Wireless Power System with Communications
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsParin Patel, Daniel P. Kumar, Andrew C. Chang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
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, wherein the near-field communications circuitry is configured to receive information indicating a device type of the accessory;
- 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;
- and
- control circuitry configured to determine whether to transmit wireless power using the wireless charging coil of the electronic device or receive wireless power using the wireless charging coil of the electronic device based on the device type of the accessory.
A method of operating an electronic device that is operable with an accessory and that has a wireless charging coil, near-field communications circuitry having a near-field communications antenna, and 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, the method comprising:
- with the near-field communications circuitry, receiving information indicating a device type of the accessory;
- and
- determining whether to transmit wireless power using the wireless charging coil of the electronic device or receive wireless power using the wireless charging coil of the electronic device based on the device type of the accessory.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device that is operable with an accessory and that has a wireless charging coil, near-field communications circuitry having a near-field communications antenna, and 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, the one or more programs including instructions for:
- with the near-field communications circuitry, receiving information indicating a device type of the accessory;
- and
- determining whether to transmit wireless power using the wireless charging coil of the electronic device or receive wireless power using the wireless charging coil of the electronic device based on the device type of the accessory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.