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SamsungGranted patentBatteries & energyInterest 6/10

Samsung patents foldable phone charging that adjusts to screen angle

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This patent describes a wireless charging system for devices with moving parts, such as foldable screens. It uses a switch to change the electrical setup of the charging coil based on the angle of the device, shifting the center of the magnetic field to maintain a connection with the charger.

Why it mattersThis could improve charging reliability for foldable phones by automatically adjusting to how the device is positioned on a charging pad.

In the filing’s own words

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include: a housing, a wireless charging circuit, and at least one processor electrically connected to the wireless charging circuit, the housing may include a first portion and a second portion, the second portion may change in a position relative to the first portion based on a state of the electronic device, and the at least one processor may be configured to: control the wireless charging circuit to receive first power from a power supply device through a first magnetic field having a first center and control the wireless charging circuit to receive the first power from the power supply device through a second magnetic field having a second center different from the first center, based on a positional relationship between the first portion and the second portion of the housing.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device comprising: a housing-comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein the second housing portion is connected to the first housing portion and configured to be rotatable with respect to the first housing portion; a first wireless charging coil disposed at least partially in the housing; a switch circuit electrically connected with a lumped element; a wireless charging circuit; at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, electrically connected to the wireless charging circuit; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to control the wireless charging circuit to receive first power from a power supply device using the first wireless charging coil disconnected from the lumped element, for an initial wireless charging of the electronic device, identify an angle formed by the first housing portion and the second housing portion, when a relative position between the power supply device and the first housing portion is fixed, and control the wireless charging circuit to receive the first power from the power supply device using the first wireless charging coil connected with the lumped element via the switch circuit, based on the identified angle being within a designated range, wherein the first wireless charging coil disconnected from the lumped element forms a first magnetic field having a first center, and wherein the first wireless charging coil connected with the lumped element forms a second magnetic field having a second center.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
Electronic device comprising wireless charging circuit
Patent number
US12771183B2
Application number
18104472
Filed
Feb 1, 2023
Granted
Oct 20, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
16

Classified under

H02J 50/90 Electricity & electronicsG06F 1/1632 Physics & computingG06F 1/1652 Physics & computingG06F 1/266 Physics & computingH02J 7/933 Electricity & electronicsH02J 50/005 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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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.