Abstract:
A wireless charging method and device have been disclosed. The wireless charging device includes at least two electrodes arranged separately and used for contact with a conductive contact of a power receiving device, and a power supply circuit that is electrically connected to the electrodes and supplies power according to association between all electrodes in contact with the conductive contact. The method includes the following steps: S1: setting electrodes of a wireless charging device to a detection state; S2: detecting whether the electrodes are in contact with a conductive contact of a power receiving device; S3: determining association between all electrodes in contact with the conductive contact, and setting polarity of the electrodes respectively; and S4: connecting a power supply corresponding to the polarity according to the polarity of the electrodes. The method and device have advantages of convenient use and ideal universality.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to charging devices, and more particularly to wireless charging methods and devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    With developments in science and technology, more and more electric equipments are used in people&#39;s life. During their usage, the electric equipments or batteries thereof are powered by directly connecting to a power source through a power plug. There will thus be increasing power plugs with the increasing electric equipments. This may bring about inconvenient operation to users. 
         [0003]    In addition, different electric equipments usually employ different power plugs, and thus an adapter should be equipped for adapting different power plugs. Therefore, the user has to use many power adapters, which not only goes against energy conservation and environment protection but also results in huge wasting of resources. 
         [0004]    Besides, when it is needed to charge a plurality of electric equipments at the same time, a plurality of power adapters are used simultaneously and power strip(s) is/are additionally employed in this case. Moreover, connection lines of the power adapters easily twist with each other, thus causing inconvenience in the usage to the users. 
       SUMMARY OF THIS DISCLOSURE 
       [0005]    The technical problem to be solved in this disclosure is to provide wireless charging methods and devices with convenient operation and excellent universality. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect, a wireless charging method is provided for solving above technical problem. The method includes the following steps: 
         [0007]    S1: setting electrodes of a wireless charging device to a detection state; 
         [0008]    S2: detecting whether the electrodes are in contact with a conductive contact of a power receiving device; 
         [0009]    S3: determining association between all the electrodes that are in contact with the conductive contact, and setting polarity of these electrodes respectively; and 
         [0010]    S4: connecting to a power source corresponding to the polarity according to the polarity of the electrodes. 
         [0011]    In the wireless charging method of this disclosure, a micro voltage is loaded onto the electrodes so as to make the electrodes be in a to-be-detected state in the step S1. 
         [0012]    In the wireless charging method of this disclosure, the electrodes are determined to be in contact with the conductive contact in the step S2 when the micro voltage on the electrodes changes. 
         [0013]    In the wireless charging method of this disclosure, there are a plurality of the electrodes. 
         [0014]    In the step S3, one of the electrodes which is in contact with the conductive contact is taken as a reference, while scanning the remaining electrodes successively, wherein the electrode(s) in short connection with the electrode as the reference is/are set as a same polarity while the electrode(s) not in short connection with the electrode as the reference is/are set as a different polarity. 
         [0015]    In the wireless charging method of this disclosure, each of the electrodes is connected with a positive switching circuit and a negative switching circuit. 
         [0016]    In the step S4, the positive switching circuit or the negative switching circuit correspondingly connected with the electrodes is controlled to be switched on according to the polarity set in the step S3 so as to connect the power receiving device to the power source. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect, a wireless charging device is further provided, which includes at least two electrodes and a power supply circuit. The at least two electrodes are arranged separately and operable for contacting with a conductive contact of a power receiving device. The power supply circuit is electrically connected with the electrodes and is operable to supply power according to association between all the electrodes that are in contact with the conductive contact. 
         [0018]    In the wireless charging device of this disclosure, the power supply circuit includes a detection circuit, a switching circuit, a control circuit and a power circuit, wherein the power circuit is connected with the detection circuit, the switching circuit and the control circuit for supplying power. 
         [0019]    The detection circuit is electrically connected with each of the electrodes for detecting whether the electrodes are in contact with the conductive contact. 
         [0020]    The switching circuit is electrically connected with each of the electrodes for switching on or switching off the power supplied to the electrodes. 
         [0021]    The control circuit is connected with the detection circuit and the switching circuit, wherein based on whether each of the electrodes is in contact with the conductive contact detected by the detection circuit, the control circuit is operable to send out a control signal to the switching circuit so that each of the electrodes is controlled to connect to or disconnect from the power circuit. 
         [0022]    In the wireless charging device of this disclosure, the control circuit includes a detection setting module. The detection setting module is operable to take one of the electrodes that is in contact with the conductive contact as a reference while scanning the remaining electrodes, wherein the electrode(s) in short connection with the electrode as the reference is/are set as a same polarity and the electrode(s) not in short connection with the electrode as the reference is/are set as a different polarity. 
         [0023]    The control module is operable to output an on-off control signal to the switching circuit according to a setting result of the detection setting module. 
         [0024]    In the wireless charging device of this disclosure, the switching circuit includes a positive switching circuit and a negative switching circuit which are simultaneously connected with each of the electrodes. 
         [0025]    The detection circuit includes a plurality of detection units, wherein each of the detection units is electrically connected with one of the electrodes. 
         [0026]    The positive switching circuit includes a plurality of positive switching units, where each of the positive switching units is electrically connected with one of the electrodes. 
         [0027]    The negative switching circuit includes a plurality of negative switching units, where each of the negative switching units is electrically connected with one of the electrodes. 
         [0028]    The positive switching unit and the negative switching unit connected with the same electrode are controlled by the control circuit to be alternatively switched on or simultaneously switched off 
         [0029]    In the wireless charging device of this disclosure, the electrodes and the power supply circuit are integrally arranged with each other. Alternatively, the electrodes and the power supply circuit are separately arranged and electrically connected with each other through wire or contact. 
         [0030]    When implementing this disclosure, the following advantageous effects can be achieved: whether the electrode is powered on or the polarity of the electrode is set by detecting the status of the conductive contact on the electrode of the wireless charging device, and the association between the electrode and the conductive contact can be matched automatically, so that the power supply can be achieved by freely placing the power receiving device on the wireless charging device, thus having the advantages of convenient operation and excellent universality. 
         [0031]    Additionally, a plurality of power receiving devices can be simultaneously placed on the wireless charging device by arranging a plurality of electrodes. In this way, the a plurality of power receiving devices can be powered simultaneously, thereby avoiding the inconvenience of using a plurality of power adapters in the prior art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    Below this disclosure will be further described with reference to accompanying drawings and embodiments. In the figures: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram for an embodiment of a wireless charging device in this disclosure; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating round electrodes of a wireless charging device in this disclosure; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating rectangle electrodes of a wireless charging device in this disclosure; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating round electrodes in staggered arrangement of a wireless charging device in this disclosure; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram for a wireless charging device in this disclosure; 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram for an embodiment of a power receiving device in this disclosure; 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating one state in which a power receiving device is placed on a wireless charging device in this disclosure; 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating another state in which a power receiving device is placed on a wireless charging device in this disclosure; 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating a working process of a power receiving device in this disclosure; 
           [0042]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram illustrating round electrodes in another embodiment of a wireless charging device in this disclosure; 
           [0043]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram illustrating rectangle electrodes in another embodiment of a wireless charging device in this disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , one embodiment for a wireless charging device  100  of this disclosure is represented. The wireless charging device  100  can be used for providing a power receiving device with a power supply platform so as to facilitate the usage of the power receiving device. 
         [0045]    The wireless charging device  100  includes a support main body  110 . A plurality of electrodes  111  are disposed on a surface of the support main body  110 , and an insulation gap  112  is located between the electrodes  111  to respectively separate the a plurality of electrodes  111 . The electrodes  111  can each connect to a charging power source for being powered by accessing the power source. 
         [0046]    As shown in figures, the support main body  110  in this embodiment is a flat-panel main body, of which the shape and the size can be adjusted as required. 
         [0047]    The electrodes  111  which are square-shaped are arranged in matrix form with equal spacing on the support main body  110 . It can be understood that the electrodes  111  can be set to have any other shape as required, such as round shape (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), rectangle shape (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), prismatic shape, trapezoid shape, and irregular shape and so on. 
         [0048]    For facilitating the arrangement of the electrodes  111 , the electrodes  111  are usually arranged to be regularly and equally spaced. In some circumstance in need of special design, those electrodes  111  can also be arranged irregularly or without equal spacing. As shown in  FIG. 4 , it is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrodes  111  in staggered arrangement. 
         [0049]    Further, the number of the electrodes  111  can be designed based on actual needs, as long as at least two electrodes are included in the wireless charging device. In this embodiment, the support main body  110  is an insulated flat-panel main body. The electrodes  111  are directly affixed on the surface of the support main body  110 , and then the insulation gap  112  is naturally formed between the electrodes  111 . Some recesses and/or clamping elements can also be disposed on the support main body  110 , where the electrodes  111  are embedded and fixed on the support main body  110 . Besides, insulation paste can be filled between the electrodes  111  to prevent the short connection between the electrodes  111 . 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the electrodes  111  of the wireless charging device  100  are connected to a power supply circuit which supplies power based on the association between all the electrodes that are in contact with conductive contact(s). Besides, the power supply circuit can be directly disposed within the support main body  110 . Alternatively, the power supply circuit can be disposed within an independent housing and then electrically connected with the electrodes  111  through wire, flat cable or contact. 
         [0051]    The power supply circuit includes a detection circuit  120 , a switching circuit  130 , a control circuit  140  and a power circuit, wherein the power circuit is connected with the detection circuit  120 , the switching circuit  130  and the control circuit  140  for supplying power. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the detection circuit  120  is electrically connected with each electrode  111  for detecting whether the electrodes  111  are in contact with the conductive contact(s)  151 . The detection circuit  120  includes a plurality of detection units  121 , where each of the detection units  121  is electrically connected with one electrode  111  correspondingly. A micro voltage is loaded onto the electrodes  111  by the detection unit  121 , so that each of the electrodes  111  is in a to-be-detected state and whether the electrode is in contact with the conductive contact  151  is detected. Furthermore, when there is the conductive contact  151  for contacting, trigger signal is generated to the control circuit  140  for further determination and setting. 
         [0053]    The switching circuit  130  is electrically connected with each electrode  111  for switching on or switching off the power supplied to the electrodes  111 . In this embodiment, the switching circuit  130  includes a positive switching circuit and a negative switching circuit which are simultaneously connected with each electrode  111 . The positive switching circuit or the negative switching circuit is selected by the control circuit  140  to operate for connecting to the corresponding electrode  111 . 
         [0054]    In this embodiment, the positive switching circuit includes a plurality of positive switching units  131 , where each of the positive switching units  131  is electrically connected with one of the electrodes  111 . The negative switching circuit includes a plurality of negative switching units  132 , where each of the negative switching units  132  is electrically connected with one of the electrodes  111 . Each electrode  111  correspondingly connects with one positive switching unit  131  and one negative switching unit  132  for freely setting the polarity of the electrode  111 . 
         [0055]    The control circuit  140  is connected with the detection circuit  120  and the switching circuit  130 , wherein based on whether each of the electrodes  111  is in contact with the conductive contact  151  detected by the detection circuit  120 , the control circuit  140  is operable to send out a control signal to the switching circuit  130  so that each of the electrodes  111  is controlled to connect to or disconnect from the power circuit. In this embodiment, in order to set the polarity of the electrodes  111 , the positive switching unit  131  and the negative switching unit  132  connected with the same electrode  111  are controlled by the control circuit  140  to be alternatively switched on or simultaneously switched off. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the control circuit  140  includes a detection setting module  141  and a control module  142 . The detection setting module  141  is connected with the detection circuit  120 . Based on the trigger signal inputted from the detection circuit  120 , the detection setting module  141  is operable to take one of the electrodes  111  that is in contact with the conductive contact  151  as a reference while scanning the remaining electrodes  111 , wherein the electrode(s)  111  in short connection with the electrode  111  as the reference is/are set as a same polarity and the electrode(s)  111  not in short connection with the electrode  111  as the reference is/are set as a different polarity. 
         [0057]    The control module  142  is connected with the switching circuit  130  and the detection setting module  141 , and it is operable to output an on-off control signal to the switching circuit  130  according to a setting result of the detection setting module  141 , so that the switching circuit  130  can control the disconnection or the polarity for connection of the corresponding electrode(s)  111 . 
         [0058]    Besides, it is needed to note that the polarity of the conductive contact in contact with the electrode (i.e., the polarity of an input port of the power module in connection with the conductive contact) can be detected by the detection unit of the corresponding power supply circuit after the electrode is in contact with the conductive contact of the power receiving device. When the polarity is detected to be a positive electrode, the corresponding positive switching unit is controlled to be switched on so as to connect the electrode with a positive output end of the power circuit. On the other hand, when the polarity is detected to be a negative electrode, the corresponding negative switching unit is controlled to be switched on so as to connect the electrode with a negative output end of the power circuit. Alternatively, the power supply circuit may also not detect the polarity of the conductive contact in contact with the electrode. Instead, the electrode is randomly allocated by the control circuit to connect with the positive output end or the negative output end of the power circuit, while the polarity of the electrode in contact with the conductive contact (i.e., the polarity of the output end of the power circuit in connection with this electrode) is detected within the power receiving device, and the two output ends of the power circuit are then correspondingly connected to two input ends of the power module. 
         [0059]    Further, for the purpose of ensuring secure and stable operation of the wireless charging device  100 , the wireless charging device  100  can also include a safety protection circuit, an over-current protection circuit and a power sensing circuit. 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , it is a schematic diagram for an embodiment of the power receiving device  150  in this disclosure. This power receiving device can cooperate with the above-described wireless charging device  100 . With reference to  FIG. 7 , the power receiving device  150  includes two conductive contacts  151 , which can be in contact with the electrodes  111  of the wireless charging device  100  such that power is supplied to the power receiving device  150  through connecting to a power source. Aiming at convenient operation, more than two conductive contacts  151  can also be arranged as required, undoubtedly. 
         [0061]    Please referring to  FIG. 8 , such two conductive contacts  151  are needed to cooperate with the electrodes  111  of the wireless charging device  100 . The smallest edge distance D of a single conductive contact  151  is larger than the size X of the insulation gap  112  between the electrodes  111 , such that the whole conductive contact  151  is avoided to fall into the insulation gap  112 , thereby ensuring that the conductive contact  151  always has electrical contact with the electrode(s)  111  when the power receiving device  150  is placed on the support main body  110 . 
         [0062]    Meanwhile, the smallest distance C between edges of adjacent conductive contacts  151  is larger than a largest edge distance L of a single electrode  111 , thus ensuring the adjacent conductive contacts  151  are prevented from electrically contacting with a same electrode  111 . That is, the two adjacent conductive contacts  151  are ensured to have electrical contact with two different electrodes  111 . In this way, two electrodes  111  can be set as different polarities to form a power supply loop. 
         [0063]    The power receiving device  150  further includes a power module connected with the conductive contact  151 . The power module includes one or more of toy, game equipment, cell phone, battery, charger, handheld equipment, electric tool, power connector, electric cup, music player, camera, calculator, remote controller, video tape recorder, video player, fax machine, PDA beauty equipment, electric shaver, electric tooth brush, electric hair cutter, television, refrigerator. The power module is directly powered by connecting to the power source through the conductive contacts  151 . 
         [0064]    In another implementation, the power receiving device  150  can include a housing. The conductive contacts  151  are disposed on a back surface or any other position of the housing. Meanwhile, an interface module electrically connected with the conductive contact  151  is disposed within the housing. The housing is matched with the shape of some electronic equipment (such as cell phone, PDA, tablet computer etc.), and the interface module is matched with a charging interface of the electronic equipment. The housing is sleeved onto the periphery of the electronic equipment while the interface module is inserted into the charging interface of the electronic equipment. In this way, the power source can be accessed by the conductive contacts  151  and transmitted to the electronic equipment through the interface module, and thus the electronic equipment is powered. 
         [0065]    A wireless charging system is consisted of the above-described wireless charging device  100  and power receiving device  150 . During operation, the power receiving device  150  is directly placed on the wireless charging device  100 , and two conductive contacts  151  of the power receiving device  150  respectively have electrically contacted with at least two electrodes  111  of the wireless charging device  100 . In this way, the power receiving device  150  is powered by the wireless charging device  100 . 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , when using such wireless charging system for wireless charging operation, the electrodes  111  of the wireless charging device  100  are first set to a detection state. In this embodiment, each detection unit  121  of the detection circuit  120  loads a micro voltage onto the electrodes  111  correspondingly connected with the detection unit, so as to make each electrode  111  be in a to-be-detected state. 
         [0067]    Subsequently, whether the electrodes  111  are in contact with the conductive contact  151  of the power receiving device  150  is detected. When the electrode  111  is in contact with the conductive contact  151 , its micro voltage may change, and the trigger signal is thus generated and sent to the control circuit  140 . After receiving the trigger signal, the control circuit  140  can then determine whether the electrode  111  is in contact with the conductive contact  151 . 
         [0068]    After that, association between all the electrodes  111  that are in contact with the conductive contact  151  is determined, and the polarity of the electrodes  111  is set respectively. In this embodiment, based on the trigger signal from the detection unit  121 , the detection setting module  141  of the control circuit  140  takes one of the electrodes  111  that is in contact with the conductive contact  151  as the reference while successively scanning the remaining electrodes  111 , wherein the electrode(s)  111  in short connection with the electrode  111  as the reference is/are set as a same polarity and the electrode(s)  111  not in short connection with the electrode  111  as the reference is/are set as a different polarity. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , they illustrate several contact situations between the electrodes  111  and the conductive contacts  151 . When two conductive contacts  151  are respectively in contact with two electrodes  111  as shown in  FIG. 7 , the polarity of the two electrodes  111  can be simply set as one positive electrode and one negative electrode. As what is shown in  FIG. 8 , when the conductive contact  151  is simultaneously in contact with a plurality of electrodes  111 , all these electrodes  111  are set to have the same polarity, and the a plurality of electrodes  111  simultaneously operate for power supply. 
         [0069]    It can be understood that when a plurality of power receiving devices  150  are placed on the wireless charging device  100  at the same time, those operations described above can also be performed to set the polarity, and the a plurality of power receiving devices  150  can be powered simultaneously. 
         [0070]    According to the polarity set for the electrodes  111 , the power source corresponding to the polarity is then connected. In this embodiment, since each electrode  111  is connected with the positive switching unit  131  of the positive switching circuit and the negative switching unit  132  of the negative switching circuit, the control module  142  of the control circuit  140  sends corresponding control signal to the positive switching unit  131  and the negative switching unit  132  during the control process, and the positive switching circuit or the negative switching circuit correspondingly connected with the electrode  111  is thus controlled to be switched on, such that a power supply loop is achieved to connect the power receiving device  150  to the power source. 
         [0071]    As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , they are schematic diagrams for another embodiment of a wireless charging device  200  in this disclosure. Electrodes on a support main body of this wireless charging device  200  include a first electrode  211   a  and a second electrode  211   b.  The second electrode  211   b  surrounds the periphery of the first electrode  211   a,  and an insulation gap  212  is located between the first electrode  211   a  and the second electrode  211   b.  Insulation material can be filled into the insulation gap  212 . Alternatively, when the support main body is made of insulation material, the insulation gap can be left empty. 
         [0072]    In this embodiment, both the first electrode  211   a  and the second electrode  211   b  can adopt regular shapes such as round shape ( FIG. 10 ) or square shape ( FIG. 11 ). Any other shape such as ellipse, prismatic shape, trapezoid shape, irregular shape can also be used. 
         [0073]    As shown in figures, the insulation gap  212  has equal distance between the first electrode  211   a  and the second electrode  211   b,  in which case it is convenient to place the power receiving device in a flexible way. As required, the distance of the insulation gap  212  can also be adjusted to be arranged unequally or irregularly, in which case the distance of the conductive contact of the power receiving device needs to be adjusted correspondingly. 
         [0074]    Further, in order to prevent the power receiving device from exceeding the power supply range by the electrode of the wireless charging device  200 , a limit flange  213  is also disposed around the periphery of the second electrode  211   b  so that the power receiving device can be placed within a range defined by the limit flange  213  to ensure the electrical contact between the conductive contact and the electrode. 
         [0075]    Other structures and working principle in this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, therefore, which are not repeated here. 
         [0076]    In addition, this disclosure is described through embodiments. However, this disclosure is not limited to those embodiments. The skilled in the art know that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure.