Patent ID: 12206259

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the drawings, the same or like elements are designated by the same or like reference signs as much as possible. In the following description and drawings, a detailed description of known functions or configurations that may make the subject matter of the disclosure unnecessarily unclear will be omitted.

FIG.1is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) and a wireless power receiving device195according to various embodiments.

Referring toFIG.1, according to various embodiments, an electronic device101may wirelessly transmit power103to a wireless power receiving device195. For example, the electronic device101may transmit the power103by an induction scheme. Adopting the induction scheme, the electronic device101may include, e.g., a power source, a direct current (DC)-alternating current (AC) converting circuit, an amplifying circuit, an impedance matching circuit, at least one capacitor, at least one coil, or a communication modulation/demodulation circuit. The at least one capacitor together with the at least one coil may form a resonance circuit. According to an embodiment, the electronic device101may be implemented in a scheme defined in the wireless power consortium (WPC) standards (or Qi standards). As another example, the electronic device101may transmit the power103by a resonance scheme. Adopting the resonance scheme, the electronic device101may include, e.g., a power source, a DC-AC converting circuit, an amplifying circuit, an impedance matching circuit, at least one capacitor, at least one coil, or an out-of-band communication circuit (e.g., a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication circuit). The at least one capacitor and the at least one coil may form a resonance circuit. The electronic device101may be implemented in a manner defined in the alliance for wireless power (A4WP) standards (or air fuel alliance (AFA) standards). The electronic device101may include a coil that is capable of produce a magnetic field when letting an electric current flow thereacross by a resonance or induction scheme. The operation of the electronic device101producing an induced magnetic field may be represented as the electronic device101wirelessly transmitting the power103. According to an embodiment, the wireless power receiving device195may include a coil that produces an induced electromotive force by the magnetic field generated around and varying in magnitude over time. The operation of producing an induced electromotive force through the coil may be represented as the ‘wireless power receiving device195wirelessly receives the power103.’ For example, the electronic device101may be implemented in the manner defined in wireless power transmission-related standards, e.g., the airfuel inductive (e.g., power matters alliance (PMA)) or airfuel resonant (e.g., rezence) standards, or a Qi standard.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may communicate with the wireless power receiving device195. For example, the electronic device101may communicate with the wireless power receiving device195according to an in-band scheme. The electronic device101may modulate data to be transmitted according to, e.g., a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation scheme, and the wireless power receiving device195may perform modulation according to an amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation scheme. The electronic device101and/or the wireless power receiving device195may determine the data transmitted from the counterpart device based on the frequency and/or amplitude of the current, voltage, or power of the coil. The operation of performing modulation based on the ASK modulation scheme and/or the FSK modulation scheme may be understood as an operation for transmitting data according to the in-band communication scheme. The operation of determining the data transmitted from the counterpart device by performing demodulation based on the frequency and/or amplitude of the current, voltage, or power of the coil may be understood as an operation for receiving data according to the in-band communication scheme. For example, the electronic device101may communicate with the wireless power receiving device195according to an out-of-band scheme. The electronic device101or the wireless power receiving device195may communicate data using a communication circuit (e.g., a BLE communication module) provided separately from the coil or patch antennas.

Herein, when the electronic device101or the wireless power receiving device195performs an operation, this may mean that various hardware devices, e.g., a control circuit, such as a processor (e.g., a transmission integrated circuit (IC) or micro controlling unit (MCU)), or coil included in the electronic device101or the wireless power receiving device195performs the operation. The electronic device101or the wireless power receiving device195performs an operation may also mean that the processor controls another hardware device to perform the operation. When the electronic device101or the wireless power receiving device195performs the operation, this may mean that the processor or another hardware device triggers the operation as an instruction for performing the operation, which is stored in a storage circuit (e.g., a memory) of the electronic device101or the wireless power receiving device195, is executed.

Hereinafter, implementation examples of an electronic device and a wireless power receiving device according to various embodiments are described with reference toFIG.2A.

FIG.2Ais a view schematically illustrating a wireless charging system according to various embodiments.

Referring toFIG.2A, according to various embodiments, a wireless charging system may include an electronic device101and a wireless power receiving device195. For example, if the wireless powered receiving device195is placed (or mounted) on the electronic device101, the electronic device101may wirelessly supply power to the wireless powered receiving device195.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may include a charging pad that transmits wireless power based on the power supplied from a charger (e.g., a travel adapter (TA)). According to another embodiment, the electronic device101, as a device including a wireless power transmission function, may be implemented as, e.g., a smart phone, but is not limited thereto. The wireless powered receiving device195may include an electronic device, such as a smart phone or a wearable device, and it is not limited in its implementation form (or type).

Hereinafter, an example of a configuration of an electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) and a wireless power receiving device195according to various embodiments is described with reference toFIG.2B.

FIG.2Bis a view illustrating an example of a configuration of an electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) and a wireless power receiving device195according to various embodiments. According to various embodiments, without being limited to the components illustrated inFIG.2B, the electronic device101(e.g., wireless power transmitting device) and the wireless power receiving device195may be implemented to include more or fewer components.

Referring toFIG.2B, the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) may include a power transmission circuit310including a first coil311, a first matching circuit313, an inverter315, and/or a power providing circuit317, a first communication circuit320, and/or a first control circuit330. The wireless power receiving device195may include a power reception circuit350including a second coil351, a second matching circuit353, a rectifying circuit355, and/or a converting circuit357, a charging circuit360, a second communication circuit370, and/or a second control circuit380. The operation of each of the components (e.g., the power transmission circuit310, the first communication circuit320, the power reception circuit350, the charging circuit360, and the second communication circuit370) described below may be performed under the control of the first control circuit330or the second control circuit380.

Hereinafter, the components of the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) are described.

According to various embodiments, the power transmission circuit310may wirelessly transmit power301as per at least one of an induction scheme, a resonance scheme, or an electromagnetic wave scheme. For example, the power providing circuit317may receive external power and may apply, e.g., a direct current (DC) driving voltage (e.g., voltage drain (VDD)) (or VRAIL, which is described below inFIGS.4to6) to an input terminal316of the inverter315(e.g., the drain of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) or one end of the switch). The driving voltage may be a DC voltage. Although not shown, according to an embodiment, the power transmission circuit310may further include a power management IC (PMIC). The PMIC may receive power from the power providing circuit317and apply a driving voltage (e.g., VDD) to the input terminal316of the inverter315. The inverter315may output AC power (or voltage or current) to the first coil311while the driving voltage is applied to the input terminal316(e.g., AC power is provided to the first coil311according to the on/off control of the switch or the MOSFET included in the inverter315). The power may be alternating current (AC) power (or voltage or current). The frequency of the AC power may be set to about 100 kilohertz (kHz) to about 205 kHz or about 6.78 megahertz (MHz) according to standards (e.g., Qi or AFA), but is not limited thereto. For example, the inverter315may be a full-bridge inverter or a half-bridge inverter but is not limited thereto. Although not shown, according to an embodiment, the power transmission circuit310may further include an amplifier. The power (or voltage, or current) output from the inverter315may be transferred to the amplifier, amplified by the amplifier, and transferred to the first coil311. When power (or voltage, or current) is applied to the first coil311, an induced magnetic field having magnitude that is changed over time may be formed from the first coil311, so that power301may be wirelessly transmitted. Although not shown, according to an embodiment, the power transmission circuit310may include at least one capacitor, together with the first coil311, forming a resonance circuit. The first matching circuit313may impedance-match the power transmission circuit310with the power reception circuit350by varying at least one of the capacitance or reactance of the circuit connected with the first coil311under the control of the control circuit330. The first coil311may be implemented as a single coil (e.g., the first coil311ofFIG.3A) but, without being limited thereto, the first coil311may be implemented as a plurality of coils (e.g., the plurality of subcoils ofFIG.3B(e.g., the first subcoil311a, the second subcoil311b, the third subcoil311c, the fourth subcoil311d, or the fifth subcoil311e)). The plurality of coils (e.g., the plurality of subcoils ofFIG.3B(e.g., the first subcoil311a, the second subcoil311b, the third subcoil311c, the fourth subcoil311d, or the fifth subcoil311e) each are not limited to those illustrated inFIG.3Band may be implemented in various sizes and disposed at various intervals. For example, the plurality of coils may be arranged to overlap each other. For example, at least a portion of a subcoil may be disposed on at least a portion of another subcoil. In this case, the electronic device101may select at least one subcoil from among the plurality of subcoils and transmit power to the wireless power receiving device195using the selected at least one subcoil. The following operation for transmitting power to the first coil195may be applied to an operation for transmitting power to the selected at least one subcoil.

According to various embodiments, the first communication circuit320may be implemented as a communication circuit of an in-band communication scheme or a communication circuit of an out-band communication scheme (e.g., a Bluetooth communication module or an NFC communication module). Hereinafter, an implementation example of a communication circuit of an in-band communication scheme and an implementation example of a communication circuit of an out-band communication scheme are described.

First, a case in which the first communication circuit320is implemented as a communication circuit of an in-band scheme is described.

According to various embodiments, the first communication circuit320may communicate (305) with the second communication circuit370of the wireless power receiving device195based on an in-band (IB) communication scheme, using a frequency identical or adjacent to the frequency used for transferring power from the first coil311. For example, although not shown, the wireless power receiving device195may include a switch connected to the second coil351directly or through another element or a dummy load (e.g., a dummy inductor or a dummy capacitor) connected to the coil directly or through another element, through the switch. The wireless power receiving device195may represent data to be transmitted, by controlling the switch. The electronic device101may identify a change in the amplitude302in the first coil311and may identify the data represented by the wireless power receiving device195by demodulating the amplitude change. The first communication circuit320may demodulate the sensed amplitude302. In an embodiment, the first communication circuit320may identify (302) information, a signal, or a packet received from the wireless power receiving device195in an IB scheme. As an example, referring toFIG.2B, as information, signals, or packets are transmitted from the wireless power receiving device195in an IB scheme, the first communication circuit320(e.g., a sensing circuit included in the first communication circuit320may identify (or detect) (302) a change in voltage, current, or frequency between the first coil311and the first matching circuit313according to a change in the load caused by the wireless power receiving device195. The first communication circuit320(e.g., a demodulator included in the first communication circuit320) may demodulate the identified change (a change in voltage, current, or frequency) and identify it as information. As an example, the electronic device101may identify the control error packet (e.g., a control error packet according to the Qi standard) received from the wireless power receiving device195by the first communication circuit320. According to an embodiment, the data (or communication signal) generated by the first communication circuit320may be transmitted using the first coil311. The first communication circuit320may transfer data to the wireless power receiving device195using an FSK modulation scheme. The first communication circuit320may communicate with the second communication circuit370of the wireless power receiving device195by allowing the frequency of the power signal transferred through the transmission coil311to be changed (e.g., performing modulation by increasing or decreasing the frequency of the power transmission signal). As another example, the first communication circuit320may communicate with the second communication circuit370of the wireless power receiving device195by allowing data to be included in the power signal generated by the power transmission circuit310. In this case, the wireless power receiving device195may identify the data from the electronic device101by performing demodulation based on the frequency of the signal measured at the second coil351.

Hereinafter, a case in which the first communication circuit320is implemented as a communication circuit of an out-band scheme is described.

According to various embodiments, the first communication circuit320may communicate (304) with the second communication circuit370of the wireless power receiving device195based on an out-of-band (OOB) communication scheme, using a frequency different from the frequency used for transferring power from the first coil311. For example, the second communication circuit370may obtain data from the second communication circuit370using any one of various short-range communication schemes, such as Bluetooth, BLE, Wi-Fi, or near field communication (NFC). For example, the wireless power receiving device195may transmit the CEP defined in Qi to the electronic device101based on an out-of-band communication scheme.

According to various embodiments, the first control circuit330may control the overall operation of the electronic device101. In an embodiment, the first control circuit330may generate various messages (e.g., instructions) (or packets) required for wireless power transmission and transfer the generated messages to the first communication circuit320. In an embodiment, the first control circuit330may calculate the power (or amount of power) to be transmitted to the wireless power receiving device195based on the information (e.g., control error packet) identified through the first communication circuit320(or received through the first communication circuit320). In an embodiment, the first control circuit330may control the magnitude of the driving voltage (e.g., VDD)(or Vrail to be described below) applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315, thereby controlling the magnitude of the power transferred from the first coil311to the wireless power receiving device195. As another example, the first control circuit330may change the frequency applied to the first coil311by changing the frequency of the gate driving signal of the inverter315, thus controlling the magnitude of the power transferred to the wireless power receiving device195. For example, the first control circuit330may increase the frequency applied to the first coil311by increasing the frequency of the gate driving signal, so that the magnitude of the power transferred to the wireless power receiving device195may be decreased. As another example, the first control circuit330may reduce the frequency applied to the first coil311by reducing the frequency of the gate driving signal, so that the magnitude of the power transferred to the wireless power receiving device195may be increased. As another example, the first control circuit330may maintain the frequency applied to the first coil311by maintaining the frequency of the gate driving signal, so that the magnitude of the power transferred to the wireless power receiving device195may be maintained. For example, the first control circuit330may change the switching frequency using the inverter, so that the matching state of the resonant frequency characteristics of the second coil351of the wireless power receiving device195and the signal induced at the first coil311or the first coil311and the signal generated using the inverter may be changed. As the first control circuit330increases the frequency, the matching state and the resonant frequency characteristics of the first coil311or the second coil351may worsen, and the magnitude of the power transferred to the wireless power receiving device195may be reduced. As the first control circuit330reduces the frequency, the matching state and the resonant frequency characteristics of the first coil311or the second coil351may be enhanced, and the magnitude of the transferred power may be increased. According to an embodiment, the first control circuit330may stepwise drop (or reduce) the magnitude of the driving voltage (or power) applied to the input terminal of the inverter315based on the designated driving voltage (Vrail_target described below) applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315being maintained for a designated time. Meanwhile, according to various embodiments, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the operation of “dropping (or reducing) the magnitude of the driving voltage (or power)” may be replaced with the operation of “adjusting the frequency of the gate driving signal.” The first control circuit330may identify the value of the information (e.g., control error packet) identified through the first communication circuit320and identify (or detect) the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on the identified value, which is described below with reference toFIGS.4to6. The first control circuit330may be implemented in various circuits capable of performing calculation, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or other general-purpose processors, a mini-computer, an MCU, or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), but not limited in type thereto.

According to various embodiments, the memory (not shown) may store instructions to perform the overall operation of the electronic device101. For example, the memory (not shown) may store instructions to perform the overall operation of the electronic device101. As another example, the memory (not shown) may store a lookup table for the relationship between information obtained via the first communication circuit320and the magnitude of power to be transmitted or equation information for the relationship between obtained information and the magnitude of power to be transmitted. The memory (not shown) or the memory156may be implemented in various types, such as a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or a flash memory, but not limited in type thereto.

Hereinafter, the components of the wireless power receiving device195are described.

According to various embodiments, the power reception circuit350may wirelessly receive power as per at least one of an induction scheme, a resonance scheme, or an electromagnetic wave scheme from the power transmission circuit310. An induced electromotive force may be generated at the second coil351of the power reception circuit159by the magnetic field which varies in magnitude over time and formed around the second coil351by the power transmitted from the first coil311, and accordingly, the power reception circuit159may wirelessly receive power. The rectifying circuit355may rectify the received AC waveform of power into a DC waveform of power. The converting circuit357may adjust the voltage of the power rectified and transfer the voltage to the PMIC or the charging circuit360. According to an embodiment, the power reception circuit159may further include a regulator. Alternatively, the converting circuit357may be replaced with a regulator. The second matching circuit353may impedance-match the power transmission circuit310with the power reception circuit350by varying at least one of the capacitance or reactance of the circuit connected with the second coil351under the control of the second control circuit380.

According to various embodiments, the charging circuit360(or a charger) may charge a battery (not shown) of the wireless power receiving device195with the received regulated power (e.g., DC power). The charging circuit360may adjust at least one of the voltage or current of the received power and transfer it to the battery (not shown) of the wireless power receiving device195. The battery (not shown) may discharge the stored power and transfer it to other hardware (e.g., the second control circuit380) included in the wireless power receiving device195. Although not shown, the wireless power receiving device195may further include a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) (not shown). The PMIC may receive power from the power reception circuit350and transfer the power to other hardware components, or the PMIC may receive power from the battery (not shown) and transfer the power to other hardware components.

According to various embodiments, the second communication circuit370may be implemented as a communication circuit of an in-band communication scheme or a communication circuit of an out-band communication scheme (e.g., a Bluetooth communication module or an NFC communication module). In an embodiment, the second communication circuit370may communicate with the electronic device101(e.g., the first communication circuit320) through the second coil351in an in-band scheme. The data (or communication signal) generated by the second communication circuit370may be transmitted using the second coil351. The second communication circuit370may transfer data to the electronic device101using an ASK modulation scheme. For example, the modulator of the second communication circuit370may cause a change in the load at the first coil311of the electronic device101by changing the internal load of the wireless power receiving device195according to the modulation scheme. Accordingly, at least one of the voltage, current, or power measured at the first coil311(e.g., identified (302) (or detected) by the first communication circuit320between the first coil311and the first matching circuit313) may be changed. The first communication circuit320of the electronic device101may identify the data by the wireless power receiving device195by demodulating the change in magnitude. In another embodiment, the wireless power receiving device195may identify (or detect) (303) a change in the frequency of the signal applied to the second coil351. The second communication circuit370(e.g., a demodulator included in the second communication circuit370) may demodulate the identified change (a change in frequency) and identify it as information. In another embodiment, upon communicating in the out-band scheme, the second communication circuit370may communicate (304) with the electronic device101using any one of various short-range communication schemes, such as Bluetooth. BLE, Wi-Fi, or NFC. A description of the second communication circuit370that overlaps the first communication circuit320is omitted.

According to various embodiments, the second control circuit380may control the overall operation of the wireless power receiving device195and may generate various messages (or packets) necessary for wireless power reception and transfer them to the second communication circuit370. For example, the second control circuit380may control other hardware (e.g., the power reception circuit350, the charging circuit360, and/or the second communication circuit370) included in the wireless power receiving device195. The first control circuit330may be implemented in various circuits capable of performing calculation, such as a CPU or other general-purpose processors, a mini-computer, a microprocessor, an MCU, or an FPGA, but not limited in type thereto.

In various embodiments, the number of the above-described coils (e.g., the first coil311and the second coil351) may be one or more. When there are a plurality of coils, the coils may be connected to each other in series or in parallel.

The implementations of the electronic device101and the wireless power receiving device195that are not described may be embodied according to the requirements in the standards (e.g., the schemes defined in the airFuel inductive (e.g., PMA) or airfuel resonant (e.g., rezence) standard or Qi standard) and, thus, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

Hereinafter, an example placement state of the wireless power receiving device195on the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) according to various embodiments is described with reference toFIGS.3A and3B.

FIG.3Ais a view illustrating an example of a placement state of a wireless power receiving device195placed on an electronic device100(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) according to various embodiments.FIG.3Bis a view illustrating another example of a placement state of a wireless power receiving device195placed on an electronic device100(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) according to various embodiments.

According to various embodiments, as illustrated inFIGS.3A and3B, a wireless power receiving device195may be placed (or mounted) on the electronic device101. The placement state of the wireless powered receiving device195may include alignment (391ofFIG.3A and393ofFIG.3B) or misalignment (392ofFIG.3A and394ofFIG.3B).

In the aligned placement state391of FIG., when viewed vertically, the wireless power receiving device195may be placed on the electronic device101so that the center point of the wireless power receiving device195(e.g., the center point of the second coil351) and the center point of the electronic device101are positioned to correspond to each other (or identical to each other) or adjacent to each other. As another example, in alignment (393ofFIG.3B), when viewed vertically, the center point of the wireless power receiving device195(e.g., the center point of the second coil351) may be positioned to correspond (or identical) or adjacent to the center point of one coil selected to transmit power from among the plurality of subcoils (e.g., the first subcoil311a, the second subcoil311b, the third subcoil311c, the fourth subcoil311d, or the fifth subcoil311e) of the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) (e.g., the center point of the third subcoil311c). In this case, as shown, the power transfer efficiency between the second coil351and the first coil311may be maximized, reducing heat generation and allowing for full charge within a relatively short time.

In the misaligned placement state392ofFIG.3A, when viewed vertically, the wireless power receiving device195may be placed on the electronic device101so that the center point of the wireless power receiving device195(e.g., the center point of the second coil351) is spaced apart from (or away from) the center point of the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) (e.g., the center point of the first coil311). As another example, in alignment (393ofFIG.3B), when viewed vertically, the center point of the wireless power receiving device195(e.g., the center point of the second coil351) may be spaced apart from the center point of one coil selected to transmit power from among the plurality of subcoils (e.g., the first subcoil311a, the second subcoil311b, the third subcoil311c, the fourth subcoil311d, or the fifth subcoil311e) of the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) (e.g., the center point of the third subcoil311c). In this case, power transfer efficiency between the second coil351and the first coil311may be significantly reduced. As the power transfer efficiency reduces, power loss may increase, causing significant heat generation (e.g., overheat). Accordingly, the full charge time of the wireless power receiving device195may be delayed.

Accordingly, according to various embodiments of the disclosure, the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) may perform an operation (or algorithm) for detecting the placement state (or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195. In detecting the misalignment of the wireless power receiving device195, the electronic device101may address the above-described issues with misalignment by performing at least one control operation (e.g., driving a fan, controlling the magnitude of the voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315, controlling the magnitude of the power (or voltage or current) transferred to the first coil311, or changing the subcoil to which the power is to be transmitted).

Hereinafter, an example operation of a wireless charging system according to various embodiments is described.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) may perform an operation (or algorithm) for detecting the placement state (or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195. The electronic device101may drop (or reduce) the magnitude of the voltage applied to the input terminal of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) and identify the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195while dropping (or reducing) the magnitude of the voltage. The electronic device101may identify the value of the control error packet and detect the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on the identified value. Even when the value of the control error packet is a positive value, the electronic device101may maintain the application of the voltage whose magnitude has been dropped (or reduced) to the input terminal316of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B).

FIG.4is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of an electronic device101according to various embodiments. According to various embodiments, the operations shown inFIG.4are not limited to the shown order but may rather be performed in other various orders. According to various embodiments, more or less operations than those ofFIG.4may be performed.FIG.4is described below with reference toFIGS.5and6.

FIG.5is a view illustrating a configuration of an electronic device101performing an operation of detecting a placement state (or misalignment) of a wireless power receiving device195according to various embodiments.FIG.6is a view illustrating an example of an operation of identifying a value of a control error packet and an operation of controlling the magnitude of a driving voltage (e.g., Vrail) of an inverter315of an electronic device101according to various embodiments.

According to various embodiments, in operation401, the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.5) to apply a designated first voltage (e.g., Vrail_target ofFIG.6) to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.5). For example, upon detecting placement of the wireless power receiving device195on the electronic device101, the electronic device101(e.g., the first control circuit330) may control the power providing circuit317to apply the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) to the input terminal316of the inverter315as shown inFIGS.5and6. As an example, as the electronic device101applies the voltage (e.g., Vrail_ping applied during the time period601) applied to the inverter315, the electronic device101may transmit power (e.g., a ping signal) for wake-up of the second communication circuit370of the wireless power receiving device195. When power is transferred from the first coil311to the wireless power receiving device195(e.g., the second coil351), the second communication circuit370of the wireless power receiving device195may wake up. The second communication circuit370of the wireless power receiving device195may transmit a response packet to the electronic device101, e.g., in the in-band scheme, using the second coil351. The electronic device101may identify the response packet, in the in-band scheme, through the first communication circuit320. Since the in-band communication scheme has been described above, a duplicate description thereof will be omitted. The electronic device101may apply, to the input terminal316of the inverter315, a designated first voltage (Vrail_target) corresponding to the power identified to be provided to the wireless power receiving device195from the identification time603. The identification time603may be any one of the time of reception of any specific packet, the time of entry into a specific phase, or the time of completion of the specific phase, but is not limited thereto. For example, from the identification time603, the electronic device101may enter the power transmission phase (e.g., the power transfer phase according to the Qi standard) and transmit, to the wireless power receiving device195, first power having a magnitude corresponding to the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) based on information about the power associated with the wireless power receiving device195(e.g., the signal strength packet or the power value (e.g., maximum power value)). As another example, when the electronic device101enters the power transmission phase, the electronic device101may receive (not shown) a control error packet during a time period602after the identification time603and increase the voltage applied to the inverter315to the first voltage (Vrail_target) to transmit a ping signal, based on the positive value (e.g., greater than or equal to between +1 and +127) included in the received control error packet. For example, the positive value between +1 and +127 included in the control error packet may be a required power amount for which the amount of power transmitted is requested to increase, and the negative value (e.g., a value not less than −128 and less than 0) may be a required power amount for which the amount of power transmitted is requested to decrease. As another example, when there is no positive value or negative value which means the required power amount of the control error packet (e.g., when the value is 0), the current state may be maintained. The above-described operation (e.g., the operation of detecting the placement of the wireless power receiving device195and applying the designated first voltage (Vrail_target)) may follow, e.g., the Qi standard, but is not limited thereto. During the time period602before performing the operation605for detecting the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195after the identification time603, the operation of the electronic device101may follow the Qi standard, but is not limited thereto, and a specific description thereof is omitted.

According to various embodiments, in operation403, the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.5) to apply a second voltage (e.g., the second voltage611ofFIG.6) lower than the first voltage (e.g., Vrail_target ofFIG.6) to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.5) based on the application of the first power being maintained during a designated time (e.g., ΔtthofFIG.6). For example, as shown inFIG.6, the electronic device101may perform the operation605(or algorithm) for detecting the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on the application of the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) being maintained during the threshold time (Δtth) (or the frequency of the gate driving signal applied to the inverter315being maintained or the frequency applied from the inverter315to the first coil311being maintained). As another example, the electronic device101may identify the control error packet CEP received from the wireless power receiving device195while the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) is applied. The control error packet is a packet according to the Qi standard and may be set to include any one value of a positive value (e.g., a value not less than +1 and not more than +127), 0, or a negative value to increase the current applied to the first coil311(or to increase the voltage applied to the inverter315). In this example, a control error packet with a positive value may be received. The electronic device101may perform the operation (or algorithm) for detecting the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on identifying that the control error packet is not received during the threshold time. When a designated event occurs, with an occurrence of the designated event used as a trigger condition, the electronic device101may perform the operation (or algorithm) for detecting the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195, which is described below with reference toFIGS.9to11. The operation (or algorithm) for detecting the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195may include an operation of dropping (or reducing) the magnitude of the voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315. In the instant embodiment, although a control error packet with a positive value is received, the electronic device101may be configured to rather drop (or reduce) the magnitude of the voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315so as to identified whether it is aligned/misaligned. Although a control error packet with a positive value is received, the electronic device101may drop (or reduce) the magnitude of the voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315until the magnitude of the voltage (Vrail) becomes a threshold magnitude (Vrail_@). According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may perform the operation of dropping (or reducing) the magnitude of the voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315until the required power amount included in the control error packet CEP received from the wireless power receiving device195reaches a designated value or an exceeding value is received.

According to various embodiments, it has been described that as the operation of identifying that the application of the first power is maintained during a designated time (e.g., ΔtthofFIG.6) and reducing power in operation403, the electronic device101reduces the second voltage (e.g., the second voltage611ofFIG.6) lower than the first voltage (e.g., Vrail_target ofFIG.6). However, without being limited thereto, for example, the electronic device101may output the second frequency higher than the first frequency as the frequency applied to the first coil311using the inverter315(or control the frequency of the gate driving signal applied to the input terminal of the inverter315from the first frequency to the second frequency higher than the first frequency) and decrease the power. According to various embodiments, the electronic device101(e.g., the first control circuit330) may control the power providing circuit317to drop (or reduce) (e.g., drop by ΔV) the first voltage (Vrail_target) applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315to the second voltage611lower than the first voltage (Vrail_target). As described below, for example, the electronic device101may stepwise drop the first voltage (Vrail_target) to the voltage of the threshold magnitude. As another example, without being limited thereto, the electronic device101may immediately drop the first voltage (Vrail_target) to the voltage of the threshold magnitude. This is described below in detail in connection withFIGS.7and8. Meanwhile, the operation605(or algorithm) for detecting the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195may be performed when the first voltage (Vrail_target) is maintained or when an occurrence of a designated event (e.g., the event ofFIGS.9to11) is identified, regardless of the operation phase of the electronic device101(e.g., not only the power transfer phase according to QI but also other phases (e.g., ping phase or identification&configuration phase)) (e.g., in whatever phase).

According to various embodiments, in operation405, the electronic device101may identify, through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320), a first control error packet (e.g., the first control error packet501ofFIG.5) from the wireless power receiving device195while applying the second voltage (e.g., the second voltage611ofFIG.6). For example, the electronic device101may transmit, to the wireless power receiving device195, the second power having a lower magnitude than the first power having the magnitude corresponding to the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) according to application of the second voltage611. The wireless power receiving device195may transmit, to the electronic device101, the first control error packet501for identifying the second power and increasing the power (e.g., the second power) received from the electronic device101, in the in-band scheme. As illustrated inFIG.6, the first control error packet501may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device101after the time when the second voltage611is applied. The first control error packet501may include a positive value613(e.g., a value not less than +1 and not more than +127) corresponding to the difference between the magnitude of the first power (or the first voltage (Vrail_target)) and the second power (or the second voltage611). As illustrated inFIG.6, the electronic device101may identify (or detect) the first control error packet501through the first communication circuit320, in the in-band scheme, while applying the second voltage611.

According to various embodiments, in operation407, the electronic device101may identify the first value included in the first control error packet. For example, as shown inFIG.6, the electronic device101may identify the positive value (e.g., a value not less than +1 and not more than +127) corresponding to the difference between the magnitude of the first power (e.g., the power corresponding to the designated first voltage (Vrail_target)) and the magnitude of the second power (e.g., the power corresponding to the second voltage611lower than the first voltage (Vrail_target)), included in the first control error packet501. The electronic device101may compare the identified positive value613with the threshold value (CEP_threshold) stored in the electronic device101, thereby identifying the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195. For example, when the identified positive value613is larger than the threshold value (CEP_threshold), the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195may be identified as misalignment. When the identified positive value613is smaller than the threshold value (CEP_threshold), the electronic device101may identify that the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195is alignment or may continuously perform the operation of detecting the placement state (e.g., performing the operation of dropping the voltage (Vrail) until the magnitude of the voltage (Vrail) applied to the inverter315reaches the threshold magnitude (Vrail_(@) and comparing the identified positive value613with the threshold value (CEP_threshold)). For example, in identifying the positive value, if the positive value613is smaller than the threshold value (CEP_threshold), and the magnitude of the voltage (e.g., the second voltage611) applied to the inverter315does not correspond to the threshold voltage (Vrail_@), the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit317to continuously apply a third voltage lower than the second voltage611to the input terminal316of the inverter315. The threshold value (CEP_threshold) may be a value pre-stored in the electronic device101to detect a misalignment of the wireless power receiving device195(or identify the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195). For example, the threshold value (CEP_threshold) may be a value included in the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195when the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned. According to an embodiment, when the threshold voltage (e.g., Vrail_@) is applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315in a state in which the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned on the electronic device101(or in a state in which overheat occurs), it may be a value included in the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195(or a value lower by a designated difference than the value included in the control error packet). The electronic device101may store the value and use it in the operation of detecting a misalignment of the wireless power receiving device195. The threshold value may vary for each type of the wireless power receiving device, which is described below with reference toFIGS.12to14.

As another example, without being limited thereto, according to various embodiments, the electronic device101may determine the alignment state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on the voltage (Vrail) applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315. For example, when the positive value613included in the control error packet (e.g., the first control error packet501) exceeds (or is not less than) the threshold value (CEP_threshold), the electronic device101may identify the voltage (Vrail) applied to the input terminal of the inverter315and determine the alignment state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on the identified voltage (Vrail). In an embodiment, when the identified voltage (Vrail) is a threshold voltage (Vrail_@) or less, the electronic device101may determine that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned. In an embodiment, when the identified voltage (Vrail) exceeds the threshold voltage (Vrail_@), the electronic device101may determine that the wireless power receiving device195is aligned. As another example, when the positive value613included in the control error packet (e.g., the first control error packet501) is less than the threshold value (CEP_threshold), the electronic device101may continue the operation of comparing the identified voltage (Vrail) with the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) while dropping the voltage (Vrail) so that the positive value613increases to reach the threshold value (CEP_threshold).

According to various embodiments, separately from the operation of comparing the value (CEP_value) included in the control error packet with the threshold value (CEP_threshold) or the operation of comparing the voltage (Vrail) applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315with the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) to determine the alignment state of the wireless power receiving device195, the electronic device101may also identify the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on a variation in the value (CEP_value) included in the control error packet or a variation in the voltage (Vrail). As an example, variations in the values included in the control error packet identified while the voltage (Vrail) applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315drops to a designated magnitude may differ depending on the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195. As an example, in a case where the voltage (Vrail) drops to a designated magnitude, the variation in the positive value included in the control error packet501when the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned may be larger than the variation in the positive value included in the control error packet when the wireless power receiving device195is aligned. As another example, the variation in the voltage (Vrail) applied (or identified) while increasing the value (CEP_value) included in the control error packet to a designated magnitude may differ depending on the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195. For example, in a case where the value (CEP_value) included in the control error packet is increased to a designated magnitude, the variation in the voltage (Vrail) when the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned may be larger than the variation in the voltage (Vrail) when the wireless power receiving device195is aligned. Accordingly, the electronic device101may compare the variation in the value (CEP_value) included in the control error packet or the variation in the voltage (Vrail) with a designated value and may determine that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned if the variation exceeds the designated value and determine that the wireless power receiving device195is aligned if the variation is the designated value or less.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may continue dropping the voltage applied to the inverter315even when the positive value613is included in the control error packet501received from the wireless power receiving device195while performing the operation of detecting the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195. For example, the electronic device101(e.g., the first control circuit330) may be configured to refrain from the operation of increasing the voltage applied to the inverter315even when the value included in the received control error packet501is the positive value613, upon receiving the control error packet501identified based on dropping the voltage applied to the inverter315(e.g., applying the second voltage611).

Hereinafter, an example operation of a wireless charging system according to various embodiments is described.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) may perform an operation (or algorithm) for detecting the placement state (or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195.

For example, the electronic device101may stepwise drop (or reduce) the magnitude of the voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) to the threshold magnitude and identify the CEP value (e.g., a value not less than +1 and not more than +127) included in the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195while dropping (or reducing) the magnitude of the voltage. The voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315may be defined as an input voltage. The electronic device101may compare the identified CEP value with a designated threshold value (e.g., CEP_threshold) and identify the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195according to a result of the comparison.

As another example, the electronic device101may stepwise drop the input voltage until the CEP value (e.g., a value not less than +1 and not more than +127) included in the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195reaches a designated threshold value (e.g., CEP_threshold), compare the magnitude of the input voltage with the designated value (e.g., Vrail_@), and identify the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195according to a result of the comparison. In a state in which the CEP value reaches the threshold value (e.g., CEP_threshold), the applied input voltage may be defined as a threshold voltage (Vrail_@).

FIG.7Ais a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of an electronic device101according to various embodiments.FIG.7Bis a flowchart700billustrating another example of an operation of an electronic device101according to various embodiments. According to various embodiments, the operations shown inFIGS.7A and7Bare not limited to the shown order but may rather be performed in other various orders. According to various embodiments, more or less operations than those ofFIGS.7A and7Bmay be performed.FIGS.7A and7Bare described below with reference toFIGS.8A to8C.

FIG.8Ais a view illustrating an example of an operation of identifying a value of a control error packet and an operation of controlling the magnitude of a driving voltage (e.g., Vrail) of an inverter of an electronic device101according to various embodiments.FIG.8Bis a view illustrating another example of an operation of identifying a value of a control error packet and an operation of controlling the magnitude of a driving voltage (e.g., Vrail) of an inverter of an electronic device101according to various embodiments.FIG.8Cis a view illustrating an example of an operation of an electronic device101including a plurality of subcoils according to various embodiments.

According to various embodiments, in operation701ofFIGS.7A and7B, the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317of FIG.2B) to apply a designated first voltage (e.g., Vrail_target ofFIG.6), as an input voltage, to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.5). For example, upon detecting placement of the wireless power receiving device195on the electronic device101, the electronic device101(e.g., the first control circuit330) may identify the first voltage (Vrail_target), as an input voltage to be applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315, and control the power providing circuit317to apply the designated first voltage (Vrail_target), as shown inFIGS.8A and8B. Operation701of the electronic device101may be performed substantially like operation401of the electronic device101as described above, and no duplicate description thereof is given below.

According to various embodiments, in operation703ofFIGS.7A and7B, the electronic device may control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply an input voltage lower than the first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the first coil311ofFIG.2B) based on the application of the first voltage being maintained during a designated time. For example, the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit317to drop (or reduce) the magnitude of the input voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315to the second voltage811or821based on the application of the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) being maintained during a threshold time (Δtth) as shown inFIGS.8A and8B. Operation703of the electronic device101may be performed substantially like operation403of the electronic device101as described above, and no duplicate description thereof is given below.

Hereinafter, an example operation for dropping an input voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315of the electronic device101and comparing the CEP value identified according to the drop of the input voltage and a threshold value (CEP_threshold), which is repeated to identify the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195, is described.

According to various embodiments, in operation705aofFIG.7A, based on application of an input voltage, the electronic device101may identify the control error packet and identify the CEP value included in the control error packet. In operation707a, the electronic device101may identify whether the input voltage811or821corresponds (or is identical) to the threshold voltage (e.g., Vrail_@). If the input voltage does not correspond to (or is larger than) the threshold voltage, the electronic device101may identify whether the CEP value is less than the threshold value to identify whether to drop the input voltage and apply the dropped voltage to the inverter315in operation709a(e.g., reperforming operation705a). For example, the electronic device101may determine the alignment state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on the result of comparison between the CEP value and the threshold value (CEP_threshold). The electronic device101may identify the first control error packet corresponding to the second voltage811or821received from the wireless power receiving device195in the in-band scheme while applying the input voltage dropped from the first voltage (Vrail_target) to the second voltage811or821and identify the CEP value included in the first control error packet. The CEP value may be a positive first value (e.g., a value not less than +1 and not more than +127)815or825. The operation of receiving the control error packet501and identifying the value by the electronic device101may be performed substantially like operation405of the electronic device101as described above, and no duplicate description thereof is given below. The electronic device101may identify whether the second voltage811or821which is the dropped input voltage corresponds to (or is greater than the threshold voltage (Vrail_@). The threshold voltage (Vrail_@) may be a voltage limit (or a lower limit voltage) preset (or pre-stored) to be applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315for the operation of detecting a misalignment of the wireless power receiving device195(or identifying the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195). The threshold voltage (Vrail_@) may be preset as a value lower than the designated first voltage (Vrail_target). For example, the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) may be set as a voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315when the efficiency calculated based on a ratio of the value (e.g., PPT) of the power transferred from the electronic device101to the wireless power receiving device195to the received power value (e.g., the value included in the RPP), in a state in which the wireless power receiving device195is aligned on the electronic device101, corresponds to a designated efficiency (e.g., 70%). When the second voltage811or812does not correspond to the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) (or when exceeding the threshold voltage (Vrail_@)), the electronic device101may compare the first value815or825, which is the identified CEP value, with the stored threshold value (CEP_threshold). The threshold value (CEP_threshold) may be a value stored in the electronic device101to detect a misalignment of the wireless power receiving device195as described above. No duplicate description is given of the threshold value (CEP_threshold). When the first value815or825which is the CEP value is less than CEP_threshold, the electronic device101may continue dropping the input voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315(e.g., drop from the second voltage811or812to the third voltage812or822) and control the power providing circuit317to apply the dropped input voltage (the third voltage812or822) to the input terminal316of the inverter315. When the dropped input voltage third voltage812or822does not correspond to the threshold voltage (Vrail_@), the electronic device101may identify the CEP value (e.g., the second voltage816or816) included in the second control error packet identified according to the drop of the input voltage and compare the second voltage816or826(e.g., a value not less than +1 and not more than +127) which is the identified CEP value with the threshold value (CEP_threshold). When the second value816or826(e.g., a value not less than +1 and not more than +127) is smaller than the threshold value (CEP_threshold), the electronic device101may continue dropping the input voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315and control the power providing circuit317to apply the dropped input voltage to the input terminal316of the inverter315. As such, the electronic device101may drop the input voltage until the input voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315corresponds to (or reaches) the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) and continue identifying the CEP value included in the control error packet identified based on the dropped input voltage and comparing the identified CEP value with the threshold value (CEP_threshold). When the CEP value is smaller than the threshold value according to a result of the comparison between the CEP value and the threshold value (CEP_threshold), operations705ato709aof the electronic device101may be repeated, and the input voltage (Vrail) may be sequentially dropped from the first voltage to the second voltage811or821, the third voltage812or822, or the fourth voltage813or823, and the CEP value identified accordingly may be sequentially changed to the first value815or825, the second value816or826, and the third value817or827. If the identified CEP value exceeds the threshold value (CEP_threshold) even when the input voltage does not correspond to (or reach) the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) while the input voltage drops, the electronic device101may identify that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned (operation717).

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may stepwise drop the voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315by designated magnitudes (e.g., ΔV1, ΔV2). In an embodiment, the designated magnitudes (e.g., ΔV1, ΔV2) may correspond (or be identical) to each other. For example, the electronic device101may drop the magnitude of the voltage by the corresponding (or identical) magnitudes. According to an embodiment, the designated messages (e.g., ΔV1, ΔV2) may differ from each other. For example, the electronic device101may drop the voltage by different magnitudes. For example, the electronic device101may set the magnitude of the voltage dropped before a designated number of times of dropping to be larger than the magnitude of the voltage dropped after the designated number of dropping. Thus, the electronic device101may quickly drop the magnitude of the voltage before the designated number of times of dropping and, after the designated number of times of dropping, drop the magnitude of the voltage by a smaller degree, thereby more accurately identifying whether the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned.

Meanwhile, without being limited thereto, rather than stepwise dropping the input voltage, the electronic device101may drop the input voltage to the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) at once and compare the identified CEP value with the threshold value (CEP_threshold) to thereby identify the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195.

Hereinafter, an example operation for dropping an input voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315of the electronic device101and comparing the input voltage and the threshold voltage (Vrail_@), which is repeated to identify the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195, is described.

According to various embodiments, in operation705bofFIG.7B, the electronic device101may identify the control error packet501based on application of the input voltage and identify the CEP value included in the control error packet501. In operation707b, the electronic device101may identify whether the CEP value corresponds (or is identical) to the threshold value (CEP_threshold). If the CEP value does not correspond to (or is larger than) the threshold value, the electronic device101may identify whether the input voltage is smaller than the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) to identify whether to drop the input voltage and apply the dropped input voltage to the inverter315(e.g., reperforming operation705a) in operation709b. For example, the electronic device101may determine the alignment state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on a result of comparison between the input voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315and the threshold voltage (Vrail_@). The electronic device101may identify the first control error packet corresponding to the second voltage811or821received from the wireless power receiving device195in the in-band scheme while applying the input voltage dropped from the first voltage (Vrail_target) to the second voltage811or821and identify the CEP value included in the first control error packet. The CEP value may be a positive first value (e.g., a value not less than +1 and not more than +127)815or825. The electronic device101may compare the first value, which is the CEP value, with the threshold value (CEP_threshold) and, if the first value is lower than the threshold value (CEP_threshold), identify the input voltage (e.g., the second voltage811or821) and compare the identified second voltage811or821with the threshold voltage (Vrail_@). When the second voltage811or821exceeds the threshold voltage (Vrail_@), the electronic device101may continue dropping the input voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315until the CEP value corresponds to (or reaches) the threshold value (e.g., drops the second voltage811or821to the third voltage812or822) and compare the dropped input voltage with the threshold voltage (Vrail_@). If the identified input voltage is lower than the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) even when the CEP value does not correspond to (or reach) the threshold value (CEP_threshold) while dropping the input voltage, the electronic device101may identify that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned (operation717).

Meanwhile, without being limited thereto, rather than stepwise dropping the input voltage, the electronic device101may drop the input voltage at once until the CEP value corresponds to (or reaches) the threshold value (CEP_threshold) and may identify the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195according to the value of the identified input voltage. The input voltage applied to the inverter315when the CEP value corresponds to (or reaches) the threshold value (CEP_threshold) may be defined as the threshold voltage (Vrail_@).

Described below is an example operation of identifying the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195depending on the result of comparison with the CEP value of the electronic device101when the input voltage (e.g., the second voltage811or812, the third voltage812or822, and the fourth voltage813or823) applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315corresponds to the threshold voltage.

According to various embodiments, upon identifying that the input voltage corresponds (or is identical) to the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) in operation707aofFIG.7A, the electronic device101may identify whether the CEP value is smaller than the threshold value (CEP_threshold) in operation711a. If the CEP value is smaller than the threshold value (CEP_threshold), the electronic device101may identify that the wireless power receiving device195is aligned in operation713. In operation715, the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit to apply the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) to the input terminal of the inverter315. For example, upon identifying that the CEP value (e.g., the third value (e.g., the third value827ofFIG.8B)) included in the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195is less than the threshold value (CEP_threshold) while applying the fourth voltage813or823corresponding to the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) according to the input voltage drop to the input terminal316of the inverter315, the electronic device101may identify that the wireless power receiving device195is aligned. The electronic device101may control the power providing circuit317to reapply the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) to the input terminal316of the inverter315based on identifying that the wireless power receiving device195is aligned. Meanwhile, the first voltage (Vrail_target) is merely an example, and the magnitude of the voltage applied to the inverter after the wireless power receiving device195is identified as aligned is not limited. Meanwhile, when the value (e.g., the third value (e.g., the third value817ofFIG.8A)) included in the control error packet is the threshold value (CEP_threshold) or more while applying the fourth voltage813or823corresponding to the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) according to the voltage drop to the inverter315, the electronic device101may identify that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned. An example operation of the electronic device101when the wireless power receiving device195is identified as misaligned is described below in connection with operations717to719.

Described below is an example operation of identifying the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195depending on a result of comparison between a threshold voltage and an input voltage of the electronic device101when a CEP value (e.g., the first value815or825, the second value816or826, the third value817or837) corresponds to (or exceeds) a threshold value (CEP_threshold). According to various embodiments, upon identifying that the CEP value corresponds (or is identical) to the threshold value (CEP_threshold) in operation707bofFIG.7B, the electronic device101may identify whether the input voltage is smaller than the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) in operation711b. If the input voltage exceeds the threshold voltage (Vrail_@), the electronic device101may identify that the wireless power receiving device195is aligned in operation713and, in operation715, control the power providing circuit to apply the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) to the input terminal of the inverter315. For example, if the CEP value (e.g., the third value) included in the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195according to the input voltage drop corresponds to (or exceeds) the threshold value (CEP_threshold), the electronic device101may identify the input voltage applied to the inverter315and, when the input voltage exceeds the threshold voltage (Vrail_@), identify that the wireless power receiving device195is aligned. The electronic device101may control the power providing circuit317to reapply the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) to the input terminal316of the inverter315based on identifying that the wireless power receiving device195is aligned. Meanwhile, when the CEP value (e.g., the third value) included in the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195corresponds to (or exceeds) the threshold value (CEP_threshold), the electronic device101may identify the input voltage applied to the inverter315, and when the input voltage is lower than the threshold voltage (Vrail_@ v), identify that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned. An example operation of the electronic device101when the wireless power receiving device195is identified as misaligned is described below in connection with operations717to719.

Examples of an operation of identifying that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned by the electronic device101are described below.

According to various embodiments, upon identifying that the CEP value is larger than the threshold value (CEP_threshold) in operation711aofFIG.7Aor upon identifying that the input voltage is smaller than the threshold voltage (Vrail_@) in operation711bofFIG.7B, the electronic device101may identify a misalignment of the wireless power receiving device195in operation717ofFIGS.7A and7Band, in operation719, perform at least one control operation based on identifying the misalignment. For example, when it is identified that the value (e.g., the first value815or816or the second value816or826) included in the control error packet (e.g., the first control error packet or the second control error packet) received from the wireless power receiving device195is not less than the threshold value (e.g., CEP_threshold) or when the voltage reaches the threshold voltage813while stepwise dropping the voltage, the electronic device101may identify that the value (e.g., the third value (e.g., the third value817ofFIG.8A)) included in the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195is the threshold value (CEP_threshold) or more. When the value (e.g., the first value815or816, the second value816or826, or the third value (e.g., the third value817ofFIG.8A)) of the required power amount included in the control error packet is larger than the threshold value (e.g., CEP_threshold), the electronic device101may identify that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned. For example, in the misaligned state, the value (CEP value) (or the required power amount included in the control error packet) included in the control error packet transferred from the wireless power receiving device195may be larger than in the normal state (e.g., in the state where the wireless power receiving device195is aligned). By using this, as described above, the electronic device101may identify the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195by comparing the value included in the control error packet and a preset threshold value (CEP_threshold) for determining a misalignment. As another example, when the voltage value (Vrail) applied to the input terminal316of the inverter identified while stepwise increasing the value included in the control error packet until the threshold value (CEP_threshold) is exceeded (or identical or more) is less than the threshold voltage (Vrail_@), the electronic device101may identify that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned.

According to various embodiments, when the variation in the identified value (CEP value) or the variation in voltage (e.g., Vrail), rather than the identified value (CEP value) or voltage (e.g., Vrail), exceeds a designated value, the electronic device101may also identify that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned. For example, as described above, in a case where the voltage (Vrail) drops to a designated magnitude, the variation in the positive value included in the control error packet501when the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned may be larger than the variation in the positive value included in the control error packet when the wireless power receiving device195is aligned. As another example, in a case where the value (CEP_value) included in the control error packet is increased to a designated magnitude, the variation in the voltage (Vrail) when the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned may be larger than the variation in the voltage (Vrail) when the wireless power receiving device195is aligned. The electronic device101may compare the variation in the value (CEP_value) included in the control error packet or the variation in the voltage (Vrail) with a designated value and may determine that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned if the variation exceeds the designated value and determine that the wireless power receiving device195is aligned if the variation is the designated value or less.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may perform at least one control operation based on identifying that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned. For example, the at least one control operation may include at least one of an operation for controlling the power providing circuit317to apply a voltage lower than the designated first voltage (Vrail_target) to the input terminal316of the inverter315, an operation for discharging heat by driving a fan (not shown) included in the electronic device101, or an operation for controlling (e.g., reducing) the amount of current transferred to the first coil311. It is possible to address the heat generation issue by performing at least one control operation as described above. As another example, as illustrated in803and804ofFIG.8C, the electronic device101may switch the subcoil selected to transmit power from one subcoil (e.g., the third subcoil311c) to another subcoil (e.g., the fourth subcoil311d) and transmit power to the wireless power receiving device195. In this case, the electronic device101may perform the above-described operations705to719using the reselected subcoil (e.g., the fourth subcoil311d). It is possible to enhance the charging efficiency for the wireless power receiving device195by transmitting power to the wireless power receiving device195with the optimal subcoil. As another example, the electronic device101may maintain the application of the voltage lower than the first voltage (Vrail_target) until the wireless power receiving device195is fully charged. In this case, in the case of applying the voltage lower than the first voltage (Vrail_target) as shown inFIG.8A, the electronic device101may identify the control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device195and identify the positive value818included in the identified control error packet. For example, when the placement state is determined as a misaligned state, the electronic device101may reduce the amount of transmitted power and, accordingly, the wireless power receiving device195may include the positive value818, which is the required power amount, in the CEP and transfer it to the electronic device101. Based on identifying that the wireless power receiving device195is misaligned, the electronic device101may refrain from increasing the voltage and maintaining the application of the voltage lower than the first voltage (Vrail_target) even when the positive value818which is the required power amount in the CEP is identified. Without being limited thereto, the electronic device101may transmit information for displaying the misalignment of the wireless power receiving device195on the display (not shown) of the wireless power receiving device195to the wireless power receiving device195, so that the wireless power receiving device195may display the information on the display of the wireless power receiving device195based on the information.

Hereinafter, an example operation of a wireless charging system according to various embodiments is described.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) may perform an operation (or algorithm) for detecting the placement state (or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195based on identifying an occurrence of a designated event.

FIG.9is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of an electronic device101according to various embodiments. According to various embodiments, the operations shown inFIG.9are not limited to the shown order but may rather be performed in other various orders. According to various embodiments, more or less operations than those ofFIG.9may be performed.FIG.9is described below with reference toFIGS.10and11.

FIG.10is a view illustrating an example of an operation of identifying an occurrence of a designated event of an electronic device101(e.g., receiving a signal from a wireless power receiving device195) according to various embodiments.FIG.11is a view illustrating a configuration of an electronic device101performing an operation of detecting a placement state (or misalignment) of a wireless power receiving device195according to various embodiments.

According to various embodiments, in operation901, the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.11) to apply a designated first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.11) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.11). For example, the electronic device101(e.g., the first control circuit330) may control the power providing circuit317to apply the designated first voltage (e.g., Vrail_target) to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.11) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.11) when it is detected that the wireless power receiving device195is placed on the electronic device101. Operation901of the electronic device101may be performed in substantially the same manner as operation401of the electronic device101as described above, and no duplicate description thereof is given below.

According to various embodiments, in operation903, the electronic device101may identify an occurrence of a designated event. The designated event may be an event configured to trigger (or initiate) the operation of detecting the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving device195(or the operation of dropping the first voltage (Vrail_target)) by the electronic device101. For example, the designated event may include identifying a change in the charging efficiency by a designated value or more. For example, the electronic device101may periodically identify the packet (e.g., received power packet (RPP)) including the received power value (PPR) received from the wireless power receiving device195in the in-band scheme while applying the first voltage (Vrail_target) to the input terminal316of the inverter315and identify the received power value included in the packet. As shown inFIG.11, the electronic device101may identify the input power Pin and power loss Ploss and identify the transmitted power value (PPT) based on the identified input power and power loss. Meanwhile, the power loss is not limited to that shown inFIG.11and may also be caused by other components (e.g., a capacitor or metals) in the electronic device101. The electronic device101may periodically identify the charging efficiency based on a ratio of the identified received power value and the transmitted power value. The electronic device101may calculate the variation in charging efficiency and, if the variation in charging efficiency is a designated value or more, identify that the designated event occurs. As another example, the designated event may include receiving designated information from the wireless power receiving device195. Upon identifying a packet indicating that the wireless power receiving device195has moved, received from the wireless power receiving device195while applying the first voltage (Vrail_target) to the input terminal316of the inverter315(e.g., identifying movement information1001), the electronic device101may identify that the designated event occurs. The wireless power receiving device195may detect a movement of the wireless power receiving device195using a sensor (e.g., an acceleration sensor) as shown inFIG.10and, in response to the detection of the movement, transmit a packet indicating that the wireless power receiving device195has moved to the electronic device101in the in-band scheme.

According to various embodiments, based on identifying that the designated event occurs, in operation905, the electronic device may control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.11) to apply a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.11) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.11) based on the application of the first voltage being maintained during a designated time. For example, the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit317to drop (or reduce) the magnitude of the voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315based on the application of the first voltage (e.g., Vrail_target) being maintained during a threshold time. Operation905of the electronic device101may be performed substantially like operation403or operation703of the electronic device101as described above, and no duplicate description thereof is given below.

According to various embodiments, in operation907, while applying the second voltage, the electronic device101may identify, through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320), the first control error packet from the wireless power receiving device195and may identify the first value included in the first control error packet. Operation907of the electronic device101may be performed in substantially the same manner as operations405to407and705to717of the electronic device101as described above, and no duplicate description thereof is given below.

Hereinafter, an example operation of a wireless charging system according to various embodiments is described.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101(e.g., a wireless power transmitting device) may compare a threshold value corresponding to information (e.g., identification information or power information) associated with the wireless power receiving device195with the value included in the above-described control error packet while performing the operation of identifying the placement state of the wireless power receiving device195. For example, the electronic device101may set a different threshold value for each type of wireless power receiving device195.

FIG.12is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of an electronic device101according to various embodiments. According to various embodiments, the operations shown inFIG.12are not limited to the shown order but may rather be performed in other various orders. According to various embodiments, more or less operations than those ofFIG.9may be performed.FIG.12is described below with reference toFIGS.13and14.

FIG.13is a view illustrating an example of a charging operation of an electronic device101depending on the type of a wireless power receiving device195according to various embodiments.FIG.14is a view illustrating an example of an operation of identifying a value of a control error packet and an operation of controlling the magnitude of a driving voltage (e.g., Vrail) of an inverter315of an electronic device101according to various embodiments.

According to various embodiments, in operation1201, the electronic device101may identify information associated with the wireless power receiving device195. For example, the information associated with the wireless power receiving device195may include identification information for the wireless power receiving device or information about the power (or voltage) (e.g., maximally outtable from the rectifier) associated with the wireless power receiving device195. An operation for identifRing identification information for the wireless power receiving device195and information about the power (or voltage) of the wireless power receiving device195by the electronic device101is described below.

First, an operation for identifying identification information for the wireless power receiving device195by the electronic device101is described.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may identify the type of the wireless power receiving device based on the packet or information received from the wireless power receiving device195. For example, when the wireless power receiving device195is placed on the electronic device101, the electronic device101may complete a ping phase (e.g., a ping phase according to the Qi standard) with the wireless power receiving device195and enter an identification phase and configuration phase (e.g., an identification data phase & configuration phase according to the Qi standard). According to an embodiment, the electronic device101may identify the identification packet (e.g., an identification data packet or extended identification data packet according to the Qi standard) received from the wireless power receiving device195, in the in-band scheme, in the identification phase and the configuration phase and may identify identification information, such as at least one of the manufacturer code, device identifier, or device type included in the identification packet. For example, the electronic device101may identify different types (e.g., the terminal1311or the wearable1312) of wireless power receiving devices195as shown in1301and1302ofFIG.13, based on identifying the identification information. Further, without being limited thereto, the electronic device101may receive identification information, such as at least one of the above-described manufacturer code, device identifier, or device type, from the wireless power receiving device195in the out-band scheme.

An operation for identifying information about the power (or voltage) associated with the wireless power receiving device195by the electronic device101is described below.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may identify information about the power associated with the wireless power receiving device195based on the packet or information received from the wireless power receiving device195. For example, the electronic device101may identify the signal strength value included in the signal strength packet (e.g., a signal strength packet according to the Qi standard) received in the ping phase. As another example, the electronic device101may identify the power value (e.g., maximum power value) included in the configuration packet (e.g., a configuration packet according to the Qi standard) received in the identification phase and the configuration phase.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may receive information about a threshold value (CEP_threshold) of the wireless power receiving device195from the wireless power receiving device195in the configuration phase.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device101may store information about the threshold value (CEP_threshold) corresponding to the identification information received from the wireless power receiving device195in the memory.

According to various embodiments, in operation1203, the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a designated first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B). For example, the electronic device101(e.g., the first control circuit330) may control the power providing circuit317to apply the designated first voltage (e.g., Vrail_target) to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter315when it is detected that the wireless power receiving device195is placed on the electronic device101. Operation901of the electronic device101may be performed in substantially the same manner as operation401of the electronic device101as described above, and no duplicate description thereof is given below.

According to various embodiments, in operation1205, the electronic device may control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) based on the application of the first voltage being maintained during a designated time. For example, the electronic device101may control the power providing circuit317to drop (or reduce) the magnitude of the voltage applied to the input terminal316of the inverter315based on the application of the first voltage (e.g., Vrail_target) being maintained during a threshold time (Δtth). Operation1205of the electronic device101may be performed substantially like operation403or operation703of the electronic device101as described above, and no duplicate description thereof is given below.

According to various embodiments, in operation1207, while applying the second voltage, the electronic device101may identify, through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320), the first control error packet from the wireless power receiving device195, identify the value included in the first control error packet, and compare the value with a threshold value (e.g., a first CEP threshold or a second CEP threshold) corresponding to the information associated with the wireless power receiving device195. For example, referring to1301and1302ofFIG.13, since the charging efficiency or required charging power differs for each of wireless power receiving devices1311and1312having different areas, which are placed on the electronic device101, different threshold values (CEP threshold) may be set to detect a misalignment of the wireless power receiving devices1311and1312. As shown inFIGS.1401and1402ofFIG.14, the electronic device101may compare the threshold value (e.g., the first CEP threshold or the second CEP threshold) corresponding to each of the wireless power receiving devices1311and1312with the value included in the first control error packet and perform the operation of identifying the placement state (e.g., alignment or misalignment) of the wireless power receiving devices1311and1312. The operation of identifying the value included in the first control error packet and comparing the identified value with the threshold value (CEP threshold) by the electronic device101may be performed in substantially the same manner as operations405to407or705to717, and no duplicate description thereof is given. An example operation for setting a threshold value for the electronic device101is further described below.

For example, the electronic device101may store information about a plurality of different threshold values (e.g., the first CEP threshold or the second CEP threshold) for information (e.g., identification information (or type) or power information) associated with the wireless power receiving device195. The electronic device101may identify the threshold value corresponding to the information associated with the wireless power receiving device1311or1312among the plurality of threshold values (e.g., the first CEP threshold or the second CEP threshold) and compare the threshold value (e.g., the first CEP threshold or the second CEP threshold) with the value included in the control error packet.

As another example, the electronic device101may adjust the stored threshold value (CEP threshold) based on the information associated with the wireless power receiving device1311or1312. As an example, the electronic device101may identify the power information (e.g., signal strength value or power value) corresponding to the identification information for the wireless power receiving device1311or1312or may correct the stored threshold value (CEP threshold) based on the power information (e.g., signal strength value or power value) identified in the ping phase or the identification and configuration phase. The electronic device101may identify a difference between a first value (e.g., signal strength value or power value) of the power information corresponding to the stored threshold value (CEP threshold) and a second value (e.g., signal strength value or power value) of the power information corresponding to the currently placed wireless power receiving device1311or1312and increase or decrease the threshold value (CEP threshold) in proportion to the difference. As an example, when the second value of the power information corresponding to the placed wireless power receiving device1311or1312is larger than the first value of the power information, the electronic device101may increase the threshold value (CEP threshold) and, when the second value is smaller than the first value, decrease the threshold value (CEP threshold).

As another example, without being limited thereto, the electronic device101may set a threshold value (CEP_threshold) based on information about the threshold value (CEP_threshold) of the wireless power receiving device from the wireless power receiving device in the ping phase.

An electronic device1501that may be implemented as the electronic device101and/or the wireless power receiving device195is described below according to various embodiments.

FIG.15is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device1501in a network environment1500according to various embodiments.

Referring toFIG.15, the electronic device1501in the network environment1500may communicate with an electronic device1502via a first network1598(e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or an electronic device1504or a server1508via a second network1599(e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device1501may communicate with the electronic device1504via the server1508. According to an embodiment, the electronic device1501may include a processor1520, memory1530, an input module1550, a sound output module1555, a display module1560, an audio module1570, a sensor module1576, an interface1577, a connecting terminal1578, a haptic module1579, a camera module1580, a power management module1588, a battery1589, a communication module1590, a subscriber identification module (SIM)1596, or an antenna module1597. In some embodiments, at least one (e.g., the connecting terminal1578) of the components may be omitted from the electronic device1501, or one or more other components may be added in the electronic device101. According to an embodiment, some (e.g., the sensor module1576, the camera module1580, or the antenna module1597) of the components may be integrated into a single component (e.g., the display module1560).

The processor1520may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program1540) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device1501coupled with the processor1520, and may perform various data processing or computation. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or computation, the processor1520may store a command or data received from another component (e.g., the sensor module1576or the communication module1590) in volatile memory1532, process the command or the data stored in the volatile memory1532, and store resulting data in non-volatile memory1534. According to an embodiment, the processor1520may include a main processor1521(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)), or an auxiliary processor1523(e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is operable independently from, or in conjunction with, the main processor121. For example, when the electronic device1501includes the main processor1521and the auxiliary processor1523, the auxiliary processor1523may be configured to use lower power than the main processor1521or to be specified for a designated function. The auxiliary processor1523may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the main processor1521.

The auxiliary processor1523may control at least some of functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., the display module1560, the sensor module1576, or the communication module1590) among the components of the electronic device1501, instead of the main processor1521while the main processor1521is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor1521while the main processor1521is in an active state (e.g., executing an application). According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor1523(e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., the camera module1580or the communication module1590) functionally related to the auxiliary processor123. According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor1523(e.g., the neural processing unit) may include a hardware structure specified for artificial intelligence model processing. The artificial intelligence model may be generated via machine learning. Such learning may be performed, e.g., by the electronic device1501where the artificial intelligence is performed or via a separate server (e.g., the server1508). Learning algorithms may include, but are not limited to, e.g., supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning. The artificial intelligence model may include a plurality of artificial neural network layers. The artificial neural network may be a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), deep Q-network or a combination of two or more thereof but is not limited thereto. The artificial intelligence model may, additionally or alternatively, include a software structure other than the hardware structure.

The memory1530may store various data used by at least one component (e.g., the processor1520or the sensor module1576) of the electronic device1501. The various data may include, for example, software (e.g., the program1540) and input data or output data for a command related thereto. The memory1530may include the volatile memory1532or the non-volatile memory1534.

The program1540may be stored in the memory1530as software, and may include, for example, an operating system (OS)1542, middleware1544, or an application1546.

The input module1550may receive a command or data to be used by other component (e.g., the processor1520) of the electronic device1501, from the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device1501. The input module1550may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, keys (e.g., buttons), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

The sound output module1555may output sound signals to the outside of the electronic device1501. The sound output module1555may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as playing multimedia or playing record. The receiver may be used for receiving incoming calls. According to an embodiment, the receiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker.

The display module1560may visually provide information to the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device1501. The display1560may include, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector and control circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display, hologram device, and projector. According to an embodiment, the display1560may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of a force generated by the touch.

The audio module1570may convert a sound into an electrical signal and vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module1570may obtain the sound via the input module1550, or output the sound via the sound output module1555or a headphone of an external electronic device (e.g., an electronic device1502) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly coupled with the electronic device1501.

The sensor module1576may detect an operational state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device1501or an environmental state (e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device101, and then generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module1576may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

The interface1577may support one or more specified protocols to be used for the electronic device1501to be coupled with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device1502) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly. According to an embodiment, the interface1577may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface.

A connecting terminal1578may include a connector via which the electronic device1501may be physically connected with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device1502). According to an embodiment, the connecting terminal1578may include, for example, a HDMI connector, a USB connector, a SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

The haptic module1579may convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., a vibration or motion) or electrical stimulus which may be recognized by a user via his tactile sensation or kinesthetic sensation. According to an embodiment, the haptic module1579may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulator.

The camera module1580may capture a still image or moving images. According to an embodiment, the camera module1580may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

The power management module1588may manage power supplied to the electronic device1501. According to one embodiment, the power management module1588may be implemented as at least part of, for example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery1589may supply power to at least one component of the electronic device1501. According to an embodiment, the battery1589may include, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable, a secondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell.

The communication module1590may support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device1501and the extremal electronic device (e.g., the electronic device1502, the electronic device1504, or the server1508) and performing communication via the established communication channel. The communication module1590may include one or more communication processors that are operable independently from the processor1520(e.g., the application processor (AP)) and supports a direct (e.g., wired) communication or a wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the communication module1590may include a wireless communication module1592(e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module1594(e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device1504via a first network1598(e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network1599(e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multi components (e.g., multi chips) separate from each other. The wireless communication module1592may identify or authenticate the electronic device1501in a communication network, such as the first network1598or the second network1599, using subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module1596.

The wireless communication module1592may support a 5G network, after a 4G network, and next-generation communication technology. e.g., new radio (NR) access technology. The NR access technology may support enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communications (mMTC), or ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). The wireless communication module1592may support a high-frequency band (e.g., the mmWave band) to achieve, e.g., a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module1592may support various technologies for securing performance on a high-frequency band, such as, e.g., beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (massive MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module1592may support various requirements specified in the electronic device1501, an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device1504), or a network system (e.g., the second network1599). According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module1592may support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for implementing eMBB, loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for implementing mMTC, or U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for each of downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or a round trip of 1 ms or less) for implementing URLLC.

The antenna module1597may transmit or receive a signal or power to or from the outside (e.g., the external electronic device). According to an embodiment, the antenna module1597may include one antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)). According to an embodiment, the antenna module1597may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an antenna array). In this case, at least one antenna appropriate for a communication scheme used in a communication network, such as the first network1598or the second network1599, may be selected from the plurality of antennas by, e.g., the communication module1590. The signal or the power may then be transmitted or received between the communication module1590and the external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According to an embodiment, other parts (e.g., radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) than the radiator may be further formed as part of the antenna module1597.

According to various embodiments, the antenna module1597may form a mmWave antenna module. According to an embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, a RFIC disposed on a first surface (e.g., the bottom surface) of the printed circuit board, or adjacent to the first surface and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., the mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., array antennas) disposed on a second surface (e.g., the top or a side surface) of the printed circuit board, or adjacent to the second surface and capable of transmitting or receiving signals of the designated high-frequency band.

At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutually and communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)).

According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device1501and the external electronic device1504via the server1508coupled with the second network1599. The external electronic devices1502or1504each may be a device of the same or a different type from the electronic device1501. According to an embodiment, all or some of operations to be executed at the electronic device1501may be executed at one or more of the external electronic devices1502,1504, or1508. For example, if the electronic device1501should perform a function or a service automatically, or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device1501, instead of, or in addition to, executing the function or the service, may request the one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or the service. The one or more external electronic devices receiving the request may perform the at least part of the function or the service requested, or an additional function or an additional service related to the request, and transfer an outcome of the performing to the electronic device1501. The electronic device1501may provide the outcome, with or without further processing of the outcome, as at least part of a reply to the request. To that end, a cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device1501may provide ultra low-latency services using, e.g., distributed computing or mobile edge computing. In another embodiment, the external electronic device1504may include an internet-of-things (IoT) device. The server1508may be an intelligent server using machine leaming and/or a neural network. According to an embodiment, the external electronic device1504or the server1508may be included in the second network1599. The electronic device1501may be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or health-care) based on 5G communication technology or IoT-related technology.

The electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure may be one of various types of electronic devices. The electronic devices may include, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smart phone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a home appliance. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic devices are not limited to those described above.

It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technological features set forth herein to particular embodiments and include various changes, equivalents, or replacements for a corresponding embodiment. With regard to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. It is to be understood that a singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the things, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B. or C,” “at least one of A. B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. As used herein, such terms as “1st” and “2nd,” or “first” and “second” may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance or order). It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or “connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it means that the element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

As used herein, the term “module” may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may interchangeably be used with other terms, for example, “logic,” “logic block,” “part,” or “circuitry”. A module may be a single integral component, or a minimum unit or part thereof, adapted to perform one or more functions. For example, according to an embodiment, the module may be implemented in a form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented as software (e.g., the program1540) including one or more instructions that are stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory1536or external memory1538) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronic device1501). For example, a processor (e.g., the processor1520) of the machine (e.g., the electronic device1501) may invoke at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium, and execute it, with or without using one or more other components under the control of the processor. This allows the machine to be operated to perform at least one function according to the at least one instruction invoked. The one or more instructions may include a code generated by a complier or a code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Wherein, the term “non-transitory” simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device, and does not include a signal (e.g., an electromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in the storage medium.

According to an embodiment, a method according to various embodiments of the disclosure may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program products may be traded as commodities between sellers and buyers. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) online via an application store (e.g., Play Store™), or between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly. If distributed online, at least part of the computer program product may be temporarily generated or at least temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such as memory of the manufacturer's server, a server of the application store, or a relay server.

According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include a single entity or multiple entities. Some of the plurality of entities may be separately disposed in different components. According to various embodiments, one or more of the above-described components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, according to various embodiments, the integrated component may still perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components in the same or similar manner as they are performed by a corresponding one of the plurality of components before the integration. According to various embodiments, operations performed by the module, the program, or another component may be carried out sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided an electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1) comprising a coil (e.g., the first coil311ofFIG.2B); an inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) configured to provide power to the coil (e.g., the first coil311ofFIG.2B); a power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B); a communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B), and a control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a designated first voltage to an input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B), the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) outputting a first magnitude of power based on the application of the first voltage, control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B), based on the application of the first voltage being maintained for a designated time, identify, through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B), a first control error packet from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1), while applying the second voltage, and identify a first value included in the first control error packet.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to control to increase a frequency of a signal applied to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) so that power transferred to the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) decreases, based on the application of the first voltage being maintained for the designated time.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a third voltage lower than the second voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) when the first value has a positive value, and identify, through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B), a second control error packet from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) while applying the third voltage.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to identify whether the second voltage corresponds to a designated threshold voltage, control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a third voltage lower than the second voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) when the second voltage does not correspond to the threshold voltage, identify, through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B), a second control error packet from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) while applying the third voltage, and identify a second value included in the second control error packet.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to identify whether the third voltage corresponds to the threshold voltage, compares the identified second value with a designated threshold value when the third voltage corresponds to the threshold voltage, identify that the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) is misaligned, when the second value is larger than the threshold value, and perform at least one control operation based on identifying the misalignment of the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1).

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to compare the identified first value with a designated threshold value, control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a third voltage lower than the second voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) when the identified first value is smaller than the threshold value, identify a second control error packet from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B), based on the application of the third voltage, and identify a second value included in the second control error packet.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to compare the identified second value with the threshold value, compare the third voltage with a threshold voltage when the second value is larger than the threshold value, identify that the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) is misaligned, when the third voltage is less than the threshold voltage, and perform at least one control operation based on identifying the misalignment of the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1).

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), further comprising a fan, wherein the at least one control operation includes at least one of an operation of controlling the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a fourth voltage lower than the first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B), an operation of driving the fan, or an operation of reducing an amount of current transferred to the coil (e.g., the first coil311ofFIG.2B).

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to compare the identified second voltage with the threshold value when the third voltage corresponds to a designated threshold voltage, identify that the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) is aligned, when the second value is smaller than the threshold value, and control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply the designated first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B), based on identifying that the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) is aligned.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply the second voltage lower than the first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) when a control error packet is not received from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) based on the application of the first voltage being maintained for the designated time.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to identify an occurrence of an event configured to identify an alignment state of the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) while applying the first voltage and control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply the second voltage lower than the first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) when the control error packet is not received from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) based on the occurrence of the event.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to obtain information associated with the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) and compare the first value with a threshold value corresponding to the information associated with the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1).

According to various embodiments, there may be provided a method for operating an electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), comprising controlling a power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) of the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1) to apply a designated first voltage to an input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of an inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) of the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) outputting a first magnitude of power based on the application of the first voltage; controlling the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B), based on the application of the first voltage being maintained for a designated time; identifying, through a communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B) of the electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1), a first control error packet from a wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1), while applying the second voltage; and identifying a first value included in the first control error packet.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the method further comprising controlling to increase a frequency of a signal applied to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) so that power transferred to the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) decreases, based on the application of the first voltage being maintained for the designated time.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the method further comprising controlling the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a third voltage lower than the second voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) when the first value has a positive value; and identifying, through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B), a second control error packet from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) while applying the third voltage.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the method further comprising identifying whether the second voltage corresponds to a designated threshold voltage; controlling the power providing circuit to apply a third voltage lower than the second voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) when the second voltage does not correspond to the threshold voltage; identifying, through the communication circuit, a second control error packet from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) while applying the third voltage; and identifying a second value included in the second control error packet.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the method further comprising identifying whether the third voltage corresponds to the threshold voltage; comparing the identified second value with the designated threshold value when the third voltage corresponds to the threshold voltage; identifying that the wireless power receiving device is misaligned, when the second value is larger than the threshold value; and performing at least one control operation based on identifying that the wireless power receiving device is misaligned.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the method further comprising comparing the identified first value with a designated threshold value, controlling the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a third voltage lower than the second voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) when the identified first value is smaller than the threshold value; identifying a second control error packet from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B), based on the application of the third voltage; and identifying a second value included in the second control error packet.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided the method further comprising comparing the identified second value with the threshold value; comparing the third voltage with a threshold voltage when the second value is larger than the threshold value; identifying that the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) is misaligned, when the third voltage is less than the threshold voltage; and performing at least one control operation based on identifying the misalignment of the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1).

According to various embodiments, there may be provided an electronic device (e.g., the wireless power transmitting device101ofFIG.1) comprising a coil (e.g., the first coil311ofFIG.2B); an inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) configured to provide power to the coil (e.g., the first coil311ofFIG.2B); a power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B); a communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B), and a control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B), wherein the control circuit (e.g., the first control circuit330ofFIG.2B) is configured to control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a designated first voltage to an input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B), the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) outputting a first magnitude of power based on the application of the first voltage, control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B), based on the application of the first voltage being maintained for a designated time, identify, through the communication circuit (e.g., the first communication circuit320ofFIG.2B), a first control error packet received from the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1), while applying the second voltage, identify a first value, which is a positive value, included in the first control error packet, compare the first value with a designated threshold value, identify that the wireless power receiving device (e.g., the wireless power receiving device195ofFIG.1) is misaligned when the first value is larger than the threshold value, and control the power providing circuit (e.g., the power providing circuit317ofFIG.2B) to apply a third voltage lower than the second voltage to the input terminal (e.g., the input terminal316ofFIG.2B) of the inverter (e.g., the inverter315ofFIG.2B) when the first value is smaller than the threshold value.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments, various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined, not by the detailed description and embodiments, but by the appended claims and their equivalents.