PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11114903-B2
Application Number: US-202016814837-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Wireless power systems with concurrently active data streams

Abstract:
A wireless power system may have a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device may include a coil and wireless power transmitting circuitry coupled to the coil. The wireless power receiving device may include a coil that is configured to receive wireless power signals from the wireless power transmitting device and rectifier circuitry that is configured to convert the wireless power signals to direct current power. The wireless power transmitting device and the wireless power receiving device may exchange data packets using in-band communication in order to transfer various types of data. For increased flexibility of data transmission, multiple data streams may be used concurrently when conveying data between the power receiving device and power transmitting device. Each data packet may include a stream header that identifies a corresponding data stream. Different types of data may be transmitted with each data stream.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless power transmitting device with a charging surface configured to receive at least one wireless power receiving device, the wireless power transmitting device comprising:
 a coil; 
 wireless power transmitting circuitry coupled to the coil and configured to transmit wireless power signals with the coil; and 
 control circuitry configured to convey data packets using the coil, wherein each of the data packets has a stream header that identifies a corresponding data stream associated with that data packet. 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 convey a first data packet for a first data stream using the coil; and 
 while the first data stream is active, convey a second data packet for a second data stream using the coil. 
 
     
     
       3. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 2 , wherein the first data packet has a respective first stream header that identifies the first data stream and wherein the second data packet has a respective second stream header that identifies the second data stream. 
     
     
       4. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to convey data of a first type using the first data stream and wherein the control circuitry is configured to convey data of a second type that is different than the first type using the second data stream. 
     
     
       5. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the data packets has a header, a payload, and a checksum. 
     
     
       6. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the stream header includes three data bits that identify a stream number. 
     
     
       7. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the data packets comprise data bits and wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 gather measurements using the coil; 
 demodulate at least portions of the measurements into the data bits. 
 
     
     
       8. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 receive a first data packet for a first data stream using the coil; 
 while the first data stream is active, receive a second data packet for a second data stream using the coil; 
 perform a first action based on information from the first data stream; 
 perform a second action that is different than the first action based on information from the second data stream; 
 append the first data packet to a first buffer that is associated with the first data stream; and 
 append the second data packet to a second buffer that is associated with the second data stream. 
 
     
     
       9. An electronic device that is configured to receive wireless power from a power transmitting device, the electronic device comprising:
 a coil that is configured to receive wireless power signals from the power transmitting device; 
 rectifier circuitry that is configured to convert the wireless power signals to direct current power; and 
 control circuitry configured to convey data packets using the coil, wherein each of the data packets has a stream header that identifies a corresponding data stream associated with that data packet. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 convey a first data packet for a first data stream using the coil; and 
 while the first data stream is active, convey a second data packet for a second data stream using the coil. 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the first data packet has a respective first stream header that identifies the first data stream and wherein the second data packet has a respective second stream header that identifies the second data stream. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to convey data of a first type using the first data stream and wherein the control circuitry is configured to convey data of a second type that is different than the first type using the second data stream. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the data packets has a header, a payload, and a checksum. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the stream header includes three data bits that identify a stream number. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the data packets comprise data bits and wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 gather measurements using the coil; 
 demodulate at least portions of the measurements into the data bits. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 receive a first data packet for a first data stream using the coil; 
 while the first data stream is active, receive a second data packet for a second data stream using the coil; 
 perform a first action based on information from the first data stream; 
 perform a second action that is different than the first action based on information from the second data stream; 
 append the first data packet to a first buffer that is associated with the first data stream; and 
 append the second data packet to a second buffer that is associated with the second data stream. 
 
     
     
       17. A wireless power transmitting device with a charging surface configured to receive at least one wireless power receiving device, the wireless power transmitting device comprising:
 a coil; 
 wireless power transmitting circuitry coupled to the coil and configured to transmit wireless power signals with the coil; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 transmit a first data packet for a first data stream to the wireless power receiving device using the coil; and 
 while the first data stream is active, transmit a second data packet for a second data stream to the wireless power receiving device using the coil. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 17 , wherein the first data packet includes at least some bits that identify the first data stream and wherein the second data packet includes at least some bits that identify the second data stream. 
     
     
       19. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 17 , wherein the first data packet includes a 1-byte stream header that identifies the first data stream and wherein the second data packet includes a 1-byte stream header that identifies the second data stream. 
     
     
       20. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first and second data packets includes a preamble, a header, a stream header, a payload, and a checksum.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/865,866, filed Jun. 24, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to power systems, and, more particularly, to wireless power systems for charging electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a wireless charging system, a wireless power transmitting device such as a charging mat or charging puck wirelessly transmits power to a wireless power receiving device such as a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device has a coil and rectifier circuitry. The coil of the portable electronic device receives alternating-current wireless power signals from the wireless power transmitting device. The rectifier circuitry converts the received signals into direct current power. 
     SUMMARY 
     A wireless power system has a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device may include a coil and wireless power transmitting circuitry coupled to the coil. The wireless power transmitting circuitry may be configured to transmit wireless power signals with the coil. The wireless power receiving device may include a coil that is configured to receive wireless power signals from the wireless power transmitting device and rectifier circuitry that is configured to convert the wireless power signals to direct current power. 
     The wireless power transmitting device and the wireless power receiving device may exchange data packets in order to transfer various types of data. Authentication data, firmware data, command data, configuration data, and/or power data may be transmitted between the power receiving device and the power transmitting device. The data may be transmitted using in-band communication (e.g., amplitude-shift keying or frequency-shift keying). 
     For increased flexibility of data transmission, multiple data streams may be used concurrently when conveying data between the power receiving device and power transmitting device. Each data packet may include a stream header that identifies a corresponding data stream. Data transmission using a first data stream may be paused and data transmission using a second data stream may take place. Once data transmission using the second data stream is complete, data transmission using the first data stream may resume. Different types of data may be transmitted with each data stream. 
     The stream header of each packet may include data bits that identify a corresponding data stream for that data packet. The stream header may be a dedicated stream header (e.g., a 1-byte stream header). Alternatively, data bits indicating the stream number may be incorporated into another byte in the data packet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative wireless charging system that includes a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of illustrative wireless power transmitting and receiving circuitry in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3A  is a diagram of an illustrative data packet that may be conveyed between a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  is a diagram of an illustrative data packet having a stream header that may be conveyed between a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of an illustrative stream header in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of an illustrative auxiliary data control packet having a 1-byte stream header in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of an illustrative auxiliary data control packet having bits that represent a stream number in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of an illustrative auxiliary data transport packet having a 1-byte stream header in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of an illustrative data stream response packet having a 1-byte stream header in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram of an illustrative data stream response packet having bits that represent a stream number in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing an illustrative method of transmitting data from a wireless power receiving device to a wireless power transmitting device using multiple data streams that are simultaneously active in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an illustrative method of transmitting data from a wireless power transmitting device to a wireless power receiving device using multiple data streams that are simultaneously active in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A wireless power system includes a wireless power transmitting device such as a wireless charging puck. The wireless power transmitting device wirelessly transmits power to a wireless power receiving device such as a cellular telephone, wristwatch or other electronic equipment. The wireless power receiving device uses power from the wireless power transmitting device for powering the device and for charging an internal battery. 
     The wireless power transmitting device interacts with the wireless power receiving device and obtains information on the characteristics of the wireless power receiving device. In some embodiments, the wireless power transmitting device has multiple power transmitting coils. In such embodiments, the wireless power transmitting device uses information from the wireless power receiving device and/or measurements made in the wireless power transmitting device to determine which coil or coils in the transmitting device are magnetically coupled to wireless power receiving devices. Coil selection is then performed in the wireless power transmitting device. Wireless power is transmitted from the wireless power transmitting device to the wireless power receiving device using selected coil(s) to charge a battery in the wireless power receiving device and/or to power other load circuitry. 
     An illustrative wireless power system (wireless charging system) is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , wireless power system  8  includes a wireless power transmitting device such as wireless power transmitting device  12  and includes a wireless power receiving device such as wireless power receiving device  24 . Wireless power transmitting device  12  includes control circuitry  16 . Wireless power receiving device  24  includes control circuitry  30 . Control circuitry in system  8  such as control circuitry  16  and control circuitry  30  is used in controlling the operation of system  8 . This control circuitry may include processing circuitry associated with microprocessors, power management units, baseband processors, digital signal processors, microcontrollers, and/or application-specific integrated circuits with processing circuits. The processing circuitry implements desired control and communications features in devices  12  and  24 . For example, the processing circuitry may be used in selecting coils, determining power transmission levels, processing sensor data and other data, processing user input, handling negotiations between devices  12  and  24 , sending and receiving in-band and out-of-band data, making measurements, and otherwise controlling the operation of system  8 . 
     Control circuitry in system  8  may be configured to perform operations in system  8  using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry), firmware and/or software. Software code for performing operations in system  8  is stored on non-transitory computer readable storage media (e.g., tangible computer readable storage media) in control circuitry. The software code may sometimes be referred to as software, data, program instructions, instructions, or code. The non-transitory computer readable storage media may include non-volatile memory such as non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM), one or more hard drives (e.g., magnetic drives or solid state drives), one or more removable flash drives or other removable media, or the like. Software stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media may be executed on the processing circuitry of control circuitry  16  and/or  30 . The processing circuitry may include application-specific integrated circuits with processing circuitry, one or more microprocessors, a central processing unit (CPU) or other processing circuitry. 
     Power transmitting device  12  may be a stand-alone power adapter (e.g., a wireless power transmitting device that includes power adapter circuitry), may be a wireless charging puck or other device that is coupled to a power adapter or other equipment by a cable, may be a portable device, may be equipment that has been incorporated into furniture, a vehicle, or other system, may be a removable battery case, or may be other wireless power transfer equipment. 
     Power receiving device  24  may be a portable electronic device such as a cellular telephone, wristwatch, or other electronic equipment. Power transmitting device  12  may be coupled to a wall outlet (e.g., an alternating current power source) and may use AC-DC converter to produce direct-current (DC) power and/or may have a battery for supplying power. In some cases, a single electronic device may be configured to serve as both a power receiving device and a power transmitting device (e.g., the device has both power transmitting circuitry and power receiving circuitry). 
     The DC power may be used to power control circuitry  16 . During operation, a controller in control circuitry  16  uses power transmitting circuitry  52  to transmit wireless power to power receiving circuitry  54  of device  24 . Power transmitting circuitry  52  may have switching circuitry (e.g., inverter circuitry  61  formed from switches such as transistors) that is turned on and off based on control signals provided by control circuitry  16  to create AC current signals through one or more wireless power transmitting coils such as wireless power transmitting coils  36 . Coils  36  may be arranged in a planar coil array (e.g., in configurations in which device  12  is a wireless charging mat) or may be arranged to form a cluster of coils (e.g., in configurations in which device  12  is a wireless charging puck). In some arrangements, device  12  may have only a single coil. In other arrangements, device  12  may have multiple coils (e.g., two or more coils, four or more coils, six or more coils, 2-6 coils, fewer than 10 coils, etc.). 
     As the AC currents pass through one or more coils  36 , alternating-current electromagnetic (e.g., magnetic) fields (wireless power signals  44 ) are produced that are received by one or more corresponding receiver coils such as coil(s)  48  in power receiving device  24 . Device  24  may have a single coil  48 , at least two coils  48 , at least three coils  48 , at least four coils  48 , or other suitable number of coils  48 . 
     When the alternating-current electromagnetic fields are received by coils  48 , corresponding alternating-current currents are induced in coils  48 . Rectifier circuitry such as rectifier circuitry  50 , which contains rectifying components such as synchronous rectification metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors arranged in a bridge network, converts received AC signals (received alternating-current signals associated with electromagnetic signals  44 ) from one or more coils  48  into DC voltage signals for powering device  24 . 
     The DC voltage produced by rectifier circuitry  50  (sometime referred to as rectifier output voltage Vrect) can be used in charging a battery such as battery  58  and can be used in powering other components in device  24 . For example, device  24  may include input-output devices  56  such as a display, touch sensor, communications circuits, audio components, sensors, light-emitting diode status indicators, other light-emitting and light detecting components, and other components and these components (which form a load for device  24 ) may be powered by the DC voltages produced by rectifier circuitry  50  (and/or DC voltages produced by battery  58 ). 
     Device  12  and/or device  24  may communicate wirelessly using in-band or out-of-band communications. Device  12  may, for example, have wireless transceiver circuitry  40  that wirelessly transmits out-of-band signals to device  24  using an antenna. Wireless transceiver circuitry  40  may be used to wirelessly receive out-of-band signals from device  24  using the antenna. Device  24  may have wireless transceiver circuitry  46  that transmits out-of-band signals to device  12 . Receiver circuitry in wireless transceiver  46  may use an antenna to receive out-of-band signals from device  12 . In-band transmissions between devices  12  and  24  may be performed using coils  36  and  48 . 
     It is desirable for power transmitting device  12  and power receiving device  24  to be able to communicate information such as received power, states of charge, and so forth, to control wireless power transfer. However, the above-described technology need not involve the transmission of device identification information in order to function. Out of an abundance of caution, it is noted that to the extent that any implementation of this charging technology involves the use of device identification information (or more generally, personally identifiable information), implementers should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, identification information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users. Where possible, such identification information may be abstracted, such as by using some but not all bits in a byte of information, so that the resulting identification is not globally unique but still sufficient to facilitate communication under reasonable device usage scenarios. 
     Control circuitry  16  has external object measurement circuitry  41  that may be used to detect external objects adjacent to device  12  (e.g., on the top of a charging mat or, if desired, to detect objects adjacent to the coupling surface of a charging puck). Circuitry  41  can detect foreign objects such as coils, paper clips, and other metallic objects and can detect the presence of wireless power receiving devices  24  (e.g., circuitry  41  can detect the presence of one or more coils  48 ). During object detection and characterization operations, external object measurement circuitry  41  can be used to make measurements on coils  36  to determine whether any devices  24  are present on device  12 . Additional coils (that are not used for power transmission) and/or other additional sensors may be used for object detection and characterization operations if desired. 
     In an illustrative arrangement, measurement circuitry  41  of control circuitry  16  contains signal generator circuitry (e.g., oscillator circuitry for generating AC probe signals at one or more probe frequencies, a pulse generator that can create impulses so that impulse responses can be measured to gather inductance information, Q-factor information, etc.) and signal detection circuitry (e.g., filters, analog-to-digital converters, impulse response measurement circuits, etc.). During measurement operations, switching circuitry in device  12  (e.g., in the puck of device  12 ) may be adjusted by control circuitry  16  to switch each of coils  36  into use. As each coil  36  is selectively switched into use, control circuitry  16  uses the signal generator circuitry of signal measurement circuitry  41  to apply a probe signal to that coil while using the signal detection circuitry of signal measurement circuitry  41  to measure a corresponding response. Measurement circuitry  43  in control circuitry  30  and/or in control circuitry  16  may also be used in making current and voltage measurements (e.g., so that this information can be used by device  24  and/or device  12 ). 
       FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of illustrative wireless charging circuitry for system  8 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , circuitry  52  may include inverter circuitry such as one or more inverters  61  or other drive circuitry that produces wireless power signals that are transmitted through an output circuit that includes one or more coils  36  and capacitors such as capacitor  70 . In some embodiments, device  12  may include multiple individually controlled inverters  61 , each of which supplies drive signals to a respective coil  36 . In other embodiments, an inverter  61  is shared between multiple coils  36  using switching circuitry. 
     During operation, control signals for inverter(s)  61  are provided by control circuitry  16  at control input  74 . A single inverter  61  and single coil  36  is shown in the example of  FIG. 2 , but multiple inverters  61  and multiple coils  36  may be used, if desired. In a multiple coil configuration, switching circuitry (e.g., multiplexer circuitry) can be used to couple a single inverter  61  to multiple coils  36  and/or each coil  36  may be coupled to a respective inverter  61 . During wireless power transmission operations, transistors in one or more selected inverters  61  are driven by AC control signals from control circuitry  16 . The relative phase between the inverters can be adjusted dynamically (e.g., a pair of inverters  61  may produce output signals in phase or out of phase (e.g., 180° out of phase)). 
     The application of drive signals using inverter(s)  61  (e.g., transistors or other switches in circuitry  52 ) causes the output circuits formed from selected coils  36  and capacitors  70  to produce alternating-current electromagnetic fields (signals  44 ) that are received by wireless power receiving circuitry  54  using a wireless power receiving circuit formed from one or more coils  48  and one or more capacitors  72  in device  24 . 
     If desired, the relative phase between driven coils  36  (e.g., the phase of one of coils  36  that is being driven relative to another adjacent one of coils  36  that is being driven) may be adjusted by control circuitry  16  to help enhance wireless power transfer between device  12  and device  24 . Rectifier circuitry  50  is coupled to one or more coils  48  (e.g., a pair of coils) and converts received power from AC to DC and supplies a corresponding direct current output voltage Vrect across rectifier output terminals  76  for powering load circuitry in device  24  (e.g., for charging battery  58 , for powering a display and/or other input-output devices  56 , and/or for powering other components). A single coil  48  or multiple coils  48  may be included in device  24 . In an illustrative configuration, device  24  may be a wristwatch or other portable device with at least two coils  48 . These two (or more) coils  48  may be used together when receiving wireless power. Other configurations may be used, if desired. 
     As previously mentioned, in-band transmissions using coils  36  and  48  may be used to convey (e.g., transmit and receive) information between devices  12  and  24 . With one illustrative configuration, frequency-shift keying (FSK) is used to transmit in-band data from device  12  to device  24  and amplitude-shift keying (ASK) is used to transmit in-band data from device  24  to device  12 . Power may be conveyed wirelessly from device  12  to device  24  during these FSK and ASK transmissions. While power transmitting circuitry  52  is driving AC signals into one or more of coils  36  to produce signals  44  at the power transmission frequency, wireless transceiver circuitry  40  may use FSK modulation to modulate the power transmission frequency of the driving AC signals and thereby modulate the frequency of signals  44 . In device  24 , coil  48  is used to receive signals  44 . Power receiving circuitry  54  uses the received signals on coil  48  and rectifier  50  to produce DC power. At the same time, wireless transceiver circuitry  46  monitors the frequency of the AC signal passing through coil(s)  48  and uses FSK demodulation to extract the transmitted in-band data from signals  44 . This approach allows FSK data (e.g., FSK data packets) to be transmitted in-band from device  12  to device  24  with coils  36  and  48  while power is simultaneously being wirelessly conveyed from device  12  to device  24  using coils  36  and  48 . 
     In-band communications between device  24  and device  12  may use ASK modulation and demodulation techniques. Wireless transceiver circuitry  46  transmits in-band data to device  12  by using a switch (e.g., one or more transistors in transceiver  46  that are coupled to coil  48 ) to modulate the impedance of power receiving circuitry  54  (e.g., coil  48 ). This, in turn, modulates the amplitude of signal  44  and the amplitude of the AC signal passing through coil(s)  36 . Wireless transceiver circuitry  40  monitors the amplitude of the AC signal passing through coil(s)  36  and, using ASK demodulation, extracts the transmitted in-band data from these signals that was transmitted by wireless transceiver circuitry  46 . The use of ASK communications allows ASK data bits (e.g., ASK data packets) to be transmitted in-band from device  24  to device  12  with coils  48  and  36  while power is simultaneously being wirelessly conveyed from device  12  to device  24  using coils  36  and  48 . 
     The example of FSK modulation being used to convey in-band data from power transmitting device  12  to power receiving device  24  and ASK modulation being used to convey in-band data from power receiving device  24  to power transmitting device  12  is merely illustrative. In general, any desired communication techniques may be used to convey information from power transmitting device  12  to power receiving device  24  and from power receiving device  24  to power transmitting device  12 . 
     The aforementioned FSK and ASK modulation and demodulation techniques may be used to transmit data packets between device  12  and device  24 . Each data packet may include numerous data bits (sometimes referred to as bits). The data bits may be grouped into bytes, with each byte including any desired number of bits (e.g., 8 bits). 
     Data packets may be transmitted between devices in a data stream. There are many types of data that may be transmitted between a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. As examples, transmitted data may include authentication data, a firmware update, a command, configuration data, power data (e.g., received power levels, states of charge, etc.) or any other desired type of data. 
     Authentication may occur when the wireless power receiving device is placed on the wireless power transmitting device. Authentication may involve verifying that the wireless power receiving device is supported by the wireless power transmitting device and/or verifying that the wireless power receiving device and the wireless power transmitting device belong to the same user (e.g., both devices are associated with the same user identification). Authentication may also involve establishing encryption to protect the transmitted data. These examples are merely illustrative and other information may be transmitted during authentication. 
     A firmware update may be, for example, transmitted from a wireless power receiving device to a wireless power transmitting device (or vice versa). Commands may be transmitted between the wireless power receiving device and the wireless power transmitting device. An exemplary command that may be transmitted is an instruction to update a user-interface. For example, the wireless power transmitting device may transmit a command to the wireless power receiving device with an instruction to indicate that wireless power transfer has commenced (e.g., using an input-output device  56  of the wireless power receiving device such as a display, or camera flash). 
     Configuration data may, for example, be transmitted from the wireless power transmitting device to the wireless power receiving device. The configuration data may include information regarding the configuration of the wireless power transmitting device (e.g., the model number and shape of the wireless power transmitting device). 
     To summarize, there are many different types of data that may be transmitted between devices  12  and  24 . However, in some communication schemes, there may only be one active data stream per communication direction using in-band communication between devices  12  and  24 . This limits the devices to transmitting only one type of data at a time. Data packets may be transmitted using the data stream until all of the pertinent data packets have been successfully transmitted. After the transmission is complete, transmission of additional packets of a different type may begin. This type of communication scheme may have limited flexibility. Once transmission of a first type of data begins, transmission must continue until all of that data has been transmitted (even if there is high priority data of a different type to be transmitted). 
     Consider an example where a wireless power receiving device is placed on a wireless power transmitting device. When the power receiving device is placed on the power transmitting device, authentication may begin (with authentication data being transmitted between devices  12  and  24 ). A single data stream may be used to transmit the authentication data. In the meantime, devices  12  and  24  may wish to exchange data regarding a user-interface update. However, since only one active data stream is permitted, the authentication must be completed before the user-interface update commands are exchanged. In other words, data transfer of different types must be completed serially. 
     To increase flexibility of data communication, a communication scheme may be used that allows for multiple active data streams. This allows for more control over the transmission of different types of information. In the above example, transmission of authentication data using a first data stream may be paused and data regarding the user-interface update may be transmitted using a second data stream. Once the data regarding the user-interface update is transmitted, the transmission of authentication data using the first data stream may be resumed. 
       FIG. 3A  is a diagram of an illustrative data packet. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the data packet may optionally include a preamble  104  (e.g., a preamble byte), header  106  (e.g., a header byte), message  108  (e.g., one or more message bytes), and checksum  110  (e.g., a checksum byte). Preamble  104  may include a sequence of bits that enables the data-packet-receiving-device to accurately detect the start bit of the header. Header  106  may indicate the type of data packet that is being transmitted. Message  108  (sometimes referred to as payload  108 ) includes the data that is desired to be transmitted. Checksum  110  allows for verification that the entire packet was transmitted successfully. The device receiving the packet may calculate a checksum value for the packet and compare the calculated checksum value to a target checksum value received in the checksum byte. If the calculated checksum value and the target checksum value match, the packet is interpreted as being transmitted successfully. If the calculated checksum value and the target checksum value do not match, the packet transmission is interpreted as including an error. 
     To allow for concurrently active data streams, the in-band communication data packets may be modified to include stream identifying information.  FIG. 3B  is a diagram of an illustrative data packet that includes a stream header to enable multiple active data streams. As shown in  FIG. 3B , data packet  102  may include a stream header  112 . The stream header  112  may be transmitted after header  106  but before message  108 . This example is merely illustrative and the stream header may be transmitted at another position within the packet if desired. The preamble depicted in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  is optional and may be omitted if desired. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of an illustrative stream header that may be included in a data packet. As shown, stream header  112  includes one byte (Bo) that has eight bits (b 0 , b 1 , etc.). The first three bits of the stream header (bits b 0 , b 1 , and b 2 ) are used to identify a stream number for the data packet. In this example, the three identifying bits allow for eight active streams. In other words, a stream number of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 will be identified using bits b 0 -b 2 . The remaining five bits of the stream header may be reserved. This example of a stream header is merely illustrative. In general, any desired number of bits (e.g., one, two, three, four, more than four, etc.) may be used to identify a stream number. 
     There are numerous types of data packets that may be transmitted during operation of the one or more data streams. Auxiliary data control (ADC) packets may be used to open and close (activate and deactivate) data streams. Auxiliary data transport (ADT) packets may be used to transmit data using an active data stream. Data stream response (DSR) packets may allow acknowledgments to be transmitted upon successful receipt of data. All of these types of packets may include a stream header or other stream identifying information. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of an illustrative auxiliary data control packet with a stream header. As shown in  FIG. 5 , auxiliary data control packet  122  includes stream header  112 , request  124 , and parameter  126 . Request  124  and parameter  126  may be used to provide information regarding a desired control for the data stream identified by stream header  112 . For example, the auxiliary data control packet may be used to open data transport using the data stream identified in stream header  112  (i.e., open the identified data stream), may be used to close data transport using the data stream identified in stream header  112  (i.e., close the identified data stream), or may be used to reset all incoming and outgoing data streams. 
     In  FIG. 5 , stream header  112  may be a dedicated stream header. One or more bytes may be used solely for stream header  112  (e.g., a byte having 8 bits as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Request  124  may have a 5 bits and parameter  126  may have 11 bits. In other words, two additional bytes (each having 8 bits) are split between the request and parameter. This example, however, is merely illustrative. In another possible arrangement, shown in  FIG. 6 , the request  124 , stream number  128 , and parameter  126  may be split between two bytes. As shown in  FIG. 6 , a dedicated 1-byte stream header is not included as in  FIG. 5 . Instead, the stream number  128  is included in the packet between request  124  and parameter  126 . The stream number  128  may be 3 bits (or any other desired number of bits) that identifies a corresponding stream number. Request  124  may have 2 bits and parameter  126  may have 11 bits. In general, a byte may include any other desired information in addition to the stream number. 
     In some embodiments, stream header  112  has 8 bits. In some embodiments, stream header  112  has 16 bits. In some embodiments, stream header  112  has 24 bits. In some embodiments, stream header  112  has 32 bits. In some embodiments, stream header  112  has 48 bits. In some embodiments, stream header  112  has 64 bits. In general, stream header  112  may include as many bits as desired. In some embodiments, 1 bit is used to identify a stream number. In some embodiments, 2 bits are used to identify a stream number. In some embodiments, 3 bits are used to identify a stream number. In some embodiments, 4 bits are used to identify a stream number. In some embodiments, 5 bits are used to identify a stream number. In some embodiments, 6 bits are used to identify a stream number. In some embodiments, 7 bits are used to identify a stream number. It is noted that as long as there are sufficient bits, any combination of stream identification bits and stream header length can be implemented. For example, in a 8 bit stream header, anywhere between 1 to 8 bits can be reserved for stream identification. In a 16 bit stream header, anywhere between 1 to 16 bits can be reserved for stream identification. In a 24 bit stream header, anywhere between 1 to 24 bits can be reserved for stream identification. In a 32 bit stream header, anywhere between 1 to 32 bits can be reserved for stream identification. In a 48 bit stream header, anywhere between 1 to 48 bits can be reserved for stream identification. In a 64 bit stream header, anywhere between 1 to 64 bits can be reserved for stream identification. 
     The examples of auxiliary data control packets in  FIGS. 5 and 6  are merely illustrative. It should be understood that any of these packets may optionally include the preamble, header, and/or checksum of  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram of an illustrative auxiliary data transport packet with a stream header. As shown in  FIG. 7 , auxiliary data transport packet  132  may include preamble  104 , header  106 , a stream header  112 , data  134 , and checksum  110 . Stream header  112  may be a dedicated stream header formed from one or more bytes (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Data  134  may include one or more bytes of data. The device that is receiving the data (which may be either power transmitting device  12  or power receiving device  24 ) extracts the data and, according to the stream number identified by the stream header, appends the data to a corresponding stream buffer. As previously mentioned, the type of data included in data  134  may include authentication data, firmware update data, command data, configuration data, power data, etc. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram of an illustrative data stream response packet with a stream header. As shown in  FIG. 8 , data stream response packet  142  includes preamble  104 , header  106 , stream header  112 , type  144  (sometimes referred to as response  144  or response type  144 ), and checksum  110 . Type  144  may be used to provide a desired data stream response. For example, the data stream response may be used to acknowledge receipt of a data packet or may be used to transmit a poll to prompt transmission of data. 
     In  FIG. 8 , stream header  112  may be a dedicated stream header formed from one or more bytes (e.g., a byte having 8 bits as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Response type  144  may be 1 byte having 8 bits. This example, however, is merely illustrative. In another possible arrangement, shown in  FIG. 9 , the stream number  128  and type  144  may be split between a single byte. In this example, stream number  128  includes 3 bits (or any other desired number of bits) that identify a corresponding stream number. Type  144  may have five bits (or any other desired number of bits). 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram showing a method of transmitting information from a wireless power receiving device to a wireless power transmitting device using multiple data streams that are simultaneously active. As shown in  FIG. 10 , an auxiliary data control (ADC) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device  24  to wireless power transmitting device  12  at t 1 . The ADC packet may include a command to open stream  0 . After receiving the command, the wireless power transmitting device may transmit an acknowledgement to the wireless power receiving device at t 2 . 
     At t 3 , an auxiliary data transport (ADT) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device  24  to wireless power transmitting device  12 . The auxiliary data transport packet may include a stream header indicating that the data is associated with stream  0 . After receiving the auxiliary data transport packet (and appending the data packet to the corresponding stream buffer), the wireless power transmitting device may transmit an acknowledgement to the wireless power receiving device at t 4 . 
     An auxiliary data control (ADC) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device  24  to wireless power transmitting device  12  at t 5 . The ADC packet may include a command to open stream  1 . After receiving the command, the wireless power transmitting device may transmit an acknowledgement to the wireless power receiving device at t 6 . 
     At t 7 , an auxiliary data transport packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device  24  to wireless power transmitting device  12 . The auxiliary data transport packet may include a stream header indicating that the data is associated with stream  0 . After receiving the auxiliary data transport packet (and appending the data packet to the corresponding stream buffer), the wireless power transmitting device may transmit an acknowledgement to the wireless power receiving device at t 8 . 
     At t 9 , an auxiliary data transport packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device  24  to wireless power transmitting device  12 . The auxiliary data transport packet may include a stream header indicating that the data is associated with stream  1 . After receiving the auxiliary data transport packet (and appending the data packet to the corresponding stream buffer), the wireless power transmitting device may transmit an acknowledgement to the wireless power receiving device at t 10 . This process may be repeated with an additional auxiliary data transport packet associated with stream  1  transmitted at t 11 . 
     An auxiliary data control packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device  24  to wireless power transmitting device  12  at t 13 . The ADC packet may include a command to close stream  1 . After receiving the command, the wireless power transmitting device may transmit an acknowledgement to the wireless power receiving device at t 14 . 
     At t 15 , an auxiliary data transport (ADT) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device  24  to wireless power transmitting device  12 . The auxiliary data transport packet may include a stream header indicating that the data is associated with stream  0 . After receiving the auxiliary data transport packet (and appending the data packet to the corresponding stream buffer), the wireless power transmitting device may transmit an acknowledgement to the wireless power receiving device at t 16 . 
     An auxiliary data control packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device  24  to wireless power transmitting device  12  at t 17 . The ADC packet may include a command to close stream  0 . After receiving the command, the wireless power transmitting device may transmit an acknowledgement to the wireless power receiving device at t 18 . 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram showing a method of transmitting information from a wireless power transmitting device to a wireless power receiving device using multiple data streams that are simultaneously active. Before t 1 , the wireless power transmitting device and wireless power receiving device may both be in standby states (e.g., waiting for in-band communication to be initiated). At t 1 , a data stream response (DSR) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device to the wireless power transmitting device. The DSR packet may poll the power transmitting device to initiate data transfer from the power transmitting device to the power receiving device. At t 2 , an auxiliary data control (ADC) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power transmitting device  12  to wireless power receiving device  24 . The ADC packet may include a command to open stream  0 . 
     At t 3 , a data stream response (DSR) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device to the wireless power transmitting device. The DSR packet may acknowledge the wireless power transmitter opening stream  0  and may invite further data transmissions from the wireless power transmitter. At t 4 , an auxiliary data control (ADC) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power transmitting device  12  to wireless power receiving device  24 . The ADC packet may include a command to open stream  1 . 
     At t 5 , a data stream response (DSR) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device to the wireless power transmitting device. The DSR packet may acknowledge the wireless power transmitter opening stream  1  and may invite further data transmissions from the wireless power transmitter. An auxiliary data transport packet may be transmitted from the wireless power transmitting device  12  to wireless power receiving device  24  at t 6 . The auxiliary data transport packet may include a stream header indicating that the data is associated with stream  0 . 
     At t 7 , a data stream response (DSR) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device to the wireless power transmitting device. The DSR packet may acknowledge the stream  0  data received from the ADT packet and may invite further data transmissions from the wireless power transmitter. An auxiliary data control packet may be transmitted from the wireless power transmitting device  12  to wireless power receiving device  24  at t 8 . The ADC packet may include a command to close stream  0 . 
     At t 9 , a data stream response (DSR) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device to the wireless power transmitting device. The DSR packet may acknowledge the wireless power transmitter closing stream  0  and may invite further data transmissions from the wireless power transmitter. An auxiliary data transport packet may be transmitted from the wireless power transmitting device  12  to wireless power receiving device  24  at t 10 . The auxiliary data transport packet may include a stream header indicating that the data is associated with stream  1 . 
     At t 11 , a data stream response (DSR) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device to the wireless power transmitting device. The DSR packet may acknowledge the stream  1  data received from the ADT packet and may invite further data transmissions from the wireless power transmitter. An auxiliary data control packet may be transmitted from the wireless power transmitting device  12  to wireless power receiving device  24  at t 12 . The ADC packet may include a command to close stream  1 . 
     At t 13 , a data stream response (DSR) packet may be transmitted from the wireless power receiving device to the wireless power transmitting device. The DSR packet may acknowledge the wireless power transmitter closing stream  0 . 
     Each active data stream may have a corresponding stream buffer (sometimes referred to as buffer). The control circuitry of the device receiving the data packets may take action based on the data received in the data streams. The control circuitry may take a first action based on information from the first data stream and may take a second action that is different than the first action based on information from the second data stream. The actions taken by the control circuitry may be any desired type of action (e.g., modifying a power transmission characteristic, updating an input-output component, transmitting additional data, etc.). 
     The specific examples of  FIGS. 10 and 11  of when the streams are opened and closed are merely illustrative.  FIGS. 10 and 11  show how data streams may be independently opened and closed at any desired time while conveying data between the wireless power receiving device and the wireless power transmitting device. Each data stream may be opened to convey data of a certain type (e.g., authentication data, a firmware update, a command, configuration data, power data, etc.). By allowing multiple active data streams, the system has increased flexibility to convey different types of data at desired times. 
     For example, a first data stream (e.g., data stream  0 ) may be used to convey authentication data (e.g., data of a first type), a second data stream (e.g., data stream  1 ) may be used to convey a command (e.g., data of a second type), etc. Certain types of data may take longer to transmit than other types of data. For example, transmitting data for a firmware update may take hours (e.g., more than one hour, more than two hours, etc.), transmitting authentication data may take minutes (e.g., more than one minute), and transmitting a command may take seconds (e.g., more than one second). These timeframes are merely illustrative. A firmware update may be transmitted using blocks of data. Transmitting each block of data may take more than ten seconds, more than fifteen seconds, between fifteen and twenty-five seconds, or any other length of time. The stream headers described herein allow for a firmware update (e.g., transmission of a firmware update block) or authentication to be paused to allow for transmission of a command. This allows the command to be transmitted immediately instead of waiting for the firmware update or authentication to complete before transmitting the command. Said another way, transmission of lower priority data may be paused to allow for transmission of higher priority data. Control circuitry  16  and  30  in devices  12  and  24  may prioritize different types of data in any desired manner. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20200310
Publication Date: 20210907
Grant Date: 20210907
Priority Date: 20190624
Inventors: ABUKHALAF, ZAID A.
PASTRANA, JUAN C.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H02J50/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/80", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L69/22", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L69/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01F38/14", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02M7/42", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/80", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/80", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/80", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L69/22", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/80", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/0037", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/79", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/79", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/24", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/79", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 71406301