WIRELESS INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSFER

摘要

A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter (101) arranged to provide a power transfer to a power receiver (105) via a wireless inductive power transfer signal where the power transfer signal is provided in a power time interval of a repeating power transfer signal time frame. The time frame furthermore comprises a reduced power time interval. An apparatus (typically being the power receiver (105) or the power transmitter (101)) comprises a short range communication unit (305, 405) arranged to communicate data messages with a second entity (which is the complementary unit, i.e. either the power transmitter (101)) or the power receiver (105)) using short range communication. The short range communication has a range not exceeding 20 cm. The apparatus further comprises a synchronization unit (309, 409) arranged to synchronize the short range communication to the power transfer signal time frame such that short range communication is restricted to the reduced power time intervals. The communication may specifically be NFC communication.

主权项

1. An apparatus for a wireless power transfer system, comprising:
a power transmitter configured to provide a power transfer to a power receiver via a wireless inductive power transfer signal, the power transfer signal during a power transfer phase being provided in a power time interval of a periodically repeating power transfer signal time frame having a repetition frequency of no less than 5 Hz and no more than 200 Hz, the power transfer signal time frame comprising a reduced power time interval, a power of the power transfer signal being reduced for the reduced power time interval relative to the power time interval; a power transfer inductor for transferring of the power transfer signal; a communication antenna for short range communication; a short range communication unit coupled to the communication antenna and configured to communicate data messages with a second entity being at least one of the power transmitter and the power receiver using the short range communication, the short range communication having a range not exceeding 20 cm and using a separate carrier signal than the power transfer signal; and a synchronizer configured to synchronize the short range communication to the power transfer signal time frame such that short range communication is restricted to the reduced power time intervals.