PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11462950-B2
Application Number: US-201916702372-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Wireless charging system with object detection

Abstract:
A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device using an output circuit that includes a wireless power transmitting coil. Measurement circuitry is coupled to the output circuit to help determine whether the wireless power receiving device is present and ready to accept transmission of wireless power. The measurement circuitry includes a measurement circuit that is coupled to the output circuit and that measures signals while oscillator circuitry supplies the output circuit with signals at a probe frequency. The measurement circuitry also includes a measurement circuit that is coupled to the output circuit and that measures signals while the oscillator circuitry sweeps signals applied to the output circuit between a first frequency and a second frequency to detect sensitive devices such as radio-frequency identification devices. Impulse response circuitry in the measurement circuitry is used to make inductance and Q factor measurements.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless power transmitting device with a charging surface, comprising:
 a coil; 
 output circuitry coupled the coil and configured to transmit wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device with the coil; 
 oscillator circuitry that supplies the output circuitry with an oscillator output signal; 
 measurement circuitry coupled to the output circuitry; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 perform a frequency sweep of the oscillator output signal from a first frequency to a second frequency to detect a resonance signal between the first and second frequencies using the measurement circuitry, and 
 determine whether an object is present at the charging surface based on the frequency sweep. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to gather coil inductance measurements using the measurement circuitry to determine whether a foreign object is present at the charging surface. 
     
     
       3. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device is present at the charging surface based on the frequency sweep. 
     
     
       4. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 3 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to perform the frequency sweep over a frequency range that includes 13.56 MHz. 
     
     
       5. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 3 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to forgo using the wireless power transmitting circuitry to transmit the wireless power signals in response to determining that the RFID device is present at the charging surface. 
     
     
       6. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the wireless power receiving device is present at the charging surface based on the coil inductance measurements and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the output circuitry to transmit the wireless power signals to the wireless power receiving device in response to determining that the wireless power receiving device is present at the charging surface. 
     
     
       7. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine, based on the coil inductance measurements, whether a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device or a foreign object that is not an RFID device and that is not the wireless power receiving device is present at the charging surface. 
     
     
       8. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless power signals are configured to charge a battery on the wireless power receiving device. 
     
     
       9. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is equal to 5 MHz and the second frequency is equal to 30 MHz. 
     
     
       10. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the object is present at the charging surface by comparing the coil inductance measurements to predetermined coil inductances. 
     
     
       11. A wireless power transmitting device with a charging surface, comprising:
 a coil; 
 output circuitry coupled the coil and configured to transmit wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device with the coil; 
 oscillator circuitry that supplies the output circuitry with an oscillator output signal; 
 measurement circuitry coupled to the output circuitry; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 perform a frequency sweep of the oscillator output signal from a first frequency to a second frequency to obtain a frequency response using the measurement circuitry, and 
 determine whether a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device is overlapping the coil based on the frequency response. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to forgo using the wireless power transmitting circuitry to transmit the wireless power signals in response to determining that the RFID device is overlapping the coil. 
     
     
       13. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to gather coil inductance measurements using the measurement circuitry and wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the wireless power receiving device is overlapping the coil based on the coil inductance measurements. 
     
     
       14. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the output circuitry to transmit the wireless power signals to the wireless power receiving device in response to determining that the wireless power receiving device is overlapping the coil. 
     
     
       15. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 11 , wherein the first frequency is equal to 5 MHz and wherein the second frequency is equal to 30 MHz. 
     
     
       16. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to reduce a transmit power level of the wireless power signals in response to determining that the RFID device is overlapping the coil. 
     
     
       17. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the wireless power receiving device is overlapping the coil by comparing the coil inductance measurements to predetermined coil inductances. 
     
     
       18. A wireless power transmitting device with a charging surface, comprising:
 a coil; 
 output circuitry coupled the coil and configured to transmit wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device with the coil; 
 oscillator circuitry that supplies the output circuitry with an oscillator output signal; 
 measurement circuitry coupled to the output circuitry; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 gather coil inductance measurements using the measurement circuitry, 
 perform a frequency sweep of the oscillator output signal from a first frequency to a second frequency to determine whether a sensitive device is present using the measurement circuitry, 
 determine whether a foreign object that is not the wireless power receiving device is overlapping the coil based on the coil inductance measurements, 
 control the output circuitry to transmit the wireless power signals to the wireless power receiving device in response to determining that the foreign object and the sensitive device are not overlapping the coil, and 
 forgo using the wireless power transmitting circuitry to transmit the wireless power signals in response to determining that the foreign object or the sensitive device is overlapping the coil. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 18 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the foreign object is overlapping the coil by comparing the coil inductance measurements to predetermined coil inductances. 
     
     
       20. The wireless power transmitting device of  claim 18 , wherein the sensitive device comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/804,145, filed Nov. 6, 2017, which claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/453,850, filed on Feb. 2, 2017, and provisional patent application No. 62/526,285, filed on Jun. 28, 2017, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to wireless systems, and, more particularly, to systems in which devices are wirelessly charged. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a wireless charging system, a wireless power transmitting device such as a device with a charging surface wirelessly transmits power to a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device receives the wirelessly transmitted power and uses this power to charge an internal battery or to power the device. In some situations, foreign objects may be accidentally place on a charging surface. This can pose challenges when performing wireless power transmission operations. 
     SUMMARY 
     A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device has an inverter that supplies signals to an output circuit that includes a wireless power transmitting coil. The wireless power transmitting coil may be part of an array of wireless power transmitting coils that cover a wireless charging surface associated with the wireless power transmitting device. 
     Signal measurement circuitry is coupled to the output circuit to help determine whether the wireless power receiving device is present and ready to accept transmission of wireless power. The measurement circuitry includes a measurement circuit that is coupled to the output circuit and that measures signals while oscillator circuitry supplies the output circuit with signals at a probe frequency. Using measurements from this measurement circuitry at one or more probe frequencies, the wireless power transmitting device determines whether an external object is present on the coils. 
     Impulse response circuitry in the measurement circuitry is coupled to the output circuit and used to measure the response of the output circuit to an impulse signal supplied by an inverter in the wireless power transmitting device. The impulse response circuitry is used to make inductance and Q factor measurements. 
     During operation, information from the impulse response circuitry and measurements at the probe frequency can be used in determining whether a wireless receiving device is present over particular coils in wireless charging surface and can therefore be used in adjusting wireless power transmission with the wireless power transmitting device. 
     The measurement circuitry also includes a measurement circuit that is coupled to the output circuit and that measures signals while the oscillator circuitry sweeps an alternating-current output signal between a first frequency and a second frequency. Measurements resulting from frequency-sweeping operations are used to detect sensitive devices such as radio-frequency identification devices. If sensitive devices are detected, potentially damaging wireless power transmission operations can be avoided. 
     Switching circuitry is used to dynamically switch selected coils from the coil array that overlaps the charging surface into the output circuit, so that appropriate coils in the coil array can be probed for the presence of external objects and sensitive devices such as radio-frequency identification devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative wireless charging system in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an illustrative wireless power transmitting device with an array of coils that forms a wireless charging surface in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of illustrative wireless power transmitting circuitry with output circuit signal measurement circuitry in a wireless power transmitting device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a graph showing the response of various illustrative objects on the surface of a wireless power transmitting device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a graph of an illustrative impulse response of the type that may be used to characterize objects on a wireless power transmitting device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a graph showing output signal traces of the type that may be associated with placing a sensitive object such as a radio-frequency identification device on the surface of a wireless power transmitting device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative portable electronic device that has a wireless power receiving coil and an ancillary coil that forms a resonant circuit in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a graph in which output circuit signal measurements as a function of frequency have been plotted for multiple types of illustrative objects on the surface of a wireless power transmitting device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart of illustrative operations involved in operating a wireless power transfer system such as the wireless charging system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a graph showing signals associated with performing impulse response measurements in a noisy wireless charging environment in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart of illustrative operations associated with making impulse response measurements in accordance with embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A wireless power system has a wireless power transmitting device that transmits power wirelessly to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device is a device such as a wireless charging mat, wireless charging puck, wireless charging stand, wireless charging table, or other wireless power transmitting equipment. The wireless power transmitting device has one or more coils that are used in transmitting wireless power to one or more wireless power receiving coils in the wireless power receiving device. The wireless power receiving device is a device such as a cellular telephone, watch, media player, tablet computer, pair of earbuds, remote control, laptop computer, other portable electronic device, or other wireless power receiving equipment. 
     During operation, the wireless power transmitting device supplies alternating-current signals to one or more wireless power transmitting coils. This causes the coils to transmit alternating-current electromagnetic signals (sometimes referred to as wireless power signals) to one or more corresponding coils in the wireless power receiving device. Rectifier circuitry in the wireless power receiving device converts received wireless power signals into direct-current (DC) power for powering the wireless power receiving device. 
     An illustrative wireless power system (wireless charging system) is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , wireless power system  8  includes wireless power transmitting device  12  and one or more wireless power receiving devices such as wireless power receiving device  10 . Device  12  may be a stand-alone device such as a wireless charging mat, may be built into furniture, or may be other wireless charging equipment. Device  10  is a portable electronic device such as a wristwatch, a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, or other electronic equipment. Illustrative configurations in which device  12  is a mat or other equipment that forms a wireless charging surface and in which device  10  is a portable electronic device that rests on the wireless charging surface during wireless power transfer operations may sometimes be described herein as an example. 
     During operation of system  8 , a user places one or more devices  10  on the charging surface of device  12 . Power transmitting device  12  is coupled to a source of alternating-current voltage such as alternating-current power source  50  (e.g., a wall outlet that supplies line power or other source of mains electricity), has a battery such as battery  38  for supplying power, and/or is coupled to another source of power. A power converter such as AC-DC power converter  40  can convert power from a mains power source or other AC power source into DC power that is used to power control circuitry  42  and other circuitry in device  12 . During operation, control circuitry  42  uses wireless power transmitting circuitry  34  and one or more coils  36  coupled to circuitry  34  to transmit alternating-current electromagnetic signals  48  to device  10  and thereby convey wireless power to wireless power receiving circuitry  46  of device  10 . 
     Power transmitting circuitry  34  has switching circuitry (e.g., transistors in an inverter circuit) that are turned on and off based on control signals provided by control circuitry  42  to create AC current signals through appropriate coils  36 . As the AC currents pass through a coil  36  that is being driven by the inverter circuit, alternating-current electromagnetic fields (wireless power signals  48 ) are produced that are received by one or more corresponding coils  14  coupled to wireless power receiving circuitry  46  in receiving device  10 . When the alternating-current electromagnetic fields are received by coil  14 , corresponding alternating-current currents and voltages are induced in coil  14 . Rectifier circuitry in circuitry  46  converts received AC signals (received alternating-current currents and voltages associated with wireless power signals) from one or more coils  14  into DC voltage signals for powering device  10 . The DC voltages are used in powering components in device  10  such as display  52 , touch sensor components and other sensors  54  (e.g., accelerometers, force sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors, pressure sensors, gas sensors, moisture sensors, magnetic sensors, etc.), wireless communications circuits  56  for communicating wirelessly with control circuitry  42  of device  12  and/or other equipment, audio components, and other components (e.g., input-output devices  22  and/or control circuitry  20 ) and are used in charging an internal battery in device  10  such as battery  18 . 
     Devices  12  and  10  include control circuitry  42  and  20 . Control circuitry  42  and  20  includes storage and processing circuitry such as microprocessors, power management units, baseband processors, digital signal processors, microcontrollers, and/or application-specific integrated circuits with processing circuits. Control circuitry  42  and  20  is configured to execute instructions for implementing desired control and communications features in system  8 . For example, control circuitry  42  and/or  20  may be used in determining power transmission levels, processing sensor data, processing user input, processing other information such as information on wireless coupling efficiency from transmitting circuitry  34 , processing information from receiving circuitry  46 , using information from circuitry  34  and/or  46  such as signal measurements on output circuitry in circuitry  34  and other information from circuitry  34  and/or  46  to determine when to start and stop wireless charging operations, adjusting charging parameters such as charging frequencies, coil assignments in a multi-coil array, and wireless power transmission levels, and performing other control functions. Control circuitry  42  and/or  20  may be configured to perform these operations using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry) and/or software (e.g., code that runs on the hardware of system  8 ). Software code for performing these operations is stored on non-transitory computer readable storage media (e.g., tangible computer readable storage media). 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, other computer readable media, or combinations of these computer readable media or other storage. Software stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media may be executed on the processing circuitry of control circuitry  42  and/or  20 . The processing circuitry may include application-specific integrated circuits with processing circuitry, one or more microprocessors, or other processing circuitry. 
     Device  12  and/or device  10  may communicate wirelessly. Devices  10  and  12  may, for example, have wireless transceiver circuitry in control circuitry  42  and  20  (and/or wireless communications circuitry such as circuitry  56  of  FIG. 1 ) that allows wireless transmission of signals between devices  10  and  12  (e.g., using antennas that are separate from coils  36  and  14  to transmit and receive unidirectional or bidirectional wireless signals, using coils  36  and  14  to transmit and receive unidirectional or bidirectional wireless signals, etc.). 
     With one illustrative configuration, wireless transmitting device  12  is a wireless charging mat or other wireless power transmitting equipment that has an array of coils  36  that supply wireless power over a wireless charging surface. This type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 2 . In the example of  FIG. 2 , device  12  has an array of coils  36  that lie in the X-Y plane. Coils  36  of device  12  are covered by a planar dielectric structure such as a plastic member or other structure forming charging surface  60 . The lateral dimensions (X and Y dimensions) of the array of coils  36  in device  36  may be 1-1000 cm, 5-50 cm, more than 5 cm, more than 20 cm, less than 200 cm, less than 75 cm, or other suitable size. Coils  36  may overlap or may be arranged in a non-overlapping configuration. Coils  36  can be placed in a rectangular array having rows and columns and/or may be tiled using a hexagonal tile pattern or other pattern. 
     During operation, a user places one or more devices  10  on charging surface  60 . Foreign objects such as coils, paper clips, scraps of metal foil, and/or other foreign conductive objects may be accidentally placed on surface  60 . System  8  automatically detects whether conductive objects located on surface  60  correspond to devices  10  or incompatible foreign objects and takes suitable action. With one illustrative arrangement, system  8  checks whether objects located on surface  60  include sensitive items such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices or other potentially sensitive electronic equipment that could be potentially damaged upon exposure to large fields from coils  36  before system  8  allows wireless power to be transmitted to those objects. 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 2 , external objects such as external object  62  and object  64  may overlap one or more coils  36 . In some situations, objects  62  and  64  will be portable electronic devices  10 . In other situations, one or more of objects  62  and  64  will be incompatible external objects (e.g., conductive foreign objects such as metallic coins, sensitive devices such as RFID devices, etc.). Situations may also arise in which incompatible external objects and portable electronic devices overlap the same coil or coils  36 . 
     Illustrative wireless power transmitting circuitry  34  that includes circuitry to detect and characterize external objects on surface  60  is shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , circuitry  34  may include an inverter such as inverter  72  or other drive circuit that produces wireless power signals that are transmitted through an output circuit that includes one or more coils  36 . A single coil  36  is shown in the example of  FIG. 2 . In general, device  12  may have any suitable number of coils  36  (1-100, more than 5, more than 10, fewer than 40, fewer than 30, 5-25, etc.). Switching circuitry MX (sometimes referred to as multiplexer circuitry) that is controlled by control circuitry  42  can be located before and/or after each coil  36  and/or before and/or after the other components of output circuit  71  and can be used to switch desired sets of one or more coils  36  (desired output circuits  71 ) into or out of use. For example, if it is determined that object  62  of  FIG. 2  is a wireless power receiving device  10  and object  64  is an incompatible foreign object such as a coin, the coils overlapping object  62  may be activated during wireless power transmission operations and the coils under object  64  may be deactivated so that these coils do not transmit wireless power. Other coils  36  (e.g., coils not overlapped by object  64  in this example) can also be turned off during wireless power transmission operations, if desired. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , during wireless power transmission operations, transistors  74  of inverter  72  are driven by AC control signals from control circuitry  42 . Control circuitry  42  may also use transistors  74  of inverter  72  to apply square wave pulses or other impulses to coil  36  (e.g., during impulse response measurements). Coil  36  (e.g., a coil that has been selected using multiplexing circuitry MX) has an inductance L. Capacitor  96  has a capacitance C 1  that is coupled in series with inductance L in output circuit  90 . When supplied with alternating-current drive signals from inverter  72  while switch (transistor) TP is closed, the output circuit formed from coil  36  and capacitor  96  produces alternating-current electromagnetic fields that are received by one or more coils  14  in device  10 . The inductance L of each coil  36  is influenced by magnetic coupling with external objects, so measurements of inductance L for one or more of coils  36  in device  12  at various frequencies can reveal information on objects on charging surface  60 . 
     To conserve power, device  12  may be operated in a standby mode while awaiting use to supply wireless power to devices  10 . The signal measurement circuitry of  FIG. 3  (sometimes referred to as output circuit signal measurement circuitry, external or foreign object detection circuitry, etc.) monitors for the presence of external objects during standby. The power consumption of the measurement circuitry in transmitter circuitry  34  during standby operations may be less than 50 mW, less than 200 mW, more than 1 mW, or other suitable value. 
     In standby mode, device  12  periodically scans coils  36  (e.g., device  12  scans each of coils  36 ) for the presence of external objects (e.g., devices  10 , foreign objects such as coins, etc.). To probe a selected coil for changes in inductance L due to external objects, a probe signal is driven onto node N 1  with oscillator circuitry  84  while control circuitry  42  turns off inverter  72  (e.g., transistors  74  are not used to drive signals onto node N 2 ). Control circuitry  42  may, for example, use oscillator circuitry  84  (e.g., one or more voltage controlled oscillators, one or more other adjustable oscillators, and/or other oscillatory circuitry) to produce an alternating-current probe signal (e.g., a sine wave, square wave, etc.) at a probe frequency fr (e.g., 4 MHz or other suitable frequency such as a frequency of at least 500 kHz, at least 1 MHz, at least 2 MHz, less than 10 MHz, between 1 MHz and 10 MHz, or other suitable frequency). The probe frequency fr that is used during standby mode is a frequency that differs from RFID frequencies such as 13.56 MHz and that differs from the normal alternating-current frequency supplied to output circuit  71  by inverter  72  during wireless charging operations, which may be, for example, 100-500 kHz, more than 50 kHz, more than 100 kHz, more than 200 kHz, less than 450 kHz, less than 400 kHz, less than 300 kHz, or other suitable wireless power alternating-current drive frequency. 
     The signal at frequency fr is applied to node N 1  via capacitor  86  and coupled to coil  36  via capacitor  96  while inverter  72  is held in an off state by control circuitry  42 . Control circuitry  42  controls multiplexer MX to select the coil to which the signal at frequency fr is applied (e.g., coil  36  of  FIG. 3 ) from the array of coils  36  of device  12  shown in  FIG. 2 . Capacitance C 1  may have a value of 150 μF, more than 10 μF, less than 1000 μF, or other suitable value. Transistor TP may have a parasitic capacitance Cp (e.g., a capacitance of 80 pF, more than 10 pF, less than 800 pF, or other suitable value) when open. For standby operations, control circuitry  42  opens transistor TP so that so that probe signals are routed through coil  36 . When transistor TP is open, parasitic capacitance Cp is coupled in series with capacitance C 1 . This effectively removes capacitance C 1  from the series circuit formed with inductance L, as the capacitance of capacitance C 1  (which is in the microfarad range) and Cp (which is in the picofarad range) in series will be approximately Cp. 
     With TP open, output circuit  71  (coil  36  in series with C 1  and Cp) will be characterized by a resonance at frequency fres of equation 1.
 
 f res=1/(2π( LCp ) 1/2 )  (1)
 
     The expected measured signal at node N 1  (output voltage OUT(N 1 )) as a function of applied signal frequency f in the absence of external objects on coil  36  is given by curve  102  of  FIG. 4 . In the presence of an electronic device such as device  10  that contains one or more coils  14  overlapping coil  36 , curve  102  may shift to lower frequencies as shown by curve  100 . In the presence of a coin or other incompatible foreign object overlapping coil  36 , curve  102  may shift to higher frequencies as shown by curve  104 . Changes in load can be detected by monitoring the value of OUT(N 1 ) using measurement circuit  78  of  FIG. 3  at one or more probe frequencies. For example, oscillator circuitry  84  may be used to apply a probe signal to node N 1  at a frequency fr that has been chosen to match resonant frequency fres of equation 1. If desired, multiple probe signals may be applied to output circuit  72  while using measurement circuitry to evaluate the resulting signal on node N 1 . For example, the direction of change in curve  102  (shifting higher or lower) can be detected by taking multiple measurements of OUT(N 1 ) at two or more frequencies near frequency fr of  FIG. 4 ). 
     To make measurements of OUT(N 1 ), measurement circuit  78  includes peak detector  80  and analog-to-digital converter  82 . Circuit  78  measures the signal at node N 1  and supplies a corresponding digital version of this signal to control circuitry  42 . In the presence of an object overlapping coil  36  (whether from device  10 , a sensitive RFID device, or a coin or other incompatible foreign object), signal OUT(N 1 ) will drop. For example, the signal on node N 1  may drop from a value of P 1  (e.g., a peak value associated with curve  102 ) when coil  36  is unloaded to a value of P 2  (a reduced value associated with shifted curve  100 ) when coil  36  is loaded due to the presence of an external object. 
     During standby operations, control circuitry  42  can scan through coils  36  by using multiplexer circuitry MX or other switching circuitry in circuitry  34 . In some embodiments, this sequentially couples each of coils  36  to node N 1  while circuitry  78  measures OUT(N 1 ) for each selected coil  36 . If no changes in OUT(N 1 ) are detected, control circuitry  42  can conclude that no objects are present on device  12  (e.g., no objects are resting on charging surface  60 ). If a change in OUT(N 1 ) is detected, control circuitry  42  performs additional operations to confirm that device  10  is present rather than an incompatible foreign object such as a coin. 
     With one illustrative approach, control circuitry  42  uses impulse response measurement circuitry  76  (sometimes referred to as inductance measurement circuitry and/or Q factor measurement circuitry) to perform low-frequency measurements of inductance L and quality factor Q in response to detection of a load on one or more coils  36  during standby. During impulse response measurements, control circuitry  42  directs inverter  72  to supply one or more excitation pulses (impulses) to coil  36  while turning on transistor TP, so that L and C 1  in output circuit  71  form a resonant circuit. The impulses may be, for example, square wave pulses of 1 μs in duration. Longer or shorter pulses may be applied, if desired. The resonant circuit may resonate at a frequency near to the normal wireless charging frequency of coil  36  (e.g., about 320 kHz, 100-500 kHz, more than 50 kHz, more than 100 kHz, more than 200 kHz, less than 450 kHz, less than 400 kHz, less than 300 kHz, or other suitable wireless charging frequency). 
     The impulse response (signal OUT(N 1 )) of circuit  71  to the applied pulse(s) is as shown in  FIG. 5 . The frequency of the impulse response signal of  FIG. 5  is proportional to 1/sqrt(LC), so L can be obtained from the known value of C 1  and the measured frequency of the impulse response signal. Q may be derived from L and the measured decay of the impulse response signal. As shown in  FIG. 5 , if signal OUT(N 1 ) decays slowly, Q is high (e.g., HQ) and if signal OUT(N 1 ) decays more rapidly, Q is low (e.g., SQ). Measurement of the decay envelope of OUT(N 1 ) and frequency of OUT(N 1 ) of the impulse response signal of  FIG. 5  with circuitry  76  will therefore allow control circuitry  42  to determine Q and L. 
     If the measured value of L for a given coil matches the normal L value expected for each of coils  36  in the array of coils  36  overlapping surface  60  (e.g., when the measured L value is not influenced by the presence device  10  or other external object on surface  60 ), control circuitry  42  can conclude that no external object suitable for wireless charging is present. If a given measured value of L is larger than that expected for an unloaded coil, control circuitry  42  can conclude that an external object is present that is suitable for wireless charging and can perform additional measurement operations. For example, control circuitry  42  can perform a swept-frequency measurement (sometimes referred to as an RFID checking measurement) on node N 1  to check whether a sensitive device such as an RFID device is present on surface  60 . 
     The measurements made by circuitry  76  are performed on one or more of coils  36  (e.g., these measurements may be performed on each of coils  36  in the array of coils in device  12 ). Circuitry  42  uses these impulse response measurements to identify spatial patterns in measured L values (and/or Q factor values) across surface  60 . Analysis of a pattern of measured inductance (L) change can help determine whether a known type of device  10  is present on coils  36 . Analysis of the spatial patterns of measured inductance L (and, if desired, Q factor, which has an inverse relationship with respect to L), as a function of coil position in the X-Y plane of surface  60  may be used in determining when to transit wireless power from device  12  to device  10 . If, for example, the value of L for each of coils  36  is unchanged from its nominal state, circuitry  42  can conclude that no external device suitable for wireless charging is present. If the value of L for a given one of coils  36  is elevated or other suitable pattern of measured L values is detected, circuitry  42  can conclude that an external device that is suitable for wireless charging is present on that coil and can prepare to transmit wireless power using that coil. 
     Before transmitting wireless power, it may be desirable to check whether a sensitive device such as an RFID device is present on surface  60 . Sensitive devices can potentially be harmed by excessive wireless power levels, so checking for sensitive devices helps avoid damage to sensitive devices during subsequent wireless power transfer operations. In some scenarios, both portable device  10  and a sensitive device may be present over the same coil  36  in the array of coils  36  in device  12 . A sensitive device may, as an example, be present under a cellular telephone, watch, or other portable device  10  that includes a wireless power receiving coil  14 . Even though the presence of the portable device  10  can be detected by making inductance measurements with coils  36 , it is desirable to check whether a sensitive device is also present so as to avoid damaging the sensitive device by exposure to wireless power transmissions. 
     Radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices typically have RFID coil circuits that resonate at relatively high frequencies such as a frequency of 13.56 MHz. In some embodiments, to determine if an RFID is present on surface  60 , RFID checking measurements are performed by measuring signal OUT(N 1 ) on node N 1  using measurement circuit  94  ( FIG. 3 ). During these checking measurements, control circuitry  42  directs oscillator circuitry  84  to sweep the frequency of the signal supplied to node N 1  between a first frequency f 1  and a second frequency f 2  covering the expected resonant frequencies of popular RFID coils. Transistor TP may remain open so that current from oscillator circuitry  84  flows through each coil  36  that has been selected during measurement operations. The value of f 1  may be, for example, 10 MHz, more than 5 MHz, less than 11 MHz, less than 12 MHz, less than 15 MHz, or other suitable value. The value of f 2  may be 30 MHz, more than 14 MHz, more than 15 MHz, more than 20 MHz, less than 45 MHz, or other suitable value. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , swept-frequency measurement circuit  94  includes a peak detector such as peak detector  88  that measures the voltage on node N 1 , band pass filter  90 , and analog-to-digital converter circuitry  92 . Analog-to-digital converter circuitry  92  supplies a digital version of its input to control circuitry  42 . 
     When no RFID device is present on charging surface  60  of device  12 , peak detector  88  will detect a signal such as the signal of curve  108  in  FIG. 6 . When an RFID device overlaps charging surface  60 , signal OUT(N 1 ) (see, e.g., curve  110 ) will exhibit a resonance signal such as signal  112  in as frequency f is swept between f 1  and f 2 . Resonance signal  112  may, for example, correspond to a resonance frequency such as an RFID resonant frequency of 13.56 MHz. 
     Frequency f is swept between f 1  and f 2  at a predetermined speed. For example, control circuitry  42  may sweep frequency from f 1  to f 2  in an interval of 2 ms, at least 1 ms, less than 3 ms, or other suitable time period. The pass frequency of band pass filter  90  is selected so that resonance signal  112  will pass through band pass filter  90  as band pass filtered signal  112 ′ of band pass output curve  114  when frequency f is changed between f 1  and f 2  at the predetermined speed (e.g., when the full sweep range is covered in an interval of 2 ms, etc.). The use of band pass filter  90  helps remove non-resonant signal fluctuations from curve  110  (e.g., signal tilt and slowly varying increases and/or decreases of the type shown by illustrative curve  110  of  FIG. 6 ). The resulting band-pass-filtered signal (curve  114  and filtered signal resonance  112 ′) can be processed by control circuitry  42  to confirm that an RFID resonance at a particular frequency has been detected. Control circuitry  42  can then take appropriate action. For example, if no RFID signature is detected, control circuitry  42  can conclude that the detected external object on surface  60  is likely a portable device (device  10  with coil  14 ) without any intervening (overlapping) sensitive RFID device. If an RFID signature (e.g., resonant signal  112 ′ at an RFID frequency such as 13.56 MHz) is detected, control circuitry  42  can reduce the level of wireless power transmitted by coils  36  or can prevent wireless power from being transmitted by coils  36  (or at least the coils that are overlapped by the sensitive RFID device) so as to mitigate damage to the RFID device. Optionally, control circuit  42  can issue an alert to a user. 
     In some arrangements, it may be desirable to avoid sensitive frequencies during the frequency sweep operations of  FIG. 6 . For example, it may be desirable to skip a narrow band of frequencies centered on an unpermitted frequency fnp such as band  113 . Unpermitted frequency fnp may be, as an example, a frequency of 13.56 MHz. Band  113  may cover frequencies within +/−20 kHz of 13.56 MHz (as an example). Skipping band  113  during the frequency sweep from f 1  to f 2  may ensure regulatory compliance in jurisdictions in which use of the frequencies of band  113  is restricted. To facilitate skipping of band  113 , oscillator  84  may be implemented using a circuit that permits rapid skipping of undesired frequencies during frequency sweeping such as a direct digital sine wave generator. Other types of oscillator may be used, if desired. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which device  10  has a power receiving coil (coil  14 ) located in the lower portion of device housing  116 . Device may also have one or more additional coils such as coil PR. Each optional coil PR may form part of a corresponding resonant circuit (e.g., a passive resonant circuit with a known frequency resonance at a frequency between 10 MHz and 30 MHz or other suitable frequency). The measurement circuitry of device  12  can detect the presence and location of coils such as coil PR when scanning frequency f for each coil  36  as described in connection with  FIG. 6 . The incorporation of known passive resonators into device  10  may help allow the location, orientation, and type of device  10  to be accurately identified by device  12 . 
     Different devices may also have different known frequency resonances when placed on surface  60 . Consider, for example, the scenario of  FIG. 8 . In the absence of an external object, coil  36  may exhibit a frequency response of the type shown by curve FS. When a first type of device  10  (e.g., a cellular telephone) is placed on surface  60 , curve FS may shift to curve D 1 . When a second type of device  10  (e.g., a watch) is placed on surface  60 , curve FS may shift to curve D 2 . By measuring OUT(N 1 ) by sweeping across a predetermined frequency range (e.g., from a low frequency of 1 kHz, 10 kHz, more than 100 kHz, more than 1 MHz, more than 10 MHz, less than 100 MHz, less than 10 MHz, less than 1 MHz, or other suitable low frequency to a high frequency of 10 kHz, more than 100 kHz, more than 1 MHz, more than 10 MHz, more than 10 MHz, less than 1 GHz, less than 100 MHz, less than 10 MHz, or other suitable high frequency), device  12  can determine what type of power receiving device  10  is present and can use this information to take appropriate action (e.g., by supplying wireless power to that device with device-appropriate settings, etc.). If desired, circuitry  42  may also discriminate between curves such as curves FS, D 1 , and D 2  using smaller sets of measurements (e.g., a set of 2-10 data points, more than 2 data points, fewer than 5 data points, etc.). 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart of illustrative operations involved in using system  8 . During the operations of block  120 , system  8  performs standby measurements. For example, device  12  may use circuitry such as circuit  78  of  FIG. 3  to monitor one or more of coils  36  (e.g., each coil  36  in the array of coils  36  in device  12 ) for the presence of an external object such as one of devices  10  which is potentially compatible for wireless power transfer or an incompatible object such as a coin or badge. A single measurement at frequency fr may be made to determine whether OUT(N 1 ) is lower than expected for any coils  36  or, if desired, multiple measurements at different frequencies near fr may be made (e.g., to determine which direction the coil resonance has shifted due to an external object and thereby help determine whether the object is an electronic device or is a coin or other incompatible foreign object). The standby operations of block  120  consume a low amount of power (e.g., 50 mW or less, 100 mW or less, more than 1 mW, or other suitable amount). 
     In response to detection of an external object with control circuitry  42  during the operations of block  120 , control circuitry  42  performs additional detection operations such as low-frequency impulse response measurements (block  122 ). During the operations of block  122 , control circuitry  42  may, for example, use inverter  72  or other resonant circuit drive circuitry to apply a stimulus (e.g., a square wave or other signal impulse) to the circuit formed from one or more of coils  36  (e.g., to each coil  36  in the array of coils  36  in device  12 , a subset of these coils such as those for which foreign object presence has been detected during the operations of block  120 , and/or other suitable sets of one or more of coils  36 ), thereby causing that circuit (and that coil  36 ) to resonate while using a measurement circuit such as impulse response measurement circuitry  76  of  FIG. 3  to measure the response of the resonant circuit. As described in connection with  FIG. 5 , the characteristics of the resulting circuit resonance may then be measured and analyzed. For example, control circuitry  42  may use information on the measured resonant frequency to measure inductance and may use information on the decay of the signal resonance to determine resistance R and Q factor. If desired, the measurements of blocks  120  and/or  122  can be mapped in dimensions X and Y across surface  60  to help identify devices  10  and foreign objects. 
     If the operations of block  122  reveal that no foreign object is present and that an electronic device  10  is present, additional checking operations may be performed during block  124 . In particular, frequency sweep measurements with circuitry such as oscillator circuitry  84  and swept-frequency measurement circuit  94  of  FIG. 3  may be performed to check for the presence of a sensitive RFID device, as described in connection with  FIG. 6 . 
     Appropriate action are taken during the operations of block  126  based on the results of measurements such as the measurements of blocks  120 ,  122 , and/or  124 . If, as an example, a sensitive RFID device is detected during the operations of block  124  or if a foreign object is detected, wireless charging operations with all of coils  36  or an appropriate subset of coils  36  can be blocked. In response to detection of an electronic device  10  having a known characteristic L response (and/or Q response) and in response to determining that no RFID device is present after checking one or more of coils  36 , as appropriate, with circuit  94  (e.g., the coils  36  for which L and/or Q measurements and/or other measurements indicate may be overlapped by an object or all of coils  36 ), control circuitry  42  can use wireless power transmitting circuitry  34  to transmit wireless power to wireless power receiving circuitry  46 . 
     In some operating environments, signal measurement accuracy can be adversely affected by noise. For example, in arrangements in which multiple power receiving devices are located on a common wireless charging mat, the process of transmitting wireless power to one of the devices using coils in the mat that are overlapped by that device may create noise when making measurements such as impulse response measurements on another device that overlaps different coils in the mat. With one illustrative arrangement, potential interference can be avoided by stopping the charging of a first device for a sufficient amount of time to allow measurements such as impulse response measurements to be made on a second device in the absence of noise. With another illustrative arrangement, noise can be removed from measurements such as impulse response measurements. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram showing how the measured signal on node N 1  (or other suitable node) such as signal OUT may contain noise when attempting to make measurements on a coil overlapped by a wireless power receiving device. As shown by curve  150 , signal OUT can initially be measured during time period T 1  by impulse response measurement circuitry  76 , in the absence of any applied impulse by impulse response measurement circuitry  76 . There may be noise present in the signal OUT during time period T 1  due to the charging of one or more additional wireless power receiving devices elsewhere on device  12  (e.g., overlapping other coils besides the coil/coils  36  overlapped by the wireless power receiving device). During time period T 2 , impulse response measurement circuitry  76  applies an impulse to coil  36  and measures the resulting ringing and exponential decay of the resulting signal OUT. Noise is present in this measured signal due to the wireless power transmission to one or more other devices on device  12 . As described in connection with  FIG. 5 , the frequency and decay rate of the impulse response signal can reveal information such as the value of coil inductance L. To enhance measurement accuracy, the noise measured during period T 1  can be removed from the signal measured during period T 2  before processing the signal measured during period T 2  to produce measurement results such as inductance L. 
     A flow chart of illustrative operations involved in measuring inductance L in a potentially noisy environment such as a charging environment in which multiple devices  10  are located on a common wireless power transmitting device  12  is shown in  FIG. 11 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , power transmission from device  12  to a first device  10  may be initiated at step  152 . 
     With one illustrative approach, power transmission to the first device is momentarily suspended to permit measurement of L for a coil(s) overlapped with a second device. This approach is illustrated by the operations of blocks  154 ,  156 , and  158 . During the operations of block  154 , device  12  stops power transmission to the first device. During the operations of block  156 , impulse response measurement circuitry  76  is used to make impulse response measurements and thereby obtain L for the coil overlapped by the second device (e.g., while the first device is not receiving power). During the operations of block  158 , power transmission from device  12  to the first device  10  is resumed. Power can also be wirelessly transmitted to the second device  10 . 
     With another illustrative approach, which is illustrated in blocks  160 ,  162 , and  164 , noise is removed from the measured signals without interrupting power transmission to the first device. During the operations of block  160 , measurement circuitry  76  or other measurement circuitry measures noise in signal OUT (see, e.g., period T 1  of  FIG. 10 ) for the coil(s) overlapped by the second device without interrupting power transmission to the first device. During the operations of block  162 , the impulse response measurement circuitry  76  applies an impulse pulse to the coil(s) overlapped by the second device and measures signal OUT (see, e.g., period T 2  of  FIG. 10 ) while power continues to be transmitted to the first device using other coils in device  12  (thereby introducing noise into the signal measured during time period T 2 ). During the operations of block  164 , impulse response measurement circuitry  76  and/or control circuitry  42  removes the measured noise of period T 2  from the impulse response signal of period T 2  (e.g., by repeatedly subtracting the measured noise at various different trial phase values until satisfactory noise removal is achieved). If the noise is satisfactorily removed in this way (e.g., if an exponential decay in signal OUT is obtained and the measured value of L and/or other parameters is therefore obtained with satisfactory accuracy), impulse response measurement are complete and wireless power transmission operations may proceed. As shown by line  166 , if noise is not satisfactorily removed during the operations of block  164 , processing may loop back to block  160  to make additional noise and impulse response measurements. 
     System  8  allows device  12  to forgo charging of device  10  if a foreign object such as a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device is overlapped by device  10  and is therefore interposed between device  10  and one or more coils  36  in device  12 . Because coils  36  can be controlled independently, if a RFID device or other sensitive device is detected on one portion of device  12  (e.g., overlapping a first set of one or more coils) while device  10  is detected on another portion of device  12  (e.g., overlapping a second set of one or more coils different from the first set of coils), device  12  can transmit power wirelessly using only the second set of coils and not the first set of coils. In this way, power is not wirelessly transmitted to the RFID device but is transmitted only to wireless power receiving device  10 . 
     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: 20191203
Publication Date: 20221004
Grant Date: 20221004
Priority Date: 20170202
Inventors: RUSSELL, ANTOIN J.
PATEL, BHARAT K.
PANDYA, MANISHA P.
MOUSSAOUI, ZAKI
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H02J50/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R15/18", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/0029", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/60", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/60", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/60", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/60", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R15/18", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/60", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R15/18", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 62980802