This disclosure relates generally to techniques for wireless charging. Specifically, this disclosure relates to wireless power transmitting coil formed in around a protruding magnetic component.
A basic wireless charging system may include a wireless power transmitter unit (PTU) and a wireless power receiving unit (PRU). For example, a PTU may include a transmit (Tx) coil, and a PRU may include receive (Rx) coil. Magnetic resonance wireless charging may employ a magnetic coupling between the Tx coil and the Rx coil. As wearable computing devices become increasingly popular, wireless charging systems may be implemented as charging systems for the wearable devices as opposed, or even in addition, to traditional wired charging systems. However, in many cases, wearable computing devices vary in shape and size making it challenging to find designs wherein wearable computing devices can be charged.
The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and the figures to reference like components and features. Numbers in the 100 series refer to features originally found in
The present disclosure relates generally to techniques for wireless charging. Specifically, the techniques described herein include a wireless power transmitting coil of a charging device and a protruding magnetic component. In some cases, the wireless power transmitting (Tx) coil is wrapped around at least a portion of the protruding magnetic component. For example, turns of the wireless power Tx coil may be wrapped around the protruding magnetic component, wherein each turn of the Tx coil follows an entire perimeter of a cross section of the protruding magnetic component. In this scenario, the protruding magnetic component may be hung from a wall, or otherwise disposed to receive electrically chargeable devices, such as a smart watch having a wireless power receiving (Rx) coil formed in a loop of the smart watch. Further, the techniques described herein include a power propagation device, such as a hanger, that includes a passive wireless power circuit configured to receive power from the wireless power Tx coil and provide that power to a wearable device, such as a shirt to be hung on the hanger and having a wireless power Rx coil of its own. Hanging a smart watch or a chargeable shirt may be a natural behavior, thereby increasing simplicity and ease of use during wireless charging of these types of devices.
In some cases, the techniques discussed herein may be implemented using a wireless charging standard protocol, such as the specification provided by Alliance For Wireless Power (A4WP) version 1.2.1, May 7, 2014. A wireless power Rx coil may be a component in a power receiving unit (PRU), while a wireless power Tx coil may be a component in a power transmitting unit (PTU), as discussed in more detail below.
As discussed above, the Tx coil 106 may be formed around a magnetic component 111 protruding from the PTU 102. The protruding magnetic component 111 may be a hook, a bar, a pin, or any type of protrusion configured to receive a looped portion of wireless Rx coil, such as the Rx coil 108. For example, the protruding magnetic component 111 may be a ferromagnetic material, such as iron, nickel-zinc, manganese zinc, or a compound alloy, and may receive a device having at least a looped portion. Such a device is indicated by the dashed circle 112, and examples of such devices are discussed in more detail below. In some cases, the device 112 may be hung on the protruding magnetic component 111. Further, in some cases, the protruding magnetic component 111 may be configured to receive an Rx coil, such as the Rx coil 108 of the PRU 104, within a loop of the Rx coil. In this scenario, the loop of the Rx coil 108 may be non-concentric with an axis associated with the protruding magnetic component 111. This arrangement may enable the protruding magnetic component 111 including the Tx coil 106 to be aligned with the Rx coil 108, and provide a more efficient inductive coupling as a magnetic flux of a field associated with the Tx coil 106 may be closer to the Rx coil 108. Further, in some cases, the protruding magnetic component 111 may be configured to receive other types of devices, such as a power propagation device configured to pass power from the Tx coil 106 to chargeable device, such as a wearable computing device, as discussed in more detail below in regard to
As discussed above, the Rx coil 108, as well as other components of discussed below, may be embedded in the device having at least a looped portion, as indicated at 112. The device 112 may be a wearable device, such as a smart watch, smart bracelet, smart necklace, smart glasses, a power propagating device, and the like. As illustrated and discussed in more detail below, the loop of the device 112 may be a result of a shape of the device 112.
The PRU 104 may include a controller 114 configured to detect current received at the Rx coil 108 resulting from an inductive coupling between the Tx coil 106, the protruding magnetic component 111, and the Rx coil 108. In some cases, the controller 114 may be configured to initiate a wireless data broadcast indicating a resonant frequency of the Rx coil 108.
The wireless data transmission component may be Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module 116 in some cases. In some cases, the wireless data transmission component may be integrated as operations of the controller 114, a load modulation circuit 118, a direct current to direct current (DC2DC) converter 120, or any combination thereof, wherein the data transmission may be indicated by patterns in the load modulation.
As illustrated in
The PTU 102 may include a BLE module 126 configured to communicate with the BLE module 116. The PTU 102 may also include a current sensor 128, a controller 130, a power amplifier 132, a DC2DC converter 134, an oscillator 136, and a matching network 138. The current sensor 128 may be an ampere meter, a volt meter, or any other meter configured to sense load variations occurring due to inductive coupling between the PTU 102 and another object, such as the PRU 104. The current sensor 128 may provide an indication of load change to a controller 130 of the PTU 102. The controller 130 may power on the power amplifier 132 configured to receive direct current (DC) from the DC2DC converter 134, and to amplify and oscillate the current. An oscillator 136 may oscillate the power provided at a given frequency and a matching network 138 may be used to match the amplified oscillation provided to the resonator 106 of the PTU 102.
The block diagram of
The magnetic flux may move through an Rx coil, such as the Rx coil 108 of
The Rx coil 406 may be coupled to a Tx coil 408 of the power propagating device 402. The magnetic fields of the Tx coil 408, generally indicated by the dashed circles 410. A magnetic flux of the fields 410 may be received at the RX coil 108 of the wearable device 404. In some cases, the wearable device 404 may include multiple RX coils including the RX coil 108 formed around a shoulder area of the wearable device 404, as well as RX coils (not shown) formed around arm areas of the wearable device 404. Further, in some cases, the wearable device 404 may include other wearable devices indicated at 412. The other wearable devices 412 may be smart buttons, for example, communicatively coupled to receive power from the battery 124, in some cases. The other wearable devices 412 may also be coupled to the Tx coil 408 of the power propagating device 402. In this example, the other wearable devices 412 may be include their own Rx coils, such as the Rx coil 108.
The Rx coil 406 and the Tx coil 408 may be referred to as a passive power repeater circuit. In example, the power propagating device 402 may include additional passive power repeater circuits. Additional power circuits may generate a phase shift such that load increases and decreases are reflected to the PTU 102. In this case, a constant current source implementation may be achieved providing more power to devices to be charged as their associated loads are presented.
In
In some cases, forming the protruding magnetic component comprises forming the protruding magnetic component in a non-linear shape to guide a direction of the generated magnetic field. For example, the protruding magnetic component maybe formed as hook.
In some cases, forming the protruding magnetic component comprises forming the protruding magnetic component protruding from the charging device. In this case, the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape in a non-concentric disposition to an axis of the protruding magnetic component.
In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to be hung vertically. In this case, the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape by hanging the device to be charged on the protruding magnetic component. Further, method 700 may include forming a power propagation device having a looped portion. The protruding magnetic component is configured to receive the power propagation device comprising by hanging the looped portion on the protruding magnetic component.
In some cases, the wireless power transmitting coil is a first wireless power transmitting coil. Forming the power propagation device may include forming a first wireless power receiving coil configured to receive a magnetic flux of the magnetic field from the first wireless power transmitting coil, wherein receiving the magnetic flux generates a current. Forming the power propagation device may also include forming a second wireless power transmitting coil configured to receive the current from the first wireless power receiving coil, and configured to generate a magnetic field having a magnetic flux based, in part, on the received current. In this scenario, the method may further include forming a device to be charged, wherein forming the power propagation device comprises configuring the power propagation device to receive the device to be charged by hanging the device to be charged on the power propagation device. Forming the device to be charged may include forming a second wireless power receiving coil to receive the magnetic flux from the second wireless power transmitting coil of the power propagation device. Forming the power propagation device may include forming a hanger to be hung on the protruding magnetic component. The device to be charged may include a wearable device comprising one or more additional devices to be charged.
In some cases, the wireless power receiving coil is a first wireless power receiving coil. The method 700 may further include forming one or more additional wireless power receiving coil including at least a second wireless power receiving coil disposed around the protruding magnetic component.
Not all components, features, structures, characteristics, etc. described and illustrated herein need be included in a particular aspect or aspects. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, for example, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.
Example 1 includes an apparatus for wireless charging. In this example, the apparatus includes a wireless power transmitting coil configured to propagate current provided from a charging device, wherein the current propagation is to generate a magnetic field, and a protruding magnetic component, wherein the wireless power transmitting coil is disposed around the protruding magnetic component.
In Example 1, the protruding magnetic component may be formed in a non-linear shape to guide a direction of the generated magnetic field. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component protrudes from the charging device and is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape in a non-concentric disposition to an axis of the protruding magnetic component. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to be hung vertically, and the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape by hanging the device to be charged on the protruding magnetic component.
In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a power propagation device comprising a looped portion by hanging the looped portion on the protruding magnetic component. The wireless power transmitting coil may be a first wireless power transmitting coil, and the power propagation device includes a first wireless power receiving coil to receive a magnetic flux of the magnetic field from the first wireless power transmitting coil, wherein receiving the magnetic flux generates a current. The power propagation component may also include a second wireless power transmitting coil configured to receive the current from the first wireless power receiving coil, and configured to generate a magnetic field having a magnetic flux based, in part, on the received current. In some cases, the power propagation device is configured to receive a device to be charged by hanging the device to be charged on the power propagation device. In some cases, the device to be charged comprises a second wireless power receiving coil to receive the magnetic flux from the second wireless power transmitting coil of the power propagation device. In some cases, the power propagation device comprises a hanger to be hung on the protruding magnetic component, and wherein the device to be charged comprises a wearable device comprising one or more additional devices to be charged.
In some cases, the wireless power receiving coil is a first wireless power receiving coil. The apparatus may further include one or more additional wireless power receiving coil including at least a second wireless power receiving coil disposed around the protruding magnetic component. Further, any combination of the cases discussed above in regard to Example 1 is contemplated.
Example 2 includes a method for wireless charging. In this example, the method includes forming a wireless power transmitting coil configured to propagate current provided from a charging device, wherein the current propagation is to generate a magnetic field, and forming a protruding magnetic component, wherein the wireless power transmitting coil is disposed around the protruding magnetic component.
In Example 2, the protruding magnetic component may be formed in a non-linear shape to guide a direction of the generated magnetic field. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component protrudes from the charging device and is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape in a non-concentric disposition to an axis of the protruding magnetic component. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to be hung vertically, and the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape by hanging the device to be charged on the protruding magnetic component.
In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a power propagation device comprising a looped portion by hanging the looped portion on the protruding magnetic component. The wireless power transmitting coil may be a first wireless power transmitting coil, and the power propagation device includes a first wireless power receiving coil to receive a magnetic flux of the magnetic field from the first wireless power transmitting coil, wherein receiving the magnetic flux generates a current. The power propagation component may also include a second wireless power transmitting coil configured to receive the current from the first wireless power receiving coil, and configured to generate a magnetic field having a magnetic flux based, in part, on the received current. In some cases, the power propagation device is configured to receive a device to be charged by hanging the device to be charged on the power propagation device. In some cases, the device to be charged comprises a second wireless power receiving coil to receive the magnetic flux from the second wireless power transmitting coil of the power propagation device. In some cases, the power propagation device comprises a hanger to be hung on the protruding magnetic component, and wherein the device to be charged comprises a wearable device comprising one or more additional devices to be charged.
In some cases, the wireless power receiving coil is a first wireless power receiving coil. The apparatus may further include one or more additional wireless power receiving coil including at least a second wireless power receiving coil disposed around the protruding magnetic component. Further, any combination of the cases discussed above in regard to Example 2 is contemplated.
Example 3 includes a system for wireless charging. In this example, the system includes a charging device, a wireless power transmitting coil configured to propagate current provided from the charging device, wherein the current propagation is to generate a magnetic field, and a protruding magnetic component, wherein the wireless power transmitting coil is disposed around the protruding magnetic component.
In Example 3, the protruding magnetic component may be formed in a non-linear shape to guide a direction of the generated magnetic field. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component protrudes from the charging device and is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape in a non-concentric disposition to an axis of the protruding magnetic component. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to be hung vertically, and the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape by hanging the device to be charged on the protruding magnetic component.
In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a power propagation device comprising a looped portion by hanging the looped portion on the protruding magnetic component. The wireless power transmitting coil may be a first wireless power transmitting coil, and the power propagation device includes a first wireless power receiving coil to receive a magnetic flux of the magnetic field from the first wireless power transmitting coil, wherein receiving the magnetic flux generates a current. The power propagation component may also include a second wireless power transmitting coil configured to receive the current from the first wireless power receiving coil, and configured to generate a magnetic field having a magnetic flux based, in part, on the received current. In some cases, the power propagation device is configured to receive a device to be charged by hanging the device to be charged on the power propagation device. In some cases, the device to be charged comprises a second wireless power receiving coil to receive the magnetic flux from the second wireless power transmitting coil of the power propagation device. In some cases, the power propagation device comprises a hanger to be hung on the protruding magnetic component, and wherein the device to be charged comprises a wearable device comprising one or more additional devices to be charged.
In some cases, the wireless power receiving coil is a first wireless power receiving coil. The system may further include one or more additional wireless power receiving coil including at least a second wireless power receiving coil disposed around the protruding magnetic component. Further, any combination of the cases discussed above in regard to Example 3 is contemplated.
Example 4 includes a method for wireless charging. In this example, the method includes forming a means for wireless power transmitting configured to propagate current provided from a charging device, wherein the current propagation is to generate a magnetic field, and forming a protruding magnetic component, wherein the means for wireless power transmitting is disposed around the protruding magnetic component.
In Example 4, the protruding magnetic component may be formed in a non-linear shape to guide a direction of the generated magnetic field. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component protrudes from the charging device and is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape in a non-concentric disposition to an axis of the protruding magnetic component. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to be hung vertically, and the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape by hanging the device to be charged on the protruding magnetic component.
In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a power propagation device comprising a looped portion by hanging the looped portion on the protruding magnetic component. The means for wireless power transmitting may be a first means for wireless power transmitting, and the power propagation device includes a first wireless power receiving coil to receive a magnetic flux of the magnetic field from the first means for wireless power transmitting, wherein receiving the magnetic flux generates a current. The power propagation component may also include a second means for wireless power transmitting configured to receive the current from the first wireless power receiving coil, and configured to generate a magnetic field having a magnetic flux based, in part, on the received current. In some cases, the power propagation device is configured to receive a device to be charged by hanging the device to be charged on the power propagation device. In some cases, the device to be charged comprises a second wireless power receiving coil to receive the magnetic flux from the second means for wireless power transmitting of the power propagation device. In some cases, the power propagation device comprises a hanger to be hung on the protruding magnetic component, and wherein the device to be charged comprises a wearable device comprising one or more additional devices to be charged.
In some cases, the wireless power receiving coil is a first wireless power receiving coil. The apparatus may further include one or more additional wireless power receiving coil including at least a second wireless power receiving coil disposed around the protruding magnetic component. Further, any combination of the cases discussed above in regard to Example 4 is contemplated.
Example 5 includes a system for wireless charging. In this example, the system includes a charging device, a means for wireless power transmitting configured to propagate current provided from the charging device, wherein the current propagation is to generate a magnetic field, and a protruding magnetic component, wherein the means for wireless power transmitting is disposed around the protruding magnetic component.
In Example 5, the protruding magnetic component may be formed in a non-linear shape to guide a direction of the generated magnetic field. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component protrudes from the charging device and is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape in a non-concentric disposition to an axis of the protruding magnetic component. In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to be hung vertically, and the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a device to be charged having a looped shape by hanging the device to be charged on the protruding magnetic component.
In some cases, the protruding magnetic component is configured to receive a power propagation device comprising a looped portion by hanging the looped portion on the protruding magnetic component. The means for wireless power transmitting may be a first means for wireless power transmitting, and the power propagation device includes a first wireless power receiving coil to receive a magnetic flux of the magnetic field from the first means for wireless power transmitting, wherein receiving the magnetic flux generates a current. The power propagation component may also include a second means for wireless power transmitting configured to receive the current from the first wireless power receiving coil, and configured to generate a magnetic field having a magnetic flux based, in part, on the received current. In some cases, the power propagation device is configured to receive a device to be charged by hanging the device to be charged on the power propagation device. In some cases, the device to be charged comprises a second wireless power receiving coil to receive the magnetic flux from the second means for wireless power transmitting of the power propagation device. In some cases, the power propagation device comprises a hanger to be hung on the protruding magnetic component, and wherein the device to be charged comprises a wearable device comprising one or more additional devices to be charged.
In some cases, the wireless power receiving coil is a first wireless power receiving coil. The system may further include one or more additional wireless power receiving coil including at least a second wireless power receiving coil disposed around the protruding magnetic component. Further, any combination of the cases discussed above in regard to Example 5 is contemplated.
It is to be noted that, although some aspects have been described in reference to particular implementations, other implementations are possible according to some aspects. Additionally, the arrangement and/or order of circuit elements or other features illustrated in the drawings and/or described herein need not be arranged in the particular way illustrated and described. Many other arrangements are possible according to some aspects.
In each system shown in a figure, the elements in some cases may each have a same reference number or a different reference number to suggest that the elements represented could be different and/or similar. However, an element may be flexible enough to have different implementations and work with some or all of the systems shown or described herein. The various elements shown in the figures may be the same or different. Which one is referred to as a first element and which is called a second element is arbitrary.
It is to be understood that specifics in the aforementioned examples may be used anywhere in one or more aspects. For instance, all optional features of the computing device described above may also be implemented with respect to either of the methods or the computer-readable medium described herein. Furthermore, although flow diagrams and/or state diagrams may have been used herein to describe aspects, the techniques are not limited to those diagrams or to corresponding descriptions herein. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described herein.
The present techniques are not restricted to the particular details listed herein. Indeed, those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that many other variations from the foregoing description and drawings may be made within the scope of the present techniques. Accordingly, it is the following claims including any amendments thereto that define the scope of the present techniques.