Universal Wireless Charging Back Cover with Switching Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless charging solutions for smartphones require different back covers for various wireless charging standards, necessitating design changes in the phone to accommodate different DC output voltages, which limits compatibility and convenience for handset OEMs.
Innovation Solution
A wireless power receiver apparatus with multiple receive antennas and a switching circuit that can selectively provide a respective voltage from one antenna, allowing compatibility with multiple wireless charging standards without modifying the phone's design, by using a converter circuit to scale input voltages based on a voltage level threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless charging standards are supported by using different back covers, then compatibility with various charging protocols is improved, but device complexity and design flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal back cover design that can support multiple wireless charging standards (Qi, AirFuel, resonant, inductive) through a single unified structure. The back cover incorporates multiple receive antennas with different configurations that can be selectively activated, allowing one back cover to perform multiple charging protocol functions without requiring separate specialized back covers for each standard.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic switching circuitry that can selectively connect different receive antennas to the power management integrated circuit based on which wireless charging protocol is detected. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt its internal connections in real-time, enabling a single static back cover design to support multiple charging standards through dynamic antenna selection rather than requiring multiple fixed designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different DC output voltages are accommodated by modifying phone design, then power conversion capability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) as an intermediary component that handles voltage conversion between different wireless charging standards and the device's internal power requirements. The PMIC acts as a mediator that receives various DC output voltages from different charging protocols and converts them to the appropriate voltage levels needed by the device, eliminating the need for multiple specialized power conversion circuits for each charging standard.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a converter circuit that can dynamically change its conversion parameters (voltage scaling ratios) based on the detected charging protocol. The converter circuit adjusts its operation to scale input voltages appropriately for different wireless charging standards, allowing a single circuit design to handle multiple voltage levels through parameter adjustment rather than requiring multiple fixed circuits.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single back cover design is used for all wireless charging standards, then ease of manufacture and design simplicity are improved, but compatibility with different charging protocols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless charging functionality into multiple independent receive antennas, each optimized for specific charging protocols. Within the unified back cover, there are multiple antenna circuits with different configurations (resonant, inductive, different coil geometries) that can be independently activated. This segmentation allows a single back cover to contain multiple specialized charging circuits that work together to provide broad protocol compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic switching circuitry that can selectively connect different receive antennas to the power management integrated circuit based on which wireless charging protocol is detected. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt its internal connections in real-time, enabling a single static back cover design to support multiple charging standards through dynamic antenna selection rather than requiring multiple fixed designs.
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
Enables universal compatibility with different wireless charging standards, allowing handset OEMs to use any wireless charging-based back cover without altering the phone's design, ensuring efficient and versatile charging capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a first receive antenna configured to wirelessly receive power from a first transmit antenna according to a first wireless charging protocol
Implementation Method 2
a switching circuit configured to switch between the first receive antenna and the second receive antenna based on a voltage level threshold
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for converting voltages between different voltage levels in a receiver are disclosed. In an aspect, a wireless power receiver apparatus for charging a chargeable device is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of receive antennas disposed on a cover of the chargeable device, wherein at least one of the plurality of receive antennas is configured to wirelessly receive power according to a wireless charging protocol different from at least one other of the plurality of receive antennas. The apparatus includes a switching circuit disposed on the cover and configured to receive the wireless power from at least one of the plurality of receive antennas and selectively provide a respective voltage from a corresponding one of the plurality of receive antennas across an output configured to be connected to an input of the chargeable device.