Single-Coil Wireless Power and Communication for Small Home Appliances

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In small home appliances using wireless power transfer technology, communication performance deteriorates due to magnetic field interference between coils for power reception and communication, and space constraints limit the design of these appliances.

Innovation Solution

A small home appliance employing a single coil for both power reception and communication, with a controller that utilizes a zero crossing interrupt signal to determine a communication period, allowing for effective communication without interference and reducing space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate coils are used for power reception and communication, then both functions can be performed, but magnetic field interference occurs and communication performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidmagnetic field interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the power reception coil and communication antenna into a single coil structure. The controller selectively switches the coil between power reception mode and communication mode, eliminating magnetic field interference between separate coils while maintaining both functions. This merging approach directly resolves the technical contradiction by removing the source of interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single coil is designed to serve dual purposes: receiving wireless power and enabling near field communication. By making the coil universal for both functions and using temporal separation through mode switching, the patent eliminates interference issues while maintaining reliability of communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate coils are used for power reception and communication, then both functions are independent, but the device occupies more space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional independenceVSAvoidcoil mounting space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two separate coils into one shared coil structure, reducing the total mounting area. The controller manages the single coil to perform both power reception and communication functions at different times, thereby reducing space requirements while maintaining functional versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single coil is designed as a multi-functional component that can operate in both power reception mode and communication mode. This universality allows the device to maintain both functions with reduced component count and smaller mounting space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Area of stationary object

If a single coil is used for both power reception and communication, then space is reduced, but interference may occur between the two functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoil mounting spaceVSAvoidfunctional interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller implements periodic switching between power reception mode and communication mode for the single coil. By alternating the coil's function in time domains rather than using it simultaneously for both purposes, the patent eliminates functional interference while maintaining both capabilities with a single coil structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The coil's function is made dynamic through controller-managed mode switching. The same physical coil dynamically changes its operational role between power reception and communication based on timing signals, thereby avoiding interference while reducing space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution eliminates communication performance deterioration and reduces coil mounting space, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and miniaturization of small home appliances while enabling both power reception and communication using a single coil.

Implementation Method 1

a coil for power reception and communication; a communication unit which performs wireless communication with another electronic device by using the coil; and a controller which receives wireless power from a wireless power transmission device by using the coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

receives a zero crossing interrupt signal related to the wireless power from the wireless power transmission device, and determines a communication period for communication by using the coil according to the zero crossing interrupt signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectZero crossing detection:

Data Source

PatentUS20220386806A1Small home appliance, and method for performing communication in small home appliance

Publication Date: 2022.12.08 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A small home appliance includes a coil for power reception and communication, a communication unit which performs wireless communication with a wireless power transmission device by using the coil, and a controller which receives wireless power from the wireless power transmission device by the coil, receives a zero crossing interrupt signal from the wireless power transmission device, and determines a communication period of the communication unit according to the zero crossing interrupt signal.