# US 11,909,223 B2 · HW and methods for improving safety protocol in wireless chargers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,909,223 B2 - Document ID: US11909223B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/158,462 - Filed: 2023-01-23 - Published: 2023-05-25 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-15 - Assignees: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd - Applicants: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. - Inventors: Yannick Guedon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909223B2 ## CPC - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - H02J 7/60: including safety or protection arrangements - H02J 50/12: of the resonant type - H02J 50/80: involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract An over-voltage protection circuit and methods of operation are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring a voltage at an output of a rectifier, a voltage at an output of a voltage regulator, or a combination thereof. The method further includes determining the over-voltage condition based on the monitoring; and in response to determining the over-voltage condition, regulating the voltage at the output of the rectifier in accordance with a voltage difference between the voltage at the output of the rectifier and the voltage at the output of the voltage regulator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for regulating an over-voltage condition in a wireless power system, the method comprising: receiving, by a receiving device of the wireless power system, an alternating current voltage; converting the alternating current voltage to a direct current voltage; converting the direct current voltage to a first regulated direct current voltage; determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds a steady-state operating condition and, based thereon, converting the direct current voltage to a second regulated direct current voltage; measuring a voltage value of the direct current voltage across a sense resistor; calculating a power value received at the receiving device at the sense resistor; and communicating the power value received to a transmitting device of the wireless power system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition comprises determining that a difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds a first threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition comprises determining that a difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds a first threshold, the direct current voltage exceeds a second threshold, the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds a third threshold, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving device comprises a plurality of differential amplifiers, and wherein the determining that the difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds the first threshold is determined by a first differential amplifier, the determining that the direct current voltage exceeds the second threshold is determined by a second differential amplifier, and the determining that the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds the third threshold is determined by a third differential amplifier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition is based on a combinational logic of a value of the direct current voltage, the first regulated direct current voltage, and a difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving device comprises a monitoring circuit having a first differential amplifier, a second differential amplifier, a comparator, and a switch, and wherein the determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition comprises the determining by the monitoring circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds a steady-state operating condition comprises determining that a difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds a first threshold, wherein the converting is based on determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition, and wherein the determining that the difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds the first threshold is determined by a first differential amplifier. ### Claim 8 A method for regulating an over-voltage condition in a receiving device of a wireless power system, the method comprising: converting an alternating current voltage received from a transmitting device of the wireless power system to a direct current voltage; converting the direct current voltage to a first regulated direct current voltage; determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds a steady-state operating condition comprising determining that a difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds a first threshold and, based thereon, converting the direct current voltage to a second regulated direct current voltage; measuring a voltage value of the direct current voltage across a sense resistor; calculating a power value received at the receiving device at the sense resistor; and communicating the power value received to the transmitting device of the wireless power system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the converting is based on determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition comprises determining that a difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds the first threshold, the direct current voltage exceeds a second threshold, the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds a third threshold, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving device comprises a plurality of differential amplifiers, and wherein the determining that the difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds the first threshold is determined by a first differential amplifier, the determining that the direct current voltage exceeds the second threshold is determined by a second differential amplifier, and the determining that the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds the third threshold is determined by a third differential amplifier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition is based on a combinational logic of a value of the direct current voltage, the first regulated direct current voltage, and a difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving device comprises a monitoring circuit having a first differential amplifier, a second differential amplifier, a comparator, and a switch, and wherein the determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition comprises the determining by the monitoring circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the determining that the difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds the first threshold is determined by a first differential amplifier. ### Claim 15 A receiving device of a wireless power system, the receiving device comprising: a rectifier configured to convert an alternating current voltage to a direct current voltage; a voltage regulator configured to convert the direct current voltage to a first regulated direct current voltage; a sense resistor configured to measure a voltage value of the direct current voltage; and a monitoring circuit configured to: determine that the alternating current voltage exceeds a steady-state operating condition based on a combinational logic of a value of the direct current voltage, the first regulated direct current voltage, and a difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage and, based thereon, convert the direct current voltage to a second regulated direct current voltage, calculate a power value received at the receiving device at the sense resistor, and communicate the power value received to a transmitting device of the wireless power system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The receiving device of claim 15, wherein the monitoring circuit comprises a switch, a first differential amplifier, a second differential amplifier, a third differential amplifier, a comparator, and a multiplexer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The receiving device of claim 15, wherein the determining that the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition based on a combinational logic comprises determining, by a first differential amplifier and a comparator, that the difference between the direct current voltage and the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds a first threshold, determining, by a second differential amplifier, that the direct current voltage exceeds a second threshold, or determining, by a third differential amplifier, that the first regulated direct current voltage exceeds a third threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The receiving device of claim 15, further comprising a microcontroller configured to communicate an End Power Transfer request to stop transmitting of the alternating current voltage by the transmitting device of the wireless power system, and the communicating the End Power Transfer request being in response to the alternating current voltage exceeding the steady-state operating condition. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The receiving device of claim 15, wherein communicating the End Power Transfer request is communicated using an in-band communication path. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The receiving device of claim 15, wherein communicating the End Power Transfer request is delayed for a set length of time after determining the alternating current voltage exceeds the steady-state operating condition.