U.S. patent application number 15/247189 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-15 for device for wireless charging having a plurality of wireless charging protocols.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Ford Global Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Michael Hrecznyj, John Robert Van Wiemeersch.
Application Number | 20160365746 15/247189 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51206271 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160365746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Van Wiemeersch; John Robert ;
et al. |
December 15, 2016 |
DEVICE FOR WIRELESS CHARGING HAVING A PLURALITY OF WIRELESS
CHARGING PROTOCOLS
Abstract
A receiver device configured to charge a chargeable device is
provided that includes an inductive region including at least one
receiver coil for receiving magnetic flux from an inductive
charging system and a conductive region including contacts for
receiving electric power from a conductive charging system. The
conductive region includes a first and a second plurality of
contacts and a connector for transferring the electric power
received from the inductive or conductive charging system to the
chargeable device to charge the chargeable device.
Inventors: |
Van Wiemeersch; John Robert;
(Novi, MI) ; Hrecznyj; Michael; (Dearborn,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ford Global Technologies,
LLC
|
Family ID: |
51206271 |
Appl. No.: |
15/247189 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13760514 |
Feb 6, 2013 |
9472963 |
|
|
15247189 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 7/025 20130101;
H02J 50/70 20160201; H02J 7/00302 20200101; H02J 7/0044 20130101;
H02J 7/02 20130101; H04B 5/0075 20130101; H02J 50/10 20160201; H02J
50/40 20160201; H04B 5/0037 20130101; H02J 50/90 20160201 |
International
Class: |
H02J 7/02 20060101
H02J007/02; H02J 50/10 20060101 H02J050/10 |
Claims
1. A receiver device configured to charge a chargeable device,
comprising: an inductive region comprising at least one receiver
coil for receiving magnetic flux from an inductive charging system;
a conductive region comprising contacts for receiving electric
power from a conductive charging system, wherein the conductive
region comprises a first and a second plurality of contacts; and a
connector for transferring the electric power received from the
inductive or conductive charging system to the chargeable device to
charge the chargeable device.
2. The receiver device of claim 1 wherein the first and second
plurality of contacts are positioned on opposite sides of the
inductive region.
3. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of
contacts includes at least three contacts.
4. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the first and second
plurality of contacts are positioned proximate opposite ends of the
receiver device.
5. The receiver device of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality
of magnets configured to increase force applied by the contacts to
a surface of the conductive or inductive charging system.
6. The receiver device of claim 5, wherein the magnets are located
substantially in close proximity to the perimeter of the receiver
device and away from the receiver coil.
7. The receiver device of claim 1, further comprising: a case
formed to substantially fit and attach onto the chargeable
device.
8. A sleeve configured to charge a chargeable device, comprising:
an inductive region for receiving wireless electric power from an
inductive charging system; a conductive region comprising contacts
for receiving electric power from a conductive charging system; and
a connector for transferring the wireless power received from the
wireless or conductive charging system to the chargeable device to
charge the chargeable device.
9. The sleeve of claim 8, wherein the contacts are spaced across
the sleeve.
10. The sleeve of claim 8, wherein the contacts are configured in a
non-equilateral pattern in order to ensure charging of the
chargeable device independent of orientation and location of the
chargeable device in relation to the conductive charging
system.
11. The sleeve of claim 8, wherein the contacts protrude from the
receiver device.
12. The sleeve of claim 8, wherein the conductive region comprises
a first and a second plurality of contacts.
13. The receiver device of claim 12, wherein the first and second
plurality of contacts are positioned on opposite sides of the
inductive region.
14. The receiver device of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of
contacts includes at least three contacts.
15. The receiver device of claim 12, wherein the first and second
plurality of contacts are positioned proximate opposite ends of the
receiver device.
16. A receiver device configured to charge a chargeable device,
comprising: an inductive region comprising at least one receiver
coil for receiving magnetic flux from an inductive charging system;
and a conductive region comprising contacts for receiving electric
power from a conductive charging system.
17. The receiver device of claim 16, wherein the conductive region
comprises a first plurality of contacts and a second plurality of
contacts.
18. The receiver device of claim 17, wherein the first and second
plurality of contacts are positioned on opposite sides of the
inductive region.
19. The receiver device of claim 18, wherein the first and second
plurality of contacts are positioned proximate opposite ends of the
receiver device.
20. The receiver device of claim 19, further comprising: a case
formed to substantially fit and attach onto the chargeable device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/760,514, filed on Feb. 6, 2013, entitled
DEVICE FOR WIRELESS CHARGING HAVING A PLURALITY OF WIRELESS
CHARGING PROTOCOLS, the entire disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to wireless charging
systems, and more particularly relates to a device sleeve adapted
to receive a plurality of wireless protocols.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Portable battery operated electronic devices, such as cell
phones, employ rechargeable batteries that must be recharged as
battery charge is consumed. Typically, charging of electronic
devices involves physical connection to an electrical charger via a
wire connection. More recently, wireless charging devices such as
inductive, magnetic resonance, and conductive pad chargers are
available to charge the battery without any physical wire
connection between the electronic device and the charging device.
Inductive or magnetic resonance wireless chargers generate an
electromagnetic field through the use of electromagnetic
transducers to transfer the electric energy from the charging
device to a receiver on a battery or device managing battery
charging. Conductive pad chargers use a DC contact pin system.
[0004] Wireless charging systems in consumer, mobile, and
automotive environments may use different standards and
technologies to enable wireless charging of electronic devices.
Such charging systems typically include a device sleeve adapted to
attach to a chargeable device and designed for one wireless
protocol. However, a particular sleeve designed for only one
wireless protocol may be inconvenient for consumers that need to
charge their devices in a multitude of locations which provide
charging stations enabled with wireless protocols different than
that designed for the particular sleeve. For example, a wireless
charging region of a particular vehicle may be configured with a
conductive charging protocol while a wireless charging system at an
airport restaurant may be configured with an inductive charging
protocol. Thus, customers that have sleeves configured for
conductive charging in a vehicle will not be able to take advantage
of inductive charging regions available outside the vehicle without
needing to purchase and carry a separate sleeve enabled with an
inductive charging protocol. It is therefore desirable to provide a
sleeve that allows the customer to charge their device easily and
effectively whether the sleeve is receiving inductive or conductive
power from a wireless charging surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a receiver
device configured to charge a chargeable device is provided that
includes an inductive region including at least one receiver coil
for receiving magnetic flux from an inductive charging system and a
conductive region including contacts for receiving electric power
from a conductive charging system. The conductive region includes a
first and a second plurality of contacts and a connector for
transferring the electric power received from the inductive or
conductive charging system to the chargeable device to charge the
chargeable device.
[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
sleeve configured to charge a chargeable device is provided that
includes an inductive region for receiving wireless electric power
from an inductive charging system, a conductive region including
contacts for receiving electric power from a conductive charging
system, and a connector for transferring the wireless power
received from the wireless or conductive charging system to the
chargeable device to charge the chargeable device.
[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
receiver device configured to charge a chargeable device is
provided that includes an inductive region including at least one
receiver coil for receiving magnetic flux from an inductive
charging system and a conductive region including contacts for
receiving electric power from a conductive charging system.
[0008] These and other aspects, objects, and features of the
present invention will be understood and appreciated by those
skilled in the art upon studying the following specification,
claims, and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conductive pad wireless
charging system with a chargeable device connected to a receiver
sleeve device placed upon the system;
[0011] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an inductive wireless
charging system with a chargeable device connected to the receiver
sleeve device placed upon the system;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view illustrating the
locations of the inductive and conductive regions of the receiver
sleeve relative to the chargeable device;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of a receiver sleeve used
for connecting wireless power from the receiver sleeve to the
chargeable device;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view of the receiver sleeve with hidden
features shown in phantom, according to an exemplary
embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross section view taken through line V-V of
FIG. 4 further illustrating the receiver sleeve;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram/circuit of the receiver
sleeve for wireless power transfer from the charging system to the
chargeable device;
[0017] FIG. 7A is a schematic circuit diagram of the isolation
diode array of the receiver sleeve;
[0018] FIGS. 7B-7E are simplified equivalent circuit schematic
diagrams of the isolation diode array based upon the location of
the contact pins on the wireless system;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a logic table showing mapping of the location of
the contact pins to a particular schematic of the isolation diode
array including the example schematics in FIGS. 7B-7E;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a logic table showing mapping of the charging
state of the receiver sleeve and other components based upon
detected input state;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a top view of the conductive pad wireless
charging system of FIG. 1, illustrating several chargeable devices
with receiver sleeves on the charging system; and
[0022] FIGS. 11A-11F are top views of the charging system of FIG.
1, illustrating a plurality of arrangements of chargeable devices
with receiver sleeves on the charging system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are
not necessarily to a detailed design; some schematics may be
exaggerated or minimized to show function overview. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis
for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present
invention.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a wire-free or wireless charging system
10 is illustrated for charging one chargeable device(s) 12 each
having a receiver device shown in the form of a sleeve 14 according
to one embodiment. The charging system 10 receives electric power
from an external power source (not shown). The charging system 10
transfers electric power wirelessly to the chargeable device 12
when the device 12 is connected to the receiver sleeve 14 thereby
enabling the device 12 to be charged when the device 12 is placed
on the contact surface (e.g., pad) of the charging system 10. The
system 10 includes an array of conductors 16 provided to make
electrical contact with conductive charging pins 20 on the bottom
of the receiver sleeve 14, according to one embodiment. The
charging system 10, as shown in FIG. 1, may have a surface
arrangement having alternating positive 16A and negative 16B
contact strips. An adequate number of charging pins 20 on the
receiver 14 of device 12 is needed to ensure at least one charging
pin 20 has an electrical connection with a positively charged strip
16A and at least one charging pin 20 has a second contact having an
electrical connection with a negatively charged or common ground
strip 16B, thereby providing electrical power to be transferred
conductively from system 10 into the device 12. In the charging
system shown, the voltage on the conductive system 10 is fixed and
independent of the type of device 12 placed on its surface such
that each device 12 with receiver sleeve 14 placed on the surface
is responsible for obtaining power from the surface and regulating
it to a different lower voltage for its own independent use.
Therefore, the system is configured for a plurality of devices with
differing charging rates and constraints to be adequately charged
on the same charging system.
[0025] While FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the
wireless charging system 10 used for transferring electrical power
conductively, the receiver sleeve 14 is also configured to
wirelessly charge device 12 inductively (as will be explained in
detail below) and therefore it should be appreciated that charging
system 10 is not limited to only the conductive configuration that
is shown in FIG. 1, but may also be implemented with circuitry that
uses one or more transmitter coils on the system 10 to provide a
magnetic field to one or more receiver coils of sleeve 14 in order
to charge the device 14 inductively.
[0026] One example of a wire-free or wireless inductive charging
system 10i is illustrated in FIG. 1A showing a device 12 with the
receiver sleeve 14 resting on a pad for inductive charging
purposes. The inductive charging system 10i includes one or more
transmitter coils 16i for providing a magnetic field which, in
turn, is received by one or more receiver coils provided in the
receiver sleeve 14 as described herein. It should further be
appreciated that the wireless conductive charging system and
wireless inductive charging systems could be integrated into a
single wireless charging pad, such as one having separate inductive
and conductive charging regions, according to other
embodiments.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates the receiver sleeve 14 and chargeable
device 12. The receiver sleeve 14 includes embedded magnetic
terminals 22, a center inductive coil region 24, and a plurality of
conductive contact pins 20 arranged in a specific configuration
near the edge or periphery of the sleeve 14. The chargeable device
12 of FIG. 2 may be charged by placing the sleeve 14 substantially
on the device 12 thereby enabling device 12 to be charged by either
inductive or conductive means and positioning the connected
chargeable device on system 10 as described in FIG. 1 or an
inductive charging 10i such as is shown in FIG. 1A. The sleeve 14
may be made from gel, silicon or a shell type housing as shown in
FIG. 2 which is mounted on the device 12. The device may be a
mobile phone as shown or other devices generally requiring less
than 5-15 watts (e.g., cameras, handheld video games, MP3 players,
etc.). Mounting the receiver sleeve 14 via a connector port
embedded into the sleeve that may be connected to the charging
terminal of the device onto device 12 allows conductive or
inductive wireless power technology to be routed directly to the
input power pin when the device 12 with mounted receiver sleeve 14
is placed onto a conductive wireless charging system 10 or
inductive wireless charging system 10i.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates the receiver sleeve 14 having a plurality
of contact pins 20 arranged in a specific configuration near the
edge of the sleeve 14 that will ensure wireless power transfer
independent of orientation of device 12 placed on system 10
(mathematics will be explained in more detail with reference to
FIG. 10). As shown in the example in FIG. 3, there are six contact
pins in the configuration.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the power receiver
sleeve 14 with both conductive and inductive wireless power
delivery. In the embodiment shown, the receiver sleeve 14 may be
implemented with a housing having a plurality of regions including
a receiver coil region 24 for inductive charging, a conductive
power region containing conductive contact points 20, magnet
regions 22 providing sufficient magnetism with the contact strips,
and a clear region 25 for non-obscuring a camera and/or lamp
portion of chargeable device 12. It should be appreciated that the
exact implementation of the receiver sleeve housing will vary
depending on the specific device 12 being charged.
[0030] Receiver coil region 24 provides at least one coil 27 formed
on the receiver sleeve 14, while corresponding one or more
electromagnetic transmitting coils may be provided in an inductive
charging system 10i. The coils and sleeve 14 transfer power
inductively to one or more chargeable devices 12 positioned on or
near the transmitting coil. The transmitting coil of an inductive
charging system may then charge the inductive coil of the receiver
via electromagnetic induction by generating a magnetic flux. In
this inductive wireless charging method, the transmitting and
receiving coils are aligned approximately parallel and concentric
to each other for maximum charging efficiency. A magnetic coupling
is established between chargeable device 12 and wireless charging
system 10i such that energy received from the transmitter coil of
system 10i by the receiver sleeve 14 may then be rectified and
regulated to a suitable DC voltage (e.g., 5 volts) to charge the
rechargeable battery of the chargeable device 12.
[0031] Conductive power regions 26A-26B, as shown in FIG. 4,
include six contacts shown as contact pins 20, three on each side
of the inductive charging region 24. The contact pins 20 may be a
plurality of connector formats/designs to conductively receive
electric power from the wireless charging system such as zero
insert force (ZIF) connector pins. As will be explained in more
detail below with respect to the circuitry of the receiver sleeve
14 for wireless power transfer in FIG. 6, the voltage Z.sub.V
received at a particular pin is reduced by the sleeve 14 to deliver
a reduced voltage output X.sub.V to sufficiently charge the battery
of the chargeable device 12 without risking damage to the receiver
electronics or the battery of the device 12. The predetermined
voltage reduction level X.sub.V may be 5 volts, according to one
embodiment, which is a standard amount that the voltage to the
battery of device 12 should not rise above during charging of the
device 12.
[0032] FIG. 4 further illustrates magnets 22A-22D which provide
sufficient magnetism between pins 20 on receiver sleeve 14 and the
contact strips 16 on the conductive charging system 10. Providing
sufficient magnetism is especially useful in charging environments
such as an automobile where a device 12 positioned upon the
charging system 10 could be more susceptible to movement or falling
off the charging system 10. Magnets 22A and 22B located on the long
axis of sleeve 14 provide most of the contact force to sufficiently
steady chargeable device 12 on charging system 10 while the magnets
22C-22D on the short axis of sleeve 14 provide the additional force
needed to stabilize device 12, thereby preventing the device 12
from moving or falling off charging system 10. The magnets 22A-22D
are positioned outside and away from the coupling zone of the low
frequency inductive receiver and transmitter coils, thereby
preventing interference of inductive energy transfer caused by
placing magnets in the path the transmitter and receiver coil
pair.
[0033] The power receiver sleeve 14 with both conductive and
inductive wireless power delivery also contains a plurality of
shielding areas designed to prevent magnetic flux of the receiver
coil region 27 from leaking into the chargeable device 12 which may
substantially alter the operation of the other components of the
sleeve 14 and/or charging system 10. The shielding may be applied
to the inside surface of the sleeve 14 and/or molded into the
sleeve 14 so that the shield is substantially between any printed
circuit board (PCB) circuitry embedded in the sleeve 14 and
transmitter coils of an inductive charging system.
[0034] Sleeve 14 may also include a clear or cut out area 25 in
order to provide an aperture and non-obstruction for a device
camera and/or allow optimum performance of device antennas that may
exist in such areas on certain devices. It should be noted that the
location of the device antennas may vary depending on the device
being charged and/or manufacturer of the device. The location and
size of a clear or cut out area 25 of sleeve 14 may be customized
for a specific device and/or manufacturer.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the receiver sleeve
14 with device 12 inserted inside. The shielding layer 28 is shown
below the device 12 and in proximity to and/or below receiver coil
layer 24. The shielding layer 28 may be a double layer shielding
configuration having both a layer of magnetic material and a layer
of conductive material for providing a sufficient degree of
shielding.
[0036] FIG. 6 shows the circuitry of the wireless charging receiver
sleeve 14 further including an input pin pass/isolation diode array
module 63, inductive receiver rectification module 60, duplicate
input voltage triage monitor logic 61, output short circuit monitor
62 and switch-mode step-down regulator 64. In the embodiment shown,
each of the aforementioned modules may be controlled by one or more
processors and the circuitry is part of the sleeve 14 connected to
the device 12. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of external power
sources may be applied to the receiver sleeve 14 at a particular
time including: 1) a wireless inductively coupled energy applied by
an inductively charged system 10i (e.g., Powermat.RTM. and/or
Qi.RTM. enabled technology) to the receiver coils 27 of receiver
region 24 and managed and processed by inductive charging software
algorithms processed by a microcontroller within module 60 wherein
the rectification module 60 is configured to generate an output
voltage V.sub.IC from said magnetic flux received by the inductive
charging system; 2) voltage from a conductive charging system
(e.g., Wildcharge.RTM. enabled charging system) applied to the
conductive charging inputs P1-P6 of input pin pass/isolation diode
array module 63 with Z.sub.V, wherein Z.sub.V may be 15 volts; and
3) X.sub.V input applied to the auxiliary USB input female
connector for the purpose of conventional wired charging, wherein
X.sub.V may be 5 volts. Thus, the receiver sleeve 14 is configured
to receive inductive supplied power and conductive supplied power
from different types of power supply sources and supplies the
electric power to charge one or more charger devices 12 having
different wireless charging protocols.
[0037] With the exception of electric power containing X.sub.V
voltage applied to the USB input female connector which is directly
passed through to the device battery, the other three possible
sources of power are fed to the input of the switch-mode voltage
step-down regulator module 64. The voltage V.sub.IC collected from
the inductive receiver rectification module 60 is presented to
module 64 for voltage regulation down to voltage X.sub.V in order
to charge the device 12 without damaging the battery of the device
12 under charge. Similarly, the voltage, V.sub.CC collected from
the output of the conductive charging input pin pass/diode array
module 63 is also presented to module 64 for regulation down to
voltage X.sub.V. The switch-mode regulator 64 may accept power from
either the output of the input pin pass/isolation diode array
module 63 (conductive charging receiver) or the inductive charging
receiver 60 and diodes A and B, in series from the inductive and
conductive power source, respectively, are positioned to prevent
one power source from sinking current into the other power source
when the other source is inactive.
[0038] FIG. 7A illustrates the pre-processing circuitry of the
input pin pass/isolation diode array module wherein diodes may be
forward or reverse biased allowing current to be passed or isolated
(i.e., blocked) in the six pin receiver input configuration such
that two or more of the input pins P1-P6 always make contact with
the contact strips of charging system 10 such that one or more pins
make contact with a negative strip 16B (e.g., GND) and one or more
pins make contact with a positive strip 16A (e.g., 15V). Since the
possibility exists that only one of the six pins may be ground
(GND) and only one pin may be at a voltage potential of 15V, there
exists the possibility that four of the six pins may also be open
circuit such that neither are in contact with the negative strip
16B or the positive strip 16A. As each of the six pins could be
GND, 15V or open circuit, this creates 3.sup.6 or 729 possible
states, according to one example, that exist when the six-pin
receiver sleeve is placed on the surface of the conductive charging
system.
[0039] As illustrated in FIGS. 7B-7E, schematics WW, XX, YY and ZZ
illustrate example states where the six input pins P1-P6 are placed
in contact with different lines on the charging system 10. As
shown, in each of the example states, the circuitry of the input
pin pass/isolation diode array module will provide around Y volts
to the receiver of the regulator module provided that two of the
six input pins P1-P6 fall on either GND or Z volts. However, in the
examples of FIGS. 7B-7E it is assumed all pins fall on GND or Z
volts. It should be noted that when Z is 15V along any of the six
input pins, the input pin pass/isolation diode will assure a Y
voltage of 13.6 volts to be sent to the switch mode regulator. For
example, as shown in schematic for WW in FIG. 7B if P4 and P6 are
15 V while the rest of the pins are GND, the voltage at Y is
calculated as
(V.sub.4+V.sub.6).sub.avg-V.sub.(D2+D69)avg-V.sub.(D1+D610)avg=(15)-(0.7)-
-(0.7)=13.6 V. Therefore, the input pin pass/isolation diode array
module 63 ensures that regardless of what potential is applied to
any input pin P1-P6; a) a positive voltage will be presented to the
battery voltage regulator 64; b) there generally is never a path
within the receiver circuit 14 that may result in a short circuit
at the output of module 63; and c) any negative voltage received by
an input pin generally presents no risk of damage to the receiver
electronics or the battery of the device.
[0040] FIG. 8 is a logic table illustrating example six pin input
voltage states of either Z or GND (open pin states not shown) and
their resultant voltage schematics depending on the input state
which correspond to the schematics illustrated in FIGS. 7B-7E. As
will be explained in further detail with respect to FIG. 11,
certain input states will not be possible due to the locations of
input receiver pins P1-P6 relative to the locations of the charging
strips 16 on charging system 10 which ensures at least one positive
contact and one negative contact will be made, thus always
providing power from the charging system 10 to the chargeable
device 12.
[0041] The inductive charging sleeve of FIG. 6 accounts for
situations where any combination of inductive power source (from
input pin pass/isolation diode array module 63), conductive power
source (from the inductive receiver rectification module 60),
X.sub.V power applied to the auxiliary USB input female connector
of sleeve 14 for the purpose of wired charging may be present. For
example, when a chargeable device 12 is placed on charging system
10, it is possible that both the inductive module 60 and the
conductive module 63 may both be collecting power and presenting
the power as an input to the step-down regulator 64. Additionally,
since users that need to charge their mobile electronic devices may
not find themselves in proximity to a conductive or inductive
wireless charging pad, it may sometimes be necessary to charge
device 12 connected to the sleeve 14 through a conventional wire
means such as a micro-B USB connection. Given the possibility of a
plurality of power sources that may be fed into the step down
regulator, the sleeve 14 includes a duplicate input voltage triage
monitor logic circuit 61 to ensure that the regulator 64 is not
over fed and also to ensure that the battery voltage does not rise
above voltage T.sub.V, wherein T.sub.V may be 5V to ensure the
device battery is not overcharged. The logic of duplicate input
voltage triage monitor logic circuit 61 performs actions to prevent
the regulator 64 from being over fed depending on which power
sources are detected as present by module 61.
[0042] FIG. 9 describes some of the statuses of the regulator
output and other components of the sleeve 14 based upon the power
source inputs detected by the triage monitor logic. For example, as
shown in row 7 of FIG. 9, if module 61 detects that inductive power
source module 60, conductive power source module 63 are delivering
power to the regulator 64 and the voltage at the output of the
regulator is detected as not an open circuit and no USB input
X.sub.V is detected (i.e. both V.sub.IC, V.sub.CC inputs are
detected as active, V.sub.E is detected as non-active and T.sub.V
is detected instead of 0.7 volts implying that the regulator is
operating as expected), the regulator 64 stays ON, the status of
the SC-DIS X.sub.V Line and DIS X.sub.V are enabled (meaning
disabling both input signals from inhibiting the regulator) and
module 60 is turned off since conductive power from module 63 is
detected. It is desirable to turn off the inductive module 60 when
both inductive and conductive systems are both delivering wireless
energy because there is no adequate means to communicate back to
the conductive module 63 ceasing providing Z.sub.V power while
there is a means via DIS IC in triage logic 61, and conductive
power transfer is more efficient than inductive.
[0043] In another example state, as shown in row 8 of FIG. 9, in
correspondence to the circuitry of sleeve 14 in FIG. 6, it is
desirable for module 61 to monitor and disable the switch mode
regulator 64 when external USB power X.sub.V is detected at the
battery of chargeable device 12 (i.e., V.sub.E signal is detected
as active by triage monitor 61 prior to inductive (V.sub.IC) or
conductive (V.sub.CC) sources being detected as activated). In such
a case, when V.sub.IC and V.sub.CC are detected as 0 volts and
V.sub.BD is detected as 0.7 volts by module 61 while V.sub.E is
detected as X.sub.V, the regulator 64 will not be activated due to
inductive module 60 and conductive module 63 not sending any input
to Regulator 64, thereby allowing external X.sub.V USB power to be
applied directly to the device battery.
[0044] In other example states, if diode DF1 in FIG. 6 is an open
circuit as shown in rows 3, 5 and 7, of FIG. 9, then independent of
whether V.sub.IC or V.sub.CC is detected as on (rows 3 and 5) or if
they are both detected as on (row 7), V.sub.E will be 0 volts and
V.sub.BD will be T.sub.V which is typically, 5.7 volts due to diode
DF1 being open circuit. It should be noted that diode DF1 is placed
in the sleeve configuration to ensure that X.sub.V (e.g. 5 volts)
from an external source (e.g., USB input) does not sink or load the
output of the switch mode regular when it is inactive. During
regular sleeve 14 operation where no external DC power source is
received by the device 12, the switch mode regular output would be
one diode drop above X.sub.V (e.g., X.sub.V+0.7 volts or 5.7 volts
if X.sub.V=5 volts) to ensure voltage being used to charge the
device was X.sub.V.
[0045] The output short circuit monitor circuit 62 of FIG. 6 may
monitor both external USB female connector X.sub.V terminal and the
anode of diode DF1. If monitor circuit 62 detects the anode of DF1
at approximately 0.7 volts above common and the battery voltage is
approximately around 0 volts, but either the inductive or
conductive power sources are active, it would then classify this
state as a short circuit and disable the switch-mode regulator 64
(i.e., shut off the regulator). The sleeve 14 would then shut off
the individual modules and reset itself after removal of the short
circuit. This operation state is shown in rows 2, 4 and 6 of FIG.
9.
[0046] FIG. 10 shows a pattern of pins 20 on the outer portion of
the sleeve 14 in conductive region 26A-B with the six pins arranged
such that pins P2 and P3 are located as vertices of an imaginary
equilateral triangle, two of the contact pins P1 and P4 are located
as the center of the equilateral triangle configuration and two
contact pins P5 and P6 derived from a predetermined vector distance
from the vertices (P2 or P3) or center locations (P1 or P4) of the
contact points. It should be noted that the charging system 10 may
have a plurality of charging strips 16 of width R with a lane gap
of G (non-charging strips). The location of P5 and P6 in relation
to the charging system 10 and the other pins can be derived by
moving a vertical distance of a predetermined width R and a
predetermined gap G. For example, the location of P5 can be derived
by shifting the location of P1 a predetermined amount in the
horizontal direction and then shifting the location downwards in a
predetermined factor of R and G. The pattern and locations of the
contact pins P1-P6 on sleeve 14 and contract strips 16 on charging
system 10 form a geometrically balanced function wherein power is
transferred conductively from the system 10 to the chargeable
device 14 without regard to position and orientation of the device
14 placed on the system 10. The spacing of these pins away from the
inductive receiving coil zone 24 in the device 14 allows the same
device 14 to be placed on an inductive charger pad with the same
device 14 to simultaneously achieve the goal of mitigating
potential interference between the metal makeup of the pins P1-P6
and the coupling zone 24 for inductively charging the receiver coil
27. The outboard spacing of the pins P1-P6 was designed such that
it does not obstruct areas where a device camera or illumination
lamp may be located, and to provide greater stability of the sleeve
14 on a charging surface due to location of the pins near the
peripheral of the sleeve.
[0047] FIGS. 11A-11F illustrate a plurality of positions and
orientations that sleeve 14 may take when placed on charging system
10. FIGS. 11A-11F show that independent of the orientation and
positions of pins P1-P6 on sleeve 14, at least one positive (e.g.,
15 volts) and one negative contact (GND) will be always made when
the sleeve 14 is placed on the pad, thereby guaranteeing that
wireless power to be transferred from the system 10 to device 12
with this new pin geometry presented in this application.
[0048] It is to be understood that variations and modifications can
be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the
concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be
understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the
following claims unless these claims by their language expressly
state otherwise.
* * * * *