Non-contact charging station with power transmission planar spiral core, non-contact power-receiving apparatus, and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A non-contact charging station with a planar-spiral power transmission core, a non-contact power-receiving apparatus, and a method for controlling the same. A primary core of the non-contact charging station transmitting a power signal to a portable device using an induced magnetic field and a secondary core of the non-contact power-receiving apparatus are configured as a power transmission Printed Circuit Board (PCB) core in which a planar-spiral core structure is formed on a core base. The power transmission PCB core has a simplified shape along with improved applicability that facilitates its mounting on a non-contact charger. In addition, the receiving core has a reduced volume to reduce the entire size of the power-receiving apparatus so that it can be easily mounted onto a portable device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A non-contact charging station for generating an induced magnetic field toward a non-contact power-receiving apparatus for power charge, the non-contact charging station comprising:
 a transmission controller provided inside the non-contact charging station, for controlling power transmission and data transmission; 
 a station part including a primary core, for generating the induced magnetic field, and placing the non-contact power-receiving apparatus on top thereof, wherein the primary core is configured in a multi-layered structure and includes a single central core in an upper layer and two side cores in a lower layer, wherein the single central core and two side cores transmit first signals respectively to the non-contact power-receiving apparatus in a standby mode; 
 a received signal processor connected to the primary core to receive, in response to the first signals, at least one response signal indicating received signal intensity of the first signals, from the non-contact power-receiving apparatus; and 
 a shield panel disposed bottom in the primary core, for shielding a magnetic field radiating from the primary core, 
 wherein the central core is placed in a position between the two side cores and is partially overlapped with each of the two side cores, 
 wherein the transmission controller selects, at least one of the central core and the two side cores based on the received signal intensity of the first signals in the standby mode, 
 wherein the transmission controller controls a power signal to be transmitted by the at least one selected core in a charging mode, 
 wherein the non-contact charging station receives a second signal including information regarding a degree of voltage calibration for the power signal from the non-contact power-receiving apparatus in the charging mode, transmits a compensated power signal according to the signal including the information regarding the degree of voltage calibration for the power signal to the non-contact power-receiving apparatus in the charging mode, and stops the power transmission if it is detected that a metallic body other than the non-contact power-receiving apparatus is placed on the station part, and 
 wherein the at least one selected core has the best received signal intensity among the single central core and the two side cores. 
 
     
     
       2. The non-contact charging station according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spacer disposed between the central core and the two side cores so as to allow the central core to be disposed apart from the two side cores. 
 
     
     
       3. The non-contact charging station according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the central core and the two side cores includes:
 a core base; and 
 an inductance pattern core formed at the core base and having a planar-spiral structure. 
 
     
     
       4. The non-contact charging station according to  claim 3 , wherein the inductance pattern core is made of copper, and wherein at least one of the central core and the two side cores further includes a photosensitive solder resist layer or an electro-less plating layer formed on the inductance pattern core. 
     
     
       5. The non-contact charging station according to  claim 1 , further comprising a state controller block configured to switch between each of the central core and the two side cores under the control of the transmission controller. 
     
     
       6. The non-contact charging station according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a power supply part which supplies an electric power to a resonant converter; 
 a resonant converter allowing the electric power from the power supply part to be supplied to the central core and the two side cores; and 
 a switching part having a first switch and a second switch, wherein a first switch is disposed between the resonant converter and the central core and the second switch is disposed between the resonant converter and the two side cores. 
 
     
     
       7. The non-contact charging station according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a state controller block which controls the switching part such that the second switch is switched off when a secondary core of the non-contact power-receiving apparatus is disposed within the area of the central core. 
 
     
     
       8. The non-contact charging station according to  claim 1 , wherein the shield panel has a mesh made of polyester and an eddy-current reducing composition coated with the mesh. 
     
     
       9. A method of controlling a non-contact charging station, the method comprising:
 transmitting, at a primary core comprising a single central core and two side cores, first signals respectively to the non-contact power-receiving apparatus in a standby mode; 
 receiving, in response to the first signals, at least one response signal indicating received signal intensity of the first signals from the non-contact power-receiving apparatus in the standby mode; 
 selecting, based on the received signal intensity of the first signals, at least one of the single central core and the two side cores in the standby mode; 
 allowing the at least one selected core to transmit a power signal to the non-contact power-receiving apparatus; 
 receiving a second signal including information regarding a degree of voltage calibration for the power signal from the non-contact power-receiving apparatus in a charging mode; and 
 transmitting a compensated power signal according to the information regarding the degree of voltage calibration for the power signal to the non-contact power-receiving apparatus in the charging mode, 
 wherein a primary core comprises the single central core and the two side cores, 
 wherein the central core is placed in a position between the two side cores and is partially overlapped with each of the two side cores, 
 wherein a shield panel disposed bottom in the primary core, for shielding a magnetic field radiating from the primary core, wherein the power transmission is stopped if it is detected that a metallic body other than the non-contact power-receiving apparatus is placed on the station part, and 
 wherein the at least one selected core has the best received signal intensity among the single central core and the two side cores. 
 
     
     
       10. A non-contact power-receiving apparatus for receiving power signals from a non-contact power-charging apparatus for wireless power transfer, the non-contact power-receiving apparatus comprising:
 a secondary core that (i) receives one or more power signals and (ii) sends communication signals, wherein the secondary core includes a shielding section configured to shield other electronic components of the non-contact power-receiving apparatus from power signals of the non-contact power-charging apparatus;   a rectifier block coupled to the secondary core that converts the one or more power signals into a rectified power; and   a controller coupled to the rectified block which is configured to:
 in response to the one or more power signals received at the secondary core from one or more corresponding power transmission cores, generate at least one detection signal, which indicates an intensity of at least one of the one or more power signals, for transmission by the secondary core to enable the non-contact power-charging apparatus to select an appropriate power transmission core for further transmission of the one or more power signals; 
 after conversion of the one or more power signals received from the selected appropriate power transmission core into a rectified power by the rectifier block control transfer of the rectified power to a battery; 
 generate at least one control signal for transmission by the secondary core to the non-contact power-charging apparatus to control a voltage of the one or more power signals relative to a reference level; 
 determine that a metal object other than the non-contact power-receiving apparatus is placed near the selected power transmission core; and 
 generate an end power transfer signal, for transmission by the secondary core to the non-contact power-charging apparatus, to stop the transmission of the one or more power signals. 
   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one or more of (i) the at least one detection signal and (ii) the at least one control signal includes a unique ID of the non-contact power receiving apparatus. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to receipt of one or more power signals having power determined to be different from a reference level, send a signal including a unique ID of the non-contact power receiving apparatus. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the selected power transmission core was selected based on the at least one detection signal by a transmission controller communicatively coupled to the corresponding selected power transmission core. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the secondary core comprises a planar-spiral core. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a battery, the battery being charged using the rectified power under the control of the controller. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the control signal to cause the non-contact power-charging apparatus to modify the signal when the rectified power is determined to be either (i) below a first predetermined threshold relative to the reference level or (ii) above a second predetermined threshold relative to the reference level. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control signal includes an indication to either (i) raise or (ii) lower the power signal. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein controller comprises a battery pack controller. 
     
     
       19. A method of controlling a non-contact power-receiving station comprising:
 receiving, at a secondary core, a plurality of power signals applied to the secondary core, each of the power signals coming from a corresponding power transmission core, wherein the secondary core includes a shielding section configured to shield other electronic components of the non-contact power-receiving station from power signals of a non-contact power-charging apparatus;   generating at least one detection signal indicating an intensity of at least one of the plurality of power signals for transmission by the secondary core to enable the non-contact power-charging apparatus to select an appropriate power transmission core for further transmission of a power signal;   converting a power signal received on the secondary core from the selected appropriate power transmission core into a rectified power;   controlling transfer of the rectified power to a battery;   generating a control signal for transmission by the secondary core to the selected appropriate power transmission core to control a voltage of the power signal when the rectified power relative to a reference level;   determining that a metal object other than the non-contact power-receiving apparatus is placed near the selected power transmission core; and   generating an end power transfer signal, for transmission by the secondary core to the non-contact power-charging apparatus, to stop the transmission of the one or more power signals.   
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, wherein one or more of (i) the at least one detection signal and (ii) the control signal includes a unique ID of the non-contact power receiving apparatus. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 19, wherein the secondary core comprises a planar-spiral core. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 19, further comprising monitoring charging of the battery and transmitting charge state information to the non-contact power-charging station. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating the control signal to cause the non-contact power-charging apparatus to modify the signal when the rectified power is determined to be either (i) below a first predetermined threshold relative to the reference level or (ii) above a second predetermined threshold relative to the reference level. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 19, further wherein the control signal comprises an indication to either (i) raise or (ii) lower the power signal.