METHOD FOR DETERMINING WIRELESS CHARGING REQUIREMENTS FOR A DEVICE
The present application relates to a method for determining charging requirements for a device, the method comprising: at a charger for wirelessly charging the device, detecting the presence of the device to be charged; transmitting, from the charger, a query requesting information from the device regarding the charging requirements of the device; and receiving at the charger a response from the device containing the requested information regarding the charging requirements of the device.
1 . A method for determining charging requirements for a device, the method comprising:
at a charger for wirelessly charging the device, detecting the presence of the device to be charged;
transmitting, from the charger, a query requesting information from the device regarding the charging requirements of the device; and
receiving at the charger a response from the device containing the requested information regarding the charging requirements of the device.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence of the device to be charged comprises receiving a signal transmitted by the device to be charged.
3 . A method according to claim 2 wherein the signal transmitted by the device to be charged is a response to a polling message transmitted by the charger.
4 . A method according to claim 2 wherein the signal transmitted by the device to be charged comprises a polling message transmitted using a short range wireless communications protocol.
5 . A method according to claim 4 wherein the polling message is transmitted using a near field communications (NFC) protocol.
6 . A method according to claim 2 wherein the signal transmitted by the device to be charged comprises an audible or ultrasonic sound signal.
7 . A method according to claim 2 wherein the signal transmitted by the device to be charged comprises an optical signal.
8 . A method according to claim 1 wherein detecting the presence of the device to be charged comprises receiving a signal generated by a vibration sensor of the charger indicating the presence of the device to be charged on the charger.
9 . A method according to claim 1 wherein detecting the presence of the device to be charged comprises detecting the presence of the device to be charged using a camera of the charger and associated image processing software executed by a processor of the device.
10 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the query is transmitted using a short range wireless communications protocol.
11 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein the short range wireless communications protocol is a near field communications (NFC) protocol.
12 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the query includes one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: charging standard supported; charging frequency required; preferred charging rate; current charge status; and battery capacity.
13 . A method according to claim 13 , wherein the response includes one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: charging standard supported; charging frequency required; preferred charging rate; current charge status; and battery capacity.
14 . A method according to claim 1 further comprising:
adjusting a charging mode of the charger in accordance with the response received from the device at the charger.
15 . A method according to claim 1 further comprising:
adjusting a charging mode of the charger in response to detecting the presence of the device to be charged.
16 . A method according to claim 15 wherein adjusting a charging mode of the charger in response to detecting the presence of the device to be charged comprises reducing a charging field generated by the charger on detection of the presence of the device.
17 . A method according to claim 1 further comprising:
adjusting a charging mode of the charger in response to detecting removal of a device from the charger.
18 . A method according to claim 17 wherein adjusting a charging mode of the charger in response to detecting removal of a device from the charger comprises increasing or reducing a charging field generated by the charger on detection of removal of the device.
19 . A wireless charger comprising:
a charging system coupled to a charging antenna for generating a charging field; and
a communications system, wherein the communication system is configured to:
detect the presence of a device to be charged;
transmit to the device to be charged a query requesting information from the device regarding the charging requirements of the device; and
receive a response from the device containing the requested information regarding the charging requirements of the device.
20 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 wherein the communications system is configured to receive a signal transmitted by the device to be charged indicating the presence of the device to be charged.
21 . A wireless charger according to claim 20 wherein the signal transmitted by the device to be charged is a response to a polling message transmitted by the charger.
22 . A wireless charger according to claim 20 wherein the signal transmitted by the device to be charged comprises a polling message transmitted using a short range wireless communications protocol.
23 . A wireless charger according to claim 22 wherein the polling message is transmitted using a near field communications (NFC) protocol.
24 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 wherein the signal transmitted by the device to be charged comprises an audible or ultrasonic sound signal.
25 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 wherein the signal transmitted by the device to be charged comprises an optical signal.
26 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 further comprising a vibration sensor operative to generate a signal indicating the presence of the device to be charged on the charger.
27 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 further comprising a camera and a processor executing image processing software, the image processing software being operative to cause the processor to generate a signal indicative of the presence of the device to be charged on the charger.
28 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 , wherein the communications system is a short range wireless communications system.
29 . A wireless charger according to claim 28 , wherein the wireless communications system is a near field communications (NFC) system.
30 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 , wherein the query includes one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: charging standard supported; charging frequency required; preferred charging rate; current charge status; and battery capacity.
31 . A wireless charger according to claim 30 , wherein the response includes one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: charging standard supported; charging frequency required; preferred charging rate; current charge status; and battery capacity.
32 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 further comprising:
a processor configured to control the charging system to adjust a charging mode of the charger in accordance with the response received from the device.
33 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 further comprising:
a processor configured to control the charging system to adjust a charging mode of the charger in response to detecting the presence of the device to be charged.
34 . A wireless charger according to claim 33 wherein adjusting a charging mode of the charger in response to detecting the presence of the device to be charged comprises reducing a charging field generated by the charger on detection of the presence of the device.
35 . A wireless charger according to claim 19 further comprising:
a processor configured to control the charging system to adjust a charging mode of the charger in response to detecting removal of a device from the charger.
36 . A wireless charger according to claim 35 wherein adjusting a charging mode of the charger in response to detecting removal of a device from the charger comprises increasing or reducing a charging field generated by the charger on detection of removal of the device.