System for wireless power transfer that supports interoperability, and multi-pole magnets for use therewith
In the field of wireless power, to enable interoperability between chargers and receivers, it is important that the two parts of the system (the charger and receiver) can communicate in a manner that allows operation. With the proliferation of different communication schemes, a multi-protocol system that can adapt and interoperate with different communication protocols allows maximum interoperability. Described herein are systems and methods for providing such multi-protocol operation and maximum interoperability. Also described herein are methods for use of magnets in or around magnetically sensitive devices such that the operation of such a device is not impaired. Applications in various devices and systems are described. In particular, applications for fastening mobile devices to their cases or other surfaces, and also alignment or attachment for power transfer or charging are described.
1. A system for providing universal or improved compatibility and transfer of wireless power to mobile devices and batteries, comprising:
a charger, including a charger coil and one or more coil drivers, microcontroller units, or other output current and/or voltage controlling components,
wherein the charger includes a circuit or other components that measures the current through and/or voltage across the charger coil,
wherein the coil driver, microcontroller unit, or other output current and/or voltage controlling components receives a communication signal from a detection/demodulation or communication circuit, and makes appropriate adjustments to the charger coil drive circuitry to achieve a desired voltage, current or power at a receiver output, for using in powering or charging a mobile device and/or battery, and
wherein the charger and the receiver initiate communication using a ping process which includes that
the charger pings at a ping frequency associated with its charger type, and
the receiver determines the ping frequency of the charger and uses such information to
determine the charger type, wherein different charger types are associated with different charging protocols,
select, from within the different charging protocols, a particular charging protocol to be used with the charger according to its charger type, and
communicate with the charger, using the particular charging protocol, to power or charge the mobile device and/or battery, including communicating information to the charger for its use in
determining the receiver type, wherein different receiver types are associated with different charging protocols, and
making the appropriate adjustments to the charger coil drive circuitry to achieve the desired voltage, current or power at the receiver output.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger is used with the mobile device and/or battery having the receiver that is coupled to a receiver coil and a receiver circuit and that includes a capacitor in parallel or series with the receiver coil to produce a tuned receiver circuit.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device and/or battery includes the receiver that further includes a receiver microcontroller that is used to measure various values including one or more of output voltage, current, temperature, state of charge, battery full status, or end of charge, and to report those values back to the charger to provide a closed loop system with the charger.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein communication between the charger and receiver is provided through one or more of the charger and receiver coils used for power transfer or an antenna, or through a separate coil, radio frequency link, optical communication system, and wherein the communication using any of these methods can be bi-directional and/or uni-directional.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger and the receiver communicate to provide optimal charging information, including that
the charger periodically activates the charger coil with a drive signal of appropriate frequency, during which ping process, if a receiver coil is placed on top or close to the charger coil, power is received through the receiver coil and the receiver circuit is energized, and
wherein a receiver microcontroller is activated by the received power and performs an initiation process whereby one or more of the receiver ID, its presence, power or voltage requirements, receiver or battery temperature, state of charge or other information is sent back to the charger.
6. A method for providing universal or improved compatibility and transfer of wireless power to mobile devices and batteries, comprising the steps of:
providing a charger including a charger coil and one or more coil drivers, microcontroller units, or other output current and/or voltage controlling components,
wherein the charger includes a circuit or other components that measures the current through and/or voltage across the charger coil,
wherein the coil driver, microcontroller unit, or other output current and/or voltage controlling components receives a communication signal from a detection/demodulation or communication circuit, and makes appropriate adjustments to the charger coil drive circuitry to achieve a desired voltage, current or power at a receiver output, for using in powering or charging a mobile device and/or battery, and
wherein the charger and the receiver initiate communication using a ping process which includes that
the charger pings at a ping frequency associated with its charger type, and
the receiver determines the ping frequency of the charger and uses such information to
determine the charger type, wherein different charger types are associated with different charging protocols,
select, from within the different charging protocols, a particular charging protocol to be used with the charger according to its charger type, and
communicate with the charger, using the particular charging protocol, to power or charge the mobile device and/or battery, including communicating information to the charger for its use in
determining the receiver type, wherein different receiver types are associated with different charging protocols, and
making the appropriate adjustments to the charger coil drive circuitry to achieve the desired voltage, current or power at the receiver output.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the charger is used with the mobile device and/or battery having the receiver that is coupled to a receiver coil and a receiver circuit and that includes a capacitor in parallel or series with the receiver coil to produce a tuned receiver circuit.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mobile device and/or battery includes the receiver that further includes a receiver microcontroller that is used to measure various values including one or more of output voltage, current, temperature, state of charge, battery full status, or end of charge, and to report those values back to the charger to provide a closed loop system with the charger.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein communication between the charger and receiver is provided through the charger and receiver coils used for power transfer or an antenna, or through a separate coil, radio frequency link, optical communication system, or combination of these methods, and wherein the communication using any of these methods can be bi-directional and/or uni-directional.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the charger and the receiver communicate to provide optimal charging information, including that
the charger periodically activates the charger coil with a drive signal of appropriate frequency, during which ping process, if a receiver coil is placed on top or close to the charger coil, power is received through the receiver coil and the receiver circuit is energized, and
wherein a receiver microcontroller is activated by the received power and performs an initiation process whereby one or more of the receiver ID, its presence, power or voltage requirements, receiver or battery temperature, state of charge or other information is sent back to the charger.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger and the receiver communicate through a pre-determined protocol that establishes one or more of a communication encoding or modulation, modulation depth, hand-shake, establishment of communication and signaling, or closed loop control and regulation of power, voltage or current in the receiver.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger is a multi-protocol charger that can interoperate with receivers according to two or more different communication protocols and/or frequencies of operation.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger determines a communication protocol and/or frequency of operation of a receiver by pinging at different frequencies.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger and the receiver communicate through a protocol that includes modulating the receiver load which is then detected by the charger.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger and the receiver form a closed loop to control and regulate the receiver output power and/or wherein the receiver regulates its output power using a regulator or charger circuit.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is a multi-protocol receiver that can interoperate with chargers according to two or more different communication protocols and/or frequencies of operation.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger and the receiver communicate through a pre-determined protocol, and wherein the receiver determines the communication protocol and/or frequency of operation of the charger by determining the ping frequency of the charger.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger is provided within a vehicle, for charging the mobile device and/or battery.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a vehicle, and wherein the vehicle includes the receiver that enables the vehicle or its battery to be charged by the charger.
20. The method of claim 6 , wherein the charger and the receiver communicate through a pre-determined protocol that establishes one or more of a communication method and/or communication encoding or modulation, modulation depth, method of hand-shake, establishment of communication and signaling, or method of closed loop control and regulation of power, voltage or current in the receiver.
21. The method of claim 6 , wherein the charger is a multi-protocol charger that can interoperate with receivers according to two or more different communication methods, protocols and/or frequencies of operation.
22. The method of claim 6 , wherein the charger determines a communication method, protocol and/or frequency of operation of a receiver by pinging at different frequencies.
23. The method of claim 6 , wherein the charger and the receiver communicate through a protocol that establishes a communication method, and wherein the communication method includes modulating the receiver load which is then detected by the charger.
24. The method of claim 6 , wherein the charger and the receiver form a closed loop to control and regulate the receiver output power and/or wherein the receiver regulates its output power using a regulator or charger circuit.
25. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiver is a multi-protocol receiver that can interoperate with chargers according to two or more different communication methods, protocols and/or frequencies of operation.
26. The method of claim 6 , wherein the charger and the receiver communicate through a pre-determined protocol, and wherein the receiver determines the communication method, protocol and/or frequency of operation of the charger by determining the ping frequency of the charger.
27. The method of claim 6 , wherein the charger is provided within a vehicle, for charging the mobile device and/or battery.
28. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mobile device is a vehicle, and wherein the vehicle includes the receiver that enables the vehicle or its battery to be charged by the charger.