Universal Wireless Charging Platform With Adaptive Multi-Device Power Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless charging solutions are device-specific, leading to inconvenience, extra costs, and waste due to the need for unique charging hardware for each type of battery-powered gadget, and they often have limited power capacity and are not flexible in accommodating different power categories.

Innovation Solution

A universal wireless charging platform that automatically configures to charge any type of battery-powered device without the need for device-specific hardware, using resonant charging and inductive coupling with metamaterial layers to improve efficiency and direct the magnetic field, allowing for simultaneous charging of multiple devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If device-specific charging hardware is used for each battery-powered gadget, then each device can be charged with its required specific voltage and power, but consumers must own multiple chargers leading to inconvenience, extra costs, and extra waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging compatibilityVSAvoidnumber of chargers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal charging platform that can charge multiple types of battery-powered devices simultaneously. The system uses a single charging pad with multiple independently controllable charging zones, each capable of providing different voltage and power levels. The controller automatically detects device type and configures appropriate charging parameters, eliminating the need for multiple device-specific chargers while maintaining reliable charging for each device type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The charging platform is divided into multiple independent charging zones, each with its own transmission coil and control circuitry. This segmentation allows each zone to be independently configured for different device types while sharing common power supply and control infrastructure. The modular design enables the system to handle diverse charging requirements without requiring separate complete charging systems for each device type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If producers supply separate charging hardware with each gadget, then each device has its own optimized charging solution, but this leads to extra manufacturing costs and waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The universal charging platform consolidates multiple charging functions into a single device, allowing producers to supply one charging solution rather than multiple device-specific chargers. The platform maintains optimized charging for each device type through automatic detection and configuration, while significantly reducing per-unit manufacturing costs by eliminating redundant components across multiple charger designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple charging functions and device-specific charging circuits into a single integrated platform. By combining multiple transmission coils, control circuits, and power management systems into one unified device, the platform achieves economies of scale in manufacturing while maintaining the ability to provide optimized charging for different device types through software-based configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of energy

If traditional wireless charging uses fixed radiation patterns, then the charging area is simple to design, but the magnetic field is not directed efficiently leading to lower charging efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging efficiencyVSAvoidcoil configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of transmission coil configurations to optimize magnetic field direction toward the charging area. The system can adjust coil activation, current distribution, and phase relationships in real-time based on device position and type. This dynamic adjustment directs magnetic flux more efficiently toward the reception coil, reducing energy loss while the controller manages the complexity of coordinating multiple coils.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters of the transmission coils including current magnitude, frequency, and phase to optimize charging efficiency. By dynamically adjusting these parameters based on detected device characteristics and position, the system directs magnetic field energy more effectively toward the target device, improving power transfer efficiency without requiring complex physical reconfiguration of the coil structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 convenient, efficient, and cost-effective wireless charging of multiple devices with a single charger, reducing e-waste and eliminating the need for multiple chargers, while improving system-level efficiency and supporting various power categories.

Implementation Method 1

using resonant charging and inductive coupling with metamaterial layers to improve efficiency and direct the magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInductive coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

using resonant charging and inductive coupling with metamaterial layers to improve efficiency and direct the magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMetamaterial: Negative Index Metamaterials

Implementation Method 3

using resonant charging and inductive coupling with metamaterial layers to improve efficiency and direct the magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonant charging: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP4369553A1Universal wireless charging platform and improved power transfer for wirelessly charging battery-powered devices
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 INTEL CORP
  • EP4369553A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4369553A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4369553A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein are automatically-configuring, universal wireless charging systems, devices, and methods for the efficient wireless transfer of power from a charging platform (310) to a battery of an electronic device (340). The charging system determines whether a proximity status indicates an electronic device is within a predefined charging distance from the charging platform. If so, the charging system automatically determines a charging power profile for a transmission coil for wirelessly charging the device, where the charging power profile is determined based on a wireless handshake protocol between the charging platform and the device to be charged. The charging system also generates a configuration message to control the transmission coil according to the charging power profile.