IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,431,844
Granted Patent B2
US 9,431,844 · App. 13/678,455 · Granted Aug 30, 2016

System and method for wireless power control communication using bluetooth low energy

Inventor: Brian A. Redding (Urbana, IL)
Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
H02J7/007H01M10/46H02J5/005H02J7/00H02J7/0004H02J7/025H04B5/0037H04W12/06H02J2007/0001H02J2007/0049H02J2007/0096
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,431,844
App. No.
13/678,455
Granted
Aug 30, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for connecting with a charging device via a wireless communications network. In one aspect, a wireless charger comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a power signal. The wireless charger further comprises a device scanner configured to scan for one or more connection solicitations transmitted by devices. The wireless charger further comprises a receiver configured to receive a connection solicitation via the wireless communications network from the charging device in response to the transmitted power signal. The transmitter may be configured to transmit a connection request to establish a connection with the charging device in response to the received connection solicitation.

Claims (57)

1. A wireless charger for connecting with a charging device via a wireless communications network, the wireless charger comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a power signal;

a detector configured to detect a load based on the transmitted power signal;

a device scanner configured to scan for one or more connection solicitations transmitted by devices in response to detecting the load; and

a receiver configured to receive a connection solicitation via the wireless communications network from the charging device in response to the transmitted power signal, the transmitter further configured to transmit a connection request to establish a connection with the charging device in response to the received connection solicitation.

2. The wireless charger of claim 1 , wherein the connection solicitation comprises charging information associated with a charging service.

3. The wireless charger of claim 2 , wherein the charging information comprises a target device address and a charging service type.

4. The wireless charger of claim 1 , wherein the connection request is transmitted in a communication separate from the transmitted power signal.

5. The wireless charger of claim 1 , wherein the power signal charges the charging device.

6. The wireless charger of claim 5 , wherein the charging device comprises a charger powered mode in which the charging device does not include enough power to operate in a normal mode while charging and a self-powered mode in which the charging device includes enough power to operate in the normal mode while charging.

7. The wireless charger of claim 6 , wherein the charger powered mode is supported by a first physical implementation and the self-powered mode is supported by a second physical implementation, wherein the charging device is in the charger powered mode, and wherein the charging device terminates the connection with the wireless charger when the charging device receives a sufficient amount of power to operate in the normal mode while charging.

8. The wireless charger of claim 7 , wherein the charging device transitions into the self-powered mode when the charging device receives a sufficient amount of power to operate in the normal mode while charging, and wherein the charging device reestablishes a connection with the wireless charger.

9. The wireless charger of claim 6 , wherein the charger powered mode is supported by a first physical implementation and the self-powered mode is supported by the first physical implementation.

10. The wireless charger of claim 9 , wherein the charging device transitions from the charger powered mode to the self-powered mode when the charging device receives a sufficient amount of power to operate in the normal mode while charging without terminating the connection with the wireless charger.

11. The wireless charger of claim 6 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a command to initiate a charging operation in the charging device when the charging device is in the self-powered mode.

12. The wireless charger of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a charging report from the charging device, the charging report comprising a current charging level of the charging device.

13. The wireless charger of claim 12 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a stop charging command to the charging device based on the received charging report.

14. A method for connecting with a charging device via a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

transmitting a power signal;

detecting a load based on the transmitted power signal;

scanning for one or more connection solicitations transmitted by devices in response to detecting the load;

receiving a connection solicitation via the wireless communications network from the charging device in response to the transmitted power signal; and

transmitting a connection request to establish a connection with the charging device in response to the received connection solicitation.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein receiving a connection solicitation comprises receiving charging information associated with a charging service.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the charging information comprises a target device address and a charging service type.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein transmitting a connection request comprises transmitting the connection request in a communication separate from the transmitted power signal.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transmitting a power signal further comprises transmitting the power signal to charge the charging device, and wherein the charging device comprises a charger powered mode in which the charging device does not include enough power to operate in a normal mode while charging and a self-powered mode in which the charging device includes enough power to operate in the normal mode while charging.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising terminating the connection with the charging device when the charging device receives a sufficient amount of power to operate in the normal mode while charging, wherein the charger powered mode is supported by a first physical implementation and the self-powered mode is supported by a second physical implementation, and wherein the charging device is in the charger powered mode.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising reestablishing a connection with the charging device after the charging device transitions into the self-powered mode, wherein the charging device transitions into the self-powered mode when the charging device receives a sufficient amount of power to operate in the normal mode while charging.

21. The method of claim 18 , further comprising maintaining the connection with the charging device when the charging device transitions from the charger powered mode to the self-powered mode, wherein the charger powered mode is supported by a first physical implementation and the self-powered mode is supported by the first physical implementation.

22. The method of claim 18 , further comprising transmitting a command to initiate a charging operation in the charging device when the charging device is in the self-powered mode.

23. The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving a charging report from the charging device, the charging report comprising a current charging level of the charging device.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising transmitting a stop charging command to the charging device based on the received charging report.

25. An apparatus for connecting with a charging device via a wireless communications network, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a power signal;

means for detecting a load based on the transmitted power signal;

means for scanning for one or more connection solicitations transmitted by devices in response to detecting the load;

means for receiving a connection solicitation via the wireless communications network from the charging device in response to the transmitted power signal; and

means for transmitting a connection request to establish a connection with the charging device in response to the received connection solicitation.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the means for receiving a connection solicitation comprises means for receiving a target device address and a charging service type.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the means for transmitting a connection request comprises means for transmitting the connection request in a communication separate from the transmitted power signal.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the means for transmitting a power signal further comprises means for transmitting the power signal to charge the charging device, and wherein the charging device comprises a charger powered mode in which the charging device does not include enough power to operate in a normal mode while charging and a self-powered mode in which the charging device includes enough power to operate in the normal mode while charging.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising means for terminating the connection with the charging device when the charging device receives a sufficient amount of power to operate in the normal mode while charging, wherein the charger powered mode is supported by a first physical implementation and the self-powered mode is supported by a second physical implementation, and wherein the charging device is in the charger powered mode.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising means for maintaining the connection with the charging device when the charging device transitions from the charger powered mode to the self-powered mode, wherein the charger powered mode is supported by a first physical implementation and the self-powered mode is supported by the first physical implementation.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising means for transmitting a command to initiate a charging operation in the charging device when the charging device is in the self-powered mode.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the means for transmitting a power signal and the means for transmitting a connection request comprise a transmitter, wherein the means for detecting a load comprises a load detector, wherein the means for scanning for devices comprises a device scanner, and wherein the means for receiving comprises a receiver.

33. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

transmit a power signal;

detect a load based on the transmitted power signal;

scan for one or more connection solicitations transmitted by devices in response to detecting the load;

receive a connection solicitation via a wireless communications network from the charging device in response to the transmitted power signal; and

transmit a connection request to establish a connection with the charging device in response to the received connection solicitation.

34. The medium of claim 33 , further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to receive a target device address and a charging service type.

35. The medium of claim 33 , further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to transmit the connection request in a communication separate from the transmitted power signal.

36. The medium of claim 33 , further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to transmit the power signal to charge the charging device, and wherein the charging device comprises a charger powered mode in which the charging device does not include enough power to operate in a normal mode while charging and a self-powered mode in which the charging device includes enough power to operate in the normal mode while charging.

37. The medium of claim 36 , further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to terminate the connection with the charging device when the charging device receives a sufficient amount of power to operate in the normal mode while charging, wherein the charger powered mode is supported by a first physical implementation and the self-powered mode is supported by a second physical implementation, and wherein the charging device is in the charger powered mode.

38. The medium of claim 37 , further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to reestablish a connection with the charging device after the charging device transitions into the self-powered mode, wherein the charging device transitions into the self-powered mode when the charging device receives a sufficient amount of power to operate in the normal mode while charging.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2012
From: REDDING, BRIAN A.
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 029429/0259 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61619760 · Apr 3, 2012
Related Publication 20130257365A1 · Oct 3, 2013