Detection of object position and orientation on a wireless charging mat

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to detection of object position and orientation on a wireless charging pad. A wireless charging pad and method of operating the same are disclosed. The wireless charging pad includes a detection system configured to determine a position and orientation of an electronic device on the wireless charging pad. The position and orientation are determined based on a detected position of one or more structural features of the electronic device. The wireless charging pad is operated in accordance with the detected position and orientation.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese Patent Application No. PCT / US2017 / 052569, with an international filing date of September 20, 2017, an entry date into the Chinese national phase of March 9, 2019, application number 201780057562.1, and an invention title of "Detection of the Position and Orientation of an Object on a Wireless Charging Mat".

[0002] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 397,616, filed September 21, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The embodiments described herein relate to wireless charging of electronic devices in general, and more specifically to systems and methods for detecting the position and orientation of an electronic device disposed on a charging surface of a wireless charging pad relative to one or more transmitting coils disposed below the charging surface. Background Technology

[0004] Electronic devices may receive power wirelessly, for example, via electromagnetic induction. For instance, an electronic device may include a coil for receiving power (“receiving coil”), and a transmitting device may include a coil for transmitting power (“transmitting coil”). The electronic device is positioned near the transmitting device such that the transmitting coil can transmit power to the receiving coil via mutual inductance.

[0005] Among other things, the efficiency of power transmission is affected by the proximity and alignment of the receiving coil relative to the transmitting coil. More specifically, if the receiving coil is not aligned with the transmitting coil or is not properly aligned, the amount of power received by the electronic device is reduced. To compensate, the transmitting device typically increases its power output, thereby reducing the system's power transmission efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments described herein generally relate to wireless charging devices (e.g., wireless charging pads) configured to detect the position and orientation of electronic devices on the charging surface of a wireless charging device. In some embodiments, the wireless charging pad includes a housing, a set of transmitting coils, and a detection system. Typically, the housing has an upper surface or charging surface on which an electronic device can be placed. The set of transmitting coils wirelessly transmits power to the electronic device.

[0007] The electronic device includes a housing, and a detection system detects the position of one or more structural features of the housing relative to one or more upper surfaces or charging surfaces of the wireless charging pad. The detection system can then determine the position and orientation of the electronic device relative to the upper or charging surface based on the relative positions of the structural features.

[0008] In some examples, such as the detection system of the wireless charging pad described herein, a high-frequency signal is applied to one or more transmitting coils (e.g., for inspection). The detection system then monitors the transmitting coils to obtain any current or voltage spikes that can be associated with the presence of one or more metallic features of the electronic device housing. The detection system can then determine, estimate, or approximate the location and / or orientation of one or more structural features of the electronic device based on one or more characteristics (e.g., amplitude, phase, etc.) of the current or voltage spikes received at different transmitting coils. The detection system can then determine, estimate, or approximate the location of the receiving coil within the electronic device.

[0009] In some examples, the detection system includes a set of capacitive electrodes disposed above or below the upper surface or charging surface of the wireless charging pad. The capacitive electrodes experience changes in capacitance in response to nearby electronic devices, and the position and orientation of the electronic devices can be determined based on a comparison of the capacitance changes of the different electrodes.

[0010] In some examples, the detection system includes a set of strain sensors that detect deflection of the upper or charging surface in response to contact of the electronic device with the upper surface. In some examples, the detection system includes a piezoelectric sensor configured to detect deflection of the upper surface in response to contact of the electronic device with the upper surface. The position and orientation of the electronic device on the upper surface can be determined based on the detected deflection of the upper surface.

[0011] Further embodiments described herein relate to methods for charging electronic devices on wireless charging pads. Such methods typically include: detecting the positions of two or more non-charging structural features of the electronic device relative to a charging surface of the wireless charging pad; and then determining, estimating, or approximating the position and orientation of the electronic device relative to the charging surface. In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining the position of a receiving coil within the electronic device relative to the charging surface, or more specifically, determining the position of the receiving coil relative to one or more transmitting coils associated with the charging surface. The transmitting coil can then be selected based on the position of the receiving coil. Attached Figure Description

[0012] This disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements.

[0013] Figure 1A A wireless charging pad for accommodating portable electronic devices is depicted.

[0014] Figure 1B Depicting Figure 1A The wireless charging pad and portable electronic device are shown, specifically illustrating the receiving coil of the electronic device aligned with the transmitting coil of the wireless charging pad.

[0015] Figure 1C Depicting Figure 1B The wireless charging pad and portable electronic devices are shown, specifically the receiving coil of an electronic device that is not aligned with any of the transmitting coils of the wireless charging pad.

[0016] Figure 2A An example of a wireless charging pad configured to detect nearby electronic devices via inductive sensing is depicted.

[0017] Figure 2B An example of a wireless charging pad configured to detect the position and orientation of an electronic device via inductive sensing is depicted.

[0018] Figure 2C An exemplary electronic device with a resonant structure detectable by a wireless charging pad is depicted.

[0019] Figure 2D Another exemplary electronic device with a resonant structure detectable by a wireless charging pad is depicted.

[0020] Figure 2E Another exemplary electronic device with a resonant structural mode detectable by a wireless charging pad is described.

[0021] Figure 2F An example of a wireless charging pad that detects the position and orientation of an electronic device with a resonant structure via inductive sensing is depicted.

[0022] Figure 2G An exemplary power transmission circuit incorporating current sensing in a wireless charging pad is depicted.

[0023] Figure 3A An example of a wireless charging pad configured to detect the position and orientation of an electronic device via capacitive sensing is depicted.

[0024] Figure 3B Another example is depicted of a wireless charging pad configured to detect the position and orientation of electronic devices via capacitive sensing.

[0025] Figure 3C An example of a wireless charging pad configured to detect the position and orientation of an electronic device via capacitive sensing using a transmitting coil is depicted.

[0026] Figure 3D An exemplary electronic device with a capacitive structure detectable by a wireless charging pad is depicted.

[0027] Figure 3E Another exemplary electronic device with a capacitive structure detectable by a wireless charging pad is depicted.

[0028] Figure 3F Another exemplary electronic device with a capacitive structure pattern detectable by a wireless charging pad is described.

[0029] Figure 3G An example of a wireless charging pad that detects the position and orientation of an electronic device with a capacitive structure via capacitive sensing is depicted.

[0030] Figure 4A An example of a wireless charging pad configured to detect the position and orientation of electronic devices via pressure sensing is depicted.

[0031] Figure 4B A simplified cross-sectional view is depicted of a wireless charging pad configured to detect the position and orientation of electronic devices via pressure sensing.

[0032] Figure 4C An example of a pressure sensor in the form of a strain gauge is depicted.

[0033] Figure 4D An example of a pressure sensor in the form of a piezoelectric element is depicted.

[0034] Figure 5 A simplified system diagram depicts some exemplary components of a wireless charging pad as described herein.

[0035] Figure 6 An exemplary process for charging an electronic device on a wireless charging pad is described.

[0036] Figure 7 An exemplary process is described for a receiving coil of an electronic device used to transmit power to a wireless charging pad.

[0037] The use of crosshairs or shading in the accompanying drawings is generally provided to clarify the boundaries between adjacent elements and also to enhance the readability of the drawings. Therefore, the presence or absence of crosshairs or shading does not indicate or suggest any preference or requirement for a particular material, material properties, element scale, element size, commonality of similar illustrated elements, or any other characteristic, property, or attribute of any element shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Furthermore, it should be understood that the proportions and dimensions (relative or absolute) of the various features and elements (as well as their sets and groups), and the boundaries, spacing, and positional relationships therebetween, are provided in the accompanying drawings solely to facilitate understanding of the various embodiments described herein, and are therefore unnecessarily presented or shown for scaling and are not intended to indicate any preference or requirement for the illustrated embodiments to exclude embodiments in conjunction with them. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Reference will now be made specifically to the representative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to a single preferred embodiment. Rather, the embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may be included within the scope and spirit of this disclosure and the appended claims.

[0040] The following disclosure relates to systems and methods for operating a wireless charging device (e.g., a wireless charging pad) to detect the position and orientation of an object (e.g., an electronic device) approaching or contacting the wireless charging device. The wireless charging pad can be used to provide power to any fixed or mobile electronic device, including desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets, cellular phones, peripherals, accessory devices, wearable devices, vehicle or aviation control systems, industrial control systems, appliances, etc. Wireless charging pads can take many shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, the wireless charging pad can provide power to multiple electronic devices simultaneously.

[0041] Generally, wireless charging pads, such as those described herein, are configured to transfer power to electronic devices without the use of wires between the wireless charging pad and the electronic device. The wireless charging pad may be combined with a transmitting coil, capacitor charging plate, or similar transmitting element configured to wirelessly transfer power, for example, by generating a magnetic or electric field, to induce voltage or current in the corresponding receiving coil of the electronic device. The induced voltage or current can be used by the electronic device to power components, charge batteries, etc.

[0042] For ease of description, the following embodiments are described with reference to an inductive power transfer system including a wireless charging pad and one or more electronic devices, but this configuration may not be necessary. Specifically, it should be understood that the systems, methods, and techniques described herein can be applied or modified in other embodiments to detect, estimate, or approximate the positioning, location, and / or orientation of any suitable object relative to any suitable surface.

[0043] As mentioned in other embodiments described herein, wireless charging pads typically include at least one transmitting coil, and electronic devices capable of receiving power from the wireless charging pad typically include at least one receiving coil. In operation, the transmitting coil is excited with alternating current; in response, the transmitting coil generates a time-varying magnetic flux field. This magnetic flux field induces alternating current within the receiving coil of the electronic device.

[0044] As mentioned above, the efficiency of power transfer from a wireless charging pad to an electronic device is affected by the proximity and relative alignment between the transmitting and receiving coils. For example, if the receiving coil is positioned far from the transmitting coil, it may experience a diminished magnetic flux, resulting in a smaller induced current and lower received power. Similarly, certain orientations of the electronic device can reduce induced currents, for example, due to interference introduced by objects such as other components of the electronic device. In response to lower received power, conventional wireless charging pads increase the output power of the transmitting coil, leading to an undesirable reduction in power efficiency.

[0045] One solution to this inefficiency is to incorporate more than one transmitting coil into the wireless charging pad. The wireless charging pad transmits power via a selected transmitting coil after communicating with the electronic device. The wireless charging pad can activate the individual transmitting coils sequentially or in a certain pattern until the electronic device receives them. The electronic device signals the wireless charging pad, indicating that it is ready to uniformly begin receiving power. The electronic device and the wireless charging pad then establish a communication channel and negotiate the power level required by the electronic device.

[0046] However, the negotiation between the electronic device and the wireless charging pad delays the time when the electronic device begins to receive power, thus increasing charging time. Furthermore, sequentially powering each transmitting coil when a conventional wireless charging pad is idle consumes power.

[0047] Therefore, the embodiments described herein relate to a high-efficiency device for determining the position and orientation of an electronic device placed on a wireless charging pad comprising multiple transmitting coils. Once the position and orientation are determined, transmitting coils that are optimally positioned to achieve efficient power transfer can be selected and activated without explicitly requiring feedback from the electronic device.

[0048] For example, a wireless charging pad may include a detection system configured to determine the position and orientation of an electronic device on the surface of the wireless charging pad. Exemplary detection systems may operate via inductive sensing, while other detection systems may operate via capacitive sensing or pressure sensing. The wireless charging pad may also operate one or more transmitting coils based on the detected position and orientation of the electronic device.

[0049] The detection system can be configured to detect structural features of objects on the charging surface of a wireless charging pad. The detected structural features may include the size, shape, and boundary position of the object on the charging surface. Using these detected features, the detection system can determine the position and orientation of the object on its charging surface, and can also determine the type of object. For example, the detection system can be configured to distinguish electronic devices from external objects. The detection system can determine that an object is not a suitable electronic device for charging based on features such as the object's size and shape, and can avoid activating the transmitting coil near the external object.

[0050] In other examples, the detection system may be configured to identify electronic devices and / or their attributes. The detection system may be configured to detect non-charging structural features and may additionally or alternatively detect structural features of the electronic device's housing. The detection system may also detect different features of the electronic device, such as its dimensions, features such as rounded edges, etc., to identify it as an electronic device acceptable for power transmission. The detection system may also determine the location of the receiving coil, the location of other components, and / or the amount of power supplied to the electronic device based on these different features. The wireless charging pad may operate based on these determinations, such as by selecting the nearest transmitting coil to the receiving coil and adjusting the voltage, current, and / or power as needed by the device.

[0051] In some examples, the detection system may additionally or alternatively determine the identity of the electronic device, such as whether the device is a phone, watch, or tablet. In other cases, the detection system may determine the manufacturer, model, etc., of the electronic device. In some examples, the wireless charging pad may have a memory that stores lookup tables or other data structures for identifying or classifying the electronic device or its attributes. The wireless charging pad can compare the output of the detection system with the lookup table and operate based on the stored information (e.g., identifying the location of a receiving coil or other component within the electronic device).

[0052] In this disclosure, reference is made to a detection system configured to determine the position and orientation of an electronic device on the surface of a wireless charging pad. Such an electronic device may be associated with a cover or similar element (e.g., a cover with or without a power repeating element), which may be inserted between the electronic device and the cover sheet. It should be understood that references to "on the surface," "on the charging surface," etc., include electronic devices associated with such covers.

[0053] The following is for reference Figures 1A to 7 These and other embodiments are discussed. However, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the detailed descriptions given herein with respect to the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0054] Generally speaking, Figures 1A to 1C A wireless charging pad 100 is depicted, which houses a portable electronic device 102 on a charging surface 108 of a wireless charging pad 100. The wireless charging pad 100 is configured to wirelessly transfer power to the electronic device 102. The wireless charging pad 100 includes a housing 104 (e.g., a shell) to enclose electronic components, mechanical components, and / or structural components. For example, the housing 104 may enclose one or more inductive transmitting coils 106, such as... Figure 1B and Figure 1C As depicted. The transmitting coil 106 performs the transfer of energy to the electronic device 102. Additional components may be included within the housing 104, such as... Figure 5 Those that are described.

[0055] The housing 104 of the wireless charging pad 100 may be formed from one or more components operatively connected together, such as an upper and lower component. Alternatively, the housing 104 may be formed from a single piece. The housing 104 may be formed from a variety of materials, including but not limited to tempered glass, plastic, metal, cultured corundum, or any combination of materials.

[0056] The housing 104 may include a charging surface 108 thereon on which the electronic device 102 is placed. In many embodiments, the charging surface 108 may be generally flat, while in other embodiments, the charging surface 108 may be curved, stepped, or other suitable geometry. The charging surface 108 may define an area of ​​the wireless charging pad 100 positioned above one or more transmitting coils 106 (e.g., Figure 1B and Figure 1C As depicted, when the electronic device 102 is placed on the charging surface 108, one or more transmitting coils, such as transmitting coil 106, can be activated to transfer energy to the electronic device 102.

[0057] The charging surface 108 can completely cover the upper surface of the wireless charging pad 100. In other embodiments, the charging surface 108 can cover a portion of the upper surface, or it can cover multiple surfaces of the wireless charging pad 100. The size and shape of the wireless charging pad 100 can be designed to maximize the available charging surface 108. For example, the wireless charging pad 100 can be sized to simultaneously transfer energy to multiple electronic devices 102 with different sizes and shapes. Figures 1A to 1C In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the wireless charging pad 100 is generally rectangular on the charging surface 108. In other embodiments, the wireless charging pad 100 may be circular, square, triangular, or other suitable geometry (including irregular geometry).

[0058] The transmitting coil 106 can be a group of transmitting coils 106 or an array of transmitting coils, such as Figure 1B and Figure 1C As shown. In some embodiments, the wireless charging pad 100 may include an array of multiple transmitting coils 106 arranged in overlapping or partially overlapping layers to increase the area of ​​the charging surface 108 that may be located directly above the transmitting coils 106. In the illustrated embodiment, a single layer of transmitting coils 106 is shown for clarity. Each transmitting coil 106 may be individually controllable, such that a particular transmitting coil 106 or group of transmitting coils 106 may be activated while other transmitting coils are deactivated. This also allows for the simultaneous charging of multiple electronic devices.

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment, the wireless charging pad 100 can be connected to a power source via a cable or connector 110. For example, the cable or connector 110 can carry AC power from a wall outlet or similar source to the wireless charging pad 100. In some examples, the wireless charging pad 100 can receive power from a DC power source (e.g., a battery). Similarly, although the illustrated embodiment is shown with a connector 110 coupled to a housing 104 of the wireless charging pad 100, the connector 110 can be connected using any suitable technology. For example, the connector 110 can be removable and may include a connector sized to fit within a hole or socket defined by the housing 104 of the wireless charging pad 100.

[0060] Electronic device 102 can be any electronic device configured to wirelessly receive energy. For example... Figures 1A to 1C As shown, electronic device 102 is implemented as a mobile phone. However, it should be understood that other embodiments may implement electronic device 102 in different ways, such as as a laptop or desktop computer, a tablet computing device, a gaming device, a monitor, a digital music player, a wearable computing device or monitor, a health monitoring device, etc.

[0061] Electronic device 102 includes a housing 112, which may form the outer surface or part of the outer surface and protective shell of the internal components of electronic device 102. Electronic device 102 also includes a battery for supplying power to electronic device 102 and an internal inductive receiving coil 116, such as... Figure 1B and Figure 1C As depicted. Electronic device 102 may have additional components, including battery charging circuitry. Receiver coil 116 is configured to interact with a transmitter (e.g., transmitter coil 106 in wireless charging pad 100) to provide power to components and / or charge the battery of electronic device 102.

[0062] In some implementations, the wireless charging pad 100 includes a detection system (as described below). Figures 2A to 5(As shown in the example). The detection system can detect (e.g., estimate, approximate, measure, determine, or otherwise acquire) the position and orientation of the electronic device 102. The detection system may be part of the control system of the transmitting coil 106 and may improve the charging efficiency of the battery of the electronic device 102 and / or reduce the charging time.

[0063] For example, such as Figure 1B As depicted, the receiving coil 116 within the electronic device 102 is substantially aligned with the transmitting coil 106a. The detection system can detect the electronic device 102 in this position based on non-charging structural features of the electronic device 102 (e.g., features of the housing 112, excluding features of the receiving coil 116). The detection system can also detect the orientation of the electronic device 102 relative to the charging surface 108. From the position and orientation of the electronic device 102, the wireless charging pad 100 can be configured to perform further determinations (e.g., to activate the transmitting coil 106a).

[0064] For example, the wireless charging pad 100 can determine the position of the receiving coil 116 based on the positioning and orientation of the electronic device 102. In some embodiments, the wireless charging pad 100 may have a memory that stores lookup tables or other data structures for identifying the electronic device (e.g., based on different features such as the size and shape of the housing 112). The wireless charging pad 100 can also determine the position of other features and / or components of the electronic device 102. Figure 1B In the example, the wireless charging pad 100 can (e.g., via control circuitry) determine that the transmitting coil 106a is the optimal transmitting coil 106a for transmitting power to the receiving coil 116 based on the position and orientation of the electronic device 102 relative to the charging surface 108 and / or the transmitting coil 106a. The wireless charging pad 100 can then activate the specific transmitting coil 106a, and in some embodiments, additional transmitting coils 106a can also be activated.

[0065] like Figure 1C As depicted, the receiving coil 116 of the electronic device 102 may not be precisely aligned with any of the transmitting coils 106. In this example, the detection system can detect the position and orientation of the electronic device 102 and can determine that the receiving coil 116 is not properly aligned with any of the transmitting coils 106 (e.g., to the point of being misaligned with any of the transmitting coils 106). Figure 1B(The determination is similar to that in the example). Due to poor alignment, power transfer to the receiving coil 116 may be inefficient. The electronic device 102 may require a minimum induced current at the receiving coil 116 to accept power transfer. In a conventional wireless charging pad 100, the power delivered to the transmitting coil 106 may be increased to compensate for and increase the induced current, thereby reducing the efficiency of power transfer. This may also lead to overheating of other components or similar undesirable conditions. Therefore, the wireless charging pad 100 may not activate any transmitting coil 106 based on the detected position and orientation of the electronic device 102. The wireless charging pad 100 may also indicate that it will not charge the electronic device 102 (e.g., through visual and / or auditory markings, communication with the electronic device 102, etc.).

[0066] In other embodiments, the wireless charging pad 100 may determine that some power transfer is possible despite poor alignment. In this case, the wireless charging pad 100 may activate one or more transmitting coils 106, which may still achieve power transfer based on the specific location and orientation of the electronic device 102. For example, the wireless charging pad 100 may determine that the nearest transmitting coil 106b will transfer power most efficiently and thus energize the nearest transmitting coil 106b. This can improve efficiency by selecting a better-positioned transmitting coil 106b, rather than increasing the power of another transmitting coil 106c. Alternatively, the wireless charging pad 100 may activate another transmitting coil 106c based on other considerations, such as determining that internal components of the electronic device 102 may interfere with power transfer from the nearest transmitting coil 106b.

[0067] In other examples, two or more transmitting coils 106b, 106c can be activated. Due to the misalignment of the receiving coil 116 with any of the transmitting coils 106, the power transmitted by any single transmitting coil 106 may be insufficient to meet the needs of the electronic device 102. The wireless charging pad 100 can compensate for this loss by activating multiple transmitting coils 106b, 106c. The transmitting coils 106b, 106c can be selected based on appropriate characteristics (e.g., the amount of power each will transmit based on its proximity to the receiving coil 116 and / or to each other). In some cases, two or more transmitting coils 106b, 106c can be activated with a lower total power consumption than required to operate a single transmitting coil 106b at high power output, thereby achieving the same power transmission and improving efficiency.

[0068] The detection system of the wireless charging pad 100 can also be configured to identify the type of electronic device 102. For example, the detection system can distinguish between tablet devices, telephones, watches, etc. In other examples, the detection system can distinguish devices based on manufacturer, model, device origin, etc.

[0069] In some embodiments, the detection system can identify the type of electronic device 102 by recognizing features such as the size and shape of the electronic device 102. The detection system and / or other circuitry may include memory storing a lookup table or other data structure for identifying the type of electronic device 102. The identified features can be compared with information stored in the lookup table or other data structure. In other embodiments, electronic device 102 may include specific markers (e.g., resonant or capacitive structures, see example...). Figure 2E , Figure 3F The flag can be compared with information stored in a lookup table to identify the type of electronic device 102.

[0070] The lookup table may also contain information related to the power transfer to each type of electronic device 102. For example, the lookup table may indicate the location and number of receiving coils 116, the required power, etc. Once identified, the operation of the wireless charging pad 100 can be adjusted according to the type of electronic device 102.

[0071] The wireless charging pad 100 can also be configured to communicate with a nearby electronic device 102. Both the wireless charging pad 100 and the electronic device 102 may include a communication interface to facilitate the transmission of data to or from other devices. For example, the communication interface may transmit electronic signals via a wireless connection. In one embodiment, communication signals are transmitted to the wireless charging pad 100 and / or the electronic device 102 to allow the wireless charging pad 100 and the electronic device 102 to communicate with each other. Examples of wireless connections include, but are not limited to, cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared, acoustic, optical, inductive, and near-field communication. In other embodiments, a communication link may be established across a link pair of transmitting coil 106 and receiving coil 116 using the same or similar technologies.

[0072] The communication interface between the wireless charging pad 100 and the electronic device 102 allows communication to further facilitate charging. For example, communication between the wireless charging pad 100 and the electronic device 102 can enhance the detection system (e.g., provide or improve device identification, feature location, etc.). Communication can also relate to other aspects of the charging operation, such as battery status, temperature, etc.

[0073] Figures 1A to 1C The above-described embodiments, along with their various alternatives and variations, are presented for illustrative purposes and to facilitate understanding of the various possible wireless charging systems that can be combined, including detection systems such as those described herein.

[0074] Generally speaking, Figures 2A to 4DAn example of a wireless charging pad with a detection system is depicted, the detection system being configured to detect structural features of an electronic device to determine the position and orientation of the electronic device. The detection system typically includes a sensing element configured to detect the position of structural features of an object placed on the charging surface, such as features of the electronic device's housing and / or non-charging structural features. From the position of the structural features detected by the sensing element, the detection system can also determine the position and orientation of the electronic device relative to the charging surface.

[0075] As further explained below, the sensing element can operate under appropriate sensing schemes to detect structural features of an electronic device. For example, the sensing element can operate under inductive sensing, capacitive sensing, and / or pressure sensing schemes. In an inductive sensing scheme, the sensing element can be configured to detect changes in the magnetic field caused by the proximity of an object to a wireless charging pad (see, for example...). Figures 2A to 2G In capacitive sensing schemes, the sensing element may include one or an array of capacitive electrodes. Changes in capacitance of the capacitive electrodes due to the proximity of an electronic device to a wireless charging pad can be monitored (see, for example...). Figures 3A to 3G In a pressure sensing scheme, one or an array of pressure sensors can detect the deflection of the charging surface of the wireless charging pad and / or the force applied to the charging surface by placing an electronic device on it (see, for example...). Figures 4A to 4D The sensing element can also be coupled to control circuitry and / or other components of the wireless charging pad (see, for example...). Figure 5 ).

[0076] Figures 2A to 2G An example of a wireless charging pad 200 that detects the position and orientation of an electronic device 202 using inductive sensing is depicted. Figures 2A to 2G In the depicted example, one or more transmitting coils 206 in the wireless charging pad 200 can be energized to induce a magnetic field in the vicinity of the transmitting coils 206. If an object approaches the transmitting coils 206, the magnetic field can be altered. Sensing elements within the wireless charging pad 200 can detect the altered magnetic field and / or reflected signals to determine the presence of the object. Using the transmitting coils 206 and / or the array of sensing elements, the wireless charging pad 200 can determine the position and orientation of the object on or near the charging surface 208.

[0077] Figure 2AA portion of a wireless charging pad 200 having an array of transmitting coils 206 is depicted. The transmitting coils 206 are operated to detect nearby objects according to an inductive sensing scheme. In one example, the transmitting coils 206 are periodically excited with pulse signals. The pulses can be DC or AC pulses and can have suitable waveforms, duty cycles, and frequencies. In some embodiments, the pulses can have varying frequencies. The pulses can be activated with appropriate electrical charge to enable the detection of objects near the wireless charging pad 200.

[0078] When the transmitting coil 206a is excited with a pulse signal, a nearby magnetic field is generated. This magnetic field may have a decay rate, which can be detected by a sensing element within the wireless charging pad 200. When an object, such as an electronic device 202, approaches, it interacts with the magnetic field. For example, the decay rate of the magnetic field can be altered in response to the presence of the electronic device 202. This alteration of the magnetic field can vary depending on the proximity of the electronic device 202 to the transmitting coil 206a and / or the sensing element, the wireless charging material composition of the electronic device 202, and so on.

[0079] The magnetic field can interact with features and / or structures of the electronic device 202, such as the housing of the electronic device 202 and / or other non-charging components. In some embodiments, the attenuation rate can increase or decrease when the magnetic field interacts with the housing and / or non-charging components of the electronic device 202. In other embodiments, the structure of the electronic device 202 can induce a resonant response in the magnetic field. These changes in the magnetic field can be detected by a sensing element (e.g., by measuring the attenuation rate of the induced signal in the sensing element, the induced resonant response, etc.).

[0080] In some embodiments, the sensing element may be a transmitting coil 206. The sensing element may be the same transmitting coil 206a that transmits pulses, or it may be another transmitting coil 206, such as an adjacent transmitting coil 206. In other embodiments, the sensing element is a separate component of the wireless charging pad 200, such as a sensor or an inductively responsive device.

[0081] The transmitting coil 206a and the sensing element (whether the same or different components) can be part of an array of transmitting coil 206 and sensing elements, such as Figure 2B The control circuit (e.g., such as...) is depicted. Figure 5 The depicted control circuit 526 can operate the array of transmitting coils 206 and determine the position and orientation of an object such as electronic device 202 based on the detected changes in the magnetic field caused by electronic device 202.

[0082] For example, such as Figure 2BAs depicted, electronic device 202 may be positioned on charging surface 208 at a location at least partially surrounded by transmitting coil 206c. Some of the array of transmitting coils 206, 206b, 206c may pulse periodically or intermittently. A sensing element corresponding to transmitting coil 206b covered by electronic device 202 may detect a specific response caused by the structure of electronic device 202 (e.g., the housing and / or other components of electronic device 202). Other sensing elements corresponding to transmitting coil 206c surrounding electronic device 202 may also detect a response that may differ from the response detected by the covered transmitting coil 206b (e.g., the detected response may be weaker).

[0083] Control circuitry connected to the sensing element can receive and interpret the response of the sensing element. For example, the control circuitry can determine the characteristics (e.g., size and / or boundaries) of the electronic device 202 based on a comparison of the responses of different sensing elements. The control circuitry can also determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202 on the charging surface 208. For example, the control circuitry can infer or estimate the distance between the electronic device 202 and / or the structure of the electronic device 202 and the transmitting coil 206 and / or the sensing element based on the magnitude of the detected response to a pulse.

[0084] The control circuit can also determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202 relative to the charging surface 208 based on a comparison of the structure of the electronic device 202 and the estimated distances to each transmitting coil 206 and / or sensing element. For example, the sensing element can detect structural features of the electronic device 202, such as the shape and position of the housing edge. Other structural features can indicate orientation, such as the top or bottom edge of the housing. Based on these features and their distances from the sensing element, the control circuit can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202 relative to the charging surface 208.

[0085] Based on the response of the sensing element, the control circuit can determine other characteristics of the electronic device 202. For example, the control circuit can determine the type of the electronic device 202 (see example). Figure 2E In other examples, the control circuit may additionally or alternatively determine the location of features such as internal features (e.g., receiving coils, features that may interfere with or facilitate energy transfer), power requirements, and other features related to the operation of the wireless charging pad 200.

[0086] In some implementations, all transmitting coils 206 may be pulsed together. In other implementations, only a portion of transmitting coils 206 may be pulsed together, or the transmitting coils 206 may be pulsed sequentially (i.e., cyclically). In other implementations, energy can be saved by initially pulsed one or a small portion of the transmitting coils periodically or intermittently until an object is detected, and then pulsed the other transmitting coils 206 to determine additional information such as the location and orientation of the object.

[0087] In addition to detecting the characteristics of the electronic device 202 on the charging surface 208, the sensing element is configured to detect other external objects, such as a coin 230. The control circuitry can identify the coin 230 as an external object and control the charging operation of the wireless charging pad 200 accordingly. For example, the coin 230 can be rejected as a receiving device, and the transmitting coil 206 near the coin 230 can be deactivated. If the coin 230 is near or below the electronic device 202, the control circuitry can also alter the charging operation, for example, by activating only the transmitting coil 206 away from the coin 230.

[0088] although Figure 2A and Figure 2B Operation with pulse signals has been discussed, but it should be understood that this is not necessary. Instead, transmitting coil 206 can be operated with longer signals, including continuous signals. The signal can be an AC signal with a suitable waveform, such as a sine wave, square wave, or triangle wave. The frequency of the signal can be constant or variable. Transmitting coil 206 can generate a magnetic field that, when no object is present, can induce a specific waveform in a sensing element (e.g., another transmitting coil 206 or a magnetic resonant circuit). When an object, such as electronic device 202, is brought near transmitting coil 206, the waveform can be phase-shifted. The sensing element can detect the phase shift, and the control circuitry can determine the position and orientation of electronic device 202 accordingly.

[0089] In other embodiments, the transmitting coil 206 may be operated using a signal with a phase shift between the voltage and current waveforms of the signal. This can result in a corresponding phase shift detectable by the sensing element when no object is present. When an object approaches, the phase shift between the detected voltage and current may change. The sensing element can detect the amount of change in phase shift, and the control circuitry can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202 accordingly. For example, the amount of change in phase shift may correspond to the distance between the electronic device 202 and / or the structure of the electronic device 202 and the transmitting coil 206 and / or the sensing element. The control circuitry may also determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202 based on the amount of change in phase shift, with reference to the charging surface 208, by comparing the estimated distances of the electronic device 202 and / or the structure of the electronic device 202 to each transmitting coil 206 and / or sensing element.

[0090] Go to Figures 2C to 2F Electronic devices 202c-202f may include one or more non-charging structures (e.g., identification structures) 232a-232n, which can be detected by sensing elements of the wireless charging pad 200. Structures 232a-232n may be resonant structures (e.g., non-charging induction coils that resonate in the presence of an inductive field without transmitting power to the electronic device), such as circuits that respond to the presence of a magnetic field by resonating at a specific frequency (e.g., LC circuits, RLC circuits, etc.). Each resonant structure 232a-232n within electronic devices 202c-202f may resonate at a different frequency, which can be detected by sensing elements in the wireless charging pad 200.

[0091] For example, such as Figure 2C As depicted, the electronic device 202c may include two resonant structures 232a and 232b. Using these two resonant structures 232a and 232b, the control circuitry of the charging pad can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202c. For example, a sensing element near resonant structure 232a can detect the resonant response of a pulsed magnetic field and infer or estimate the distance between resonant structure 232a and the sensing element (e.g., by detecting the resonant response and / or the decay rate of the magnetic field). The control circuitry can also determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202c by referring to the charging surface based on a comparison of the estimated distances of resonant structures 232a and 232b relative to nearby sensing elements.

[0092] In some implementations, this can be further enhanced, wherein the first resonant structure 232a resonates at a first frequency, and the second resonant structure 232b resonates at a second frequency. For example, the sensing element of the wireless charging pad can detect the positions and different resonant frequencies of the resonant structures 232a and 232b. Control circuitry connected to the sensing element can also determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202c based on the response to the resonant structures 232a and 232b (e.g., by constructing a vector representing the position and orientation of the electronic device 202c relative to the charging surface).

[0093] In another example, such as Figure 2D As depicted, resonant structures 232c-232f can be positioned around the receiving coil 216 of the electronic device 202d. Sensing elements and / or control circuitry in the charging pad can detect the position of resonant structures 232c-232f to further determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202d and the receiving coil 216.

[0094] The receiving coil 216 may be surrounded by resonant structures 232c-232f at positions above (e.g., resonant structure 232c), to the right (e.g., resonant structure 232d), below (e.g., resonant structure 232e), and to the left (e.g., resonant structure 232f). One or more of the resonant structures 232c-232f may resonate at different frequencies than the other resonant structures to distinguish the positions of the resonant structures 232c-232f. For example, the resonant structure above the receiving coil 216 (e.g., resonant structure 232c) may resonate at a first frequency, while the resonant structures to the right (e.g., resonant structure 232d), below (e.g., resonant structure 232e), and to the left (e.g., resonant structure 232f) of the receiving coil 216 may resonate at a second frequency. In other embodiments, the resonant structures 232c-232f may resonate at more or fewer different frequencies, including each resonant structure 232c-232f resonating at a different frequency.

[0095] The sensing element and / or control circuitry of the charging pad can be configured to detect the resonant response of the resonant structures 232c-232f to the magnetic field generated by the transmitting coil. When the resonant structures 232c-232f resonate at different frequencies, the sensing element can detect the frequencies, and the control circuitry can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202d and the receiving coil 216 based on the resonant response. The control circuitry can also control the charging operation based on the position and orientation of the electronic device 202d and / or the receiving coil 216 (e.g., energizing the transmitting coil based on proximity to or near a specific side of the receiving coil 216).

[0096] In another example, such as Figure 2E As depicted, the resonant structures 232g–232k can additionally or alternatively provide different identifiers for identifying the electronic device 202e. For example, the resonant structures 232g–232k can be positioned in different numbers and patterns according to device type. In other examples, each electronic device 202e may include at least one resonant structure 232g that resonates at a specific frequency that clearly identifies the type of electronic device 202e. For example, a first resonant frequency may identify the electronic device 202e as a telephone, while a second frequency may identify the electronic device 202e as a tablet device. Alternatively, two or more resonant structures 232g–232k may be used, each resonating at a different frequency, and the combination of frequencies may identify the type of electronic device 202e.

[0097] The identifier of electronic device 202e can be associated with electronic device 202e and / or its features, which can be used to operate the wireless charging pad. For example, a detection system can determine the location of the receiving coil, the location of other components, and / or the amount of power to be supplied to electronic device 202e based on the identifier. For example, the control circuitry of the charging pad can be operatively coupled to a memory. The memory can store information such as charging profiles for different types of electronic devices 202e. For example, the memory can store charging profiles that can distinguish between tablet devices, phones, watches, etc. In other examples, the charging profile can distinguish devices based on manufacturer, compliance with charging standards, model, device origin, etc. When a sensing element detects a different identifier, the control circuitry can access the memory to estimate a match between the identifier and the charging profile. If the control circuitry estimates a sufficient match (e.g., the probability of a match exceeds a threshold), the charging profile can be used to influence the operation of the wireless charging pad.

[0098] The charging profile may contain information and / or instructions related to charging a specific type of electronic device 202. For example, the charging profile may identify the number and location of receiving coils, the power requirements of the device type, or the location of other internal components (e.g., components that facilitate or interfere with charging). The wireless charging pad can then operate one or more transmitting coils according to the information and / or instructions in the charging profile. In some embodiments, multiple charging profiles may be stored in a lookup table in memory or other data structures.

[0099] Figure 2D and Figure 2E These are respectively depicted as having four resonant structures 232c-232f and five resonant structures 232g-232k. It should be understood that in other embodiments, the number and arrangement of the resonant structures can vary.

[0100] Figure 2F An electronic device 202f with resonant structures 232m and 232n is depicted. The electronic device 202f is positioned on the charging surface 208 of a charging pad 200. The resonant structures 232m and 232n can be similar to... Figure 2C , Figure 2D or Figure 2E The electronic device 202f can be positioned at least partially surrounded by the transmitting coil 206f. Each of the array of transmitting coils 206, 206f can pulsate periodically. One or more sensing elements of the transmitting coil 206f corresponding to the resonant structures 232m, 232n can detect the resonant frequencies of the resonant structures 232m, 232n. In some embodiments, a first frequency can be detected corresponding to the first resonant structure 232m, and a second frequency can be detected corresponding to the second resonant structure 232n.

[0101] Control circuits connected to sensing elements (e.g., such as...) Figure 5 The depicted control circuit 526 can receive and interpret the responses of the sensing elements. For example, the control circuit can determine the position of the electronic device 202f based on a comparison of the responses of different sensing elements. The sensing elements can detect, as described above... Figure 2B The control circuit can also detect the resonant responses of the resonant structures 232m and 232n. Furthermore, it can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 202f on the charging surface 208 based on the response of the sensing elements.

[0102] In some implementations, the control circuitry can determine other characteristics of the electronic device 202f. For example, the control circuitry can determine the position and orientation of the receiving coil 216 (see example...). Figure 2D ) and / or the type of electronic device 202f (see example) Figure 2E ).

[0103] Figure 2G Depicting a device configured for wireless charging pads (e.g.) Figures 2A to 2B An exemplary power transmission circuit 227 for current sensing in the depicted wireless charging pad. In some embodiments, one or more transmitting coils 206 can be excited with an AC signal having any suitable waveform, duty cycle, and / or frequency. When activated, the transmitting coils 206 are able to detect objects approaching the wireless charging pad 200.

[0104] The transmitting coil 206 can be excited by an incoming current I. The delivery of the incoming current I to the transmitting coil 206 can be controlled by a switching network or other suitable structure. Once the incoming current is delivered to the transmitting coil 206, the transmitting coil 206 generates a magnetic field. When the magnetic field interacts with one or more nearby objects, the transmitting coil 206 can deliver power to the nearby objects. For example, if an electronic device is placed near the transmitting coil 206, features of the electronic device (e.g., non-charging structural features and / or receiving coils) can interact with the magnetic field, thereby drawing power from the magnetic field.

[0105] When a nearby object (e.g., an electronic device) draws power from the magnetic field generated by the transmitting coil 206, the current I delivered to the transmitting coil increases to account for the load of the nearby object. The change in the incoming current I from this interaction can be measured by the control circuit 226. For example, the incoming current I can correspond to a monitoring voltage V measured by a resistor R in the power transmission circuit 227. The control circuit 226 can correlate the increase in current I with the presence of a nearby device.

[0106] Transmitting coil 206 may be part of an array of transmitting coils 206. Control circuitry 226 may monitor changes in the current delivered to the multiple transmitting coils to determine the location and orientation of various identifiable devices. In some examples, the increased current may be a result of delivering power to a receiving coil within an electronic device on the charging surface of a wireless charging pad.

[0107] The change in current delivered to each of the array of transmitting coils 206 can indicate the distance to the corresponding receiving coil. For example, the current consumption at a particular transmitting coil 206 due to the presence of a receiving coil may decrease (linearly, logarithmically, exponentially, or otherwise) as the distance between the transmitting coil 206 and the receiving coil increases. Using known devices and / or receiving coils, the distance between a particular transmitting coil 206 and the receiving coil can be determined based on the measured change in current I caused by the presence of the receiving coil. In other examples where power is delivered to the receiving coil, the change in distance between the transmitting coil 206 and the receiving coil can be determined based on a detected increase or decrease in the delivered current I.

[0108] Using an array of transmitting coils 206, the position and orientation of an electronic device can be determined by determining and comparing the distances between the receiving coil and each transmitting coil 206 in the array affected by the receiving coil. For example, the distance between the receiving coil and each of the plurality of transmitting coils 206 can be determined. Therefore, the position of the receiving coil can be determined based on the relative positions of the transmitting coils 206 and the determined distances to the receiving coil (e.g., by triangulation or similar methods).

[0109] In other examples, as the electronic device moves along the charging surface of the wireless charging pad, the multiple transmitting coils 206 may experience changes in the current drawn by each transmitting coil 206. These changes in current can be compared to determine the position of the receiving coil and / or the electronic device. In some embodiments, the increased current delivered to the transmitting coil 206 may be a result of the interaction of a magnetic field with non-charging structural features (e.g., a battery or housing), and the position and orientation of the electronic device can be determined in a similar manner.

[0110] Figures 3A to 3G An example of a wireless charging pad that detects the position and orientation of electronic devices using capacitive sensing is depicted. Figures 3A to 3G In the depicted example, one or more capacitance sensing elements 340a, 340b, 340c can monitor capacitance that changes with the presence of an object. Using an array of capacitance sensing elements 340a, 340b, 340c, the wireless charging pad 300 can determine the position and orientation of an object near the charging surface 308.

[0111] Figure 3AA wireless charging pad 300 is depicted, having an array of transmitting coils 306 and an array of capacitive sensing elements in the form of sensing electrodes 340a. The sensing electrodes 340a may be disposed on or near the charging surface 308 of the wireless charging pad 300. The size and / or position of the sensing electrodes 340a may be designed to limit any interference to the operation of the transmitting coils 306. For example, the sensing electrodes 340a may be positioned such that they do not overlap with the periphery of the transmitting coils 306. In other examples, the sensing electrodes 340a may overlap with the transmitting coils 306, but this overlap may be small and / or sufficiently spaced to limit any interference to the transmitting coils 306 (e.g., interference with the magnetic field generated by the transmitting coils 306).

[0112] The sensing electrode 340a can operate according to a capacitive sensing scheme. In one example, the sensing electrode 340a can operate according to a self-capacitance sensing scheme. In this scheme, the array of sensing electrodes 340a can detect the position of an object on or near the charging surface 308 by monitoring the change in self-capacitance of a small field generated by each electrode 340a.

[0113] The sensing electrode 340a can be formed by depositing or otherwise attaching a conductive material to a substrate material (e.g., adhering it to a substrate above or below the charging surface 308). Possible substrate materials include, for example, plastics, glass, or polymers such as polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, or cyclic olefin polymers. Exemplary conductive materials include metals (e.g., copper, aluminum, gold, silver), polyvinyl oxythiophene, indium tin oxide, carbon nanotubes, graphene, piezoresistive semiconductor materials, piezoresistive metal materials, silver nanowires, other metal nanowires, etc. The conductor can be applied as a film or patterned onto an array on the surface of a substrate using printing, spraying, or other deposition techniques.

[0114] In some embodiments, the sensing electrode 340a is formed directly on the charging surface 308. The sensing electrode 340a may be formed directly on the charging surface 308, for example, using stereolithography or other similar techniques for forming one or more conductive layers on a substrate.

[0115] The sensing electrode 340a can be operatively coupled to a control circuit (e.g., such as...). Figure 5 The control circuit 526 is depicted. The control circuit may include circuitry for detecting changes in capacitance of the sensing electrode 340a. The control circuit can monitor these changes in capacitance to detect and estimate the position and orientation of an object on the charging surface 308 of the wireless charging pad 300. The sensing electrodes 340a may be arranged at a sufficient density to provide resolution to the control circuitry, thereby determining the position and orientation of the object.

[0116] For example, the responses of sensing electrodes 340a in the array (e.g., the magnitude of capacitance change) can be compared to detect structural features of the electronic device and determine the position of the structural features within the array. Features such as the location of protrusions, the edges of the housing, etc., can be detected, and the control circuit can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device relative to the charging surface 308 based on the detected structural features.

[0117] Alternative locations, such as Figure 3B As depicted, capacitive sensing can be achieved by overlapping the driving electrode 340b and the sensing electrode 340c. Figure 3B A wireless charging pad 300 with an array of capacitive sensing elements is depicted, the array being arranged in the form of rows of drive electrodes 340b overlapping columns of sensing electrodes 340c. In other embodiments, the array of capacitive sensing elements may be arranged as rows of sensing electrodes and columns of drive electrodes. The drive electrodes 340b and sensing electrodes 340c may be disposed on or near the charging surface 308 of the wireless charging pad 300. The size and / or position of the drive electrodes 340b and sensing electrodes 340c may be designed to limit any interference to the operation of the transmitting coil.

[0118] The driving electrode 340b and the sensing electrode 340c can operate according to a suitable capacitive sensing scheme. In one example, the driving electrode 340b and the sensing electrode 340c can operate according to a mutual capacitance sensing scheme. In this scheme, the driving electrode 340b can be a conductive row disposed in a first layer, while the sensing electrode 340c can be a cross-conductive column disposed in a second layer. The control circuit can be configured to detect the position of the touch by monitoring changes in capacitance or charge coupling between pairs of cross-traces.

[0119] The driving electrode 340b and the sensing electrode 340c can be combined with the above. Figure 3A The aforementioned arrangement allows the electrode to be formed in a separate layer or integrated with the charging surface 308. The driving electrode 340b and the sensing electrode 340c can also be operatively coupled to a control circuit (e.g., such as...). Figure 5 The control circuit 526 is depicted. The control circuit may include circuitry for detecting changes in capacitance or charge coupling between intersecting rows and columns. The control circuit may monitor changes in capacitance to detect and estimate the position and orientation of an object on the charging surface 308 of the wireless charging pad 300. The driving electrodes 340b and sensing electrodes 340c may be arranged at a sufficient density to provide resolution to the control circuitry, thereby determining the position and orientation of the object.

[0120] Based on the responses of the driving electrode 340b and the sensing electrode 340c, the control circuit can determine other characteristics of the electronic device. For example, the control circuit can determine the type of the electronic device (see example...). Figure 3FIn other examples, the control circuit may additionally or alternatively determine the location of features such as internal features (e.g., receiving coils, features that may interfere with or facilitate energy transfer), power requirements, and other characteristics related to the operation of the wireless charging pad 300.

[0121] In addition to detecting the characteristics of the electronic device on the charging surface 308, the driving electrode 340b and sensing electrode 340c are also configured to detect other external objects. The control circuit can identify the external object and control the charging operation of the wireless charging pad 300 accordingly. For example, the external object can be rejected as a receiving device, and the transmitting coil near the external object can be deactivated. If the external object is near or below the electronic device, the control circuit can also change the charging operation, for example by activating only the transmitting coil away from the external object.

[0122] In other implementations, such as Figure 3C As described, the capacitance detection system can be omitted. Figure 3A and Figure 3B The sensing electrode. Conversely, the transmitting coil 306 or a portion thereof can be operated with capacitive charge in a suitable capacitive sensing scheme. For example... Figure 3C As depicted, in some examples, each transmitting coil 306 may operate according to a self-capacitance sensing scheme. Under this scheme, the array of transmitting coils 306 can detect the position of an object on or near the charging surface 308 by monitoring changes in the self-capacitance of a small field generated by each transmitting coil 306.

[0123] For example, an object (e.g., electronic device 302) can be placed in the central region of the charging surface 308, thereby covering and being surrounded by the transmitting coils 306 and 306c. The transmitting coil 306c near the electronic device 302 can respond to the presence of the electronic device 302, while the surrounding transmitting coil 306 remains unchanged.

[0124] The control circuit connected to the transmitting coils 306, 306c (e.g., such as...) Figure 5 The depicted control circuit 526 can operate the transmitting coils 306, 306c. In some embodiments, the control circuit can supply charge to each transmitting coil 306, 306c, and the control circuit can also monitor the capacitance of the transmitting coils 306, 306c. The control circuit can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 302 relative to the charging surface 308 of the wireless charging pad 300 based on the capacitance changes of one or more transmitting coils 306c.

[0125] For example, the response of the transmitting coil 306 in the array (e.g., the magnitude of the capacitance change) can be compared to detect structural features of the electronic device 302 and determine the position of the structural features relative to the transmitting coils 306, 306c in the array. Features such as the position of protrusions and the edges of the housing can be detected, and the control circuit can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 302 relative to the charging surface 308 based on the detected structural features.

[0126] In some implementations, the control circuitry can determine other characteristics of the electronic device 302. For example, the control circuitry can determine the position and orientation of the receiving coil 316 (see example...). Figure 3E ) and / or the type of electronic device 302 (see example) Figure 3F ).

[0127] In other embodiments, the capacitance detection system may include, for example: Figure 3A and / or Figure 3B The capacitor electrode in the middle, and the transmitting coil 306 can also be used as a similar to Figure 3C This is part of the capacitance detection system described herein. For example, the transmitting coil 306 can be excited by a capacitive charge (e.g., as a driving electrode), and the capacitive electrode can be operated as a sensing electrode that detects capacitance changes caused by the presence of a nearby object.

[0128] Go to Figures 3D to 3G Electronic devices 302d–302g may include one or more non-charging structures (e.g., identification structures) 342a–342i, which can be detected by a sensing element of the wireless charging pad 300. Structures 342a–342i may be structures with a specific capacitive response (e.g., causing an increase or decrease in capacitance), such as different materials in the housing of the electronic device (e.g., higher or lower density materials, more or less conductive material) or non-charging circuits (e.g., RC circuits, RLC circuits, etc.) that cause a specific response in the sensing element. Such capacitive structures 342a–342i can cause different capacitive responses in the sensing element of the wireless charging pad 300, such as an increase or decrease in capacitance relative to the surrounding housing and / or components of the electronic devices 302d–302g. In some examples, based on the response of the sensing element of the wireless charging pad 300, capacitive structures 342a–342i may be used to infer bright or dark spots within an image.

[0129] For example, such as Figure 3DAs depicted, the electronic device 302d may include a capacitor structure 342a configured to induce different capacitive responses in the sensing elements of the charging pad. Using the capacitor structure 342a, the control circuitry of the wireless charging pad can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 302d. For example, the capacitor structure 342a can identify the orientation in another symmetrical electronic device 302d.

[0130] In another example, such as Figure 3E As depicted, the non-charging capacitor structures 342b-342d can be positioned around the receiving coil 316 of the electronic device 302e. Sensing elements and / or control circuitry in the charging pad can detect the position of the capacitor structures 342b–342d to further determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 302e and the receiving coil 316.

[0131] The receiving coil 316 may be surrounded by capacitor structures 342b-342d at a location around its center, measured triangulated. The pattern of capacitor structures 342b-342d may also indicate the orientation of electronic device 302e and / or receiving coil 316. In other examples, one or more of capacitor structures 342b-342d may cause a different capacitive response than other structures to distinguish the location of capacitor structures 342b-342d.

[0132] The sensing elements and / or control circuitry of the charging pad may be configured to detect the response to the capacitor structures 342b-342d. The control circuitry may also control the charging operation based on the position and orientation of the electronic device 302e and / or the receiving coil 316 (e.g., activating the transmitting coil based on proximity to or near a specific side of the receiving coil 316).

[0133] In yet another example, such as Figure 3F As depicted, the capacitor structures 342e-342h may additionally or alternatively provide different markings for identifying the electronic device 302f. For example, the capacitor structures 342e-342h may be positioned in different quantities and patterns depending on the device type.

[0134] Similar to Figure 2E In the depicted embodiment, the markings on electronic device 302f can provide identification of electronic device 302f and / or its features, which can be used to operate the wireless charging pad. For example, the detection system can determine the location of the receiving coil, the location of other components, and / or the amount of power to be supplied to electronic device 302f based on the identification. The detection system can also operate based on information and / or instructions associated with the markings.

[0135] Figure 3E and Figure 3FThese are depicted as having three capacitor structures 342b-342d and four capacitor structures 342e-342h, respectively. It should be understood that the number and arrangement of the capacitor structures can vary in other embodiments.

[0136] Figure 3G An electronic device 302g having a capacitor structure 342i is depicted. The electronic device 302g is positioned on the charging surface 308 of a charging pad 300. In some embodiments, the wireless charging pad 300 has one or an array of capacitive sensing elements 340d, 340e, which may be similar to... Figure 3A or Figure 3B The example depicted. In other embodiments, the wireless charging pad 300 uses a transmitting coil as a similar... Figure 3C The illustrated example operates using a capacitive sensing element. The capacitor structure 342i of the electronic device 302g can be similar to... Figure 3D , Figure 3E or Figure 3F Those that are described.

[0137] Electronic device 302g can be placed in the central region of charging surface 308, thereby covering and being surrounded by sensing element 340e. Sensing element 340e near electronic device 302g can respond to the presence of electronic device 302g. One or more of the sensing elements 340e near capacitor structure 342i can also detect the position of capacitor structure 342i.

[0138] The control circuit connected to the sensing element 340e (e.g., such as...) Figure 5 The depicted control circuitry 526 can operate the sensing element 340e. In some embodiments, the control circuitry can provide charge to the sensing element 340e, and can also monitor the capacitance of the sensing element 340e. The control circuitry can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 302g relative to the charging surface 308 of the wireless charging pad 300 based on changes in the capacitance of one or more sensing elements 340e.

[0139] The sensing element 340e may additionally have a specific response to the capacitor structure 342i. The control circuit may also determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 302g on the charging surface 308 based on the response of the sensing element 340e to the capacitor structure 342i.

[0140] In some implementations, the control circuitry can determine other characteristics of the electronic device 302g. For example, the control circuitry can determine the position and orientation of the receiving coil 316 (see example...). Figure 3E ) and / or the type of electronic device 302g (see example) Figure 3F ).

[0141] Figures 4A to 4D An example of a wireless charging pad 400 that detects the position and orientation of electronic devices through pressure sensing is depicted. Figures 4A to 4D In the illustrated example, one or more pressure sensors 450 may be configured to respond to a depression in the charging surface 408 or a force applied to the charging surface 408 of the wireless charging pad 400. Using one or an array of pressure sensors 450, the wireless charging pad 400 may determine the position and orientation of an object on or near the charging surface 408.

[0142] Figure 4A A wireless charging pad 400 with an array of pressure sensors 450 is depicted. The pressure sensors 450 may be disposed beneath the charging surface 400 of the wireless charging pad 408. The pressure sensors 450 can be used to estimate the magnitude of the force and / or deflection in the charging surface 408 caused by an object being placed on it. The pressure sensors 450 may also form a pressure sensing layer (see, for example...). Figure 4B ).

[0143] Figure 4B Depicting Figure 4A The depicted simplified cross-sectional view of the wireless charging pad 400 shows its layers. The wireless charging pad 400 includes a charging surface 408, a pressure-sensing layer 452, and a transmitting coil layer 454. The transmitting coil layer 454 includes one or more transmitting coils 406 configured to transfer energy from the wireless charging pad 400 to an electronic device 402. The wireless charging pad 400 includes additional components (e.g., Figure 5 (as depicted), and may include Figure 4B Another layer not shown. As shown, the placement of the electronic device 402 can cause deflection and / or force at the charging surface 408, which is transmitted to the pressure sensing layer 452.

[0144] The pressure sensing layer 452 includes an array of pressure sensors 450, which can operate according to various pressure sensing principles. In some embodiments, the pressure sensors 450 are formed of a strain-sensitive material, such as a piezoresistive material, a piezoelectric material, or a similar material having electrical properties that change in response to pressure, strain, and / or deflection. Exemplary stress-sensitive materials include carbon nanotube materials, graphene-based materials, piezoresistive semiconductors, piezoresistive metals, metal nanowire materials, etc. Each pressure sensor 450 can be electrically coupled to a sensing circuit (e.g., as shown in the image). Figure 5 The control circuit 526 depicted is formed from a single strain-sensitive material block. Alternatively, each pressure sensor 450 may be formed from a pair of electrodes positioned on opposite sides or one end of the strain-sensitive element.

[0145] In some embodiments, the pressure sensor 450 is formed of a capacitive pressure-sensitive structure comprising at least two capacitor plates separated by a compliant or compressible layer. Placement of an object such as electronic device 402 can cause partial compression or deflection of the compressible layer and can cause the two capacitor plates to move closer together, which can be achieved using sensing circuitry operatively coupled to each of the pressure sensors 450 (e.g., such as...). Figure 5 The control circuit 526 depicted measures the change in capacitance. The change in capacitance, corresponding to the amount of compression or deflection of the compressible layer, can indicate the position of the electronic device 402.

[0146] Alternatively, the pressure sensor 450 may operate based on optical or resistive sensing principles. For example, placing an object on the charging surface 408 may cause compression of a compliant or compressible layer that can be detected using an optical sensor. In some embodiments, compression of the compressible layer may result in contact between two or more layers, which can be detected by measuring the continuity or resistance between the layers.

[0147] The arrangement and density of pressure sensors 450 can vary depending on the specific implementation. For example, in order to determine the position and orientation of electronic device 402, multiple pressure sensors 450 can be arranged at a density sufficient to distinguish the features of electronic device 402, such as the edge position, size and / or shape of electronic device 402.

[0148] Pressure sensor 450 can be operatively coupled to control circuitry (e.g., such as...) Figure 5 The control circuit 526 is depicted. In some embodiments, the control circuit may be configured to detect the amount of force generated by the placement of the electronic device 402. In other embodiments, the control circuit may be configured to detect deflection and / or compression in the pressure sensing layer 402 caused by the presence of the electronic device 452. The control circuit may monitor inputs from multiple pressure sensors 450 to detect and estimate the position and orientation of an object on the charging surface 408 of the wireless charging pad 400.

[0149] In some implementations, the pressure sensor 450a can be a strain gauge, such as Figure 4C As depicted. A strain gauge is a strain-sensitive element configured to measure changes in the electrical characteristics of a strain-sensitive element's strain response. In some cases, a strain gauge may exhibit a change in resistance in response to changes in strain. A pressure sensor 450a combined with the strain gauge can produce a non-binary output corresponding to the amount of deflection in the charging surface 408 or the amount of applied force generated by the electronics 402 on the charging surface 408.

[0150] Generally, the pressure sensor 450 can be optically opaque (or alternatively transparent) for integration into a laminated stack, such as... Figure 4B As depicted. (e.g.) Figure 4B As depicted, pressure sensor 450 is implemented in pressure sensing layer 452. Pressure sensing layer 452 may include a substrate having an array of pressure sensors 450 in the form of strain gauges on one or more surfaces of the substrate.

[0151] In one configuration, the pressure sensor 450a includes a strain gauge formed of a conductive material having, for example, Figure 4C The linear helical shape or geometry shown is acceptable. In other embodiments, the shape or geometry of the strain gauge may vary. In some embodiments, the strain gauge may include a set of conductive traces arranged in a fork-shaped or comb-shaped configuration. The traces may alternatively have a helical shape, having elongated portions forming the main traces. Other shapes include, but are not limited to: linear helical shapes, radial helical shapes, spiral shapes, double-backed spiral shapes, etc.

[0152] The conductive material of the pressure sensor 450a may include, but is not limited to, materials such as, but not limited to, copper, gold, constantan, karma, and other elastic materials, indium tin oxide, or any combination thereof. The substrate on which the conductive material is deposited may include, but is not limited to, materials such as, but not limited to, plastics, ceramics, glass, polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, or any combination thereof. The conductive material of the pressure sensor 450a may be formed or deposited on a surface using suitable setting techniques, such as, but not limited to, vapor deposition, sputtering, printing, roll-to-roll processing, gravure printing, mounting, adhesives, mask etching, etc.

[0153] Each pressure sensor 450a may also be electrically coupled to a pressure sensing circuit (which may be integrated into the control circuitry) to measure or estimate the strain registered along the corresponding portion of the pressure sensing layer 452. The pressure sensing circuitry and / or the control circuitry can then determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 402. The wireless charging pad 400 can then operate based on the determined position and orientation.

[0154] In other embodiments, the pressure sensor 450b can be a piezoelectric-based sensor, such as... Figure 4D As depicted. The piezoelectric-based sensor is configured to have an electrical response to a force or pressure (such as placement or removal from the electronic device 402) applied to the charging surface 408. The pressure sensor 450b may be disposed in a pressure sensing layer within the pressure sensor 450b array.

[0155] The pressure sensor 450b may include a piezoelectric substrate 458 bonded to the sensing electrode 456 and the ground electrode 457. In some embodiments, the sensing electrode 456 and / or the ground electrode 457 may be deposited directly on the piezoelectric substrate 458.

[0156] The piezoelectric substrate 458 can be formed of suitable materials, such as ceramic piezoelectric materials. Exemplary materials include lead zirconate titanate, lead titanate, quartz, sodium potassium niobate, bismuth ferrite, and other suitable piezoelectric materials. The piezoelectric substrate 458 can be a crystalline material that exhibits an electrical response when its crystal structure is changed. For example, when the piezoelectric substrate 458 is compressed, charge may accumulate on or near its surface, which may result in the generation of an electrical signal that can linearly correspond to the amount of pressure or force causing the compression.

[0157] The sensing electrode 456 and the ground electrode 457 can be formed of suitable materials, such as metals (e.g., copper, gold, silver, aluminum), polyvinyl oxythiophene, indium tin oxide, carbon nanotubes, graphene, piezoresistive semiconductor materials, piezoresistive metal materials, silver nanowires, other metal nanowires, etc. The sensing electrode 456 and the ground electrode 457 can be formed of the same or different materials. The charge accumulation on the piezoelectric substrate 458 can be measured as a potential or electrical signal on the sensing electrode 456 and the ground electrode 457.

[0158] Sensing electrode 456 and / or ground electrode 457 may be operatively coupled to pressure sensing circuitry, which may form part of control circuitry. The pressure sensing and / or control circuitry may be configured to detect and estimate the amount of pressure or force applied by electronic device 402 to charging surface 408. The control circuitry may also determine the position and orientation of electronic device based on the detected pressure. Wireless charging pad 400 may operate according to the determined position and orientation.

[0159] For example, the response of a pressure sensor array can be compared to determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 402. The control circuitry can determine structural features, such as the edges of the electronic device's housing, by comparing, for example, the magnitudes of pressure measured at various locations. Other structural features can indicate orientation, such as the top or bottom edges of the housing (e.g., protrusions that receive greater pressure measurements in the outer region). Based on these features and the corresponding positions of the pressure sensors 450 that detect the structural features, the control circuitry can determine the position and orientation of the electronic device 402 relative to the charging surface 408.

[0160] Figure 5A simplified schematic diagram of the components of a wireless charging pad 500 incorporating a detection system such as that described herein is depicted. The wireless charging pad 500 includes a power supply 520 that can provide alternating current (AC). The AC power supply 520 can deliver AC power at any suitable amplitude or frequency. In one example, the AC power supply 520 is connected to the output of a boost converter (not shown), which can be configured to accept a variable supply voltage as input (e.g., 110VAC–250VAC). In this case, the boost converter can be configured to increase the supply voltage to 400VAC, or any other suitable voltage level reliably higher than the maximum expected supply voltage level (e.g., 250VAC).

[0161] Input power can flow from power source 520 through regulating circuit 522. Regulating circuit 522 can modify the power according to the output requirements at transmitting coil 506. For example, regulating circuit 522 can change the voltage, current, frequency, phase, and / or other aspects of the input power to obtain the desired output of transmitting coil 506. Transmitting coil 506 can be configured to wirelessly transmit power to receiving coil via resonant induced power transmission. Transmitting coil 506 can be excited using an AC signal received from regulating circuit 522 to induce AC current in the coupled receiving coil. Regulating circuit 522 may include several other components, such as rectifiers, buck converters, boost converters, filters, boost / buck converters, etc., which, for clarity, have been omitted from the original text. Figure 5 Omitted. In some cases, the input power from power supply 520 can be direct current (DC). In this case, regulating circuit 522 can additionally convert the DC power into appropriate alternating current (AC) for transmitting coil 506.

[0162] In some embodiments, elements of the power supply 520 and / or the regulation circuit 522 may be incorporated into the wireless charging pad 500. In other embodiments, one or both of the power supply 520 and the regulation circuit 522 may be separate from the wireless charging pad 500.

[0163] The transmitting coil 506 may be electrically coupled to the control circuit 526. The control circuit 526 may selectively activate the transmitting coil 506. Although the control circuit 526 is depicted outside the power transmission line of the transmitting coil 506, in other embodiments, the control circuit 526 may be within the power transmission line. The control circuit 526 is configured to interrupt and / or control the power transmitted to the transmitting coil 506.

[0164] The control circuit 526 may also be operatively connected to computer memory via an electronic bus or bridge. The control circuit 526 may include one or more computer processors or microcontrollers configured to perform, interrupt, or coordinate operations in response to computer-readable instructions. Alternatively or concurrently, the control circuit 526 may include other processors, including application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and other microcontroller devices.

[0165] The memory may include various types of non-transitory computer-readable storage media, including, for example, read-access memory, read-only memory, erasable programmable memory, or flash memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions, sensor values, lookup tables, and / or other persistent software elements.

[0166] In this example, control circuitry 526 can be operated to read computer-readable instructions stored in memory. These computer-readable instructions can adapt control circuitry 526 to perform the operations or functions described herein, such as determining the position and orientation of a device based on input received from sensing element 524. These computer-readable instructions can be provided as a computer program product, software application, etc.

[0167] Sensing element 524 is configured to detect the position of structural features of an object (e.g., features of the housing and / or non-charging structural features) on the charging surface of the wireless charging pad 500. Sensing element 524 can operate under suitable sensing schemes, such as inductive sensing, capacitive sensing, and / or pressure sensing. In an inductive sensing scheme, sensing element 524 can be configured to detect changes in the magnetic field caused by the proximity of the object to the wireless charging pad 500 (see, for example...). Figures 2A to 2G In a capacitive sensing scheme, the sensing element 524 may include one or an array of capacitive electrodes. Changes in capacitance of the capacitive electrodes due to the proximity of an electronic device to the wireless charging pad 500 can be monitored (see, for example...). Figures 3A to 3G In a pressure sensing scheme, one or an array of pressure sensors can detect the deflection of the charging surface of the wireless charging pad 500 and / or the force applied to the charging surface by placing an electronic device on the charging surface (see, for example...). Figures 4A to 4D ).

[0168] Sensing element 524 is operatively coupled to control circuitry 526 to provide a signal indicating the position of a structural feature of a sensed object. In some embodiments, sensing element 524 is also operated via input from control circuitry 526. Generally, sensing element 524 and / or control circuitry 526 are considered a detection system. Control circuitry 526 then determines the position and orientation of the object (e.g., an electronic device) based on the sensed structural feature. (The above is in conjunction with...) Figures 2A to 4DAn example of the detection system is described. Exemplary operation of the wireless charging pad (including the operation of the detection system) is described below. Figure 6 and Figure 7 Describe it.

[0169] Figure 6 An exemplary process 600 for charging an electronic device on a wireless charging pad is described. Process 600 can be combined with the above description. Figures 1A to 5 The discussion is implemented on any exemplary device. The following process 600 can be used, for example, in combination with... Figure 5 The location and orientation of the electronic device may be determined using sensing elements and control circuitry described in other embodiments herein. In some embodiments, process 600 may be implemented as processor-executable instructions stored in the device's memory.

[0170] In operation 602, a structural feature of the electronic device is detected. The detected structural feature may be a feature of the electronic device's housing and / or other components. The structural feature can be detected via appropriate sensing methods such as inductive sensing, capacitive sensing, and / or pressure sensing. In an inductive sensing method, operation 602 can (e.g., using a sensing element) detect changes in the magnetic field caused by the proximity of the structural feature to the wireless charging pad. In a capacitive sensing method, operation 602 can (e.g., using one or an array of capacitive electrodes) detect changes in capacitance caused by the proximity of the structural feature to the wireless charging pad. In a pressure sensing method, operation 602 can (e.g., via one or an array of pressure sensors) detect deflection of the charging surface of the wireless charging pad and / or forces on the charging surface caused by contact between the structural feature of the electronic device and the charging surface. Signals or other markers may be generated in operation 602. Signals or other markers may indicate the distance between the structural feature and the sensing element and / or the detected position of the structural element on the charging surface of the wireless charging pad.

[0171] In operation 604, in response to the detected structural features, the position and orientation of the electronic device relative to the charging surface of the wireless charging pad are determined. Signals or other markings generated in operation 602 can be interpreted to determine the position and orientation of the electronic device. For example, characteristics of the electronic device (e.g., size and / or boundaries) can be determined (e.g., by control circuitry) based on a comparison of signals or other markings detected in operation 602 (e.g., signals received from different sensing elements). The position and orientation of the electronic device can also be determined based on these features, for example, by estimating the distance between the structural features and the sensing elements based on the magnitude of the signals or other markings.

[0172] In operation 606, the transmitting coil is selected based on the determined location and orientation of the electronic device. For example, operation 606 may typically activate the transmitting coil only in response to the presence of an electronic device sufficiently close to it, to couple the transmitting coil to a receiving coil within the electronic device. In other examples, the wireless charging pad may incorporate an array of transmitting coils, and the transmitting coil may be selected using the determined location and orientation of the electronic device, positioned to more efficiently transfer power to the receiving coil within the electronic device. The transmitting coil may be selected based on appropriate criteria. For example, the transmitting coil closest to the electronic device and / or closest to the receiving coil within the electronic device may be selected. In other cases, the transmitting coil may be selected additionally or alternatively based on the orientation of the electronic device relative to the charging surface.

[0173] In operation 608, power is wirelessly transmitted to an electronic device using a selected transmitting coil. The transmitting coil can be configured to wirelessly transmit power to a receiving coil via resonant induction. In operation 608, the transmitting coil can be excited with an alternating current signal to induce an alternating current in the receiving coil coupled to the electronic device. The induced alternating current can transmit power to the electronic device to power its components, charge its battery, etc. The operation of process 600 is merely illustrative in nature and not limiting.

[0174] Figure 7 An exemplary process 700 for transmitting power to a receiving coil of an electronic device on a wireless charging pad is described. Process 700 can be combined with the above description. Figures 1A to 5 The discussion is implemented on any exemplary device. The following process 700 can be used, for example, in combination with... Figure 5 Alternatively, the sensing elements and control circuitry described in other embodiments herein may be used to determine the position and orientation of the receiving coil of the electronic device on the charging surface of the wireless charging pad. In some embodiments, process 700 may be implemented as processor-executable instructions stored in the device's memory.

[0175] In operation 702, the position of a non-charging structural feature of an electronic device adjacent to the receiving coil relative to the charging surface is detected. The detected non-charging structural feature may be a component, a feature of the housing, and / or circuitry of the electronic device located near the receiving coil. The non-charging structural component does not transfer power to the electronic device. The position of the non-charging structural feature can be detected via appropriate sensing methods such as inductive sensing, capacitive sensing, and / or pressure sensing. In an inductive sensing method, operation 702 can (e.g., using a sensing element) detect changes in the magnetic field caused by the proximity of the structural feature to the wireless charging pad. In a capacitive sensing method, operation 702 can (e.g., using one or an array of capacitive electrodes) detect changes in capacitance caused by the proximity of the structural feature to the wireless charging pad. In a pressure sensing method, operation 702 can (e.g., via one or an array of pressure sensors) detect deflection of the charging surface of the wireless charging pad and / or forces on the charging surface caused by contact between the structural feature and the charging surface. Signals or other markers may be generated in operation 702. Signals or other markers may indicate the distance between structural features and sensing elements and / or the detected position of non-charging structural features on the charging surface of the wireless charging pad.

[0176] In operation 704, the position and orientation of the receiving coil relative to the charging surface of the wireless charging pad are determined. The position and orientation are determined based on the detected position of a non-charging structural feature adjacent to the receiving coil. The position and orientation of the receiving coil can also be determined by interpreting signals or other markers generated in operation 702. For example, the distance between the non-charging structural feature and the sensing element can be estimated based on the magnitude of the signal or other marker (e.g., via control circuitry). In other examples, the position and orientation of the receiving coil can be determined by comparing signals or other markers detected in operation 702 (e.g., signals received from different sensing elements).

[0177] In operation 706, the transmitting coil is selected based on the determined location and orientation of the receiving coil. For example, operation 706 may typically activate the transmitting coil only in response to the presence of a proximity coil that is close enough to couple to the transmitting coil. In other examples, the wireless charging pad may incorporate an array of transmitting coils, and the determined location and orientation of the receiving coil may be used to select the transmitting coil, which is positioned to more efficiently transfer power to the receiving coil. The transmitting coil may be selected based on appropriate criteria. For example, the transmitting coil closest to the receiving coil may be selected. In other cases, the transmitting coil may be selected additionally or alternatively based on the orientation of the receiving coil relative to the charging surface.

[0178] In operation 708, a current is induced in the receiving coil using the selected transmitting coil. The transmitting coil can be configured to induce current in the receiving coil via resonant induced power transfer. In operation 708, the transmitting coil can be excited with an alternating current signal to induce alternating current in the coupled receiving coil. The induced alternating current can transfer power to electronic devices to power components of the electronic devices, charge batteries, etc.

[0179] The aforementioned disclosed embodiments may include various operating methods, usage methods, manufacturing methods, etc., or may be described in combination with these methods. It is worth noting that the operation of the methods presented herein is merely exemplary and therefore not necessarily exhaustive. For example, alternative sequences of operations, fewer steps, or additional steps may be required or desired for a particular embodiment.

[0180] According to one embodiment, a wireless charging pad is provided, configured to wirelessly transmit power to an electronic device including a housing having non-charging structural features. The wireless charging pad includes: a housing having an upper surface configured to receive the electronic device; a set of transmitting coils configured to wirelessly transmit power to the electronic device on the upper surface; and a detection system configured to detect the position of the non-charging structural features of the electronic device's housing relative to the upper surface, and to determine the position and orientation of the electronic device relative to the upper surface based on the detected position.

[0181] According to another embodiment, the wireless charging pad includes control circuitry operatively coupled to a detection system and configured to activate a subgroup of the set of transmitting coils to transmit wireless power based on a determined position and a determined orientation.

[0182] According to another embodiment, the detection system is configured to use inductive sensing to excite the transmitting coil to detect the position of the non-charged structural feature.

[0183] According to another embodiment, the electronic device has a receiving coil configured to receive power transmitted wirelessly, a non-structural feature including a first resonant structure and a second resonant structure configured to resonate at a first different frequency and a second different frequency, respectively, and a detection system configured to transmit a signal using the set of transmitting coils, detect a first resonant response of the first resonant structure at a first frequency in response to the signal, and detect a second resonant response of the second resonant structure at a second frequency in response to the signal.

[0184] According to another embodiment, the detection system is configured to use the detected first and second resonant responses to detect the positions of the first and second resonant structures.

[0185] According to another embodiment, the detection system includes a set of capacitive electrodes disposed above or below the upper surface.

[0186] According to another embodiment, the detection system is configured to detect the position of the non-chargeable structural features of the electronic device housing relative to the upper surface by detecting different capacitive responses of the non-chargeable structural features.

[0187] According to another implementation, the detection system includes a set of strain sensors.

[0188] According to another embodiment, the detection system includes a piezoelectric sensor configured to detect deflection of the upper surface in response to contact with an electronic device.

[0189] According to another implementation, the detection system is further configured to determine the type of electronic device.

[0190] According to another implementation, the detection system is configured to detect the identification structure of the casing of an electronic device and determine the type of the electronic device based on the detected identification structure.

[0191] According to one embodiment, a method is provided for charging an electronic device on a wireless charging pad having a detection system. The method includes: using the detection system to detect a first position of a first structural feature of the electronic device's housing relative to a charging surface of the wireless charging pad; using the detection system to detect a second position of a second structural feature of the electronic device's housing relative to a charging surface of the wireless charging pad; determining the position and orientation of the electronic device on the wireless charging pad based on the detected first position and the detected second position; selecting a transmitting coil in the wireless charging pad based on the determined position and the determined orientation; and wirelessly transmitting power to the electronic device using the transmitting coil.

[0192] According to another embodiment, the transmitting coil is a first transmitting coil, and the method includes periodically exciting a second transmitting coil with a pulse signal, detecting the response to the pulse signal, and determining the position and orientation of the electronic device based on the characteristics of the response to the pulse signal.

[0193] According to another embodiment, the response includes a first resonant frequency caused by a pulse signal interacting with a first structure of the electronic device, and a second resonant frequency caused by a pulse signal interacting with a second structure of the electronic device.

[0194] According to another embodiment, the transmitting coil is a first transmitting coil, and the method includes periodically exciting a second transmitting coil with a signal, detecting the response to the signal, and determining the position and orientation of the electronic device based on the response to the signal with a phase shift.

[0195] According to another embodiment, the method includes detecting capacitance changes in two or more of a set of capacitance sensing elements and determining the position and orientation of an electronic device based on the capacitance changes.

[0196] According to another embodiment, the method includes detecting pressure changes in two or more of a set of pressure sensors and determining the position and orientation of an electronic device based on the pressure changes.

[0197] According to one embodiment, a wireless charging pad is provided, the wireless charging pad including a housing having a charging surface, a set of transmitting coils in the housing configured to wirelessly transmit power to an electronic device on the charging surface, and a detection system configured to detect a first position of a first non-charging structural feature of the electronic device relative to the charging surface, detect a second position of a second non-charging structural feature of the electronic device relative to the charging surface, and determine the position and orientation of a receiving coil in the electronic device relative to the charging surface based on the detected first position and the detected second position.

[0198] According to another embodiment, the position and orientation are determined based on the first position of the first non-charging structural feature adjacent to the receiving coil and the second position of the second non-charging structural feature adjacent to the receiving coil.

[0199] According to another embodiment, the wireless charging pad includes control circuitry operatively coupled to a detection system and configured to activate a subgroup of the set of transmitting coils based on position and orientation.

[0200] According to another embodiment, the detection system includes at least one of the set of transmitting coils and sensing elements, and at least one of the set of transmitting coils transmits a signal, and the sensing element detects the response to the signal.

[0201] According to another embodiment, the sensing element is a first sensing element configured to detect a first resonant response of a first non-chargeable structural feature to a signal at a first frequency, and the detection system includes a second sensing element configured to detect a second resonant response of a second non-chargeable structural feature to a signal at a second frequency.

[0202] According to another embodiment, the first non-charging structural feature and the second non-charging structural feature are positioned adjacent to the receiving coil.

[0203] According to another embodiment, the detection system includes a set of capacitive electrodes disposed above or below the charging surface.

[0204] According to another embodiment, the set of capacitive electrodes is configured to detect different capacitive responses of the first non-chargeable structural feature and determine orientation based on the first position.

[0205] According to one embodiment, a method is provided for transmitting power to a receiving coil of an electronic device on a wireless charging pad. The method includes detecting the position of a non-charging structural feature of an electronic device adjacent to the receiving coil on the wireless charging pad, determining the position and orientation of the receiving coil relative to a charging surface based on the detected position, selecting a transmitting coil based on the determined position and orientation, and inducing a current in the receiving coil by the transmitting coil.

[0206] According to another embodiment, the transmitting coil is a first transmitting coil, and the method includes periodically exciting a second transmitting coil with a pulse signal, detecting the response to the pulse signal caused by a non-charged structural feature, and

[0207] The position and orientation of the receiving coil are determined based on the response to the pulse signal.

[0208] According to another embodiment, the non-charging structural feature is a first non-charging structural feature, and the response includes a first resonant frequency caused by a pulse signal interacting with the first non-charging structural feature of the electronic device, and a second resonant frequency caused by a pulse signal interacting with the second non-charging structural feature of the electronic device.

[0209] According to another embodiment, the transmitting coil is a first transmitting coil, and the method includes periodically exciting a second transmitting coil with a signal, detecting the response to the signal, and detecting the position and orientation of the electronic device based on the response to the signal with a phase shift.

[0210] According to another embodiment, non-charged structural features are detected by the capacitance change of a capacitance sensing element.

[0211] For illustrative purposes, the foregoing description uses specific names to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details are not required to practice the described embodiments. Therefore, the foregoing description of specific embodiments described herein is presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above.

[0212] For example, although the positions and orientations of wireless charging pads, electronic devices, and components of wireless charging pads and / or electronic devices are generally referenced herein relative to a locally defined Cartesian coordinate system (with the origin at the lower left corner of the given figure), those skilled in the art will understand that such a coordinate system is not necessary for any particular embodiment, and other coordinate systems or combinations of multiple coordinate systems may be used with reference to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, while some components or devices are described as having relative positions (e.g., above, below, left, right, etc.), it should be understood that these relative positions are merely exemplary, and other relative positions will also be within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission device configured to transmit wireless power to an electronic device having a first resonant structure and a second resonant structure, the wireless power transmission device comprising: The surface is configured to receive the electronic device; The detection system is configured to detect the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure in the electronic device and to detect external objects on the surface; and The circuit is configured to transmit wireless power to charge the electronic device in response to the detection system detecting the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure and the absence of an external object.

2. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure have different resonant frequencies.

3. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the detection system is further configured to: determine the type of the electronic device based on the different resonant frequencies.

4. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the detection system is further configured to: Determine the positions of the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure on the surface; and The orientation of the electronic device is determined based on the positions determined by the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure.

5. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 4, wherein the detection system is further configured to: determine the position of the electronic device based on the position determined by the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure.

6. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the first resonant structure comprises a first induction coil in the electronic device.

7. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 6, wherein the second resonant structure comprises a second induction coil in the electronic device.

8. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising: A coil for transmitting wireless power to the electronic device.

9. The wireless power transmission device of claim 8, wherein the detection system is configured to use the coil to detect the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure in the electronic device.

10. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising: A coil, wherein the detection system is configured to use the coil to detect the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure in the electronic device.

11. The wireless power transmission device of claim 10, wherein the detection system is configured to detect the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure in the electronic device by using the coil in such a way that: The coil is used to transmit signals; Detecting the first response of the first resonant structure to the signal; and The detection system is configured to detect the position of the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure using the detected first and second responses to the signal.

12. The wireless power transmission device of claim 11, wherein the signal transmitted by the coil to detect the first resonant structure and the second resonant structure comprises a pulse signal.

13. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising: A coil, wherein the detection system is configured to detect the external object in such a way that: The coil is used to transmit signals; Detect the response to the signal; and Based on the response, the external object is determined to be on the surface of the wireless power transmission device.

14. A wireless power transmission device configured to transmit wireless power to an electronic device, wherein the electronic device has an inductive power transmission coil and at least one resonant structure surrounding the inductive power transmission coil, wherein the wireless power transmission device comprises: A detection system is configured to detect the inductive power transmission coil of the electronic device and at least one resonant structure surrounding the inductive power transmission coil of the electronic device; and The circuit is configured to transmit wireless power to the electronic device via the inductive power transmission coil in response to the detection system detecting the inductive coil of the electronic device and at least one resonant structure surrounding the inductive coil of the electronic device.

15. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one resonant structure comprises an induction coil.

16. The wireless power transmission device of claim 14, wherein the detection system is further configured to: determine the type of the electronic device based on the resonant frequency of the at least one resonant structure.

17. A wireless power transmission device configured to transmit wireless power to an electronic device having an inductive power transmission coil and at least one non-charging structure surrounding the inductive power transmission coil, the wireless power transmission device comprising: The detection system is configured to detect the inductive power transmission coil and the at least one non-charging structure surrounding the inductive power transmission coil; and The circuit is configured to transmit wireless power to charge the battery in the electronic device in response to the detection system detecting the inductive power transmission coil and the at least one non-charging structure.

18. The wireless power transmission device of claim 17, wherein the detection system is further configured to: determine the type of the electronic device based on the location of the at least one non-charging structure in the electronic device.

19. The wireless power transmission device according to claim 17, wherein the at least one non-charging structure comprises at least one resonant structure.

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