Wireless Power Transmission

Abstract

A battery 100 is provided having a first electronic circuit 102 configured to operate in a transmission mode to wirelessly transmit power to a device and to operate in a receiving mode to wirelessly receive power from the device, and configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 to compensate for a voltage drop between the battery 100 and the device during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the device when the battery 100 is operating in the transmission mode and the wireless reception of power from the device when the battery 100 is operating in the receiving mode.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to batteries, devices and methods of operating the same for wireless power transfer. [Background technology]

[0002] In many systems, a battery is used to power a device when there is no mains power available to power the device. Batteries have contacts, and these contacts can be contaminated. In some applications, contamination of the contacts can cause problems. This has been addressed in existing systems by completely sealing the battery. However, if the battery is completely sealed, there are no contacts. To address this, there are some existing systems where the power connection between the battery and the device to be powered is wireless. Thus, in these existing systems, the battery can wirelessly transmit power to the device. Wireless power transmission is used in many systems. For example, a smartphone can be charged by wireless power transmission.

[0003] However, wireless power transmission suffers from downsides related to power loss and voltage drop. Power loss can be compensated to some extent by charging the battery with an external power source, either wired or wireless, as described in US Pat. No. 6,399,433. However, it is currently not possible to compensate for voltage drop, which can have a negative impact on the efficiency of wireless power transmission and even on the operation of the device being charged using wireless power transmission. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0133862 Summary of the Invention

[0005] As mentioned above, a limitation of existing systems in which wireless power transfer is used is that they also suffer from inefficient wireless power transfer between the battery and the device, and inefficient operation of the device due to the voltage drop associated with wireless power transfer. Therefore, it would be valuable to have improvements to address the existing problems.

[0006] Thus, according to a first aspect, there is provided a battery having a first electronic circuit configured to operate in a transfer mode to wirelessly transfer power to a device and to operate in a receive mode to wirelessly receive power from the device, and configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit to compensate for a voltage drop between the battery and the device during any one or more of the wireless transfer of power to the device when the battery is operating in the transfer mode and the wireless reception of power from the device when the battery is operating in the receive mode.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first electronic circuit may be configured to operate in a transfer mode to wirelessly transfer power to a device at or approximately a frequency at which a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit is independent of a load of the first electronic circuit, the load of the first electronic circuit including the device.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first electronic circuit may be configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit using a transformation ratio during wireless transmission of power to the device when the battery is operating in a transmission mode.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first electronic circuit may have a full bridge converter configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit by being configured to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the device so as to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit during wireless transmission of power to the device when the battery is operating in a transmit mode.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first electronic circuit may have a voltage multiplier configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit during wireless receipt of power from the device when the battery is operating in a power receiving mode. In some embodiments, the voltage multiplier may include a portion of a full bridge converter operating as a voltage multiplier.

[0011] According to a second aspect, a device is provided having a second electronic circuit configured to operate in a transmit mode to wirelessly transmit power to a battery and to operate in a receive mode to wirelessly receive power from the battery. The second electronic circuit is also configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit to compensate for a voltage drop between the device and the battery during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the battery when the device is operating in the transmit mode and the wireless reception of power from the battery when the device is operating in the receive mode.

[0012] In some embodiments, the second electronic circuit may be configured to operate in a transmission mode to wirelessly transfer power to the battery at or approximately a frequency at which the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit is independent of a load of the second electronic circuit, the load of the second electronic circuit including the battery.

[0013] In some embodiments, the second electronic circuit may be configured to use the transformation ratio to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit during wireless transmission of power to the battery when the device is operating in a transmission mode.

[0014] In some embodiments, the second electronic circuit may have a full-bridge converter configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit when the device is operating in a transmit mode by being configured to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the battery to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit during the wireless transmission of power to the battery.

[0015] In some embodiments, the second electronic circuit may have a full-bridge rectifier configured to rectify the wireless reception of power from the battery to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit during wireless reception of power from the battery when the device is operating in a power receiving mode, thereby adapting a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit. In some embodiments, the full-bridge rectifier may include a portion of a full-bridge converter operating as a full-bridge rectifier.

[0016] In some embodiments, the second electronic circuit may have a voltage multiplier configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit during wireless reception of power from the battery when the device is operating in a powered mode.

[0017] According to a third aspect, there is provided a system comprising a battery as described above and a device as described above.

[0018] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a method of operating a battery having a first electronic circuit configured to operate in a transmit mode to wirelessly transmit power to a device and in a receive mode to wirelessly receive power from the device, the method comprising adapting a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit to compensate for a voltage drop between the battery and the device during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the device when the battery is operating in the transmit mode and the wireless reception of power from the device when the battery is operating in the receive mode.

[0019] According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a method of operating a device including a second electronic circuit configured to operate to wirelessly transmit power to a battery in a transmit mode and to wirelessly receive power from the battery in a receive mode, the method comprising adapting a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit to compensate for a voltage drop between the device and the battery during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the battery when the device is operating in the transmit mode and the wireless reception of power from the battery when the device is operating in the receive mode.

[0020] According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a computer program product including a computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein which, when executed by a suitable computer or processor, causes the computer or processor to perform the method set out above.

[0021] The above aspects and embodiments address the limitations of existing systems. In particular, the above aspects and embodiments allow the voltage drop between the battery and the device to be compensated for by adapting the voltage gain of the circuitry of the battery and the device. Because the voltage drop is compensated for by the adaption, the system can become load independent. Furthermore, the adaption can be done in both directions so that the voltage drop associated with the power transfer can be compensated for, regardless of whether the power transfer is from the battery to the device or from the device to the battery. In this way, power can be efficiently transferred wirelessly in either direction, and thus both the battery and the device can operate effectively. Also, no additional components are required to achieve this efficient power transfer.

[0022] Thus, there are provided improved batteries, devices, systems, methods and computer program products for wireless power transmission, which aim to overcome existing problems. These and other aspects will be apparent from and elucidated with respect to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] Exemplary embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a battery according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system according to another embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system according to another embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system according to another embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] As mentioned above, improved batteries, devices, systems, methods and computer programs for wireless power transmission are provided herein. The devices described herein may be any type of device. For example, the devices described herein may be an electrical product (such as a home appliance), a mobile device (such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other mobile device), or any other type of device.

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a battery 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery 100 has a first electronic circuit 102. Briefly, the first electronic circuit 102 is configured to operate in a transmission mode 302 to wirelessly transmit power to the device 200 and to operate in a receiving mode 304 to wirelessly receive power from the device 200. Thus, the wireless power transmission can operate in both directions. That is, the wireless power transmission is bidirectional. In this manner, the wireless power transmission can operate from the battery 100 to the device 200 (e.g., to supply power from the battery 100 to the device 200) and from the device 200 to the battery 100 (e.g., to charge the battery 100 from the device 200). The first electronic circuit 102 is also configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 to compensate for a voltage drop between the battery 100 and the device 200 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the transmit mode 302 and the wireless reception of power from the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the receive mode 304. Thus, when the battery 100 is operating in the transmit mode 302, the receive mode 304, or both the transmit mode 302 and the receive mode 304, the voltage drop between the battery 100 and the device 200 can be compensated for.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a device 200 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the device 200 has a second electronic circuit 202. Briefly, the second electronic circuit 202 is configured to operate in a transmission mode 304 to wirelessly transmit power to the battery 100 and to operate in a receiving mode 302 to wirelessly receive power from the battery 100. Thus, the wireless power transmission can operate in both directions. That is, the wireless power transmission is bidirectional. In this manner, the wireless power transmission can operate from the battery 100 to the device 200 (e.g., to supply power from the battery 100 to the device 200 or to discharge the battery 100) and from the device 200 to the battery 100 (e.g., to charge the battery 100 from the device 200). Also, the second electronic circuit 202 is configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 to compensate for a voltage drop between the device 200 and the battery 100 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the transmit mode 304 and the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the receive mode 302. Thus, when the device 200 is operating in the receive mode 302, the transmit mode 304, or both the receive mode 302 and the transmit mode 304, the voltage drop between the device 200 and the battery 100 can be compensated for.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 according to an embodiment. The system 300 includes the battery 100 described above with reference to FIG. 1 and the device described above with reference to FIG. 2. The battery 100 and the device 200 can be wirelessly connected to each other. For example, in some embodiments, the battery 100 is wirelessly detachable from the device 200. The battery 100 and the device 200 can be wirelessly connected to each other via a wireless power link. In some embodiments, the wireless power link can be an inductive link through which power is wirelessly transmitted.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the first electronic circuit 102 of the battery 100 is configured to operate in a transmission mode to wirelessly transmit power to the device 200, while the second electronic circuit 202 is configured to operate in a receiving mode to wirelessly receive power from the battery 100 (indicated by arrow 302 in Fig. 3). Also as shown in Fig. 3, the second electronic circuit 202 is further configured to operate in a transmission mode to wirelessly transmit power to the battery 100, while the battery 100 is configured to operate in a receiving mode to wirelessly receive power from the device 200 (indicated by arrow 304 in Fig. 3). Thus, the wireless power transmission can operate in both directions 302, 304. That is, the wireless power transmission is bidirectional. In this manner, wireless power transfer can operate from the battery 100 to the device 200 (e.g., to supply power from the battery 100 to the device 200) and from the device 200 to the battery 100 (e.g., to charge the battery 100 from the device 200).

[0030] As mentioned above, the first electronic circuit 102 is configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 to compensate for a voltage drop between the battery 100 and the device 200 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the transmit mode 302 and the wireless reception of power from the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the receive mode 304. Similarly, the second electronic circuit 202 is further configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 to compensate for a voltage drop between the device 200 and the battery 100 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the transmit mode 304 and the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the receive mode 302.

[0031] Thus, the voltage drop between the battery 100 and the device 200 can be compensated for in the receiving mode, the transmitting mode, or both the receiving mode and the transmitting mode. In effect, the wireless connection between the battery 100 and the device 200 can act as a galvanic or physical connection with minimal or no voltage drop.

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates a system 400 according to another embodiment. The system 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes the battery 100 described above with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 according to an embodiment. The system 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 also includes the device described above with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 according to an embodiment. The battery 100 and the device 200 can be wirelessly connected to each other. For example, in some embodiments, the battery 100 can be wirelessly disconnectable from the device 200. The battery 100 and the device 200 can be wirelessly connected to each other via a wireless power link. In some embodiments, the wireless power link can be an inductive link through which power is wirelessly transmitted. It will be understood that the battery 100 includes the first electronic circuit 102 described above, the first electronic circuit 102 being configured in the manner described above with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. It will also be understood that the device 200 includes the second electronic circuit 202 described above, the second electronic circuit 202 being configured in the manner described above with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the first electronic circuit 102 of the battery 100 can include a full bridge converter 104. As mentioned above, the first electronic circuit 102 is configured to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 to compensate for the voltage drop between the battery 100 and the device 200 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in a transmission mode and the wireless reception of power from the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in a receiving mode. FIG. 4 illustrates the wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in a transmission mode (indicated by the arrow 402). Thus, in effect, the battery 100 is supplying power to the device 200 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. In the embodiment of the battery 100 shown in FIG. 4, the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 is configured to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102. More specifically, the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be configured to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 by being configured to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the device 200 to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 during the wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the transmission mode 402.

[0034] In some embodiments, the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can include one or more switches S1, S2, S3, S4. In some embodiments, the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be configured to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the device 200 to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 during the wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the transmission mode 402, using one or more switches S1, S2, S3, S4 to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 during the wireless transmission of power to the device 200. Those skilled in the art will understand the general operation of a full bridge converter as shown in FIG. 4 and how the full bridge converter 104 can be used to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the device 200.

[0035] In some embodiments as shown in Figure 4, the first electronic circuit 102 may be configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 by phase shift modulation during wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the transmission mode 402. In some embodiments as shown in Figure 4, the first electronic circuit 102 may be configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 using a transformation (or transformer) ratio during wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the transmission mode 402. The transformation ratio may act, for example, as a gain of the voltage amplitude.

[0036] The transformation ratio of the voltage at the battery 100 to the voltage at the device 200 may be, for example, 1 to 1.4 (i.e., 1:1.4) during wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the transmission mode 402. This results in a transformation ratio of the voltage at the device 200 to the voltage at the battery 100 being 1 to 0.7 (i.e., 1:0.7) in the opposite direction, i.e., during wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the transmission mode. To compensate for this, a voltage multiplier may be used in the opposite direction, as will be described in more detail later. The voltage multiplier may be used, for example, such that the transformation ratio of the voltage at the device 200 to the voltage at the battery 100 in the opposite direction is 1 to 1.4 (i.e., 1:(0.7*2)=1:1.4). In this way, the voltage drop associated with wireless power transmission may be compensated for by the transformation ratio.

[0037] Thus, in some embodiments, a transformation ratio may be used to adapt the voltage gain in one direction in the system 400, and a voltage multiplier may be used to adapt the voltage gain in the other direction in the system 400. In some embodiments, a transformation ratio may be used to increase the voltage gain in one direction in the system 400. This reduces the voltage gain in the other direction in the system 400, and therefore a voltage multiplier may be used to increase the voltage gain in the other direction in the system 400 (to compensate for the down transformation), e.g., by using a voltage multiplication function. For example, a 1 to 1.4 (i.e., 1:1.4) transformation ratio may be used to adapt the voltage gain in one direction in the system 400, and a voltage multiplier may be used to generate a 1 to 1.4 (i.e., 1:(0.7*2)=1:1.4) voltage gain in the other direction in the system 400. Additionally, in some embodiments, phase shift modulation can be used to control the voltage gain one-to-one (i.e., 1:1) within system 400, or more specifically, over a wireless power link within system 400.

[0038] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the battery 100 may have a first inductor L1, and the device 200 may have a second inductor L2. The first inductor L1 of the battery 100 and the second inductor L2 of the device 200 may be configured to wirelessly couple the battery 100 and the device 200. In some embodiments, the battery 100 may have a first capacitor C1. The first capacitor C1 may be configured to generate a series resonance with the first inductor L1. In this manner, the first capacitor C1 and the first inductor L1 may form a first resonant circuit according to some embodiments. Thus, in some embodiments, the battery 100 may include a first resonant circuit. In such an embodiment, the first resonant circuit may be connected to the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 (e.g., to one or more switches S1, S2, S3, S4 of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 according to some embodiments). The full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be configured to drive a first resonant circuit of the battery 100 .

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the second electronic circuit 202 of the device 200 can include a full-bridge rectifier 204. As previously described, the second electronic circuit 202 is configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 to compensate for a voltage drop between the device 200 and the battery 100 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a transmit mode and the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a receive mode. FIG. 4 illustrates the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a receive mode (indicated by arrow 402). In the embodiment of the device 200 shown in FIG. 4, the full-bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 can be configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 during the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a receive mode 402. More specifically, the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may be configured to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 by being configured to rectify the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 during wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the power receiving mode 402. Those skilled in the art will understand the general operation of a full bridge rectifier as shown in FIG. 4 and how the full bridge rectifier 204 may be used to rectify the wireless reception of power from the battery 100.

[0040] In some embodiments, the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may include one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4. For example, in some embodiments, the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may include one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 of at least one metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). In some embodiments, the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may be configured to rectify the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 using one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 during the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the power receiving mode 402. In embodiments in which one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 are of at least one MOSFET, the at least one MOSFET may be turned off when the one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 are used to rectify wireless reception of power from the battery 100.

[0041] In some embodiments, the second electronic circuit 202 of the device 200 may include a full bridge converter. The full bridge converter of the device 200 may take the same form as the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 according to some embodiments, and it is therefore understood that the corresponding description of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 also applies to the full bridge converter of the device 200 according to these embodiments. In embodiments in which the device 200 includes a full bridge converter, the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may include a portion of the full bridge converter of the device 200 operating as the full bridge rectifier 204. Thus, in some embodiments, the full bridge converter of the device 200 may include one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 described above.

[0042] In some embodiments, the full bridge converter of the device 200 may be configured to switch to operate as the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200. For example, in some embodiments, the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may be realized by operating the full bridge converter of the device 200 in a particular position. For example, in some embodiments, when using the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200, the legs of the full bridge converter of the device 200 may be set to the same state. Any leg (e.g., left leg or right leg) of the full bridge converter of the device 200 may be set to the same state. For example, any body diode D1, D2, D3, D4 of the full bridge converter of the device 200 may be turned on. The leg not used for the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may be used as the full bridge converter of the device 200. Thus, the body diodes D1, D2, D3, and D4 used in the full bridge converter of device 200 can be reused in the full bridge rectifier 204 of device 200 to provide the additional function of voltage drop compensation, and no additional components are required in system 400.

[0043] Although not shown in FIG. 4, according to some embodiments, the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may include one or more Schottky diodes. In embodiments in which the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 also includes one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4, the one or more Schottky diodes may be in parallel with the one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4. In some embodiments, the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may be configured to rectify the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 using one or more Schottky diodes to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 during wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the power receiving mode 402. In this manner, power loss may be minimized.

[0044] In some embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 4, the device 200 may include a second capacitor C2. The second capacitor C2 may be configured to generate a series resonance with the second inductor L2. In this manner, the second capacitor C2 and the second inductor L2 may form a second resonant circuit according to some embodiments. Thus, in some embodiments, the device 200 may include a second resonant circuit. In these embodiments, the second resonant circuit may be connected to the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200, for example, to one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 of the full bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 according to some embodiments.

[0045] In some embodiments, synchronous rectification may be used by controlling one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 of the full bridge converter of the device 200. For example, in an embodiment in which one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 of the full bridge converter of the device 200 are of at least one MOSFET, synchronous rectification may be when at least one MOSFET is turned on while one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 of the full bridge converter of the device 200 (or one or more Schottky diodes of the full bridge converter of the device 200) are conducting. Synchronous rectification may improve the efficiency of the system 400.

[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates a system 400 according to another embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the first electronic circuit 102 of the battery 100 includes a voltage multiplier (or a voltage multiplier circuit) 106. In some embodiments, the voltage multiplier 106 may include a voltage multiplier configured to double the voltage. Thus, in some embodiments, the voltage multiplier 106 may be a voltage multiplier (or a voltage multiplier circuit). As previously described, the first electronic circuit 102 is configured to adapt a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 to compensate for a voltage drop between the battery 100 and the device 200 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a transmission mode and the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a receiving mode. FIG. 5 illustrates the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a transmission mode (indicated by arrow 404). Thus, FIG. 5 shows the wireless transfer of power in the opposite direction to that of FIG.

[0047] In the embodiment of the battery 100 shown in FIG. 5, the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 can be configured to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 during wireless reception of power from the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the receiving mode 404. More specifically, the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 can be configured to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 by being configured to multiply the wireless reception of power from the device 200 such that the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 is adapted during wireless reception of power from the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the receiving mode 404. In this manner, the voltage drop associated with the wireless power transmission can be compensated for by the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100.

[0048] In some embodiments, the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 may include one or more body diodes D6, D7. For example, in some embodiments, the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 may include one or more body diodes D6, D7 of at least one metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). In embodiments in which the one or more body diodes D6, D7 are of at least one MOSFET, the at least one MOSFET may be turned off when the one or more body diodes D6, D7 are used to multiply the wireless reception of power from the device 200.

[0049] As previously mentioned, in some embodiments, the battery 100 may include a full bridge converter 104. In these embodiments, the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 may include a portion of the full bridge converter 104 operating as the voltage multiplier 106. Thus, in some embodiments, the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 may include one or more body diodes D6, D7 as previously described. In some embodiments, the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 may be configured to switch to operate as the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100. For example, in some embodiments, the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 may be realized by operating the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 in a particular position.

[0050] For example, in some embodiments, when using the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100, one leg of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be turned off. For example, in an embodiment where the body diodes D6, D7 are at least one MOSFET, the MOSFET of one leg of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be turned off. The other leg of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be set to the same state. That is, the other leg of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be static. In an embodiment where the body diodes D6, D7 are at least one MOSFET, for example, the other leg of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be static, where one MOSFET is turned on and the other MOSFET is turned off, and the MOSFET does not switch during operation. Any leg (e.g., left leg or right leg) of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be set to the same state. The legs not used in the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 can be used as the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100. Thus, no additional components are required in the system 400 since the body diodes D6, D7 used in the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be reused in the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 to provide the additional function of voltage drop compensation.

[0051] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the battery 100 may include a first inductor L1, and the device 200 may include a second inductor L2. The first inductor L1 of the battery 100 and the second inductor L2 of the device 200 may be configured to wirelessly couple the battery 100 and the device 200. In some embodiments, the battery 100 may include a first capacitor C1. The first capacitor C1 may be configured to generate a series resonance with the first inductor L1. In this manner, the first capacitor C1 and the first inductor L1 may form a first resonant circuit according to some embodiments. Thus, in some embodiments, the battery 100 may include a first resonant circuit. In such an embodiment, the first resonant circuit may be connected to the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100, for example, to one or more body diodes D6, D7 of the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 according to some embodiments.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the second electronic circuit 202 of the device 200 may include a full-bridge converter 206. As previously described, the second electronic circuit 202 is configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 to compensate for a voltage drop between the device 200 and the battery 100 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a transmission mode and the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a receiving mode. FIG. 5 illustrates the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a transmission mode (indicated by the arrow 404). Thus, in effect, the device 200 is charging the battery 100 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. In the embodiment of the device 200 shown in FIG. 5, the full-bridge converter 206 of the device 200 is configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202. More specifically, the full bridge converter 206 of the device 200 can be configured to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 by being configured to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 during the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the transmission mode 404.

[0053] In some embodiments, the full bridge converter 206 of the device 200 can include one or more switches S5, S6, S7, S8. In some embodiments, the full bridge converter 206 of the device 200 can be configured to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the transmission mode 404, using one or more switches S5, S6, S7, S8 to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 during the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100. Those skilled in the art will understand the general operation of a full bridge converter as shown in FIG. 5 and how the full bridge converter 206 can be used to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100. In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 5, the second electronic circuit 202 may be configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 by phase shift modulation during wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the transmission mode 404. For example, the second electronic circuit 202 may be configured to control the voltage of the second electronic circuit 202 by phase shift modulation (e.g., in the full bridge converter 206 of the device 200) to maintain a one-to-one voltage transmission from one end of the system to the other end of the system. In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 5, the second electronic circuit 202 may be configured to adapt a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 by using a transformation (or transformer) ratio during wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the transmission mode 404. The transformation ratio may act as a gain of a voltage amplitude, for example.

[0054] As previously mentioned with reference to Fig. 4, the transformation ratio of the voltage at the battery 100 to the voltage at the device 200 is, for example, 1 to 1.4 (i.e., 1:1.4) during wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in a transmission mode 402 as shown in Fig. 4, but this results in a transformation ratio of the voltage at the device 200 to the voltage at the battery 100 in the opposite direction, i.e., 1 to 0.7 (i.e., 1:0.7) during wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a transmission mode 404 as shown in Fig. 5. To compensate for this, the first electronic circuit 102 of the battery 100 includes the aforementioned voltage multiplier 106. The voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 can be used, for example, such that when the device 200 is operating in the transmission mode 404, the transformation ratio of the voltage of the device 200 to the voltage of the battery 100 during wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 is 1 to 1.4 (i.e., 1:(0.7*2)=1:1.4).

[0055] Thus, in some embodiments, a transformation ratio may be used to adapt the voltage gain in one direction in the system 400, and a voltage multiplier may be used to adapt the voltage gain in the other direction in the system 400. In some embodiments, a transformation ratio may be used to increase the voltage gain in one direction in the system 400. This reduces the voltage gain in the other direction in the system 400, and therefore a voltage multiplier may be used to increase the voltage gain in the other direction in the system 400 (to compensate for the down transformation), for example, by using a voltage multiplication function. For example, a 1 to 1.4 (i.e., 1:1.4) transformation ratio may be used to adapt the voltage gain in one direction in the system 400, and a voltage multiplier may be used to generate a 1 to 1.4 (i.e., 1:(0.7*2)=1:1.4) voltage gain in the other direction in the system 400. Additionally, in some embodiments, phase shift modulation can be used to control the voltage gain to be one to one (i.e., 1:1) within system 400, or more specifically, across a wireless power link within system 400.

[0056] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the control option may be used to control the output voltage at the battery 100. For example, the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 may control the output voltage at the battery 100 according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, when the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 is turned on and off with a fixed duty cycle, the output voltage at the battery 100 may be controlled on the output according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the device 200 may include a second capacitor C2. The second capacitor C2 may be configured to generate a series resonance with the second inductor L2. In this manner, the second capacitor C2 and the second inductor L2 may form a second resonant circuit according to some embodiments. Thus, in some embodiments, the device 200 may include a second resonant circuit. In these embodiments, the second resonant circuit may be connected to the full bridge converter 206 of the device 200, for example, according to some embodiments, to one or more switches S5, S6, S7, S8 of the full bridge converter 206 of the device 200. The full bridge converter 206 of the device 200 may be configured to drive the second resonant circuit of the device 200.

[0057] FIG. 6 illustrates a system 600 according to another embodiment. The system 600 illustrated in FIG. 6 is as described above with reference to FIG. 4. However, FIG. 6 illustrates a second electronic circuit 202 of the device 200 including the full-bridge rectifier 204 in its entirety. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, the full-bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200 may include one or more switches S5, S6, S7, S8 according to some embodiments. The one or more switches S5, S6, S7, S8 include one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 described above with reference to FIG. 4. Thus, it is understood that the description accompanying FIG. 4 also applies to FIG. 6. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, when using the full-bridge rectifier 204 of the device 200, one or more switches S5, S6, S7, S8 may be turned off. In embodiments in which one or more switches S5, S6, S7, S8 include one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 of at least one MOSFET, the at least one MOSFET may be turned off when the one or more body diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 are used to rectify the wireless reception of power from the battery 100, as described above with reference to FIG.

[0058] FIG. 7 illustrates a system 600 according to another embodiment. The system 600 illustrated in FIG. 7 is described above with reference to FIG. 5. However, FIG. 7 illustrates the first electronic circuit 102 of the battery 100 including the voltage multiplier 106 in its entirety. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7, the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 may include one or more switches S1, S2, S3, S4 according to some embodiments. The one or more switches may include one or more body diodes D6, D7 as described above with reference to FIG. 5. Thus, it is understood that the description accompanying FIG. 5 also applies to FIG. 7. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7, as described above with reference to FIG. 5, when using the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100, one leg of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 may be turned off. For example, the switches S1, S2 of one leg of the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 may be turned off. For example, in an embodiment in which the body diodes of the switches S1, S2 are of at least one MOSFET, the MOSFET of one leg of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 may be turned off.

[0059] The other legs of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be set to the same state. That is, the other legs of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be static. In an embodiment where the body diodes of the switches S3, S4 are of at least one MOSFET, for example, the other legs of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be static, where one MOSFET is on and the other MOSFET is off, and the MOSFETs do not switch during operation. Any leg (e.g., left leg or right leg) of the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be set to the same state. The leg not used for the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 can be used as the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100. Thus, the body diodes of the switches S1, S2, S3, S4 used for the full bridge converter 104 of the battery 100 can be reused for the voltage multiplier 106 of the battery 100 to provide the additional function of voltage drop compensation, so that no additional components are required for the system 400.

[0060] Although not shown in the figures, in some embodiments, the second electronic circuit 202 may include a voltage multiplier configured to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 during wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in a power receiving mode. For example, the second electronic circuit 202 of FIG. 4 may include such a voltage multiplier in place of the full bridge rectifier 204 according to some embodiments. Similarly, for example, the second electronic circuit 202 of FIG. 6 may include such a voltage multiplier in place of the full bridge rectifier 204 according to some embodiments. In embodiments in which the second electronic circuit 202 includes such a voltage multiplier, the voltage multiplier of the second electronic circuit 202 may operate and / or be configured in the same manner as described above with respect to the voltage multiplier of the first electronic circuit 102. In some embodiments, the voltage multiplier of the second electronic circuit 202 may include a voltage multiplier configured to double the voltage. Thus, in some embodiments, the voltage multiplier of the second electronic circuit 202 may be a voltage multiplier (or a voltage multiplier circuit).

[0061] In any of the embodiments described herein, the first electronic circuit 102 of the battery 100 can be configured to operate in a transmission mode 302, 402, 602 to wirelessly transmit power to the device 200 at (or approximately) a frequency at which the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 is independent of the load of the first electronic circuit 102. The load of the first electronic circuit 102 includes the device 200. The point at which the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 is independent of the load of the first electronic circuit 102 can be referred to as a load-independent point. That is, according to some embodiments, wireless power can be transmitted to the device 200 at a frequency at (or near) the load-independent point. The load-independent point can include a frequency at a second resonant peak of the transfer function of the system 300, 400, 600. The amplitude of this second resonant peak is less dependent on the load of the system 300 , 400 , 600 than the first resonant peak of the transfer function of the system 300 , 400 , 600 .

[0062] Similarly, in any of the embodiments described herein, the second electronic circuit 202 of the device 200 can be configured to operate in a transmission mode 304, 404, 604 to wirelessly transmit power to the battery 100 at (or approximately at) a frequency at which the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 is independent of the load of the second electronic circuit 202. The load of the second electronic circuit 202 includes the battery 100. The point at which the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 is independent of the load of the second electronic circuit 202 can be referred to as a load-independent point. That is, wireless power can be transmitted to the battery 100 at a frequency at or near (or close to) the load-independent point, according to some embodiments. As previously mentioned, the load-independent point can include a frequency at a second resonant peak of the transfer function of the system 300, 400, 600. The amplitude of this second resonant peak is less dependent on the load of the system 300 , 400 , 600 than the first resonant peak of the transfer function of the system 300 , 400 , 600 .

[0063] In any of the embodiments described herein, the voltage obtained by the transformer ratio in the direction from the battery 100 to the device 200 may be more efficient than the voltage obtained by a voltage multiplier. Thus, when using a transformer ratio in the direction from the battery 100 to the device 200, the most efficient direction is used when operating on the battery 100. This means less power loss and therefore longer battery time.

[0064] Also provided is a method of operating the battery 100 described herein, the battery including a first electronic circuit 102 configured to operate in a transmission mode 302, 402, 602 for wirelessly transmitting power to the device 200 and a receiving mode 304, 404, 604 for wirelessly receiving power from the device 200. The method includes adapting a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit 102 to compensate for a voltage drop between the battery 100 and the device 200 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the transmission mode 302, 402, 602 and the wireless reception of power from the device 200 when the battery 100 is operating in the receiving mode 304, 404, 604. It will also be understood that the method may include any other steps, and any combination of steps, corresponding to the operation of the battery 100 described above with reference to Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

[0065] Also provided is a method of operating the device 200 described herein, the device including a second electronic circuit 202 configured to operate in a transmission mode 304, 404, 604 for wirelessly transmitting power to the battery 100 and a receiving mode 302, 402, 602 for wirelessly receiving power from the battery 100. The method includes adapting a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit 202 to compensate for a voltage drop between the device 200 and the battery 100 during any one or more of the wireless transmission of power to the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the transmission mode 304, 404, 604 and the wireless reception of power from the battery 100 when the device 200 is operating in the receiving mode 302, 402, 602. It will be understood that the method may include any other steps, and any combination of steps, corresponding to the operation of the device 200 described above with reference to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

[0066] In addition to the battery 100, device 200, system 300, 400, 600, and method described above, a computer program product including a computer readable medium is also provided. The computer readable medium has computer readable code embodied therein. The computer readable code, when executed by a suitable computer or processor, is configured to cause the computer or processor to perform any of the methods described herein. The computer readable medium may be, for example, any entity or device capable of carrying a computer program product. For example, the computer readable medium may include a data storage such as a ROM (such as a CD-ROM or a semiconductor ROM) or a magnetic recording medium (such as a hard disk). Furthermore, the computer readable medium may be a transmissible carrier such as an electric or optical signal, which may be transmitted via an electric or optical cable, or by radio or other means. When the computer program product is embodied in such a signal, the computer readable medium may be constituted by such a cable or other device or means. Alternatively, the computer readable medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program product is embedded, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or used in performing any of the methods described herein.

[0067] Thus, improved batteries 100, devices 200, systems 300, 400, 600, methods and computer program products are provided herein.

[0068] Modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and implemented by those skilled in the art in implementing the principles and techniques described herein, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprises" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain means are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these means cannot be used to advantage. The computer program may be stored or distributed on any suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as over the Internet or other wired or wireless communication systems. Reference signs in the claims should not be interpreted as limiting the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A battery having a first electronic circuit, operative in a transmission mode to wirelessly transmit power to the device; operative to wirelessly receive power from the device in a power receiving mode; and during the wireless transfer of power to the device when the battery is operating in the transfer mode, the first electronic circuit operates to wirelessly transfer power to the device at or about a frequency at which a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit is independent of a load of the first electronic circuit. It is configured as follows: the first electronic circuit has a voltage multiplier configured to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit during the wireless reception of power from the device when the battery is operating in the receiving mode, and configured to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit using a transformation ratio during the wireless transmission of power to the device when the battery is operating in the transmitting mode. Battery.

2. The first electronic circuit comprises:

1. A full-bridge converter, comprising: a full bridge converter configured to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the device when the battery is operating in the transmit mode.

10. The battery of claim 1.

3. the voltage multiplier includes a portion of the full bridge converter operating as the voltage multiplier; 3. The battery of claim 2.

4. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3; A device having a second electronic circuit, operative in a transmission mode to wirelessly transmit power to the battery; In a power receiving mode, the device is operable to wirelessly receive power from the battery; and during the wireless transfer of power to the battery when the device is operating in the transmission mode, the second electronic circuit is operative to wirelessly transfer power to the battery at or about a frequency at which a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit is independent of a load of the second electronic circuit. It is configured as follows: the load of the second electronic circuit includes the battery; A device; The system has:

5. the second electronic circuit is configured to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit using a transformation ratio during the wireless transmission of power to the battery when the device is operating in the transmission mode. The system of claim 4.

6. The second electronic circuit includes:

1. A full-bridge converter, comprising: a full bridge converter configured to modulate the wireless transmission of power to the battery when the device is operating in the transmit mode.

6. A system according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The second electronic circuit includes: A full bridge rectifier comprising: a full-bridge rectifier configured to rectify the wireless reception of power from the battery when the device is operating in the power receiving mode; A system according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

8. the full-bridge rectifier includes a portion of the full-bridge converter operating as the full-bridge rectifier; A system according to claim 7 dependent on claim 6.

9. the second electronic circuit having a voltage multiplier configured to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit during the wireless reception of power from the battery when the device is operating in the power receiving mode. A system according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

10. 1. A method of operating a system having a battery, the battery having a first electronic circuit configured to operate in a transmit mode to wirelessly transmit power to a device and in a receive mode to wirelessly receive power from the device, the method comprising: during the wireless transfer of power to the device when the battery is operating in the transfer mode, the first electronic circuit operates to wirelessly transfer power to the device at or about a frequency at which a voltage gain of the first electronic circuit is independent of a load of the first electronic circuit; the first electronic circuit has a voltage multiplier configured to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit during the wireless reception of power from the device when the battery is operating in the receiving mode, and configured to adapt the voltage gain of the first electronic circuit using a transformation ratio during the wireless transmission of power to the device when the battery is operating in the transmitting mode. method.

11. The system includes the device, the device having a second electronic circuit configured to operate in a transmission mode to wirelessly transmit power to the battery and in a reception mode to wirelessly receive power from the battery, and the method further includes: and during the wireless transfer of power to the battery when the device is operating in the transmission mode, the second electronic circuit is operative to wirelessly transfer power to the battery at or about a frequency at which a voltage gain of the second electronic circuit is independent of a load of the second electronic circuit. The method of claim 10.

12. the second electronic circuit is configured to adapt the voltage gain of the second electronic circuit using a transformation ratio during the wireless transmission of power to the battery when the device is operating in the transmission mode. The method of claim 11.

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