# US 10,312,732 B2 · System and method for device identification > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,732 B2 - Document ID: US10312732B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/954,280 - Filed: 2015-11-30 - Published: 2016-03-17 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-23 - Assignees: Philips IP Ventures B.V. - Applicants: Philips IP Ventures B.V. - Inventors: David W. Baarman; John J. Lord; Nathan P. Stien; Wesley J. Bachman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312732B2 ## CPC - H02J 50/402: {the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas} - A47J 36/321: {the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device} - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - H02J 50/12: of the resonant type - H02J 50/70: involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields - H02J 50/80: involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices - H05B 6/062: {for cooking plates or the like} - H05B 6/1236: {adapted to induce current in a coil to supply power to a device and electrical heating devices powered in this way} - G06K 7/0008: {General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer} - G08B 13/2437: {Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags} - H05B 2213/06: Cook-top or cookware capable of communicating with each other - Y02B 40/00: Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An inductive power supply system includes a non-contact power supply for energizing a device. The inductive power supply system includes a communication system for enabling communication between a device and the system. The device transmits an identifier to the system. If the device does not have a transmitter, the system attempts to determine the type of device from a characterization of the power consumption by the device. If the device cannot be characterized, the inductive power supply system can be operated manually. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detection of a device capable of receiving inductive power, the method comprising: driving an inductive coil to transfer energy to a device having a power receiving coil; determining a frequency response from the device as the inductive coil is driven, the frequency response being a passive response from the device; storing a frequency signature in memory; determining whether the frequency response of the device matches the frequency signature stored in memory; and controlling an inductive power supply in response to a determination that the frequency response from the device matches the frequency signature in memory. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 including, in response to determining the frequency response of the device matches the frequency signature: retrieving information regarding the device from a database; and controlling the inductive power supply based on the information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 including driving the inductive coil at a plurality of different operating frequencies in the presence of the device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the frequency response includes an output voltage at each of the plurality of different driven operating frequencies. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the frequency response includes current values. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the information includes an operating parameter. ### Claim 7 A device detection system for detecting one of a plurality of devices capable of receiving inductive power, the system comprising: an inductive power supply for transferring wireless power to a device having a power receiving coil configured for receiving operating wireless power; an inductive coil; a processor for determining a frequency response from the device as said inductive coil is driven, said frequency response being a passive response from the device; a memory storing a frequency signature; and wherein said processor is configured to determine whether said frequency response from the device matches said frequency signature, and wherein said processor controls said inductive power supply in response to a determination that said frequency response from the device matches said frequency signature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein the device detection system is capable of driving said inductive coil at a plurality of different operating frequencies and wherein said processor retrieves information regarding the device from a database and controls said inductive power supply based on the information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein said frequency response includes voltage values. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein said frequency response includes current values. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein said frequency response includes a frequency trough. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein said frequency response includes at least one of voltage values and current values, and wherein in response to determining said frequency response from the device matches said frequency signature, said processor retrieves information regarding the device from a database and controls said inductive power supply based on the information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein said information includes an operating parameter. ### Claim 14 A method of detecting a known remote device, said method comprising: disposing a load in proximity to an inductive power supply, wherein the inductive power supply is configured for transferring wireless power to the load having a power receiving coil configured for receiving operating wireless power; applying power to an inductive coil to enable detection of the load in proximity to the power supply; characterizing the load by obtaining a frequency response from the load, the frequency response being a passive response from the load; determining whether the load is a known remote device based on the frequency response; and controlling the inductive power supply to supply operating wireless power in response to said determining the load is a known remote device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 including, in response to determining the load is the known remote device: retrieving information regarding the known remote device from a database; and controlling the inductive power supply based on the information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein characterizing the load includes monitoring an inductive coil as power is applied to the inductive coil. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the information includes an operating parameter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said applying power includes applying power to the inductive coil at a plurality of different operating frequencies. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the frequency response includes an output voltage at a plurality of different operating frequencies. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the frequency response includes current values at a plurality of different operating frequencies. ### Claim 21 A detection system comprising: an inductive power supply for transferring wireless power to a load configured for receiving operating wireless power; wherein said system is capable of driving an inductive coil to enable detection of the load in proximity to said inductive power supply; a processor for characterizing the load by obtaining a frequency response of the load as said inductive coil is driven, the frequency response being a passive response of the load; a memory storing a frequency signature associated with the load; and wherein the processor detects the load based on a comparison between said frequency response and said frequency signature. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21 wherein the system is capable of driving said inductive coil at a plurality of different operating frequencies and wherein said processor retrieves information regarding the load from a database and controls said inductive power supply based on said information. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said frequency response includes voltage values. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said frequency response includes current values. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said frequency response includes at least one of voltage values and current values, and wherein said processor detects the load based on said frequency response matching said frequency signature. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said frequency response includes at least one of voltage values and current values, and wherein in response to detecting said frequency response matches said frequency signature, said processor retrieves information regarding the load from a database and controls said inductive power supply based on said information. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said information includes an operating parameter.