US 10,320,241 B2 · Wireless charging system with object recognition

Abstract

A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device using output circuitry that includes an array of wireless power transmitting coils that form a wireless charging surface. During wireless power transmission operations, wireless power signals are transmitted from the array of coils to a wireless power receiving device on the charging surface. Inductance measurement circuitry such as impulse response measurement circuitry and other measurement circuitry is coupled to the output circuitry. Control circuitry in the wireless power transmitting device analyzes signals from the measurement circuitry to produce two-dimensional signal profiles across the wireless charging surface and to compare patterns in these signal profiles to predetermined signal patterns associated with the presence of known power receiving equipment on the wireless charging surface. Based on the analysis, charging parameters may be adjusted or other actions taken.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A wireless power transmitting device with a charging surface configured to receive a wireless power receiving device that has a wireless power receiving coil, the wireless power transmitting device comprising:

an array of coils;
output circuitry coupled to the array of coils and configured to transmit wireless power signals to the wireless power receiving device with at least a selected one of the coils;
oscillator circuitry that supplies the output circuitry with an oscillator output signal;
at least one measurement circuitry coupled to the output circuitry;
and
control circuitry configured to:
gather at least first and second different two-dimensional signal measurement profiles with a plurality of coils including at least the selected one of the coils in the array of coils using signals from the measurement circuitry obtained as the oscillator output signal is supplied to the output circuitry at respective first and second different frequencies, wherein the two-dimensional signal measurement profiles comprise measurements gathered as a function of coil location across the charging surface of the wireless power transmitting device;
and
cause an action in response to comparison of the first and second two-dimensional signal measurement profiles to predetermined two-dimensional signal measurement profile information.

6 more elements

an array of coils;
output circuitry coupled to the array of coils and configured to transmit wireless power signals to the wireless power receiving device with at least a selected one of the coils;
oscillator circuitry that supplies the output circuitry with an oscillator output signal;
signal measurement circuitry coupled to the output circuitry that is configured to make measurements on the output circuitry while the oscillator circuitry supplies the output circuitry with the oscillator output signal;
impulse response measurement circuitry coupled to the output circuitry;
and
control circuitry configured to:
gather a two-dimensional signal measurement profile with the array of coils using signals from the signal measurement circuitry obtained as the oscillator output signal is supplied to the output circuitry, wherein the two-dimensional signal measurement profile comprises measurements gathered using a plurality of coils in the array of coils across the charging surface of the wireless power transmitting device;
gather a two-dimensional coil inductance profile with the impulse response measurement circuitry;
and
analyze at least the two-dimensional coil inductance profile and the two-dimensional signal measurement profile to determine an action to take in response to comparing the two-dimensional inductance profile and the two-dimensional signal measurement profile to predetermined two-dimensional profiles of inductance and measured signals obtained from a coil array in the presence of wireless power receiving equipment overlapping the coil array.

8 more elements

an array of power transmitting coils;
output circuitry coupled to the array of power transmitting coils and configured to transmit wireless power signals to the wireless power receiving device with at least a selected one of the power transmitting coils;
oscillator circuitry that supplies the output circuitry with an oscillator output signal;
signal measurement circuitry coupled to the output circuitry that is configured to make measurements on the output circuitry while the oscillator circuitry supplies the output circuitry with the oscillator output signal;
impulse response measurement circuitry coupled to the output circuitry;
and
control circuitry configured to:
gather first signal measurements from the signal measurement circuitry for at least some of the power transmitting coils in the array when the oscillator output signal has a first frequency;
gather second signal measurements from the signal measurement circuitry for at least some of the power transmitting coils in the array when the oscillator output signal has a second frequency;
gather coil inductance measurements for at least some of the power transmitting coils in the array with the impulse response measurement circuitry;
and
analyze patterns in the first signal measurements, second signal measurements, and coil inductance measurements to determine whether to take an action selected from the group consisting of:
initiating wireless communications with the wireless power receiving device, issuing an alert, and transmitting the wireless power signals.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wireless charging system with object recognition

Life of this patent

Wireless charging system with object recognition

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21