Patent Description:
Wireless charging techniques can be used to provide power from a charger to a wireless power receiver without a wired connection. For example, a power transmitting coil of a charger and a power receiving coil of a mobile device can be inductively coupled so that power is transferred from the charger to the mobile device.

<CIT> describes a wireless power transmitter and receiver and a method for producing same. The wireless power transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a plurality of coils for transmitting alternating current power; a plurality of resonance circuits corresponding to the plurality of coils; a drive circuit connected to the plurality of resonance circuits; a plurality of switches for connecting the plurality of resonance circuits with the drive circuit; and a shielding material integrated with one or more coils of the plurality of coils. According to one embodiment, when the plurality of wireless power receivers are connected, a controller may transmit the power through time-division multiplexing according to the transfer coils. For example, the controller controls the multiplexer so that the power can be transmitted through a specific transfer coil in a specific timeslot.

<CIT> describes an electronic device that includes a wireless transmitter coupled to a power supply and an impedance matching circuit coupled to output terminals of the wireless transmitter. First switching circuitry of the impedance matching circuit, in response to a first control signal, is to switch either a first transmitter coil or a first conductive path in series between the output terminals. Second switching circuitry of the impedance matching circuit, in response to a second control signal, is to switch either a second transmitter coil or a second conductive path in series between the output terminals. The first transmitter and first conductive path have the same impedance and the second transmitter and the second conductive path have the same impedance.

<CIT> describes a dynamic inductive wireless power transmitter system with a power transmitter module. The power transmitter module includes a normally closed module short circuiting switch that configured to bypass regulated DC current around a module LC input filter.

Various aspects of the present invention are defined in the independent claims. Some preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

In some implementations, a wireless charger uses time-division multiplexing to transfer power wirelessly to multiple devices. For example, the wireless charger can use a single inverter or driver circuit, but alternate between charging different devices in different time periods. The wireless charger includes multiple power transmission coil segments, which are different portions of a single coil. The different coil segments are arranged at different locations on the wireless charger, allowing multiple devices to be placed on the wireless charger for charging at the same time. The wireless charger then varies which coil segments are energized, for example, by alternating among coil segments where devices to be charged have been placed. For example, if three devices are simultaneously placed on the wireless charger over three different coil segments, the wireless charger can repeat a series of charging cycles, where each charging cycle includes driving the first coil for a first period of time, driving the second coil for a second period of time, and driving the third coil for a third period of time. In this manner, the charger provides power through the multiple coil segments one at a time, e.g., in a round robin fashion. Even though charging of a specific device is not continuous when multiple devices are charged concurrently, charging can be controlled so that, for each charging coil that has a device present, the amount of time between the periods of power transfer is less than a charging timeout period for the device being charged. In other words, the charger can maintain charging connections active for all devices present by setting the power transfer time periods to a sufficiently short duration that power transfer always resumes before the charging timeout period ends.

The wireless charger includes driver circuitry to energize the coil segments and control circuitry that causes the coil segments to transmit wireless power at different times. As a result, the wireless charger can alternate wireless power delivery between different coil segments. For example, the coil segments can be electrically connected in series with each other, and a single driver circuit can be used to provide a drive signal to all of the coil segments. To selectively charge specific coil segments, a bypass circuit path can be provided for each coil segment, to selectively route drive signals around the coil segment. As an example, the bypass circuit path can include a switch, e.g., one or more transistors, controlled by the control circuitry of the wireless charger. When the switch is open, the drive signal is routed directly through the coil segment and the coil segment is active, e.g., energized and transmitting power. When the switch is closed, the switch completes the connection along the bypass circuit path to provide a low-impedance path in parallel with the coil segment, so that most or virtually all of the drive signal is routed around the corresponding coil segment. The control circuitry can control the switches of the bypass circuit paths so that over the course of charging only one switch is open at a time, resulting in only one coil segment being active or fully energized a time. Generally, the current flowing through bypassed coil segments is minimal, often to the extent that bypassed coil segments do not transfer power sufficient to maintain a charging connection with a device. For example, the current through or output from bypassed coil segments may be less than <NUM>%, less than <NUM>%, or less than <NUM>% of the current through or output from an active coil segment that is not bypassed.

The wireless charger can detect which coil segments have a chargeable device nearby in position for charging. When multiple devices are detected, the wireless charger selectively activates the charging coils using the bypass paths to alternate which coil segment is active and used to transmit power. For example, if two devices to be charged are detected, the charger will open and close the bypass paths to cause the two devices to be charged in alternating time periods.

In some implementations, communication between the charger and device being charged also occurs during the time slots or time periods that each device is assigned to receive power. For example, communication between the charger and a particular device may occur only during power transfer time slots assigned for that device, and may occur over the inductive link between the charger's power transmission coil and the device's power receiving coil. The charger may use the communication link to obtain information such as an amount of power requested by a device, a device type for the device, a charging timeout period for the device, and/or other information.

The techniques discussed in this document can provide one or more of the following advantages. For example, a charger can be able to concurrently charge multiple devices. This ability to charge multiple devices is provided even when the charger uses only a single inverter or driver circuit. Similarly, the resources of the driver circuit can be shared for all devices to be charged, for example, a modulator, a demodulator, a power capability, and so on of the power transmitter in the charger can be shared. These aspects allow for design simplicity and a low number of components, which can provide for a small size, low component count, and low cost.

In addition, the charger can allow charging of multiple devices concurrently without any mutual coupling between transmitters. The arrangement can maintain safety and foreign object detection even with concurrent charging of multiple devices. Each charging area of the charger, e.g., each coil segment of the charger, can be separately and independently measured and tested, allowing problems to be individually detected and localized. The charger can also facilitate manufacturing and reduce cost through the ability to charge multiple devices using a single coil assembly, e.g., with coil segments in series or even as a single integral coil with sub-coil wings or areas.

In one general aspect, a wireless charger is configured to charge a plurality of devices using time division multiplexing. The wireless charger comprises multiple power transmission coil segments, which are selectively activated at different times to concurrently charge the multiple devices. For example, output of a single driver can be routed to activate different power transmission coil segments at different times. The charger can be configured to perform charging by repeating a cycle in which each of multiple devices receives power through a corresponding transmission coil segment for only a portion of the cycle. The charger can activate the transmission coil segments one at a time so that a single device is charged at a time during charging sub-slots within the cycle.

In another general aspect, a method performed by a wireless charger includes: detecting multiple devices to be charged at the wireless charger; and charging the multiple devices using time division multiplexing. The charging can be achieved by scheduling time slots to charge the devices, with charging time slots of each device being interleaved among charging time slots for each of the other devices.

In another general aspect, a wireless charger includes: one or more wireless power transmission coils comprising a plurality of coil segments, each of the coil segments being arranged to transmit power at a different region of the wireless charger; drive circuitry configured to apply a drive signal to the one or more wireless power transmission coils; bypass circuit paths configured to route drive signals around the respective coil segments; switch elements configured to enable and disable the bypass circuit paths; and control circuity configured to (i) detect the presence of devices to be charged at the different regions of the wireless charger, and (ii) control the switch elements such that, when devices to be charged are detected for at least two of the different regions, the wireless charger alternates between charging the devices at the least two different regions.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, in some implementations, the coil segments in the plurality of coil segments are electrically coupled in series with each other.

According to the invention, the coil segments in the plurality of coil segments are part of a single, monolithic coil.

In some implementations, the control circuity is configured so that, to cause the wireless charger to alternate between charging the devices, the control circuitry is configured to control the switch elements to (i) enable each of bypass circuit paths except one, and (ii) vary which one of the bypass circuit paths is disabled.

In some implementations, the control circuitry is configured to concurrently charge the devices at the at least two different regions using time-division multiplexing to alternate between charging the devices.

In some implementations, the one or more wireless power transmission coils are a single wireless power transmission coil and the plurality of coils segments are portions of the single wireless power transmission coil. Each of the different bypass circuit paths is arranged to provide a circuit path in parallel with a different portion of the single wireless power transmission coil.

In some implementations, the control circuitry is configured to activate the bypass circuit paths to cause only one of the coil segments to transmit power at a time.

In some implementations, the control circuitry is configured to detect devices at the different regions based on interaction of the devices with the coil segments.

In some implementations, the control circuitry is configured to detect devices at the different regions by attempting communication using different coil segments in respective periods of time.

In some implementations, the control circuitry is configured to repeatedly cycle through activation of each of the different coil segments one by one.

In some implementations, the control circuitry is configured to: determine a frame structure comprising an assigned time period for each detected device; and repeat the frame structure so that each detected devices communicates and or receives power during its assigned time period in the frame structure.

In some implementations, the wireless charger is configured to alternate between charging the devices at the least two different regions at a rate such that charging resumes for each of the devices before the end of a charging timeout period for each of the devices.

In some implementations, the wireless charger is configured to: determine, through communication with the respective devices located at the at least two different regions, a charging timeout period for each of the respective devices; determine timing for alternating between charging the devices at the least two different regions so that, when alternating between charging the devices at the least two different regions, a time period in which the coil segment for a device is not activated is less than the charging timeout period.

In some implementations, the wireless charger is configured to: determine a wireless charging power requested by each of the devices located at the at least two different regions; and provide the requested wireless charging power levels by charging the devices using intermittent periods of charging at higher power levels than requested by the devices.

In some implementations, the wireless charger is configured to: determine when the devices at the at least two regions request differing wireless power transmission levels; and provide the differing wireless power transmission levels to the devices by (i) varying the power output of the drive circuitry to provide different transmission power levels in alternating power transmission periods, and/or (ii) using charging periods of different durations for the respective devices.

In some implementations, the driver circuitry is a single driver that provides drive signals for all of the plurality of coil segments.

In some implementations, one or more of the switch elements comprises back-to-back transistors.

In some implementations, the wireless charger is configured to perform wireless charging using time-division multiplexing to concurrently charge the devices at the at least two different regions.

In some implementations, the wireless charger is configured so that only one of the coil segments is activated at a time.

In some implementations, in at least one mode of operation involving charging of multiple devices, the control circuitry is configured to operate the switch circuitry to bypass all of the coil segments except one at any given time, and to vary which of the coil segments is not bypassed to provide power to the devices in alternating time periods.

In some implementations, the wireless charger is configured to alternate between charging the devices at the least two different regions such that the coil segments for the at least two regions are activated for periods of less than one second in duration.

In some implementations, the wireless charger is configured to alternate between charging the devices at the least two different regions such that the coil segments for the at least two regions are each activated for periods of less than one half of a second in duration.

In another general aspect, a method includes: detecting, by a wireless charger having multiple power transmission coil segments, two or more devices to be charged that are respectively located proximate different power transmission coil segments of the wireless charger; applying, by the wireless charger, a drive signal to the power transmission coil segments, the power transmission coil segments being coupled in series with each other; and in response to detecting the two or more devices, selectively bypassing the power transmission coil segments, by the wireless charger, to alternate between charging the two or more devices.

In some implementations, selectively bypassing the power transmission coil segments comprises varying which power transmission coils are bypassed to activate different transmission coil segments in alternating time periods.

In some implementations, selectively bypassing the power transmission coil segments comprises charging the two or more devices in a time-division multiplexing mode in which each of the power transmission coils is bypassed except one, and the power transmission coil that is not bypassed is varied by the wireless charger.

In some implementations, selectively bypassing the power transmission coil segments to alternate between charging the two or more devices comprises selectively bypassing the power transmission coil segments with respective low-impedance shunts that route the majority of current away from the corresponding power transmission coil segments.

In some implementations, the wireless charger includes only a single driver for the power transmission coil segments, and wherein applying the drive signal to the power transmission coil segments comprises applying a drive signal from only the single driver to the power transmission coil segments.

According to the invention, the power transmission coil segments are part of a single, monolithic power transmission coil.

In some implementations, the wireless charger comprises: drive circuitry configured to apply a drive signal to the one or more wireless power transmission coils; bypass circuit paths configured to route drive signals around the respective coil segments; and switch elements configured to enable and disable the bypass circuit paths.

In some implementations, each switch element comprises back-to-back transistors, e.g., two transistors arranged back-to-back to block current flow in both directions.

In some implementations, the method includes alternating between charging the two or more devices at a rate such that each of the two or more devices has a charging session that is maintained active as the wireless charger alternates between charging the two or more devices.

In some implementations, the method includes alternating between charging the two or more devices such that charging resumes for each of the two or more devices before the end of a charging timeout period for each of the two or more devices.

In some implementations, the method includes determining, through communication with the respective devices located at the at least two different regions, a charging timeout period for at least one of the two or more devices; and determining timing for alternating between charging the devices at the at least two different regions such that a time period in which the coil segment for a device is not activated is less than the charging timeout period.

In some implementations, detecting the two or more devices to be charged comprises sequentially attempting communication using different coil segments in respective periods of time.

Other embodiments of these aspects and other aspects disclosed herein include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer programs, configured to perform the actions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices. A system of one or more computers can be so configured by virtue of software, firmware, hardware, or a combination of them installed on the system that in operation cause the system to perform the actions. One or more computer programs can be so configured by virtue having instructions that, when executed by data processing apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the actions.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an example of a wireless charger <NUM> that can be used to wirelessly transfer power to devices using time-division multiplexing. <FIG> is a perspective view of the charger <NUM> of <FIG> showing examples of positions of wireless power transfer coil segments CS1-CS3 of the charger <NUM>.

The charger <NUM> includes driver circuitry <NUM>, control circuitry <NUM>, and one or more wireless power transmission coils <NUM> that provide multiple coil segments CS1-CS3. The coil segments CS1-CS3 can be used to charge multiple devices concurrently, e.g., with a different device able to be charged by each different coil segment CS1-CS3. The charger <NUM> can activate the coil segments CS1-CS3 one by one in a repeating pattern to charge devices using time-division multiplexing.

Each coil segment CS1-CS3 has a corresponding bypass path BP1-BP3 that can be selectively enabled and disabled by the control circuitry <NUM>. As discussed further below, the control circuitry <NUM> can use the bypass paths BP1-BP3 to vary which of the different coil segment CS1-CS3 transmits power at any given time. In particular, the control circuitry <NUM> can use the bypass paths BP1-BP3 to cause only one coil segment CS1-CS3 to be active at any given time, and to change which of the coil segments CS1-CS3 is active at different time periods. The control circuitry <NUM> can thus control the bypass paths BP1-BP3 to control the coil segments CS1-CS3 to respectively provide power in separate time slots assigned by the control circuitry <NUM>.

The charger <NUM> can operate generally according to Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) QI inductive power transfer. For example, the resonant frequency of the transmitter and the receiver are roughly matched to about <NUM>, although different resonant frequencies could be used.

In general, each of the coil segments CS1-CS3 can have roughly the same inductance. Typically, the inductance of a single coil segment CS1-CS3 is in a range from 1µH to <NUM>µH.

When any of the coil segments CS1-CS3 detects an appropriate device to receive power, the control circuitry <NUM> adds that coil segment CS1-CS3 to the power transfer sequence. In the power transfer sequence, time slots are assigned between different coil segment CS1-CS3 based on the requested power of the respective devices, the received power of the respective devices, and/or the receiver power capability of the respective devices.

During charging, only one of the switches S1-S3 will be open (e.g., not conducting or off so that the corresponding coil is not bypassed). This allows the system to isolate charging to a single coil segment CS1-CS3 and a single device for a time period within the time-division multiplexing scheme. To protect against a short circuit or overload, the control circuitry <NUM> ensure that the switches S1-S3 are never all turned on at the same time. For example, the control circuitry can insert a period of dead time, when all of the switches S1-S3 are off, between each time slot in the time-division multiplexing scheme.

In further detail, the one or more wireless power transmission coils <NUM> include multiple power transmission coil segments CS1-CS3. The coil segments CS1-CS3 can be designed to charge devices at different locations on the wireless charger <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the coil segments CS1-CS3 can be located within a housing of the charger <NUM>, with the coil segments CS1-CS3 located at different positions along a charging surface <NUM> of the charger <NUM>. The coil segments CS1-CS3 correspond to different locations on the charging surface <NUM> where devices can be placed
The coil segments CS1-CS3 can partially overlap in location or area along the charging surface <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. This can facilitate the ease of placement of a device to be charged on the charging surface <NUM>. For example, the charging surface <NUM> can include partially overlapping charging segments and thus avoid gaps where devices would not receive power, allowing the user to place a device to be charged anywhere in the region of the coil segments without needing to precisely align the device with a specific coil segment CS1-CS3. The charger <NUM> can then detect the device and select the coil segment CS1-CS3 providing the best inductive coupling. As discussed below, the charging pattern only activates one of the coil segments CS1-CS3 at a time, and so the charging coils do not electromagnetically interfere with each other during use despite the partially overlapping locations. Despite these potential advantages, advantageous chargers can be made without partially overlapping coil segments, and coil segments may optionally be placed at non-overlapping regions along the charger <NUM>.

The coil segments CS1-CS3 are electrically connected in series with each other, and all of the coil segments CS1-CS3 may be connected to only a single driver circuit. The coil segments CS1-CS3 are all part of a single power transmission coil <NUM>, for example, a single integral coil that has portions in different areas to provide the coil segments CS1-CS3. This arrangement can make manufacturing easier and lower costs.

Each of the coil segments CS1-CS3 has a corresponding bypass path BP1-BP3. The bypass paths BP1-BP3 are circuit routes located to be able to selectively shunt current around their respective coil segments CS1-CS3. For example, each bypass path BP1-BP3 can be a circuit segment in parallel with a single, specific coil segment CS1-CS3. Each bypass path BP1-BP3 has a switch S1-S3 that is controlled by the control circuitry <NUM>. For example, the switch may include a transistor, two back-to-back transistors, or other switch elements. For example, each switch S1-S3 can be a pair of MOSFETs arranged back-to-back to block current in both directions. The bypass paths BP1-BP3 are configured so that when the switches S1-S3 are closed, the bypass paths BP1-BP3 have much lower impedance than the corresponding coil segments CS1-CS3. As a result, when one of the switches S1-S3 is closed, most or nearly all of the current flows through the closed bypass path BP1-BP3 instead of through the parallel-connected coil segment CS1-CS3.

The bypass paths BP1-BP3 allow the charger <NUM> to deactivate each coil segment CS1-CS3 by closing its bypass path BP1-BP3 and routing current around the coil segment. In this condition, the coil segments CS1-CS3 with the closed bypass segments BP1-BP3 will are deactivated, as they have minimal current flowing through them and thus will transfer little or no power. In addition, deactivated coil segments CS1-CS3 will produce little or no output to interfere with an active coil segment CS1-CS3 that is used to transmit power. The bypass paths BP1-BP3 also allow the charger <NUM> to activate each coil segment CS1-CS3 at an appropriate time by opening its bypass path BP1-BP3 and routing current through the coil segment CS1-CS3. In other words, when the switch S1-S3 for a coil segment CS1-CS3 is open, all of the current from the driver circuitry passes through that coil segment CS1-CS3, and the coil segment CS1-CS3 is active and transmits power.

When there are multiple devices on the surface <NUM> to be charged, the control circuitry <NUM> controls the operation of the switches S1-S3 to charge the multiple devices using time-division multiplexing. The control circuitry <NUM> controls the switches S1-S3 so that only one switch S1-S3 is open at a time, and thus only one coil segment CS1-CS3 is active at a time. The control circuitry <NUM> then changes the switch activations to vary which coil segment CS1-CS3 is active.

If there are three devices on the surface <NUM> ready to be charged, with one over each of the coil segments CS1-CS3, then the control circuitry <NUM> can cycle through all three in a round-robin fashion. For example, the control circuitry <NUM> activates coil segment CS1, then activates coil segment CS2, and then activates coil segment CS3, and then continues activating the coil segments CS1-CS3 sequentially in the same manner. For example, the coil segments CS1-CS3 may be sequentially activated for <NUM> millisecond (ms) time periods. As a result, each device to be charged receives power for <NUM>, then does not receive power for <NUM> (as the other two devices are charged in their respective periods), then again receives power in another <NUM> power transfer period.

If there are two devices on the surface <NUM> ready to be charged, the control circuitry <NUM> can alternate between activating the two coil segments CS1-CS3 where the two devices are located. For example, using <NUM> time periods, the control circuitry <NUM> can cause one of the coil segments CS1-CS3 to be active for a first <NUM> period, then cause a second of the coil segments CS1-CS3 to be active for a second <NUM> time period, then repeat this cycle in an ongoing manner.

When only a single device to be charged is present on the surface <NUM>, the control circuitry <NUM> charges that device with a single coil segment CS1-CS3. For example, if the control circuitry <NUM> detects only a single device, located over coil segment CS1, then the control circuitry <NUM> opens the switch S1 so that the coil segment CS1 is active, e.g., with the entire drive current from the driver circuitry <NUM> passing through coil segment CS1. The control circuitry closes the switches S2 and S3 to route the drive current around coil segments CS2 and CS3, thus deactivating coil segments CS2 and CS3. With only a single device to be charged, the charger <NUM> does not need to change or multiplex which of the coil segments CS1-CS3 are active in order to carry out charging of the device. Nevertheless, the charger <NUM> can continue to perform multiplexing to enable detection of any additional devices that may be later placed on the surface <NUM>. For example, as discussed below, the charger <NUM> can periodically or occasionally interrupt charging for brief periods to test whether a device has been placed at one or more other coil segments CS1-CS3.

The charger <NUM> can be configured to communicate, e.g., to exchange data with, devices to be charged. This communication may occur through the inductive coupling between a power receiving coil of a device to be charged and a power transmission coil segment CS1-CS3. For example, the charger <NUM> may send information using frequency modulation of the output from the coil segment CS1-CS3. As another example, the charger <NUM> may use amplitude modulation of the output from the coil segment CS1-CS3. The device to be charged may modulate the impedance of its power receiving coil to communicate information to the charger <NUM>. Communication over the inductive coupling connection may occur in the time slots that the charger <NUM> assigns to the devices to be charged. For example, if a device is present at the coil segment CS1, then that device may receive information from and send information to the charger <NUM> during the time periods in which the coil segment CS1 is active (e.g., not bypassed because bypass path BP1 is open) while the coil segments CS2 and CS3 are deactivated (e.g., bypassed by their bypass paths BP2 and BP3 being closed).

In some implementations, the charger <NUM> may additionally or alternatively communicate with devices to be charged through communication channels separate from inductive coupling with the coil segments CS1-CS3. For example, the charger <NUM> may include a wireless radio-frequency transceiver to communicate with devices, e.g., via BLUETOOTH, WI-FI, or another communication protocol. When these communication channels are available, the charger <NUM> may not need to activate the coils in turn to detect the presence of device or receive charging requests and other information.

To detect the presence of devices to be charged, the control circuitry <NUM> can activate each coil segment CS1-CS3 in turn, cycling through the coil segments CS1-CS3 repeatedly in an attempt to detect electromagnetic coupling and/or communication from a nearby device. Accordingly, even when no devices to be charged have been detected yet, and power transfer is not occurring yet, the charger <NUM> can still cycle through the activation of the coil segments CS1-CS3 in an attempt to detect or communicate with any devices that may be newly placed on the charging surface <NUM>.

In some modes of operation, time-division multiplexing wireless charging activates only the coil segments CS1-CS3 where devices to be charged are placed. For example, if devices are located at coil segments CS1 and CS3, the control circuitry <NUM> can skip the activation of coil segment CS2 to reserve charging time periods for only the coil segments where devices to be charged are actually present. Nevertheless, the control circuitry <NUM> can occasionally assign time periods the coil segment CS2 to be active, even though a device was not yet detected there, in order to detect whether a device to be charged has been newly placed there.

As another example, when only one device is present for charging, the control circuitry <NUM> can still periodically pause charging of the device for a brief period, e.g., by bypassing and thus deactivating the coil segment CS1 where the device is located, in order to briefly activate the other coil segments CS2 and CS3 one at a time. These other coil activations can be used to determine whether any device has been newly placed over the other coil segments CS2 and CS3, so the control circuitry <NUM> can begin charging devices there if appropriate. These checks for devices can be interspersed throughout the charging of the first device to check for the addition of new devices from time to time.

The control circuitry <NUM> may perform various functions to set and adjust the parameters for charging. As noted above, the control circuitry <NUM> can control the switches S1-S3 to carry out time-division multiplexing charging. The control circuitry <NUM> can also send commands to the driver circuitry <NUM>, for example, to start and stop output to the coil segments S1-S3, to adjust a frequency or pattern of output to the coil segments S1-S3, to adjust the power level of output to the coil segments S1-S3, and so on. The control circuitry <NUM> may be implemented using any appropriate components, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a power management integrated circuit (PMIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a microcontroller or other processor, discrete components, and/or other components. The control circuitry <NUM> may include a memory storing software, firmware, or other data or instructions to enable a processor or other device to carry out the functions discussed herein.

The control circuitry <NUM> can include timing circuitry <NUM> that can measure the passage of time, so that the control circuitry <NUM> determines when the power transfer periods begin and end. The timing circuitry <NUM> can include an oscillator, a clock generation circuit, or other components that indicate the passage of time in a predictable manner. In some implementations, the control circuitry <NUM> may receive a clock signal or other time-indicating signal from another component or system.

The control circuitry <NUM> can include power and timing calculation circuitry <NUM> which determines parameters such as power levels for the driver circuitry <NUM>, desired durations for power transfer time periods, assignment of power transfer time periods to different coil segments CS1-CS3, and so on. The circuitry <NUM> can customize these parameters for the different situations that can occur, using information about the number of devices detected, requested power transfer levels of the devices, device types or device characteristics of the devices, charging timeout periods of the devices, power transfer efficiencies or levels of quality of inductive couplings with the devices, electrical capabilities and limits of the driver circuitry and the devices, and/or other information stored or obtained by the charger <NUM>.

When one or more devices to charge are detected on the surface <NUM>, the control circuitry <NUM> determines time slots in which to charge the respective devices. The control circuitry <NUM> can do this by generating a frame composed of time slots for activating different coil segments CS1-CS3. The frame may then be repeated in an ongoing manner while the charging needs of the devices remain. For example, if three devices are detected, then the frame may include three time slots, one for each of the different coil segments CS1-CS3. This would activate each of the coil segments CS1-CS3 in turn, thus charging each of the three devices in a round-robin manner. As another example, if two devices are detected, then the frame may include two time slots, one for each of the two coil segments CS1-CS3 where devices are present. Repeating this frame would alternate between charging the two devices.

Devices typically have predetermined timeout periods for power transfer, such that if wireless power transfer is interrupted for more than the timeout period, the power transfer session is terminated and the device and charger need to renegotiate a new charging session. It is desirable that power transfer sessions continue without interruption when using time-division multiplexing charging, so the control circuitry <NUM> can set the parameters for charging to avoid exceeding the timeout periods.

The control circuitry <NUM> may obtain information about the power transfer timeout periods of devices that are placed on it for charging. For example, the charger <NUM> can request and receive a charging timeout value for each device, e.g., through data communication over the inductive coupling or through another communication channel. The charger <NUM> can also store values of typical or default charging timeout periods for different device types or for use if a timeout value cannot be obtained.

The charging circuitry <NUM> can also set the duration and pattern of power transfer time slots to avoid gaps in power transfer that would exceed the timeout periods of the respective devices. The charging circuitry <NUM> can determine the durations of time slots based on information about timeout periods using look-up tables, equations, logic elements, and so on. In some implementations, the charging circuitry <NUM> simply uses a predetermined duration for time slots that is set low enough to avoid triggering timeouts, even when multiple or all of the coil segments CS1-CS3 are used to charge devices. For example, in many cases, a predetermined time slot duration of <NUM> or <NUM> will maintain sessions active even when cycling through all of the coil segments CS1-CS3.

Consider the case where there are three devices to be charged, and the devices have a timeout period of <NUM>, e.g., a device terminates its charging session if power is not received for <NUM> or more. Using time-division multiplexing, each device will be charged for one time slot then not be charged for two time slots. To be able to maintain all of the charging sessions active during time-division multiplexing, the charging circuitry <NUM> can set the duration of the time slots to be less than <NUM>. For example, the charging circuitry <NUM> can set the duration of each time slot to be <NUM>. As a result, each device receives power for one time slot (e.g., <NUM>) and then does not receive power for two time slots (e.g., <NUM>). In this example, charging resumes each time after <NUM>, which is less than the <NUM> timeout, so the charging sessions continue to be active even though charging of each device is intermittent due the time-division multiplexing. The charging circuitry <NUM> may set the durations of the time slots as appropriate to avoid reaching the timeout thresholds. For example, if the timeout period were <NUM>, the charging circuitry may use <NUM> time slots.

The charging circuitry <NUM> can also use the power and timing calculation circuitry <NUM> to determine the appropriate power for the driver circuitry <NUM> to output to the coil segments CS1-CS3. Because charging of each device is not continuous, each device has proportionally less time for charging than if it were being charged alone. This requires an increase to the power level of the driver output to compensate for the lower amount of time the output is received. For example, if two devices to be charged each request charging at a 10W rate, then, with time-division multiplexing, the driver circuitry <NUM> would need to provide output at 20W. As a result, each device receives power at twice the requested rate (e.g., 20W), but for half the time duration (e.g., half of every second that charging takes place), which results in an overall power transfer rate at the requested 10W rate. As another example, when three devices each request power transfer at 10W, the charging circuitry <NUM> may instruct the driver circuitry <NUM> to output power at a 30W rate.

The charging circuitry <NUM> can take into account other factors to adjust the amount of power output by the driver circuitry <NUM>. For example, the charging circuitry can determine power rate limits of the individual devices to be charged and/or the driver circuitry <NUM> and set the power level for output by the driver circuitry <NUM> to respect those limits. As another example, when inefficiencies or losses due to imperfect coupling result in less power being received than the devices request, the control circuitry <NUM> can increase the level of power output to compensate. For example, if two devices each request power at 10W, and efficiency of transfer is <NUM>%, the control circuitry <NUM> can set the power output from the driver circuitry <NUM> to 25W to compensate for the inefficiency and deliver the desired 10W to each device.

In some implementations, the charging circuitry <NUM> can set time slots of different durations for different devices. For example, if a first device requests power at 10W and a second device requests power at 5W, the charging circuitry <NUM> may set the power output of the driver circuitry <NUM> at 15W, and set the charging time slot durations proportional to the requested power levels. Here, the ratio of power is <NUM>:<NUM>, so the first device can have a time slot of <NUM> while the second device has a time slot of <NUM>. Thus the first device receives power at <NUM>/<NUM> of the 15W rate and the second device receives power at <NUM>/<NUM> of the 15W rate.

In some implementations, the control circuitry <NUM> may dynamically adjust the power output of the driver circuitry <NUM> so that different output levels are used for different time slots. For example, in addition to or instead of using different time slot durations, the power output for the time slots can be varied. For example, some device to be charged may be able to handle a higher instantaneous or peak power transfer rate than others. If a charger has five coil segments and five devices that each request to be charged at 10W, one or more of the devices may not support charging with a 50W output, even for a short duration. If a device does not support high charging rates even for short time slots, the power output may be reduced for that device, while using the higher charging rates for the time slots assigned to other devices that do support the higher charging rates.

As charging proceeds, the devices to be charged communicate with the charger <NUM> in their respective time slots. For example, devices can provide control and error packets (CEP) to the charger <NUM> through the inductive coupling with the coil segments CS1-CS3. Initially, devices to be charged report the power levels they desire. The device may also report parameters such as the peak or instantaneous power transfer rate that the device can handle, and/or the timeout period for the device. The control circuitry <NUM> then divides the charging time into time slots for charging based on the initial requests from the devices, e.g., using scheduling functionality of the power and timing calculation circuitry <NUM>. During power transfer, the charger <NUM> and the devices can renegotiate the power levels needed. If the charger <NUM> cannot provide enough power to meet the needs of a device, perhaps due to reaching a thermal limit of the charger <NUM>, the control circuitry <NUM> can limit the power level. Instead of a simple acknowledgment (ACK) of a device's power request, the control circuitry <NUM> can cause the charger <NUM> to provide a negative acknowledgement (NACK) message and indicate the level of power that is available.

In some implementations, the control circuitry <NUM> causes the charger <NUM> to indicate, to the devices being charged, the charging schedule or charging scheme. This can enable the devices to charge in an appropriate mode, and potentially to extend a timeout period used for charging.

The driver circuitry <NUM> can receive power from a power source <NUM>. This power input may be direct current (DC) power from an AC/DC power adapter or another source. The driver circuitry can include an inverter <NUM>, such as a single full-bridge driver. As discussed above, a single inverter <NUM> can be used in the charger <NUM>.

In many wireless chargers, the highest efficiency is achieved when the resonant frequency of the transmitter is matched with the resonant frequency of the receiver. In the charger <NUM>, a capacitor C is included in series with the coil segments CS1-CS3, forming an inductive-capacitive resonant tank. The inductance of the coil segments CS1-CS3 and the capacitance value of the capacitor C can be set so that the resonant frequency with all coil segments CS1-CS3 except one being bypassed will provide the appropriate resonant frequency for the target power receivers. For example, the combination of the capacitor C and any one of the coil segments CS1-CS3 can have a resonance frequency within a predetermined threshold, e.g., <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or <NUM>%, of the resonance frequency for a receiver. Because the power transfer periods have all but one coil segment CS1-CS3 bypassed with very low-impedance bypass paths BP1-BP3, the resonance frequency and thus efficiency of power transfer is not significantly affected by the presence of the other coil segments CS1-CS3 not currently being used at any given point in time.

<FIG> are diagrams showing examples of arrangements of wireless power transfer coil segments for a wireless charger <NUM>. <FIG> shows three coil segments CS1-CS3 that each cover a generally circular area. <FIG> shows three coil segments CS1-CS3 that each cover generally square areas. <FIG> shows five coil segments CS1-CS5 that each cover generally hexagonal areas. In each of <FIG>, at least some of the coil segments overlap, which can facilitate placement of devices on the charging surface.

<FIG> are diagrams showing examples of the wireless charger <NUM> interacting with a device <NUM> to be charged. In the example, a single device <NUM> is placed on the charging surface <NUM> over the coil segment CS1. As a result, the charger <NUM> provides power to the device <NUM> by routing drive signals through the coil segment CS1, while engaging the bypass paths BP2 and BP3 to shunt drive signals around the coil segments CS2 and CS3.

Initially, before the device <NUM> is detected, the charger <NUM> can periodically activate the individual coil segments CS1-CS3 in successive time periods to determine whether any device is present over each coil segment CS1-CS3. This can be done by scheduling time periods in which only a single switch S1-S3 is open, but varying which switch S1-S3 is open so that each coil segment CS1-CS3 has time periods in which it is the only coil segment not bypassed. Once the device <NUM> is placed over the coil segment CS1, during a period in which the coil segment CS1 is activated, the charger <NUM> detects the inductive coupling between the coil segment CS1 and a power receiving coil <NUM> in the device <NUM>. The charger <NUM> and the device <NUM> also exchange data, for example, over the inductive coupling or another communication channel. This is illustrated in <FIG> with bidirectional communication arrow <NUM>.

The device <NUM> and the charger <NUM> can exchange any appropriate data to establish, maintain, or adjust a charging session. For example, the device <NUM> may provide a power request or requested power amount. The device <NUM> may also provide data indicating other parameters or limits describing the charging modes or characteristics that the device <NUM> supports. For example, the device <NUM> may indicate a peak power capability for the wireless power receiver of the device <NUM>, a timeout threshold for wireless charging, voltage or current limits, thermal status of the device <NUM>, battery status of the device <NUM> (e.g., charge level), a device model or device type of the device <NUM>, and so on. Once charging begins, the device <NUM> can provide control and error packets indicating amounts of power received, data indicating an efficiency or loss of the inductive link, adjustments to the amount of power requested, and so on. The charger <NUM> may send requests for these types of information or other information about the device <NUM>. The charger <NUM> can also send acknowledgements, negative acknowledgements, and other messages. For example, the charger <NUM> and the device <NUM> may exchange data to enable determination of common charging modes supported by both the charger and the device <NUM>. Similarly, they may exchange data to allow each to verify that the other is genuine or trusted device.

With only a single device <NUM> to be charged at the surface <NUM>, the control circuitry <NUM> charges that device with the single coil segment CS1 that provides the best inductive coupling to the charger <NUM>. In the example, the control circuitry <NUM> detects the device <NUM> located over coil segment CS1, and so the control circuitry <NUM> opens the switch S1 so that the coil segment CS1 is active, e.g., with the entire drive current from the driver circuitry <NUM> passing through coil segment CS1. The control circuitry closes the switches S2 and S3 to route the drive current around coil segments CS2 and CS3, thus deactivating coil segments CS2 and CS3. With only a single device <NUM> to be charged, the charger <NUM> does not need to change or multiplex which of the coil segments CS1-CS3 are active in order to carry out charging of the device <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, charging time can be allocated exclusively to the device <NUM>, although short time slots may be occasionally used for overhead, such as to activate coil segments CS2 and CS3 briefly to detect whether any devices are present. Thus, the control circuitry <NUM> can set the power output of the driver circuitry <NUM> based on the power requested by the device <NUM>, with adjustments in output as needed in order to bring received power at the device <NUM> to the desired level.

<FIG> are diagrams showing an example of the wireless charger <NUM> concurrently providing power wirelessly to multiple devices <NUM>, <NUM> using time-division multiplexing. Only a single charger <NUM> is used in the example, but the charger <NUM> is represented in several forms in the figures to show different aspects of the example.

<FIG> shows a perspective view with two devices <NUM>, <NUM> in position for charging. The device <NUM> (labelled "a") is placed over the charging coil CS1 and the device <NUM> (labelled "b") is simultaneously located over the charging coil CS2. As part of the same example, <FIG> provides a chart of activations of the switches S1-S3 over time, as well as an indication of time periods in which the devices <NUM>, <NUM> respectively provide control and error packets (CEP) to the charger <NUM> over their respective inductive couplings. <FIG> show a simplified schematic of the charger <NUM>, with many of the elements from <FIG> omitted for clarity in illustration. <FIG> shows the positions of the switches S1-S3 during time periods in which the device <NUM> is being charged. <FIG> shows the positions of the switches S1-S3 during time periods in which the device <NUM> is being charged.

In this example, the charger <NUM> detects the presence of both devices <NUM>, <NUM> and the respective coil segments CS1, CS2 where the devices <NUM>, <NUM> have been placed. The charger <NUM> then determines a schedule that assigns time slots for charging to the different devices <NUM>, <NUM>. This results in charging occurring in a time-division multiplexing mode. In other words, charging for any given device <NUM>, <NUM> occurs in an intermittent but predictable pattern as scheduled by the charger <NUM>. In particular, in this example with two devices being charged concurrently, the charger <NUM> alternates between charging the two devices in short time slots. The charger <NUM> performs an ongoing pattern of switching between (i) a time slot in which only the device <NUM> is charged, e.g., when only the switch S1 is open, and (ii) a time slot in which only the device <NUM> is charged, e.g., when only the switch S2 is open.

This pattern is shown in <FIG>. The chart shows transistor control at a high level as closing a switch so it conducts, and a low level as the switch being open so it does not conduct current. The switch S3 is illustrated as remaining high over the time-scale illustrated. This is because no device to be charged is located at coil segment CS3, and so the charger <NUM> keeps the switch S3 closed and thus keeps the coil segment CS3 bypassed with the bypass path BP3 while the devices <NUM>, <NUM> are being charged. <FIG> shows that the charger <NUM> alternates which of the switches S1 and S2 will be opened, while providing charging time slots when the switches S1 and S2 are respectively the only switches open. Thus the charger <NUM> alternates, in successive time slots, between having only the switch S1 open (<FIG>) and having only the switch S2 open (<FIG>).

<FIG> also shows the transmission of CEP data from the devices <NUM>, <NUM> in their respective charging time slots. Each device <NUM>, <NUM> transmits data to and/or receives data from the charger <NUM> in the period in which its corresponding coil segment CS1-CS3 is exclusively active. Thus the device <NUM> (device "a") transmits CEP data when the switch S1 is the only one of the switches S1-S3 that is open (FIG. 3C), and the device <NUM> (device "b") transmits CEP data when the switch S2 is the only one of the switches S1-S3 that is open (FIG. To facilitate the timing of this exchange, the charger <NUM> may provide information to the devices <NUM>, <NUM> indicating the scheduling of charging time slots, and/or the charger <NUM> may provide a signal that the device's charging time slot is beginning and that CEP data can be sent.

In some implementations there may be time periods at the boundaries of the charging time slots when multiple switches S1-S3 are open simultaneously. This behavior may be desirable to avoid having all of the bypass paths BP1-BP3 active at once. Although not illustrated in <FIG>, the charger <NUM> can optionally insert guard or buffer time slots with different switch activations at transitions between charging time slots. For example, the charger can enforce certain switching rules when carrying out transitions between which coil segment CS1-CS3 is activated. For example, at each transition, the charger <NUM> may ensure that one or more switches S1-S3 is always maintained open, to avoid having all of the bypass paths BP1-BP3 active at once. This may be achieved in many different ways, such as by opening the switch S1-S3 for the charging time slot that is beginning before closing the switch that was open for the time slot that is ending. As another example, the charger <NUM> may insert short buffer time periods in which one or more or even all of the switches S1-S3 are open simultaneously, before the switches S1-S3 are closed as needed for the next charging time slot. These buffer time slots may be very short compared to the duration of charging time slots, e.g., buffer periods of <NUM> to <NUM> for charging periods that are <NUM> or more.

The control circuitry <NUM> of the charger <NUM> can determine and set the power output by the driver circuitry <NUM> for charging the devices <NUM>, <NUM>. The power output can be determined based on the charging power requested by each device <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the control circuitry <NUM> can communicate with the devices <NUM>, <NUM> to determine the power requested by each device. The control circuitry <NUM> can select a power for the driver circuitry <NUM> that is equal to or greater than a sum of all the charging powers requested. As a simple example, if both devices <NUM>, <NUM> request to be charged at 10W, the control circuitry can determine that at least 20W of power output is needed, since each device <NUM>, <NUM> will be assigned time slots representing no more than half of the charging time. As another example, if three devices requested power at 15W, 10W, and 5W, respectively, then the control circuitry may determine that at least 30W output of the driver circuitry is needed.

The charging circuitry <NUM> can adjust an initial output power amount determined from charging power requests to account for other factors, such as an adjustment to increase the power output to offset losses or inefficiencies resulting from the wireless coupling. The amount of these losses can be determined from indications of coupling quality or amounts of power received, which can be provided by the respective devices being charged on an ongoing basis during charging through the CEP data. For example, using CEP feedback data from the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, the control circuitry <NUM> may determine the power transfer efficiency of each of the devices <NUM>, <NUM> and select the lowest efficiency to weight or adjust the power output. If the sum of power requested by the devices <NUM>, <NUM> is 20W, and the lowest power transfer efficiency is <NUM>%, then the control circuity <NUM> can determine that the power output should be set at 20W / <NUM> = <NUM>. 6W to ensure sufficient power to meet the requests. Optionally, the requested power amounts for each device may be weighted by is power transfer efficiency for a more fine-grained calculation, e.g., for efficiencies of <NUM>% and <NUM>% respectively the power may be determined as 10W/ <NUM> + 10W / <NUM> = <NUM>.

The control circuitry <NUM> can store and use information indicating a maximum power output of the driver circuitry <NUM>. With this information, the control circuitry <NUM> can set the power output to be no more than the maximum power capability of the driver circuitry <NUM>. The control circuitry <NUM> can indicate to the respective devices <NUM>, <NUM> when power capability is not sufficient to meet the request of a device <NUM>, <NUM>. In a similar manner, the control circuitry <NUM> can set the driver circuitry output power levels to respect the peak power handling capabilities of the devices <NUM>, <NUM>. This can be significant as larger numbers of devices are charged concurrently with time-division multiplexing on a single charger <NUM>, and thus the peak or instantaneous power delivery may be much more (e.g., potentially several times more) than the average power requested by a device.

As discussed above, the control circuitry <NUM> may set the duration of the charging time periods, e.g., the periods of exclusively activating a single coil segment CS1-CS3 for a device <NUM>, <NUM> to be charged, to avoid gaps in charging for any of the devices <NUM>, <NUM> that would exceed a charging session timeout. This can be done using charging time slots of predetermined, short maximum durations. The durations can be short enough that even if the maximum number of devices are present, such that all coil segments CS1-CS3 have assigned time slots in a round-robin rotation, no device would experience a gap in charging that reaches a conservative timeout threshold. For example, if a charger has five coil segments, and charging timeouts are known to be at least <NUM>, the duration of each charging time slot may be set to be no more than <NUM>, so that even with all five coil segments used, the time between the end of a device's charging time slot and the beginning of the device's next charging time slot is only about <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> other devices times <NUM> maximum charging time slot duration).

In some implementations, the charger <NUM> adjusts or tunes the durations of the charging time slots based on information from the devices <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the control circuitry <NUM> may obtain information about the power transfer timeout periods of devices <NUM>, <NUM> that are placed on the charger <NUM> for charging. For example, the charger <NUM> can request and receive a charging timeout value for each device <NUM>, <NUM>, e.g., through data communication over the inductive coupling or through another communication channel. The charger <NUM> can also store values of typical or default charging timeout periods for different device types or for use if a timeout value cannot be obtained. The charging circuitry <NUM> can then set the duration and pattern of charging time slots to avoid gaps in power transfer that would exceed the timeout periods of the respective devices <NUM>, <NUM>. The charging circuitry <NUM> can determine the appropriate durations of time slots based on information about timeout periods using look-up tables, equations, logic elements, and so on. To the extent that devices <NUM>, <NUM> need a minimum length of a charging time slot or a minimum amount of power transferred in a charging time slot to maintain a charging session, the charging circuitry <NUM> can take that into account in setting time slot durations as well.

The control circuitry <NUM> of the charger <NUM> can set differing durations of the charging time slots for different devices <NUM>, <NUM> to achieve an appropriate rate of power transfer for each device <NUM>, <NUM>. Although the charging time slot durations for different devices <NUM>, <NUM> charged concurrently may be equal, they are not required to be. In fact, it can be desirable to allocate charging time differently to different devices, either through differing numbers of charging time slots or different durations of assigned charging time slots, to better satisfy the power requests of the devices <NUM>, <NUM>. In some implementations, rather than change the duration of power transfer time slots, the control circuitry may dynamically adjust the power output of the driver circuitry, so that power transfer.

Embodiments of the invention and all of the functional operations described in this specification can be implemented using digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Embodiments of the invention, such as functions of the control circuitry of a charger, can be implemented as one or more computer program products, e.g., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer readable medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus.

The computer readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition of matter effecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or more of them. A propagated signal is an artificially generated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal that is generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus.

Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a tablet computer, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio player, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, to name just a few.

To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the invention can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer.

Embodiments of the invention can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the invention, or any combination of one or more such back end, middleware, or front end components.

Claim 1:
A wireless charger (<NUM>) comprising:
one or more wireless power transmission coils (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of coil segments (CS1-CS3), wherein the coil segments (CS1-CS3) in the plurality of coil segments (CS1-CS3) are part of a single, monolithic coil and each of the coil segments (CS1-CS3) being arranged to transmit power at a different region of the wireless charger (<NUM>);
drive circuitry (<NUM>) configured to apply a drive signal to the one or more wireless power transmission coils (CS1-CS3);
bypass circuit paths (BP1-BP3) configured to route drive signals around the respective coil segments (CS1-CS3);
switch elements (S1-S3) configured to enable and disable the bypass circuit paths (BP1-BP3); and
control circuity (<NUM>) configured to (i) detect the presence of devices to be charged at the different regions of the wireless charger (<NUM>), and (ii) control the switch elements (S1-S3) such that, when devices to be charged are detected for at least two of the different regions, the wireless charger (<NUM>) alternates between charging the devices at the least two different regions.