# US 11,121,590 B1 · Wireless power system with communications

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- Number: US 11,121,590 B1
- Document ID: US11121590B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/028,404
- Filed: 2020-09-22
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2020-09-04
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Parin Patel; Daniel P. Kumar; Andrew C. Chang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121590B1

## CPC

- H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
- G06K 7/10297: {arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 (cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00)}
- G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs}
- H01Q 7/00: Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
- H02J 7/02: for charging batteries from AC mains by converters
- H02J 7/47: Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
- H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements
- H02J 50/12: of the resonant type
- H02J 50/60: responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
- H02J 50/80: involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
- H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer
- H04W 12/47: using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
- H04W 12/06: Authentication
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A wireless power system may include an accessory configured to transfer or relay wireless power to a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may include wireless charging circuitry and sensors configured to detect compatible accessories currently coupled with the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device performs wireless charging or related functions in accordance with the coupled accessories.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device operable with an accessory, the electronic device comprising:
a wireless charging coil;
near-field communications circuitry having a near-field communications antenna around the wireless charging coil;
a magnetic alignment structure configured to align the near-field communications antenna with a corresponding near-field communications antenna in the accessory and to align the wireless charging coil with a corresponding wireless charging coil in the accessory when the magnetic alignment structure is magnetically coupled to the accessory;
a magnetic sensor configured to detect when the magnetic alignment structure is magnetically coupled to the accessory, wherein the near-field communications circuitry is configured to receive information from the accessory in response to detecting that the magnetic alignment structure is magnetically coupled to the accessory; and
an output device configured to present an icon associated with the accessory using the received information, wherein the icon comprises an icon selected from a group consisting of: a wireless charging mat icon, a wireless charging puck icon, a removable case icon, a battery case icon, and a dock icon.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the near-field communications antenna runs along a peripheral edge of the wireless charging coil and wherein the magnetic alignment structure runs along a peripheral edge of the near-field communications antenna.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a display configured to present, using the received information, the icon associated with the accessory.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a display configured to present, using the received information, a physical characteristic associated with the accessory.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the physical characteristic comprises a color of the accessory.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a display configured to present, using the received information, a functionality associated with the accessory.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the functionality comprises an operating mode that varies depending on a location of the accessory.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a display configured to present, using the received information, ownership information associated with the accessory.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the near-field communications circuitry is further configured to perform authentication operations with the accessory, and wherein the near-field communications circuitry is configured to receive unprotected data before the authentication operations and to receive protected data after the authentication operations.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising:
control circuitry configured to perform wireless power handshake operations with the accessory, wherein the authentication operations is performed while temporarily pausing the wireless power handshake operations.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the wireless charging coil is configured to receive wireless power signals from the accessory during wireless power transfer operations, and wherein the authentication operations are performed while temporarily halting the wireless power transfer operations.

### Claim 12

An electronic device operable with an accessory, the electronic device comprising:
a wireless charging coil;
near-field communications circuitry having a near-field communications antenna;
a magnetic alignment structure configured to align the wireless charging coil with a corresponding wireless charging coil in the accessory when the magnetic alignment structure is magnetically coupled to the accessory, wherein the magnetic alignment structure and the wireless charging coil form concentric structures;
a magnetic sensor configured to detect when the magnetic alignment structure is magnetically coupled to the accessory, wherein the near-field communications circuitry is configured to receive information from the accessory in response to detecting that the magnetic alignment structure is magnetically coupled to the accessory; and
an output device configured to present an output associated with the accessory using the received information.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the near-field communications antenna and the wireless charging coil form concentric structures.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the near-field communications antenna runs along a peripheral edge of the wireless charging coil.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the magnetic alignment structure runs along a peripheral edge of the near-field communications antenna.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the magnetic alignment structure runs along a peripheral edge of the wireless charging coil.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the magnetic sensor comprises a multi-axis magnetic sensor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the multi-axis magnetic sensor is configured to detect an orientation of the accessory when the magnetic alignment structure is magnetically coupled to the accessory.