Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present invention relates generally to a wireless charging system for a handheld device.
BACKGROUND
[002] Portable electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets, notebooks and other electronic devices have become an everyday need in the way we communicate and interact with others. The frequent use of these devices may require a significant amount of power, which may easily deplete the batteries attached to these devices. Therefore, a user frequently needed to plug in the device to a power source, and recharge such device. This may require having to charge electronic equipment at least once a day, or in high-demand electronic devices more than once a day.
[003] Many electronic devices utilizing one of the various power transmission techniques have come to market. However, a use range of the power transmission technique employed up to now is limited to certain electronic devices, such as wireless electric shavers or a wireless electric toothbrushes, having a short distance from their chargers. Recently, as wireless charging techniques have been increasing in demand even in electronic devices, such as mobile terminals, for which mobility is important, a technique for wirelessly charging electronic devices irrespective of their locations has been demanded. However, even when the device is located, efficient transmission is not guaranteed due to reflections and interference of objects in the path or vicinity of the receiving device. In addition, in many use cases the device is not stationary, which is an added difficulty.
[004] Therefore, there is a need of a system which overcomes the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments of the present disclosure present technological improvements as solutions to one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems.
[006] Before the present subject matter relating to a wireless charging system for a handheld device, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular system described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the implementations or versions or embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[007] This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a wireless charging system for a handheld device. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the present subject matter.
[008] In an embodiment, a wireless charging system for a handheld device, the system includes a charging pad, a handheld device, a power source and a control unit. The charging pad is configured to generate a charging field. The handheld device includes a wireless charging receiver configured to receive power from the charging field. The power source is coupled to the charging pad for providing electrical power to generate the charging field and the control unit is configured to control the power provided to the charging pad based on the charging state of the handheld device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[009] The foregoing detailed description of embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, there is shown in the present document example constructions of the disclosure; however, the disclosure is not limited to the specific system or method disclosed in the document and the drawings.
[0010] The present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer various features of the present subject matter.
[0011] Figure 1 illustrates the wireless charging system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] Figure 2 a block diagram illustrating internal construction of electronic devices which are capable of performing wireless charging according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] Figure 3 illustrates a system overview, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0014] In the above accompanying drawings, a non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.
[0015] Further, the figures depict various embodiments of the present subject matter for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the present subject matter described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although a wireless charging system for a handheld device, similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, a wireless charging system for a handheld device is now described.
[0017] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. For example, although the present disclosure will be described in the context of a wireless charging system for a handheld device, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize a wireless charging system for a handheld device can be utilized in any situation. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[0018] In an embodiment, a wireless charging system for a handheld device, the system includes a charging pad, a handheld device, a power source and a control unit. The charging pad is configured to generate a charging field. The handheld device includes a wireless charging receiver configured to receive power from the charging field. The power source is coupled to the charging pad for providing electrical power to generate the charging field and the control unit is configured to control the power provided to the charging pad based on the charging state of the handheld device.
[0019] In another implementation, the handheld device also includes a charge indicator, a communication module and a power management module. The charging status indicator is configured to provide visual or audible indications of the charging status. The communication module is configured to establish communication with the charging pad and the power management module configured to optimize power consumption during charging.
[0020] In another implementation, the charging pad also includes a plurality of charging coil, a temperature sensor and a feedback mechanism. The plurality of charging coils arranged to create a charging field with an enhanced charging efficiency. The temperature sensor is configured to monitor the temperature of the charging pad and the feedback mechanism is configured to adjust the power supplied to the charging pad based on the temperature monitoring.
[0021] In another implementation, the control unit is further configured to dynamically adjust the power supplied to the charging pad based on the charging requirements of the handheld device.
[0022] In another implementation, the charging pad and the handheld device communicate using a handshake protocol to negotiate charging parameters, including but not limited to charging voltage and current.
[0023] In another implementation, a foreign object detection mechanism in the charging pad, the mechanism configured to detect the presence of foreign objects on the charging pad and prevent charging if a foreign object is detected.
[0024] In another implementation, the processor searches, through a server, the one or more wireless charging electronic devices.
[0025] In another implementation, a battery configured to be charged based on a charging signal transmitted from the wireless charging equipment.
[0026] In another implementation, the wireless charging control circuit is configured to charge the power storage by the current generated in the coil.
[0027] Figure 1 illustrates the wireless charging system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] In an embodiment, the wireless charging equipment 100 and the terminal 200 charge a battery provided in the corresponding terminal 200 based on a charging signal transmitted from the wireless charging equipment 100 through alliance for wireless power (A4WP) scheme (alternatively, a magnetic resonance scheme). Further, the corresponding wireless charging equipment 100 and the terminal 200 uses BLE for low power in a Bluetooth. The wireless charging equipment 100 (alternatively, a power transmitting unit PTU) is constituted by a communication unit 110 and a control unit 120. All the constituent elements of the wireless charging equipment 100 are not required constituent elements, and the wireless charging equipment 100 may be implemented by more constituent elements than the constituent elements illustrated in or less constituent elements there than.
[0029] Figure 2 a block diagram illustrating internal construction of electronic devices which are capable of performing wireless charging according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] Figure 3 illustrates a system overview, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0031] In an embodiment, the system 100 may comprise transmitters 101, receivers 103, client devices 105, and pocket detectors 107. Transmitters 101 may transmit power transmission signals comprising power transmission waves, which may be captured by receivers 103. The receivers 103 may comprise antennas, antenna elements, and other circuitry (detailed later), which may convert the captured waves into a usable source of electrical energy on behalf of client devices 105 associated with the receivers 103.
[0032] In an embodiment, transmitters 101 may transmit power transmission signals, made up of power transmission waves, in one or more trajectories by manipulating the phase, gain, and/or other waveform features of the power transmission waves, and/or by selecting different transmit antennas. In such embodiments, the transmitters 101 may manipulate the trajectories of the power transmission signals so that the underlying power transmission waves converge at a location in space, resulting in certain forms of interference. One type of interference generated at the convergence of the power transmission waves, “constructive interference,” may be a field of energy caused by the convergence of the power transmission waves such that they add together and strengthen the energy concentrated at that location—in contrast to adding together in a way to subtract from each other and diminish the energy concentrated at that location, which is called “destructive interference”. The accumulation of sufficient energy at the constructive interference may establish a field of energy, or “pocket of energy” 104, which may be harvested by the antennas of a receiver 103, provided the antennas are configured to operate on the frequency of the power transmission signals.
[0033] In an embodiment, a receiver 103 may be used for powering or charging an associated client device 105, which may be an electrical device coupled to or integrated with the receiver 103. The receiver 103 may receive power transmission waves from one or more power transmission signals originating from one or more transmitters 101. The receiver 103 may receive the power transmission signals as a single beam produced by the transmitter 101, or the receiver 103 may harvest power transmission waves from a pocket of energy 104, which may be a three-dimensional field in space resulting from the convergence of a plurality of power transmission waves produced by one or more transmitters 101.
[0034] In an embodiment, control signals may serve as data inputs used by the various antenna elements responsible for controlling production of power transmission signals and/or pocket-forming. Control signals may be produced by the receiver 103 or the transmitter 101 using an external power supply (not shown) and a local oscillator chip (not shown), which in some cases may include using a piezoelectric material.
[0035] In an embodiment, the detector 107 may be used by users to identify the location of pockets of energy 104, so that users may determine the preferable placement of a receiver 103. In some embodiments, the detector 107 may comprise an indicator light 108 that indicates when the detector is placed within the pocket of energy 104. As an example, in FIG. 1, detectors 107 a, 107 b are located within the pocket of energy 104 generated by the transmitter 101, which may trigger the detectors 107 a, 107 b to turn on their respective indicator lights 108 a, 108 b, because the detectors 107 a, 107 b are receiving power transmission signals of the pocket of energy 104; whereas, the indicator light 108 c of a third detector 107 c located outside of the pockets of energy 104, is turned off, because the third detector 107 c is not receiving the power transmission signals from the transmitter 101.
[0036] In an embodiment, the client device 105 a may be a physical device distinct from the receiver 103 a associated with the client device 105 a. In such embodiments, the client device 105 a may be connected to the receiver over a wire 111 that conveys converted electrical energy from the receiver 103 a to the client device 105 a. In some cases, other types of data may be transported over the wire 111, such as power consumption status, power usage metrics, device identifiers, and other types of data.
[0037] Although the description provides implementations of a wireless charging system for a handheld device, it is to be understood that the above descriptions are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or systems. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as examples of implementations for a wireless charging system for a handheld device.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A wireless charging system for a handheld device, comprising:
a. a charging pad configured to generate a charging field;
b. a handheld device comprising a wireless charging receiver configured to receive power from the charging field;
c. a power source coupled to the charging pad for providing electrical power to generate the charging field; and
d. a control unit configured to control the power provided to the charging pad based on the charging state of the handheld device.
2. The wireless charging system of claim 1, wherein the handheld device further comprises:
a. a charging status indicator configured to provide visual or audible indications of the charging status;
b. a communication module configured to establish communication with the charging pad; and
c. a power management module configured to optimize power consumption during charging.
3. The wireless charging system of claim 1, wherein the charging pad further comprises:
a. a plurality of charging coils arranged to create a charging field with an enhanced charging efficiency;
b. a temperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature of the charging pad; and
c. a feedback mechanism to adjust the power supplied to the charging pad based on the temperature monitoring.
4. The wireless charging system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to dynamically adjust the power supplied to the charging pad based on the charging requirements of the handheld device.
5. The wireless charging system of claim 1, wherein the charging pad and the handheld device communicate using a handshake protocol to negotiate charging parameters, including but not limited to charging voltage and current.
6. The wireless charging system of claim 1, further comprising a foreign object detection mechanism in the charging pad, the mechanism configured to detect the presence of foreign objects on the charging pad and prevent charging if a foreign object is detected.
7. The wireless charging system of claim 1, wherein the processor searches, through a server, the one or more wireless charging electronic devices.
8. The wireless charging system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprising a battery configured to be charged based on a charging signal transmitted from the wireless charging equipment.
9. The wireless charging system of claim 1, wherein the wireless charging control circuit is configured to charge the power storage by the current generated in the coil.