Patent ID: 12218520

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As will be described in detail hereinafter, various embodiments of a system and method for transmitting and receiving wireless power are disclosed. In particular, the system and method disclosed herein allow devices, such as power banks or mobile devices to receive power from other devices or transfer the power wirelessly to charge other devices independent of wireless charging standard.

FIG.1is a diagrammatical representation of a wireless power transfer system100in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless power transfer system100includes a wireless power transceiver device102and external devices104including a first external device106and a second external device108. For ease of understanding, the first external device106is considered as a power receiving device, such as a mobile device, a biomedical device, a portable consumer device, or the like. Similarly, the second external device108is considered as a power transmitting device, such as a power bank, a charging pad, or the like. The number of external devices may vary depending on the application.

The first and second external devices106,108are compatible with one of the wireless frequency standards. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the first external device106is considered to be compatible with a first frequency standard such as Air Fuel Alliance standard defined at a frequency of about 6.7 MHz. Similarly, the second external device108is considered to be compatible with a second frequency standard such as Qi standard defined in a frequency range of 100 kHz to 200 kHz. It should be noted herein that the first and second external devices106,108may be compatible with any frequency standard and are not limited to the frequency standards mentioned herein. Further, the use of any number of external devices104that are compatible with any number of frequency standards may be envisioned.

In conventional power transfer systems, a charging device is used to transmit electric power to a mobile device. However, the charging device is coupled to an external power source via one or more interconnecting wires, which in turn restricts the mobility of the charging device. On the other hand, if a battery is included in the charging device to transmit the power, the charging device may supply limited power till the battery is drained. Also, the drained battery needs to be recharged using interconnecting wires for further transmission of electric power to the mobile device.

To overcome the problems/drawbacks associated with conventional systems, the exemplary power transfer system100includes the wireless power transceiver device102that is configured to transmit electric power to the first external device106or receive the electric power from the second external device108. In one embodiment, the first and second external devices106,108may be positioned at a predetermined distance from the wireless power transceiver device102. For example, the predetermined distance may be in a range from about 5 mm to 500 mm. The wireless power transceiver device102is configured to transmit the electric power to the first external device106or receive electric power at the corresponding frequency standard.

As depicted inFIG.1, the wireless power transceiver device102includes an energy module110, a bi-directional driver112, a magnetic interfacing unit114, and a controller116. The bi-directional driver112is electrically coupled to the energy module110, the magnetic interfacing unit114, and the controller116. In one embodiment, the energy module110is configured to supply input electric power having a direct current (DC) signal118to the bi-directional driver112. In another embodiment, the energy module110is configured to receive electric power having a DC signal134from the bi-directional driver112. The energy module110may be a storage unit, such as a battery that is capable of transmitting and receiving the electric power. In some embodiments, the transmitted or received electric power may be in a range from about 0.1 W to 3 KW.

Further, the controller116is operatively coupled to the energy module110and the first and second external devices106,108. The controller116is configured to receive one or more parameters from one of the first and second external devices106,108and one or more parameters from the energy module110. In response, the controller116is configured to generate a first control signal120or the second control signal122based on the parameters received from the energy module110and one of the first and second external devices106,108. In one embodiment, the parameters may include state of charge, voltage, power, frequency band type or the like. The frequency band type may be one of the frequency standards, such as Air Fuel Alliance standard and Qi standard.

Further, the bi-directional driver112is configured to receive the first control signal120or the second control signal122from the controller116. If the first control signal120is received, the bi-directional driver112receives the input electric power having the DC signal118from the energy module110and converts the DC signal118to a first AC signal124having a first frequency or a second AC signal126having a second frequency. It may be noted that the first frequency corresponds to the first frequency standard and the second frequency corresponds to the second frequency standard. Further, the bi-directional driver112transmits the first AC signal124having the first frequency or the second AC signal126having the second frequency to the first external device106via a transceiver coil128disposed in the magnetic interfacing unit114. The transmitted first AC signal124or the second AC signal126are received by a receiver coil136for charging a load138, such as one or more batteries within the first external device106. In another embodiment, if the first external device106is compatible with both first and second frequency standards, the bi-directional driver112may convert the DC signal118to the first AC signal124having the first frequency and the second AC signal126having the second frequency. Further, the bi-directional driver112may transmit the first AC signal124having the first frequency and the second AC signal126having the second frequency to the first external device106via a transceiver coil128. In one example, the bi-directional driver112may alternately transmit the first AC signal124having the first frequency and the second AC signal126having the second frequency.

If the second control signal122is received, the bi-directional driver112receives a first AC signal130having the first frequency or a second AC signal132having the second frequency from the second external device108via the transceiver coil128within the magnetic interfacing unit114. Particularly, a power source140within the second external device108generates a DC signal that is converted to the first AC signal130or the second AC signal132which are then transmitted to the bi-directional driver112, via a transmitter coil142within the second external device108. Further, the bi-directional driver112converts the first AC signal130having the first frequency or the second AC signal132having the second frequency to the DC signal134that is used for charging the energy module110. In another embodiment, if the second external device108is compatible with both first and second frequency standards, the bi-directional driver112may receive the first AC signal130having the first frequency and the second AC signal132having the second frequency from the second external device108. Further, the bi-directional driver112may convert the first AC signal130having the first frequency and the second AC signal132having the second frequency to the DC signal134that is used for charging the energy module110. The aspect of transmitting and receiving the power is explained in greater detail with reference toFIG.2.

Thus, by employing the exemplary wireless power transceiver device102, the power may be wirelessly transmitted to the first external device106for charging a battery in the first external device106. Also, the wireless power transceiver device102may wirelessly receive the power from the second external device108for charging the energy module110in the wireless power transceiver device102. Moreover, the exemplary wireless power transceiver device102may be a mobile charger that can transmit electric power without any interconnecting wires to the first external device106or receive electric power from the second external device108.

Referring toFIG.2, a schematic representation of the wireless power transfer system100in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is depicted. The wireless power transfer system100includes the wireless power transceiver device102, the first external device106, and the second external device108. The wireless power transceiver device102is magnetically coupled to the first external device106and the second external device108.

Further, the wireless power transceiver device102includes the energy module110, the bi-directional driver112, the magnetic interfacing unit114, the controller116, and an antenna202. The energy module110may be a DC source that is electrically coupled to first terminals204of the bi-directional driver112. In one embodiment, the energy module110is used to supply input electric power having the DC signal to the first terminals204of the bi-directional driver112. The DC signal may be representative of a DC voltage of the input power from the energy module110. In another embodiment, the energy module110is used to receive electric power having DC signal from the first terminals204of the bi-directional driver112. Further, the magnetic interfacing unit114includes the transceiver coil128and capacitors206,208that are electrically coupled to second terminals210of the bi-directional driver112.

Further, the bi-directional driver112includes a first leg212of switches214, a second leg216of switches218that are connected to form a bridge circuit between the first terminals204and the second terminals210. In addition, the bi-directional driver112includes a third leg220of switches222that is coupled in parallel to the first leg212of switches214and the second leg216of switches218. The third leg220of switches222are used for tapping the transceiver coil128at a desired or predefined location to vary a number of turns of the transceiver coil128. More particularly, if the third leg220of switches222is activated along with the first leg212of switches214, a first number of turns224of the transceiver coil128is activated. In one embodiment, the first number of turns224of the transceiver coil128is activated to transmit the electric power to the first external device106. Similarly, if the third leg220of switches222is activated along with the second leg216of switches218, a second number of turns226of the transceiver coil128is activated. In one embodiment, the second number of turns226of the transceiver coil128is activated to receive the electric power from the second external device108.

During operation, the controller116receives one or more parameters (also referred to as first parameters) from the energy module110. The one or more first parameters may include state of charge (also referred to as first state of charge) of the energy module110, power of the energy module110, voltage of the energy module110, and frequency band type of the wireless power transceiver device102. In one embodiment, the state of charge may be determined based on power or voltage of the energy module110. It may be noted that the state of charge is indicative of a percentage of charge in the energy module110. In another embodiment, the frequency band type may be one of the frequency standards discussed herein.

Further, the controller116receives one or more parameters (also referred to as second parameters) from the first external device106or the second external device108. The controller116is coupled to the antenna202that is wirelessly coupled to the first and second external devices106,108to receive the one or more second parameters. In one embodiment, short range communication, such as Bluetooth communication may be established between the controller116and the first and second external devices106,108for communicating the first and second parameters. The one or more second parameters may include state of charge (also referred to as second state of charge) of the first and second external devices106,108, power of the first and second external devices106,108, voltage of the first and second external devices106,108, and frequency band type of the first and second external devices106,108.

Further, the controller116is configured to generate the first control signal120or the second control signal122based on the one or more first parameters received from the energy module110and the one or more second parameters of the external devices104. In one embodiment, if the controller116receives the one or more second parameters from the first external device106, the controller116determines the state of charge of the first external device106. Further, the controller116compares the state of charge of the first external device106with the state of charge of the energy module110. If the state of charge of the first external device106is less than the state of charge of the energy module110, the controller116generates the first control signal120. The generated first control signal120is transmitted to the bi-directional driver112to activate the first leg212of the switches214and the third leg220of the switches222in the bi-directional driver112. As a result, the first number of turns224of the transceiver coil128is activated or turned ON to transmit the input electric power to the first external device106. More specifically, in addition to the first control signal120, the controller116transmits one or more frequency control signals to the first leg212of switches214and the third leg220of switches222to convert the DC signal to the first AC signal124having the first frequency or the second AC signal126having the second frequency. In one embodiment, the frequency control signals may be pulse modulated signals having a predetermined duty cycle. The converted first AC signal124or the second AC signal126are transmitted to the first external device106via the first number of turns224of the transceiver coil128.

Furthermore, the first AC signal124having the first frequency or the second AC signal126having the second frequency are transmitted to the first external device106until the charge in the first external device106is greater than a threshold charge value. In particular, the first external device106transmits the one or more second parameters that indicate the state of charge of the first external device106continuously or periodically to the controller116in the wireless power transceiver device102. Further, the controller116drives the bi-directional driver112to stop the transmission of the first AC signal124or the second AC signal126to the first external device106if the charge in the first external device106is greater than the threshold charge value. In one embodiment, the controller116sends control signals to deactivate the first leg212of the switches214and the third leg220of switches222. In another embodiment, if the first external device106is compatible with both first and second frequency standards, the bi-directional driver112may convert the DC signal118to the first AC signal124having the first frequency and the second AC signal126having the second frequency. Further, the bi-directional driver112may transmit the first AC signal124having the first frequency and the second AC signal126having the second frequency to the first external device106via a transceiver coil128. In one example, the bi-directional driver112may alternately transmit the first AC signal124having the first frequency and the second AC signal126having the second frequency.

In another embodiment, if the controller116receives the one or more second parameters from the second external device108, the controller116determines a state of charge of the second external device108based on the one or more second parameters received from the second external device108. Further, the controller116compares the state of charge of the second external device108with the state of charge of the energy module110. If the state of charge of the second external device108is greater than the state of charge of the energy module110, the controller116generates the second control signal122. Further, the generated second control signal122is transmitted to the bi-directional driver112to activate the second leg216of switches218and the third leg220of switches222in the bi-directional driver112. As a result, the second number of turns226of the transceiver coil128is activated or turned ON to receive the first AC signal130having a first frequency or a second AC signal132having a second frequency from the second external device108. Further, the controller116may transmit one or more frequency control signals to the second leg216of switches218and the third leg220of switches222to convert the first AC signal130or the second AC signal132into a corresponding DC signal that is used for charging the energy module110in the wireless power transceiver device102.

Furthermore, the first AC signal130or the second AC signal132is received from the second external device108until the charge in the energy module110of the wireless power transceiver device102is greater than the threshold charge value. In particular, the controller116transmits the one or more first parameters that indicate the state of charge in the energy module110continuously or periodically to the second external device108. Further, the second external device108stops the transmission of the first AC signal130or the second AC signal132to the wireless power transceiver device102if the charge in the energy module110of the wireless power transceiver device102is greater than the threshold charge value. In another embodiment, if the second external device108is compatible with both first and second frequency standards, the bi-directional driver112may receive the first AC signal130having the first frequency and the second AC signal132having the second frequency from the second external device108. Further, the bi-directional driver112may convert the first AC signal130having the first frequency and the second AC signal132having the second frequency to the DC signal134that is used for charging the energy module110.

Referring toFIG.3, a method300for transmitting and receiving power from external devices in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, is depicted. For ease of understanding, the method300is described with reference to the embodiments ofFIGS.1and2. At step302, a controller of a wireless power transceiver device generates one of a first control signal and a second control signal. Particularly, the controller receives at least one parameter from the energy module and at least one parameter from the external device. Further, the controller generates the first control signal or the second control signal based on the at least one parameter of the energy module and the external device.

Subsequently, at step304, at least one of a first AC signal having a first frequency and a second AC signal having a second frequency that is different from the first frequency are transmitted through at least one transceiver coil if the first control signal is received from the controller. The bi-directional driver is configured to receive the first control signal from the controller. Further, in response to receiving the first control signal, a first leg of switches and a third leg of switches are activated to turn ON a first number of turns of the transceiver coil. Further, the first leg of switches and the third leg of switches receive one or more frequency control signals from the controller to convert the DC signal received from the energy module to at least one of the first AC signal having the first frequency and the second AC signal having the second frequency. Thereafter, the at least one of the first AC signal having the first frequency and the second AC signal having the second frequency are transmitted to the external device to charge one or more loads, such as batteries in the external devices.

In addition, at step306, at least one of the first AC signal having the first frequency and the second AC signal having the second frequency are received through the at least one transceiver coil if the second control signal is received from the controller. The bi-directional driver is configured to receive the second control signal from the controller. Further, in response to receiving the second control signal, a second leg of switches and the third leg of switches are activated to turn ON a second number of turns of the transceiver coil. Further, the second leg of switches and the third leg of switches receive one or more frequency control signals from the controller to convert the at least one of the first AC signal having the first frequency and the second AC signal having the second frequency that are received from the transceiver coil to a DC signal. Thereafter, the converted DC signal is used to charge the energy module of the wireless power transceiver device.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments discussed herein, the exemplary system and method facilitate to transmit and receive power from external devices. In particular, the system and method disclosed herein allow devices, such as power banks or mobile devices to receive power from other external devices or transfer the power wirelessly to charge other external devices independent of wireless charging standards.

While only certain features of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the present disclosure.