System and method for wirelessly charging a rechargeable battery
A wireless charging system having a battery with at least one cell, a receiving coil wrapped around the at least one cell and a charger having a transmitting field designed to couple with the receiving coil of the battery. A battery is further described having at least one cell and having a receiving coil wrapped around at least one cell.
1. A system for wirelessly charging a rechargeable battery comprising:
a battery having at least one cell;
an inductive element wrapped around the at least one cell of the battery;
a charger having a transmitting field designed to couple with the inductive element;
a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal;
a processor operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the inductive element, the processor configured to:
determine if the temperature of the battery is below a predetermined temperature range, based on the temperature signal; and
in response to determining the temperature of the battery is below the predetermined temperature range:
signal the inductive element to couple with the transmitting field to increase the temperature of the battery by heat radiating from the inductive element;
continue to detect the temperature of the battery while the inductive element is coupled with the transmitting field; and
in response to determining that the temperature of the battery is within a predetermined range, signal the inductive element to uncouple with the transmitting field to discontinue heating the battery.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one cell is a plurality of stacked cells.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one cell is a plurality of cells in side by side relationship.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to increase a sampling rate of the temperature sensor when the processor signals to the inductive element to couple with the transmitting field.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein an alert is provided to the user when the inductive element is unable to couple with the transmitting field.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the inductive element to provide a path for heat discharge.
7. A battery comprising:
at least one cell;
an inductive element wrapped around the at least one cell;
a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal; and
a processor operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the inductive element, the processor configured to:
determine if the temperature of the battery is below a predetermined temperature range, based on the temperature signal; and
in response to determining the temperature of the battery is below the predetermined temperature range:
signal the inductive element to couple with the transmitting field of a charger to increase the temperature of the battery by heat radiating from the inductive element;
continue to detect the temperature of the battery while the inductive element is coupled with the transmitting field; and
in response to determining that the temperature of the battery is within a predetermined range, signal the inductive element to uncouple with the transmitting field to discontinue heating the battery.
8. The battery of claim 7 wherein the at least one cell is a plurality of stacked cells.
9. The battery of claim 7 wherein the at least one cell is a plurality of cells in side by side relationship.
10. The battery of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to increase a sampling rate of the temperature sensor when the processor signals to the inductive element to couple with the transmitting field.
11. The battery of claim 7 wherein an alert is provided to the user when the inductive element is unable to couple with the transmitting field.
12. The battery of claim 7 further comprising a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the inductive element to provide a path for heat discharge.