desired result or perform a desired task.

Software or instructions for controlling a processing device to implement a software component may include a computer program, a piece of code, an instruction, or some combination thereof, for independently or collectively instructing or configuring the processing device to perform one or more desired operations. The software or instructions may include machine code that may be directly executed by the processing device, such as machine code produced by a compiler, and/or higher-level code that may be executed by the processing device using an interpreter. The software or instructions and any associated data, data files, and data structures may be embodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component, physical or virtual equipment, computer storage medium or device, or a propagated signal wave capable of providing instructions or data to or being interpreted by the processing device. The software or instructions and any associated data, data files, and data structures also may be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the software or instructions and any associated data, data files, and data structures are stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

For example, the software or instructions and any associated data, data files, and data structures may be recorded, stored, or fixed in one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be any data storage device that is capable of storing the software or instructions and any associated data, data files, and data structures so that they can be read by a computer system or processing device. Examples of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), flash memory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD+Rs, CD-RWs, CD+RWs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-Rs, DVD+Rs, DVD-RWs, DVD+RWs, DVD-RAMs, BD-ROMs, BD-Rs, BD-R LTHs, BD-REs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, magneto-optical data storage devices, optical data storage devices, hard disks, solid-state disks, or any other non-transitory computer-readable storage medium known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the examples disclosed herein can be easily constructed by a programmer skilled in the art to which the examples pertain based on the drawings and their corresponding descriptions as provided herein.