Distributed resonators for wireless power transfer
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorSeong Heon Jeong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for wireless charging may include a casing for housing an electronic device and a plurality of power receiving elements that can couple to an externally generated magnetic field to wirelessly power or charge a load in the electronic device. At least one of the power receiving elements may comprise an electrically conductive segment of the casing.
Claims44
An apparatus for wireless charging, comprising:
- a casing comprising one or more electrically separate, electrically conductive segments;
- and
- a plurality of power receiving elements configured to couple to an externally generated magnetic field to wirelessly power or charge a load, at least one of the plurality of power receiving elements comprising one of the electrically conductive segments of the casing,
- at least a first power receiving element and a second power receiving element connected together and operative to produce a single output of power when coupled to the externally generated magnetic field.
An apparatus for wirelessly receiving power, the apparatus comprising:
- a casing that constitutes a portion of a housing of an electronic device, the casing having at least one electrically conductive segment;
- a first power receiving element configured to wirelessly receive power via an externally generated alternating magnetic field, the first power receiving element comprising a coil of conductive material attached to the casing;
- and
- at least a second power receiving element configured to wirelessly receive power via the externally generated alternating magnetic field, the second power receiving element comprising the at least one electrically conductive segment of the casing.
An apparatus for wirelessly receiving power, the apparatus comprising:
- means for housing an electronic device;
- first means for receiving power through an externally generated magnetic field;
- second means for receiving power through the externally generated magnetic field comprising a portion of the means for housing the electronic device.
A method for wirelessly receiving power comprising:
- producing a first current through electromagnetic induction at a first location in a device;
- producing a second current through electromagnetic induction at a second location in the device;
- and
- combining the first current and the second current to produce power for the device.
An apparatus for wirelessly receiving power, the apparatus comprising:
- a casing for a portable electronic device;
- a plurality of power receiving elements distributed at different locations on the casing;
- a combining circuit;
- a plurality of switches configured to connect a subset of the plurality of power receiving elements to the combining circuit, the combining circuit configured to combine the subset of the plurality of power receiving elements to form a set of connected power receiving elements;
- and
- a controller configured to operate the plurality of switches and the combining circuit.
A method for wirelessly receiving power, comprising:
- coupling power receiving elements to an externally generated magnetic field at different locations in a device;
- connecting together a subset of the receiving elements;
- and
- combining current induced in the subset of the receiving elements to produce power for the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.