WO2024080921A1

WO2024080921A1 - Configurable test automation

Info

Publication number: WO2024080921A1
Application number: PCT/SE2023/051027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joakim WALLMAN; Laurens Swaans
Original assignee: Electdis Ab
Priority date: 2022-10-14
Filing date: 2023-10-16
Publication date: 2024-04-18

Abstract

A method of performing a sequence of test cases for wireless power transfer in a test setup 100 which involves a test tool TT and a device under test DUT is presented. The test tool TT causes a controlled disconnect 210 between the test tool TT and the device under test DUT to allow for preparations/repositioning 220 of the test setup 100 for a next test case in the sequence of test cases.

Description

CONFIGURABLE TEST AUTOMATION

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to the field of wireless power transfer, and more specifically to testing of wireless power transfer equipment. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to a method of performing a sequence of test cases for wireless power transfer in a test setup which involves a test tool and a device under test.

Background

Wireless power transfer is growing increasingly popular, for instance for wireless battery charging of mobile devices like mobile terminals, tablet computers, laptop computers, cameras, audio players, electric toothbrushes, wireless headsets and smart watches, as well as various other consumer products and appliances.

The Wireless Power Consortium has developed a wireless power transfer standard known as Qi. Other known wireless power transfer approaches include Alliance for Wireless Power, and Power Matters Alliance. The wireless power transfer standard Qi will be referred to, without limitation, throughout this document as the presently preferred wireless power transfer manner applicable to the present invention. However, the invention may generally be applied also to other wireless power transfer standards or approaches, including but not limited to the ones mentioned above.

Operation of devices that comply with Qi relies on magnetic induction between planar coils. Two kinds of devices are involved, namely devices that provide wireless power (referred to as base stations or wireless power transmitter devices), and devices that consume wireless power (referred to as mobile devices or wireless power receiver devices). Power transfer takes place from a base station to a mobile device. For this purpose, a base station contains a subsystem (a power transmitter) that comprises a primary coil, whereas a mobile device contains a subsystem (a power receiver) that comprises a secondary coil. In operation, the primary coil and the secondary coil will constitute the two halves of a coreless resonant transformer. Typically, a base station has a flat surface, on top of which a user can place one or more mobile devices to enjoy wireless battery charging or operational power supply for the mobile device(s) placed on the base station.

This can be seen in Fig. 1 which illustrates a wireless power transmitter device 20 (i.e., a base station) for wireless power transfer to a wireless power receiver device 10 (i.e., a mobile device). The wireless power receiver device 10 may, for instance, be a mobile terminal (e.g. smart phone) 10a, tablet computer 10b (e.g. surf pad), laptop computer 10c, smart watch lOd, camera, audio player, rechargeable toothbrush, wireless headset, or another kind of consumer product or appliance.

The wireless power transmitter device 20 comprises a wireless power transmitter 21 having a wireless power transmitter coil 22 and being controlled by a controller 25. Correspondingly, the mobile device 10 comprises a wireless power receiver 11 having a wireless power receiver coil 12 being controlled by a controller 15. In operation, the wireless power transmitter device 20 will transfer power wirelessly to the mobile device 10 by way of magnetic induction 18 via the wireless power transmitter coil 22 and wireless power receiver coil 12.

The power received by the wireless power receiver coil 12 will drive a load 16 in the mobile device 10. Typically, the load 16 may be a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium ion battery; hence, the wireless power transmitter device 20 will act as a wireless power charger for the mobile device 10. In another scenario, the load 16 may be electronic circuitry in the mobile device, wherein the wireless power transmitter device 20 will act as a wireless power supply for the mobile device 10.

Throughout this document, wireless charging will be used as an example of wireless power transfer, i.e. a species among a genus, without limitation.

During operation, many different factors affect the quality of the wireless charging. For example, heat will be generated by magnetic induction in the secondary coil of the power receiver as well as from the power transmitter in the base station. If the mobile device and/or the base station are exposed to excessive thermal exposure, several undesired effects may arise, for example damaging vital components in the mobile device. Moreover, the charging efficiency, and thus the charging period needed, may vary depending on the orientation of the power receiver on the base station. There is therefore a need among different interest groups to test, measure or evaluate the base station and its operating environment when being subjected to wireless power transfer with a power receiver. Such interest groups may for instance involve any of the following: developers, manufacturers or suppliers of mobile devices; developers, manufacturers or suppliers of wireless power transmitter devices; test or compliance entities in the field of wireless power transfer; and test or compliance entities in the field of consumer product safety. To this end, The WPC has developed the Qi specification as an interoperability standard for wireless power transfer between consumer devices, with the specification covering a wide range of requirements ranging from analog signals, thermal behavior, safety aspects to communication channels and protocol compliance. A test specification has been created to verify all requirements in the form test cases, and test tools are developed that execute these test cases. Laboratories that run the Qi compliance test cases are referred to as Authorized Test Labs, ATLs.

For any transmitter device, a multitude (100+) of test cases will have to be run through in order for the transmitter device to qualify as a Qi compliant device, and similarly for a receiver device. Subjecting a device under test, DUT, to that many test cases can of course be time-consuming. The execution of test cases often involves situations where the test tool emulates a particular situation and observes how the DUT handles that situation. The DUT is operating in a normal mode (i.e., not a special test mode) and so whenever the test tool has acquired the necessary information to generate a test result, the power transfer between the DUT and the test tool needs to be restarted. Sometimes the test tool needs to be physically removed from the DUT to ensure proper reset conditions.

Currently the ATLs perform these operations manually and especially the repositioning of products and ensuring a proper reset in the power transmitter device can be time consuming. With many test cases requiring a reliable reset, this can cause a big increase in test time. An automated positioning system can help, but this still relies on timing based on the DUT behavior.

Positioning the test tool on top of a transmitter DUT can be done by hand or through an automation process. The issue however with placing the device back is that DUT products may expect the test tool to behave like a real compliant product, meaning that it cannot mask its presence until correctly positioned on the product surface. There are test cases where the initial response of the test tool is immediately measured and can cause a device to PASS or FAIL a compliance test. In the past, this was resolved by allowing the test tool to “ignore” initial attempts to start power transfer until being well positioned and only then engage by responding to the attempts by the DUT. However, recent developments in DUT products force safety mechanisms not to trust a device that does not respond anymore. This makes this method not useable anymore in this condition.

In some ATLs or other test environments, the test automation may involve a variety of robotic arms, positioning systems or other solutions. Each of these will have their own characteristics in, for example, timing on how long it takes to remove a test tool from the DUT and reposition it again. This variety makes it more challenging to automate testing since an elaborate handshaking between the positioning system, the DUT and the test tool is required.

SUMMARY

The present inventors have realized the challenges and disadvantages as discussed above for testing, in particular compliance testing, of wireless power transfer equipment.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a solution to, or at least a mitigation of, one or more of the problems or drawbacks identified in the background section above.

A first aspect of the invention is a method of performing a sequence of test cases for wireless power transfer in a test setup which involves a test tool and a device under test. According to the method, the test tool causes a controlled disconnect between the test tool and the device under test to allow for preparations/repositioning of the test setup for a next test case in the sequence of test cases.

Hence, a core inventive idea is the understanding that automated compliance testing of wireless power transfer equipment by performing a sequence of test cases can be facilitated, to make sure that there will be sufficient time for preparations and/or repositioning of a test setup for a next test case, by configuring the test tool to cause a controlled disconnect between the test tool and the device under test.

In one or more embodiments, the test tool causes the controlled disconnect by sending a control message to the device under test. The control message may be sent upon completion of a previous test case in the sequence of test cases. The control message may be of a type that comprises a request to stop wireless power transfer between a transmitter and a receiver of wireless power, in the present case between the device under test and the test tool.

Advantageously, the control message is of a type that specifies a delay after which the device under test should restart the wireless power transfer. Depending on implementation, the specification of the delay may be inherent from the control message as such (meaning that the particular control message is associated with a (default but possibly configurable) delay according to the relevant specification or standard for wireless power transfer for with the testing is made). Alternatively, the delay may follow from a parameter in the actual control message.

In one or more embodiments, the delay is configurable by or through the test tool. In this regard, the test tool may configure the delay by sending a configuration message to the device under test.

Advantageously, the control message complies with a specification or standard for wireless power transfer, typically the specification or standard for which the testing is carried out. In embodiments where a configuration message is used for configuring the aforementioned delay, also the configuration message will comply with the specification or standard for wireless power transfer.

The specification or standard for wireless power transfer may, for instance, be Qi by the Wireless Power Consortium. The control message may be ETP/rep. The configuration message, if applicable, may be SRQ/rep.

In some embodiments, prior to performing the next test case in the sequence of test cases, the method involves the test tool: a) sending the control message to the device under test to cause a controlled disconnect between the test tool and the device under test and a resulting delay in wireless power transfer; b) determining whether the preparations/repositioning of the test setup for the next test case have been completed; c) when step b) is affirmative, waiting for the device under test to restart wireless power transfer after said delay and then performing said next test case; and d) when step b) is negative, again sending the control message to the device under test to extend said delay and repeating step b) and either step c) or step d).

Step b) may involve receiving an input representing confirmation of completed preparations/repositioning of the test setup from an operator of the test tool.

Alternatively, when the test setup further involves a positioning device for controlling a spatial position of the device under test with respect to the test tool, step b) may involve receiving an input representing confirmation of completed preparations/- repositioning of the test setup from the positioning device.

In advantageous embodiments, the device under test is a wireless power transmitter device to be compliance tested as a consumer product, the wireless power transmitter device comprising a wireless power transmitter. In such embodiments, the test tool comprises a wireless power receiver, at least one of a controller and processing means, and reporting means. The controller and/or the processing means are/is configured for executing test cases in said sequence of test cases by performing wireless power transfer with the wireless power transmitter of the wireless power transmitter device, and for obtaining measurement data during the wireless power transfer. The processing means is configured for processing the measurement data to produce test results, and the reporting means is configured for outputting the test results.

In other advantageous embodiments, the device under test is a wireless power receiver device to be compliance tested as a consumer product, the wireless power receiver device comprising a wireless power receiver. In such embodiments, the test tool comprises a wireless power transmitter, at least one of a controller and processing means, and reporting means. The controller and/or the processing means are/is configured for executing test cases in said sequence of test cases by performing wireless power transfer with the wireless power receiver of the wireless power receiver device, and for obtaining measurement data during the wireless power transfer. The processing means is configured for processing the measurement data to produce test results, and the reporting means is configured for outputting the test results.

A second aspect of the present invention is a test tool for testing of wireless power transfer equipment by performing a sequence of test cases upon a device under test, wherein the test tool and the device under test form a test setup. The test tool is configured for causing a controlled disconnect between the test tool and the device under test to allow for preparations/repositioning of the test setup for a next test case in the sequence of test cases. Advantageously, the test tool according to the second aspect of the present invention may be further configured for performing the functionality defined for the test tool in the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, as referred to above.

A third aspect of the present invention is the use of the ETP/rep control message of the Qi specification by the Wireless Power Consortium for controlling a delay between successive test cases of compliance testing of wireless power transfer equipment.

Additional aspects of the present invention can be seen in a test setup (or test system) that comprises a test tool and a device under test as defined above for the first and second aspects of the present invention, as well as associated computer program products and/or tangible non-volatile computer readable media comprising computer program code for performing the aforementioned method as defined above for the first aspect of the present invention, or parts thereof, when executed by a processing device such as a microprocessor (e.g. CPU).

The term “preparations/repositioning” as used in this document shall be construed broadly to involve at least one of “preparations” (preparatory activities in the test setup) and “repositioning” (activities to change spatial positions of the devices in the test setup), but not necessarily both of these types of activities.

It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. All terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of the example embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the example embodiments.

Fig. l is a schematic block diagram of wireless power transfer between a wireless power transmitter device and a wireless power receiver device.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flowchart diagram of a method of performing a sequence of test cases for wireless power transfer in a test setup generally according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart diagram of a method of performing a sequence of test cases for wireless power transfer in a test setup according to some embodiments.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart diagram of a related method in one embodiment. Fig. 5 is a schematic flowchart diagram of a related method in one embodiment. Fig. 6 is a detailed flowchart and signal diagram of a related method in one embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of a system for testing wireless power transfer, i.e. a test setup, where a testing device is in communication with a host device and is configured to test a wireless power transmitter device.

Fig. 8 illustrates a second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment of Fig. 7 but where the host device and the testing device are integrated into a testing/host device.

Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a third embodiment of a system for testing wireless power transfer, i.e. a test setup, where a testing device is in communication with a host device and is configured to test a wireless power receiver device.

Fig. 10 illustrates a fourth embodiment, similar to the third embodiment of Fig. 9 but where the host device and the testing device are integrated into a testing/host device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Reference is first made to Fig. 2 which illustrates a method 200 of performing a sequence of test cases for wireless power transfer in a test setup. As will be described later with reference to different exemplifying embodiments in Figs. 7-10, the test setup 100 shown therein involves a test tool TT and a device under test DUT. According to the method 200 in Fig. 2, provisions are made to facilitate preparations and/or repositioning of the test setup 100 in advance of a next test case in the sequence of test cases, thereby facilitating automation of the test procedure and avoiding or at least mitigation the problems referred to in the Background section.

Therefore, as seen at 210, the test tool TT causes a controlled disconnect between the test tool TT and the device under test DUT to allow for preparations/- repositioning of the test setup 100 for the next test case in the sequence of test cases. In the preferred embodiment, this is done by the test tool TT sending a control message to the device under test DUT. The control message comprises a request to stop wireless power transfer and specifies a delay after which the device under test DUT should restart the wireless power transfer. Depending on implementation, the specification of the delay may be inherent from the control message as such. This will mean that the particular control message is associated with a (default but possibly configurable) delay according to the relevant specification or standard for wireless power transfer for with the testing is made. Alternatively, the delay may be specified explicitly in a parameter in the actual control message.

In response to receiving the control message, the device under test DUT will stop an ongoing wireless power transfer session, and/or refrain from initiating one, for the time period of the specified delay. As seen at 220 in Fig. 2, the preparations/- repositioning of the test setup 100 for the next test case will be made during this delay.

Once the delay has ended, see 230 in Fig. 2, the device under test DUT will initiate wireless power transfer. This may involve generating a “ping” to alert the test tool TT. Wireless power transfer may commence, and the test tool TT will perform the next test case in the sequence of test cases as seen at 240.

The control message complies with a specification or standard for wireless power transfer, being Qi by the Wireless Power Consortium in the preferred embodiment. Preferably, the control message is an ETP/rep message. As such, the Qi specification incorporates a mechanism called the Re-ping time which defines the time a device under test shall wait before it attempts power transfer again after it gets disconnected. The purpose of the Re-ping is for example when a mobile phone is fully charged but still positioned on a charger on a bedside table. In order to reduce energy consumption and not to disturb the person sleeping besides the table, the phone can indicate to the charger it can go into an ultra-low power standby mode, and try topping up the phone battery again in about 10 seconds. The preferred embodiment of present invention makes a novel and inventive use of the Re-ping mechanism for the purpose of causing a controlled disconnect between the test tool TT and the device under test DUT and thereby facilitating preparations and/or repositioning of the test setup 100 between execution of successive test cases in a sequence of test cases.

The ETP/rep message (ETP = “End Power Transfer”) is a communication packet being sent from the test tool TT to the device under test DUT that tells the latter to terminate power transfer and restart after a specific delay (duration). The delay is 12.6 seconds by default but can be updated (reconfigured) to any time up to 12.6 seconds. For details of the ETP/rep message, reference is made to section 8.7 of “Qi Specification, Communications Protocol, Version 1.3, January 2021”. This document is available at https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/data/downloadables/3/3/2/3/qi-

is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, being a schematic flowchart diagram of a method 300 of performing a sequence of test cases for wireless power transfer in a test setup according to some embodiments. Fig. 3 is, in effect, a refined version of the schematic flowchart diagram of Fig. 2. Steps 310 and 320 in Fig. 3 are identical to steps 210 and 220 of Fig. 2, as described above. Hence, the test tool TT sends in step 310 the control message to the device under test DUT to cause the controlled disconnect between the test tool TT and the device under test DUT and the resulting delay in wireless power transfer. At 320, the preparations/repositioning of the test setup 100 for the next test case take place during the delay caused.

As the delay has ended, see 330, the test tool TT determines in step 340 whether the preparations/repositioning of the test setup 100 for the next test case in step 320 have been completed. If the determination in step 340 is affirmative, the test tool TT will wait in step 360 for the device under test DUT to restart wireless power transfer (e.g. by a initiating “ping” after said delay) and then perform the next test case in step

370.

If, on the other hand, the determination in step 340 is negative, the test tool TT will in step 350 send the control message again to the device under test DUT to extend the delay, and then repeat steps 320-330 and make a new determination in step 340. If needed, the delay may be extended for as many times required by looping through steps 350, 320, 330 and 340. An exit from this loop is made once the determination in step 340 is ultimately affirmative.

In some embodiments, the determination in step 340 involves receiving an input that represents a confirmation of completed preparations/repositioning of the test setup 100 from an operator of the test tool TT. In embodiments where the test setup 100 further involves a positioning device (40, see Figs. 7-10) for controlling a spatial position of the device under test DUT with respect to the test tool TT, the determination in step 340 may involve receiving an input representing a confirmation of completed preparations/repositioning of the test setup 100 from the positioning device. In some embodiments, the delay after the controlled disconnect caused by the receiving of the control message is configurable by or through the test tool TT. Accordingly, the test tool TT may configure the delay by sending a configuration message to the device under test DUT. Like the control message, the configuration message complies with a specification or standard for wireless power transfer. Advantageously, the configuration message is SRQ/rep in the Qi specification by the Wireless Power Consortium. For details of the SRQ/rep message, reference is made to section 8.18.6 of “Qi Specification, Communications Protocol, Version 1.3, January 2021” (for link, see above).

Embodiments of the present invention are presented in Figs 4-6.

More specifically, Fig. 4 illustrates how an operator or automated functionality may configure the test tool TT to adjust the delays of the respective ETP/rep messages to be sent for the respective test cases in the sequence of test cases. The adjustments can for instance be made by way of SRQ/rep configuration messages as described above¬

Fig. 5, too, contains a delay configuration possibility in step 520. Step 530 may be performed by performing a looped execution of steps 320, 330, 340 and 350 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detailed flowchart and signal diagram as an implementation example of the inventive functionalities discussed above.

With reference to Figs. 7-10, systems, i.e. test setups, 100 for testing of wireless power transfer equipment are shown according to different embodiments. Generally, each one of the systems 100 shown in Figs. 7-10 comprises a device under test DUT which is either a wireless power transmitter device 20 (Figs. 7 and 8) or a wireless power receiver device 10 (Figs. 9 and 10), for instance as described with reference to Fig. 1 in the Background section of this document. Note, however, that Fig. 1 describes a conventional, end-user situation of using both devices 10, 20 for actual wireless power transfer to, for instance, charge a consumer product. In contrast, in Figs. 7-10 only one of these devices 10 or 20 is used (being the device under test DUT), but not both at the same time.

The system or test setup 100 moreover comprises a test tool TT which comprises a testing device 50; 60; 70; 80. The testing device 50; 60; 70; 80 emulates the behavior and functionality of the other party of the wireless power transfer system 100. For instance, if a wireless power receiver device 10 is the device under test DUT, the testing device 50, 60; 70; 80 emulates the behavior of a wireless power transmitter device 20, and vice versa. The methods as described with reference to Figs. 2-6 above can be performed in a system 100 according to any of Figs 7-10, without limitation.

The testing device 50; 60; 70; 80 is configured to subject the device under test DUT (i.e., either the wireless power receiver device 10 or the wireless power transmitter device 20) to a sequence of test cases involving wireless power transfer between a wireless power transfer coil 12; 22 of the device 10; 20 and a wireless power transfer coil 52; 62; 72; 82 of the testing device 50; 60; 70; 80, and to obtain measurement data from the wireless power transfer of each test case.

Fig. 7 shows a first embodiment of the test setup 100, including a test tool TT that comprises a testing device 50 for testing a device under test DUT under the control of a host device 90. The host device 90 is functionally a part of the test tool TT but implemented as a separate device in this embodiment. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the device under test DUT is a wireless power transmitter device 20 to be compliance tested as a consumer product. Optionally, there may also be a positioning device 40 in the test setup 100, for the purpose of controlling a spatial position of the device under test DUT with respect to the test tool TT.

The wireless power transmitter device 20 comprises a controller 25 and a wireless power transmitter 21 with a wireless power transmitter coil 22. The testing device 50 comprises a wireless power receiver device 51 with a wireless power receiver coil 52 coupled to a load 56.

The host device 90 comprises processing means 92 for controlling the overall operation of the test setup 100 (including controlling the optional positioning device 40, if applicable). Controlling the overall operation of the test setup 100 includes controlling the testing device 50 to execute a test case (more specifically, each of the test cases in said sequence of test cases) by performing wireless power transfer 18 with the wireless power transmitter 21 of the wireless power transmitter device 20. The processing means 92 may do the control directly, or it may optionally be assisted by a local controller 54 in the testing device 50, instructed by the processing means 92. The processing means 92 is configured for obtaining measurement data during the wireless power transfer 18, again either directly or optionally through the local controller 54 in the testing device 50. Measurement data may be obtained by measuring electric properties of currents in the wireless power receiver coil 52 or load 56, or from sensor data (such as temperature) detected by separate sensors/detectors, or from a combination thereof.

The host device 90 has an interface 97 for receiving measurement data obtained by the testing device 50 via an interface 53 thereof. In case of external sensors/detectors, the host device 90 may receive measurement data from them via the interface 97. The interfaces 53 and 97 may be of any suitable type, including simple wiring, a serial interface such as USB, a wireless interface such as Bluetooth of WiFi, etc. The testing device 50 may for example have a cable which may be part of the interface 53 to the host device 90.

The processing means 92 of the host device 90 is configured for processing the measurement data received from the testing device 50 to produce test results. The processing means 92 may comprise a programmable device, such as a microcontroller, central processing unit (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP) or field-programmable gate array (FPGA) with appropriate software and/or firmware, and/or dedicated hardware such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The optional local controller 54 may similarly be implemented by any of these technologies.

The processing means 92 can be connected to or comprise a computer readable storage medium such as a disk or memory 94. The memory 94 may be configured to store test script data defining the test cases of said sequence of test cases, as well as the test results produced by the processing means 92, including temporary data generated during the execution of the test case. The memory 94 may be implemented using any commonly known technology for computer-readable memories such as ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM, FLASH, DDR, SDRAM or some other memory technology.

Furthermore, the host device 90 comprises reporting means 93 for outputting, e.g. communicating, presenting or otherwise making available, the test results produced by the processing means 92. This may involve presentation of graphical information on a local user interface (e.g. display) of the host device 90, generating of visual and/or audible alarms, or communication of information to an external device, i.e. output at 95. Such an external device may for example be a computer or a mobile phone.

Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment of the test setup 100. Here, the test tool TT comprises a testing/host device 60, which can be seen as the integrating of the host device 90 with the testing device 50 of Fig. 7. The device under test DUT and the optional positioning device 40 may remain the same.

The integrated testing/host device 60 comprises processing means 68 corresponding to processing means 92 of Fig. 7. Furthermore, elements 61, 62, 64, 66 of the testing/host device 60 of Fig. 8 may correspond to elements 51, 52, 54, 56 of the testing device 50 of Fig. 7. Elements 63, 64, 65, 67, 68 of the testing/host device 60 of Fig. 8 may correspond to elements 93, 94, 95. 97, 92 of the host device 90 of Fig. 7. Here, “correspond to” may mean the same as or essentially equivalent to.

The testing(/host) device 50; 60 may have any suitable shape. In one embodiment the testing(/host) device 50; 60 is arranged in a way that allows testing of the wireless power transmitter device 20 in a situation where the testing(/host) device 50; 60 emulates a mobile device. In that situation, the testing(/host) device 50; 60 may be similar in shape to a smartphone, for example having essentially the shape of a thin box with rounded edges and corners.

The testing(/host) device 50; 60 may comprise a housing having a bottom side adapted for placement on a surface of the wireless power transmitter device 20. Moreover, the housing may comprise a top side opposite to the bottom side. At least some parts of the housing may be made of plastic or another material suitable for admitting inductive coupling between the wireless power transmitter coil 22 of the wireless power transmitter device 20 and the wireless power receiver coil 52; 62 of the testing(/host) device 50; 60.

Fig. 9 shows a third embodiment of the test setup 100, including a test tool TT that comprises a testing device 70 for testing a device under test DUT under the control of a host device 90. The host device 90 is functionally a part of the test tool TT but implemented as a separate device in the third embodiment. In this third embodiment, the device under test DUT is a wireless power receiver device 10 to be compliance tested as a consumer product. Optionally, and similar to the first and second embodiments, there may also be a positioning device 40 in the test setup 100, for the purpose of controlling a spatial position of the device under test DUT with respect to the test tool TT.

The wireless power receiver device 10 comprises a controller 15 and a wireless power receiver 11 with a wireless power receiver coil 12 coupled to a load 16. The testing device 70 comprises a wireless power transmitter device 71 with a wireless power transmitter coil 72.

The host device 90 comprises processing means 92 for controlling the overall operation of the test setup 100 (including controlling the optional positioning device 40, if applicable). Controlling the overall operation of the test setup 100 includes controlling the testing device 70 to execute a test case (more specifically, each of the test cases in said sequence of test cases) by performing wireless power transfer 18 with the wireless power receiver 11 of the wireless power receiver device 10. The processing means 92 may do the control directly, or it may optionally be assisted by a local controller 74 in the testing device 70, instructed by the processing means 92. The processing means 92 is configured for obtaining measurement data during the wireless power transfer 18, again either directly or optionally through the local controller 74 in the testing device 70. Measurement data may be obtained by measuring electric properties of currents in the wireless power transmitter coil 72, or from sensor data (such as temperature) detected by separate sensors/detectors, or from a combination thereof.

The host device 90 has an interface 97 for receiving measurement data obtained by the testing device 70 via an interface 73 thereof. In case of external sensors/detectors, the host device 90 may receive measurement data from them via the interface 97. The interfaces 73 and 97 may be of any suitable type, including simple wiring, a serial interface such as USB, a wireless interface such as Bluetooth of WiFi, etc. The testing device 70 may for example have a cable which may be part of the interface 73 to the host device 90.

The processing means 92 of the host device 90 is configured for processing the measurement data received from the testing device 70 to produce test results. The processing means 92 may comprise a programmable device, such as a microcontroller, central processing unit (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP) or field-programmable gate array (FPGA) with appropriate software and/or firmware, and/or dedicated hardware such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The optional local controller 74 may similarly be implemented by any of these technologies.

Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the test setup 100. Here, the test tool TT comprises a testing/host device 80, which can be seen as the integrating of the host device 90 with the testing device 70 of Fig. 9. The device under test DUT and the optional positioning device 40 may remain the same.

The integrated testing/host device 80 comprises processing means 88 corresponding to processing means 92 of Fig. 9. Furthermore, elements 81, 82, 84, 86 of the testing/host device 80 of Fig. 10 may correspond to elements 71, 72, 74, 76 of the testing device 70 of Fig. 9. Elements 83, 84, 85, 87, 88 of the testing/host device 80 of Fig. 10 may correspond to elements 93, 94, 95. 97, 92 of the host device 90 of Fig. 9. Again, “correspond to” may mean the same as or essentially equivalent to.

The testing(/host) device 70; 80 may have any suitable shape. In one embodiment the testing(/host) device 70; 80 is arranged in a way that allows testing of the wireless power receiver device 10 in a situation where the testing(/host) device 70; 80 emulates a wireless charger. In that situation, the testing(/host) device 70; 80 may be similar in shape corresponding to a wireless charger. The sequence of test cases may be directed at many different scenarios, as the person skilled in the art of testing of wireless power transfer equipment will readily understand. For instance, some test cases may be directed at the ability of the device under test DUT to handle the presence of a foreign (e.g. metal) object in a safe and coherent manner. Some test cases may hence serve to verify that the device under test DUT does not proceed to a stage of actual power transfer, or at least not to an extent where generation of excessive heat may occur, in the presence of a foreign object between the wireless power transmitter and receiver devices. Individual test cases may then involve switching to different test elements (mock foreign objects), changing the position or orientation of the wireless power transmitter device with respect to the wireless power receiver device, etc.

Another category of test cases may be directed at the efficiency in power transfer depending on varying operating conditions such as relative positions/orientations between the wireless power transfer devices, ambient temperature, etc.

Still another category of test cases may be directed at assessing the ability of the device under test DUT to handle a misbehavior in communication by the other device (for instance, by generating illegal communication packets, not responding correctly to certain commands, etc.).

Again, these are merely a few non-limiting examples.

The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A method of performing a sequence of test cases for wireless power transfer in a test setup (100) which involves a test tool (TT) and a device under test (DUT), the method comprising: the test tool (TT) causing a controlled disconnect (210) between the test tool (TT) and the device under test (DUT) to allow for preparations/repositioning (220) of the test setup (100) for a next test case in said sequence of test cases.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the test tool (TT) causes the controlled disconnect by sending a control message to the device under test (DUT).

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the control message comprises a request to stop wireless power transfer.

4. The method as defined in claim 2 or 3, wherein the control message specifies a delay after which the device under test (DUT) should restart the wireless power transfer.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the delay is configurable by or through the test tool (TT).

6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the test tool (TT) configures the delay by sending a configuration message to the device under test (DUT).

7. The method as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the control message complies with a specification or standard for wireless power transfer.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the specification or standard for wireless power transfer is Qi by the Wireless Power Consortium.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the control message is ETP/rep.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 when dependent on claim 6, wherein the configuration message is SRQ/rep.

11. The method as defined in claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein prior to performing said next test case in said sequence of test cases, the method involving the test tool (TT): a) sending the control message to the device under test (DUT) to cause a controlled disconnect between the test tool (TT) and the device under test (DUT) and a resulting delay in wireless power transfer; b) determining whether the preparations/repositioning of the test setup (100) for the next test case have been completed; c) when step b) is affirmative, waiting for the device under test (DUT) to restart wireless power transfer after said delay and then performing said next test case; and d) when step b) is negative, again sending the control message to the device under test (DUT) to extend said delay and repeating step b) and either step c) or step d).

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein step b) involves receiving an input representing confirmation of completed preparations/repositioning of the test setup (100) from an operator of the test tool (TT).

13. The method as defined in claim 11, the test setup (100) further involving a positioning device (40) for controlling a spatial position of the device under test (DUT) with respect to the test tool (TT), wherein step b) involves receiving an input representing confirmation of completed preparations/repositioning of the test setup (100) from the positioning device.

14. The method as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the device under test (DUT) is a wireless power transmitter device (20) to be compliance tested as a consumer product, the wireless power transmitter device (20) comprising a wireless power transmitter (21), and wherein the test tool (TT) comprises a wireless power receiver (51; 61), at least one of a controller (54; 64) and processing means (68; 92), and reporting means (63; 93), the controller (54; 64) and/or the processing means (68; 92) being configured for executing test cases in said sequence of test cases by performing wireless power transfer (18) with the wireless power transmitter (21) of the wireless power transmitter device (20), and for obtaining measurement data during the wireless power transfer (18), the processing means (68; 92) being configured for processing the measurement data to produce test results, and the reporting means (63; 93) being configured for outputting the test results.

15. The method as defined in any of claims 1-13, wherein the device under test (DUT) is a wireless power receiver device (10) to be compliance tested as a consumer product, the wireless power receiver device (10) comprising a wireless power receiver (11), and wherein the test tool (TT) comprises a wireless power transmitter (71; 81), at least one of a controller (74; 84) and processing means (88; 92), and reporting means (83; 93), the controller (74; 84) and/or the processing means (88; 92) being configured for executing test cases in said sequence of test cases by performing wireless power transfer (18) with the wireless power receiver (11) of the wireless power receiver device (10), and for obtaining measurement data during the wireless power transfer (18), the processing means (88; 92) is configured for processing the measurement data to produce test results, and the reporting means (83; 93) being configured for outputting the test results.

16. A test tool (TT) for testing of wireless power transfer equipment (10; 20) by performing a sequence of test cases upon a device under test (DUT), the test tool (TT) and the device under test (DUT) forming a test setup (100), the test tool (TT) being configured for causing a controlled disconnect between the test tool (TT) and the device under test (DUT) to allow for preparations/repositioning of the test setup (100) for a next test case in said sequence of test cases.

17. The test tool (TT) as defined in claim 16, further configured for performing the functionality defined for the test tool in the method according to any of claims 1-15.

18. Use of the ETP/rep control message of the Qi specification by the Wireless Power Consortium for controlling a delay between successive test cases of compliance testing of wireless power transfer equipment (10; 20).