In-Band Signaling Within Wireless Power Transfer Systems
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsSTEPHEN HRINYA, PARIN PATEL
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for in-band communication across a wireless power interface from a load device to a source device. The load device selectively modifies the timing of switches within a voltage rectifier coupled to an output of a receive coil within the load device that receives power from a transmit coil within the source device. The source device detects changes in the power transfer (or in the relative timing of a voltage or a current) as digital information received from the load device.
Claims21
(canceled)
A method of transmitting data from a load device to a source device in a wireless power transfer system, the method comprising:
- determining, by the load device, an update to be communicated from the load device to the source device as a data signal;
- wirelessly transferring power from the source device to the load device;
- and
- desynchronizing, by the load device, a timing of a rectifier in the load device according to a pattern corresponding to the data signal.
A method for updating a source device from a load device in a wireless power transfer system, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the load device, an update to be communicated from the load device to the source device as a data signal;
- wirelessly transmitting power from the source device to the load device;
- desynchronizing, by the load device, a rectifier of the load device based on the digital signal;
- determining, by the source device, that a current threshold crossing has occurred within an electronic element of the source device;
- recording, by the source device, a digital bit based on the current threshold crossing;
- and
- buffering, by the source device, the digital bit as a portion of the data signal.
A wireless power transfer system, comprising:
- a source device comprising:
- an inverter;
- a transmit coil coupled to the inverter;
- and
- a first processor configured to monitor current in the inverter;
- and
- a load device comprising:
- a receive coil magnetically coupled to the transmit coil;
- a rectifier coupled to the receive coil and comprising a switch;
- and
- a second processor coupled to the switch and configured to:
- determine an executable instruction to be communicated from the load device to the source device as a data signal;
- and
- delay of a turn off of the switch based on the data signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.