Apple patents wireless charger that briefly pauses to check connection
Apple describes a method for wireless chargers to briefly stop sending power to check the connection quality. During this short pause, the charger sends a small electrical signal to measure how well the device is aligned and connected. Once the check is complete, the charger resumes normal power delivery.
In the filing’s own words
Operating a wireless power transfer system can include using wireless power transmitter control circuitry to: initiate a temporary pause of wireless power transfer; provide a stimulus signal to cause a resonant voltage in the wireless power transmitter coil during the temporary pause of wireless power transfer; use the resonant voltage to measure or characterize one or more parameters characterizing a wireless power transfer link, via the wireless power receiver coil, between the wireless power transmitter and the wireless power receiver; and thereafter resume wireless power transfer by ending the temporary pause of wireless power transfer.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. The wireless-power wherein: A wireless power transmitter comprising: a boot housing an inverter and wireless power transmitter control circuitry; a puck housing a wireless power transmitter coil; and a cable disposed between the boot and puck, the cable having two or more conductors including conductors that, in normal wireless power transfer operation, conduct an AC current between the inverter and the wireless power transmitter coil; wherein: the puck further houses a resonant capacitor and a plurality of switching devices operable to selectively provide a resonant current circulation path between the wireless power transmitter coil and the resonant capacitor during a remote ping operation; and the wireless power transmitter control circuitry in the boot includes: logic and circuitry to selectively actuate the plurality of switching devices to provide the resonant current circulation path between the wireless power transmitter coil and the resonant capacitor in the remote ping operation via one of the two or more conductors; and analog measurement circuitry that measures a resonant voltage associated with the wireless power transmitting coil and the resonant capacitor via one of the two or more conductors.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Power accounting for wireless power transfer
- Patent number
- US12771182B2
- Application number
- 18770264
- Filed
- Jul 11, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 19
Classified under
H02J 50/80 Electricity & electronicsH02J 50/005 Electricity & electronicsH02J 50/12 Electricity & electronicsH02J 50/60 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Batteries & energy
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.