WO2020184794A1

WO2020184794A1 - Wireless charging mount enabling auto-alignment and wireless charging of smartphone

Info

Publication number: WO2020184794A1
Application number: PCT/KR2019/010974
Authority: WO
Inventors: 윤혜경; 원종석; 김동규
Original assignee: 모비케이 주식회사
Priority date: 2019-03-13
Filing date: 2019-08-28
Publication date: 2020-09-17
Also published as: KR20200110117A; KR102236647B1

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, provided is a wireless charging mount, enabling auto-alignment and wireless charging of a smartphone, comprising: a charging part (25) supporting wireless charging of a smartphone; four holders (1) for aligning the smartphone; holder driving parts (13) which can move the four holders; and covers (30, 40) having a storage space. The charging part (25) and holder driving parts (13) are positioned in the storage space of the covers (30, 40). A case (30, 40) comprises an upper cover (30) and a lower cover (40), and the upper cover (30) and lower cover (40) are coupled and form the storage space. Each of the four holders (1) has one part which passes through the upper cover (30) and is exposed. Two holders (1a, 1c) among the four holders (1) are facing each other and are positioned away from each other, and the other two holders (1b, 1d) among the four holders (1) are facing each other and are positioned away from each other. Guide grooves (3a, 3c), in which the two holders (1a, 1c) facing each other can respectively be moved, are formed on the upper cover (30), and guide grooves (3b, 3d), in which the two holders (1b, 1d) facing each other can respectively be moved, are formed on the upper cover (40).

Description

Wireless charging cradle for automatic alignment and wireless charging of smartphones

The present invention relates to a wireless charging cradle capable of automatic alignment and wireless charging of a smart phone.

In general, portable terminals such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, etc. can be used at any time and place, and are recognized as necessities of modern people. In recent years, communication functions, multimedia functions, and wireless Internet functions As various functions are added, the field of use is also increasing day by day.

Basically, a charger for a portable terminal includes an adapter for converting a household AC voltage (AC 220/110V) into a DC voltage and outputting it to a regulator; A voltage is applied to the charger through a household power cable, and a regulator for maintaining the input voltage at a constant voltage; And a charging circuit that receives a DC voltage and converts it into a charging voltage and provides it to a battery attached to a charger.

For example, technologies capable of wireless connection are known. For example, it is known in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1406234 (2014.06.03), Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0027347 (2017.03.10), or Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1924395 (2018.11.27).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a wireless charging cradle capable of automatic alignment and wireless charging of a smartphone.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

In the wireless charging cradle capable of automatic alignment and wireless charging of a smartphone,

Charging unit 25 for supporting wireless charging of the smartphone; Four holders (1) for aligning the smartphone; Holder driving units 13 capable of moving the four holders; And covers (30, 40) having a storage space; includes,

The charging unit 25 and the holder driving units 13 are located in the storage space of the

covers

30 and 40, and the

cases

30 and 40 are composed of an upper cover 30 and a lower cover 40. , The upper cover 30 and the lower cover 40 are combined to form the storage space,

Each of the four holders (1) is partially exposed through the upper cover (30), and two holders (1a, 1c) of the four holders (1) are positioned to face each other and spaced apart from each other. , The remaining two holders (1b, 1d) of the four holders (1) are positioned to face each other and spaced apart,

The upper cover 30 has guide grooves 3a and 3c through which the two

holders

1a and 1c facing each other can move, respectively, and the upper cover 40 has the two

holders

1a and 1c facing each other. The holder (1b, 1d) is provided with guide grooves (3b, 3d) that can be moved, respectively, a wireless charging cradle capable of auto-alignment and wireless charging of a smartphone is provided.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, auto-alignment is possible so that wireless charging is optimally performed no matter what state the smartphone is mounted in.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, auto-alignment is possible so that wireless charging is optimally performed automatically regardless of the size of the smartphone.

1 to 4 and FIGS. 6 to 9 are views for explaining the operation of the wireless charging cradle 100 capable of auto-alignment and wireless charging of a smart phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view for explaining an auto-alignment method of a smart phone according to an embodiment of the present invention that can be used in the wireless charging cradle.

[Explanation of code]

1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d: holder

13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d: folder driver

25: live part

17: controller unit

30: top cover

40: lower cover

100: wireless charging cradle

200: smartphone

The above objects, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be easily understood through the following preferred embodiments related to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments introduced herein are provided so that the disclosed content may be thorough and complete, and the spirit of the present invention may be sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art.

In the present specification, when an element is referred to as being “above” (or “below”, “right”, or “left”) of another element, it is above (or below, right, or left) of another element. ), or a third component may be interposed between them. In addition, in the drawings, values such as length, width, and thickness of components are exaggerated for effective description of the technical content.

Referring to these drawings, a wireless charging cradle capable of auto-alignment and wireless charging of a smartphone according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as'wireless charging cradle') 100 supports wireless charging of a smartphone. A charging unit 25, four holders (1: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) for aligning the smartphone, holder driving units (13: 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) capable of moving four holders, It may include covers 30 and 40 having a storage space, and a controller unit 27. Components not shown or described in the present specification are omitted for easy understanding of the description of the present invention, and the omitted components may be easily implemented by a person skilled in the art even without the description or drawings.

The charging unit 25 may wirelessly supply power to the smartphone 200. The charging unit 25 is a component used in devices known as wireless chargers for smart phones, and may be implemented using components such as coils. For example, it is known in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1406234 (2014.06.03), Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0027347 (2017.03.10), or Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1924395 (2018.11.27). The contents disclosed in these patent documents are combined as part of the present specification to the extent not contrary to the present invention.

Holders (1: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) are components that directly apply a force to the smartphone 200 by direct contact with the smartphone 200 in order to move the smartphone 200 to the optimal position.

When the smart phone 200 is positioned on the wireless charging cradle 100, it is brought into contact with the smart phone 200 and moves by applying a force to the smart phone 200. Here, the optimal position means a position in which the smart phone 200 receives maximum power from the wireless charging cradle 100. Typically, the optimal position is the center of the wireless charging cradle 200.

The holders (1: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) will be described later, but the holder driving parts (13: 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) to be moved by the holder driving parts (13: 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) and Each is connected mechanically. And, the operation of the holder driving units 13: 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d is controlled by the controller unit 27.

Among the four holders 1, two

holders

1a and 1c are positioned to face each other and spaced apart. In addition, the remaining two

holders

1b and 1d of the four holders 1 face each other and are spaced apart from each other.

1 to 4, a virtual line XX' for virtually connecting the two

holders

1a and 1c and a virtual line YY' for virtually connecting the two

holders

1b and 1d Are orthogonal to each other. That is, the holders 1: 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are positioned so that the virtual line XX' and the virtual line YY' are orthogonal to each other.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, the holder 1a is mechanically connected to the holder driving part 13a. The holder (1a) may be composed of a portion in direct contact with the smartphone 200 and a portion connected to the holder driving unit (13a). As will be described later, a portion of the holder 1a in direct contact with the smartphone 200 is exposed to the outside of the upper cover 30. The

remaining holders

1b, 1c, and 1d may have the same or similar configuration as the holder 1a, but the

holders

1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d need not have the same configuration. The

holders

1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d may have different structures as long as they are operatively connected to the holder driving units 13 to move the smart phone 200.

In this embodiment, in order to operate the four holders (1: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d), four holder driving parts (13: 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) were used, but those skilled in the art have three or It would also be possible to use two holder drives. For example, a person skilled in the art can move two

holders

1a and 1c facing each other using a valve or gear capable of transmitting a driving force using a single holder driving unit. In the same way, one of ordinary skill in the art will be able to move the two

holders

1b and 1d facing each other using a single holder drive.

The

cases

30 and 40 are composed of an upper cover 30 and a lower cover 40, and the upper cover 30 and the lower cover 40 are combined to form a storage space. The above-described components, that is, the charging unit 25, the holder driving unit 13b, and the controller unit 27 may be located in the storage space. In addition, some of the holders 1: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d may be located in the storage space.

The wireless charging cradle 100 may further include a component (not shown) that detects the amount of power provided by the charging unit 25 to the smartphone 200, and these components are in the above-described storage space. Can be located. The amount of power to be wirelessly charged (ie,'charge amount') can be detected by a component such as an analog-digital converter (ADC), and this charge amount is provided to the controller unit 27.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, each of the four holders 1: 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d is partially exposed through the upper cover 30.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, guide grooves 3a and 3c are formed in the upper cover 30 to guide the movement of the two

holders

1a and 1c facing each other. In addition,

guide grooves

3b and 3d are formed in the upper cover 40 to guide the movement of the two

holders

1b and 1d facing each other.

The guide grooves 3a and 3c pass through the upper cover 40 and are formed like a trench. The guide grooves 3: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are configured to guide the movement of the holders 1: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. In this embodiment, the guide grooves 3: 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d may have a rectangular shape having a width such that the holders 1: 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d move in a certain direction. For example, the width of each of the guide grooves 3: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d is configured to be slightly larger than the width of the holders 1: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the guide grooves 3a and 3c are located on an imaginary line XX', and the

guide grooves

3b and 3d are located on an imaginary line YY'. Thus, the holder 1a can move along the guide groove 3a, the holder 1b can move along the guide groove 3b, and the holder 1c can move along the guide groove 3c, And the holder (1d) can move along the guide groove (3d).

With particular reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, the controller unit 27 controls the operation of the holder driving units 13: 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d. In this embodiment, the holder driving parts 13 (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) are composed of a motor driven by electricity, and a gear module that is operatively connected to a drive shaft of the motor to move forward and backward.

The controller unit 27 controls the operation of the holder driving units 13: 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d to move the smartphone 200 to an optimum position. As a method for the controller unit 27 to move the smartphone 200 to an optimum position, for example, the following embodiments are possible.

Embodiment 1

According to the first embodiment, the controller unit 27 moves the holder 1b so that when the smartphone is positioned on the upper cover 30, the two

holders

1b and 1d are moved to respective reference positions. The holder driving unit and the holder driving unit for moving the holder 1d are operated. That is, the controller unit 27 operates the holder driving unit 13b to move the holder 1b to its reference position, and operates the holder driving unit 13d to move the holder 1d to the reference position.

After this operation is performed, the controller unit 27 moves the holder driving unit and the holder 1c to move the holder 1a so that the two

holders

1a and 1c are moved to respective reference positions. Operate the holder drive. That is, the controller unit 27 operates the holder driving unit 13a so that the holder 1a is moved to its reference position, and operates the holder driving unit 13c so that the holder 1c is moved to its reference position.

That is, the controller unit 27 moves two of the four holders facing each other to their respective reference positions, and then moves the other two holders that face each other to their respective reference positions. .

Embodiment 2

Referring to FIG. 3 in particular, the controller unit 27 is a holder for moving the holder 1b so that when the smartphone is positioned on the upper cover 30, the two

holders

1b and 1d are moved to respective reference positions. The holder driving part 13d for moving the driving part 13b and the holder 1d is operated.

After this operation is performed, the controller unit 27 performs the charging current provided by the charging unit 25 to the smartphone at the current position of the smartphone (hereinafter,'basic alignment position') (refer to the right figure in Fig. 3). It is checked whether the value reaches the reference value, and if the reference value is not reached, the holder driving part 13a is operated so that the holder 1a moves a predetermined distance. Here, the predetermined distance is a distance arbitrarily predetermined by a person skilled in the art in order to know in which direction the smart phone 200 is separated from the center of the main cradle 100 at the basic alignment position. For example, the predetermined distance is a distance such that the amount of charge (current and/or voltage) supplied to the smartphone 200 changes.

When the charging current provided by the charging unit 25 at the position of the smartphone 200 moved by the operation of the holder driving unit described above is greater than the charging current at the basic alignment position, the controller unit 27 is the holder 1a The holder driving part 13a is operated to move to the reference position of (1a).

On the other hand, if the charging current provided by the smart phone 200 by the charging unit 25 at the position of the smart phone 200 when the holder 1a is moved a predetermined distance is the same as the charging current at the basic alignment position, the controller unit (27) operates the holder driving part 13c which moves the holder 1c so that the holder 1c is moved to the reference position of the holder 1c.

According to the above-described embodiments, the wireless charging cradle 100 may additionally include a sensor (not shown) that recognizes that the smartphone 200 is located in the wireless charging cradle 100, and such a sensor ( (Not shown) is located in the storage space described above. A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object is a conventionally well-known technology, and one of ordinary skill in the art may select any one of such conventional sensors to be easily used in the present invention. The controller unit 27 may receive the sensing result by the above-described sensor, and when the sensing result indicates that the smartphone 200 is located on the upper cover 30, the control operation for the holder driving unit 13 is performed. Perform.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, when the smartphone 200 is positioned on the upper cover 30, first moving the smartphone 200 to the basic alignment position is the same. That is, in the first and second embodiments, the same operation as in FIG. 3 is performed first.

After aligning the smartphone 200 to the basic alignment position in this way, according to the first embodiment, one holder (any one of the holders not used in the basic alignment position) is moved arbitrarily, and then the smartphone ( Depending on whether or not the amount of power charged to 200) is increased, it is determined whether to continue moving the already randomly moved holder or to move the holder opposite the randomly moved holder.

On the other hand, after aligning the smartphone 200 in the basic alignment position, according to the second embodiment, the remaining two holders not used in the basic alignment position are moved to each reference position.

In the present specification, the term'reference position' is a position when the smartphone 200 is positioned at an optimal position. Referring to FIG. 4, the positions of the holders (1: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) when the smartphone 200 is positioned at the optimum position are shown, respectively, and each such position is a reference position of the holder 1 to be. The information on the reference position is configured so that the controller unit 27 knows it in advance, or the reference position information is stored in a storage device (not shown) and the controller unit 27 is stored in a storage device (not shown). It can be configured to be provided with information about the location.

5, the auto-alignment method of a smart phone according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of aligning the smart phone in a first direction (S100), checking the charging power (S200), and the charging power is a reference value. It may include the step of checking whether it is satisfied (S300), and the step of aligning the smartphone in the second direction (S400).

Hereinafter, an auto-alignment method of a smart phone according to an embodiment of the present invention that can be used in a wireless charging cradle according to an embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, and 6 to 9 It will be explained on the assumption that it has been applied to the wireless charging cradle.

Aligning the smartphone in the first direction (S100) is a step in which the controller unit 27 moves the smartphone 200 to a basic alignment position when the smartphone 200 is positioned on the upper cover 30 . For example, the controller unit 27 controls the

holder driving units

13b and 13d to move the

holders

1b and 1d to respective basic positions to move the smartphone 200 in the first direction (horizontal or vertical direction). Sort by. Referring to FIG. 3, an example of alignment in the horizontal direction is shown.

Checking the charging power (S200) is a step of confirming the amount of power provided from the wireless charging cradle by the smart phone 200 located at the basic alignment position as a result of performing step S100. For example, a component (not shown) for sensing the amount of power provided by the charging unit 25 to the smartphone 200 is provided in the wireless charging cradle, and the amount of charging power detected by the component is The controller unit 27 can check.

In the step of checking whether the charging power satisfies the reference value (S300), the amount of power provided to the smartphone 200 when the controller unit 27 is located in the basic alignment position is the reference value. This is the step to check whether you are satisfied. Here, the reference value is the charging power provided from the cradle 100 when the smart phone 200 is in an optimal position. This step S300 is a step for checking whether the smartphone 200 is present in an optimal position.

The step of aligning the smartphone in the second direction (S400) is a step of moving the smartphone 200 present in the basic alignment position to an optimal position. Here, the second direction is a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and when the first direction is a vertical direction, the second direction is a horizontal direction, and when the first direction is a horizontal direction, the second direction is a vertical direction. An exemplary embodiment of the present S400 is according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above.

As described above, although the present invention has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that various modifications and variations are possible from the above description. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is limited to the described embodiments and should not be defined, but should be defined by the claims to be described later, as well as those equivalent to the claims.

Claims

In the wireless charging cradle capable of automatic alignment and wireless charging of a smartphone,

Charging unit 25 for supporting wireless charging of the smartphone;

Four holders (1) for aligning the smartphone;

Holder driving units 13 capable of moving the four holders; And

Includes; a cover (30, 40) having a storage space,

The charging unit 25 and the holder driving units 13 are located in the storage space of the covers 30 and 40,

The cases 30 and 40 are composed of an upper cover 30 and a lower cover 40, and the upper cover 30 and the lower cover 40 are combined to form the storage space,

Each of the four holders 1 is partially exposed through the upper cover 30,

Of the four holders (1), two holders (1a, 1c) are positioned to face each other, and the remaining two holders (1b, 1d) of the four holders (1) are positioned to face each other. And

The upper cover 30 has guide grooves 3a and 3c through which the two holders 1a and 1c facing each other can move, respectively, and the upper cover 40 has the two holders 1a and 1c facing each other. The holder (1b, 1d) is the guide grooves (3b, 3d) that can be moved, respectively, the wireless charging cradle capable of auto-alignment and wireless charging of the smartphone.
The method of claim 1,

A virtual line (XX') virtually connecting the two holders (1a, 1c) and a virtual line (YY') virtually connecting the two holders (1b, 1d) are orthogonal to each other, a smartphone Wireless charging cradle that enables automatic alignment and wireless charging.
The method of claim 2,

The guide grooves 3a, 3c are located on the virtual line XX', and the guide grooves 3b, 3d are located on the virtual line YY', auto-alignment of a smartphone, and Wireless charging cradle for wireless charging.
The method according to claim 1 to 3,

A controller unit 27 for controlling the operation of the holder driving units 13; further includes,

The controller unit 27 is

When the smartphone is positioned on the upper cover 30, the holder driving unit for moving the holder 1b and the holder 1d are moved so that the two holders 1b and 1d are moved to respective reference positions. After operating the holder drive,

The two holders 1a and 1c are operated to move the holder 1a and the holder drive 1c to move the holder 1a to the respective reference positions. And wireless charging cradle capable of wireless charging.
The method according to claim 1 to 3,

A controller unit 27 for controlling the operation of the holder driving units 13; further includes,

The controller unit 27 is

When the smartphone is positioned on the upper cover 30, the holder driving unit for moving the holder 1b and the holder 1d are moved so that the two holders 1b and 1d are moved to respective reference positions. After operating the holder drive,

Check whether the charging current provided by the charging unit 25 to the smartphone at the current position of the smartphone (hereinafter,'basic alignment position') reaches the reference value, and if it does not reach the reference value, the holder 1a The holder driving unit for moving the holder 1a to be moved by a predetermined distance is operated, and the charging current provided by the charging unit 25 at the position of the smartphone moved by the operation of the holder driving unit 25 is at the basic alignment position. If it is greater than the charging current, the holder driving unit that moves the holder (1a) so that the holder (1a) is moved to the reference position of the holder (1a), the automatic alignment of the smartphone and wireless charging is possible holder.
The method of claim 5,

If the charging current provided by the charging unit 25 by the smart phone at the position of the smart phone when the holder 1a is moved by the predetermined distance is the same as the charging current at the basic alignment position, the holder 1c ) Is to operate the holder driving unit for moving the holder (1c) to move to the reference position of the holder (1c), a wireless charging cradle capable of auto-alignment and wireless charging of the smartphone.