18094066. METHOD FOR DETECTING FOREIGN OBJECT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE simplified abstract (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)

METHOD FOR DETECTING FOREIGN OBJECT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Organization Name

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Inventor(s)

Hyungkoo Chung of Suwon-si (KR)

Dongzo Kim of Suwon-si (KR)

Mincheol Ha of Suwon-si (KR)

Yusu Kim of Suwon-si (KR)

Kihyun Kim of Suwon-si (KR)

Yunjeong Noh of Suwon-si (KR)

Keyic Son of Suwon-si (KR)

Taehyeon Yu of Suwon-si (KR)

Kyungmin Lee of Suwon-si (KR)

METHOD FOR DETECTING FOREIGN OBJECT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18094066 titled 'METHOD FOR DETECTING FOREIGN OBJECT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an electronic device that can wirelessly transmit and receive power. It includes a wireless power transfer coil and a processor that controls the power transmission operation.

• The device can send a ping signal to an external object through the wireless power transfer coil.
• The processor analyzes the waveform of the current or voltage measured during or after transmitting the ping signal.
• Based on the identified waveform, the processor calculates the Q factor, which is a measure of the efficiency of power transfer.
• If the obtained Q factor is below a predetermined value, the processor determines that the external object is a foreign object or contains a foreign object and is positioned at the center of the wireless power transfer coil.
• In this case, the device stops the power transmission operation.
• If the obtained Q factor is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the processor sends a second ping signal to the external object.
• The processor then analyzes the waveform of the current or voltage measured during or after transmitting the second ping signal.
• It also measures the inductance at both ends of the wireless power transfer coil based on the identified waveform.
• Based on the measured inductance, the processor determines that the external object is a foreign object or contains a foreign object and is positioned in the surrounding area of the wireless power transfer coil.
• The device can then adjust the power transmission operation accordingly.

Potential applications of this technology:

• Wireless charging of electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables.
• Powering IoT devices without the need for physical connections.
• Charging electric vehicles wirelessly.

Problems solved by this technology:

• Prevents power transmission to foreign objects or objects not properly positioned on the wireless power transfer coil.
• Ensures efficient power transfer by monitoring the Q factor and adjusting the power transmission operation accordingly.

Benefits of this technology:

• Improved safety by avoiding power transmission to unintended objects.
• Enhanced efficiency in wireless power transfer.
• Convenient and hassle-free charging of devices without the need for cables or connectors.

Original Abstract Submitted

An electronic device capable of transmitting and receiving wireless power may include a wireless power transfer (WPT) coil and a processor configured to be operatively connected to the WPT coil, wherein the processor may perform control to transmit a first ping signal to an external object through the WPT coil, may identify a waveform of a current or voltage measured while or after transmitting the first ping signal, may obtain a Q factor, based on the identified waveform, may control a power transmission operation by determining that the external object is a foreign object or includes the foreign object and is positioned on a center of the WPT coil when the obtained Q factor is less than a predetermined Q factor, may transmit a second ping signal to the external object through the WPT coil when the obtained Q factor is equal to or greater than the predetermined Q factor, may identify a waveform of a current or voltage while or after transmitting the second ping signal, may identify inductance measured at both ends of the WPT coil, based on the identified waveform, and may control the power transmission operation by determining that the external object is the foreign object or includes the foreign object and is positioned in a surrounding area of the WPT coil, based on the measured inductance.