Battery life of portable electronic devices

• US 10,003,211 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Thai
• Application Number:
  US14/586,062
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 455 134, 455522, 455572, 455574, 4551271, 4551275, 455269-274, 455298, 455299, 4553431-3436, 455573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for improving battery life of electronic devices such as Bluetooth headsets, smart-watches among others running on small batteries, for example coin batteries. The method may include wireless power transmission through suitable techniques such as pocket-forming, while including receivers and capacitors in the aforementioned devices. Wirelessly charged capacitors may provide sufficient power on which devices may run, and thus, battery life of such electronic devices may be enhanced.

Claims

1. A method for wireless power receipt, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a communication device of an electronic device that is coupled with a receiver, to a communication device of a transmitter a communication signal indicating (i) a power requirement of the electronic device and (ii) a position of the receiver relative to the transmitter, wherein the electronic device includes a primary power supply and an auxiliary power supply that is distinct from the primary power supply;

receiving, by an antenna of the receiver, one or more power waves forming constructive interference patterns defining a pocket of energy, wherein the one or more power waves are transmitted from a plurality of antennas of the transmitter to converge at a location associated with the position of the receiver to form the constructive interference patterns defining the pocket of energy and wherein the receiver receives the one or more power waves from the transmitter as the communication signal indicates the position of the receiver relative to the transmitter,

in conjunction with receiving the one or more power waves, determining whether the electronic device is in a sleep mode;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the sleep mode, exiting the sleep mode;

after exiting the sleep mode;

converting, by the receiver, the one or more power waves forming constructive interference patterns defining the pocket of energy to electrical power that is used to charge the auxiliary power supply; and

in accordance with a determination that the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the electronic device, providing power to the electronic device using the charged auxiliary power supply.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the one or more power waves forming the constructive interference patterns defining the pocket of energy includes:

rectifying, by the receiver, the one or more power waves defining the pocket of energy; and

converting, by the receiver, the one or more power waves based on the rectifying into a uniform direct current (DC) voltage that is used to charge the auxiliary power supply.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power supply comprises a capacitor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating, by the communication device of the electronic device, with the communication device of the transmitter via at least one of a short wireless power transmission signal wave and a pilot signal,

wherein the communicating is from at least one of the antennas of the receiver to at least one of the plurality of antennas of the transmitter,

wherein the communication signal is communicated via a communication protocol, wherein the communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth®

protocol, a Wi-Fi protocol, and a Zigbee®

protocol,

wherein the communication protocol is operative to carry information related to the power requirement of the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a micro-controller and the micro-controller is configured to:

(i) determine whether the electronic device is in the sleep mode, (ii) cause the electronic device to exit the sleep mode, and (iii) determine whether the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic device is also configured to:

perform a voltage verification to define respective time intervals in which each of the auxiliary power supply and the primary power supply are used to power the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wristwatch.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a portable headset device.

9. A system for wireless power receipt, the system comprising:

a portable electronic device that is coupled with a receiver and also includes;

a communication device configured to continuously transmit a communication signal to a transmitter indicating a position of the receiver relative to the transmitter;

a primary power supply configured to provide power to the portable electronic device; and

an auxiliary power supply configured to decrease power demand on the primary power supply by providing power to the portable electronic device when the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged;

the receiver including an antenna that is configured to;

receive from the transmitter one or more power waves that converge to form constructive interference patterns defining a pocket of energy at a location proximate to the position of the receiver, wherein the receiver receives the one or more power waves while transmitting the communication signal indicating the position of the receiver relative to the transmitter; and

one or more circuits configured to convert the one or more power waves of the pocket of energy into a constant DC voltage;

an auxiliary power supply coupled to the portable electronic device and configured to be charged by the constant DC voltage and at least partially power the portable electronic device based on the constant DC voltage; and

the portable electronic device configured to;

in conjunction with receiving the one or more power waves via the receiver, determine whether the portable electronic device is in a sleep mode;

in accordance with a determination that the portable electronic device is in the sleep mode, exit the sleep mode; and

in accordance with a determination that the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the portable electronic device, receive power using the charged auxiliary power supply.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the receiver is configured to communicate with the transmitter via at least one of a short wireless power transmission signal wave and a pilot signal,

wherein the receiver is configured to communicate with the transmitter through the antenna of the receiver and at least one antenna of the transmitter,

wherein the receiver is configured to communicate with the transmitter via the communications signal using a communication protocol,

wherein the communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth®

protocol, a Wi-Fi protocol, and a Zigbee®

protocol, and

wherein the communication protocol is operative to carry information related to a power requirement of the portable electronic device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the primary power supply is coupled to the auxiliary power supply in parallel, wherein the primary power supply comprises a battery, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a micro-controller configured to regulate a use of the auxiliary power supply to extend an operational life of the battery.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary power supply is a capacitor configured to store the constant DC voltage.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the portable electronic device is at least one of a wristwatch, a headset, and a structure, wherein the structure comprises a coin size battery functioning as the primary power supply.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic device includes a micro-controller and the micro-controller is configured to:

(i) determine whether the electronic device is in the sleep mode, (ii) cause the electronic device to exit the sleep mode, and (iii) determine whether the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the electronic device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic device is also configured to:

perform a voltage verification to define respective time intervals in which each of the auxiliary power supply and the primary power supply are used to power the electronic device.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a wristwatch.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a portable headset device.

18. A receiver comprising:

an antenna configured to receive a plurality of power waves from a dynamically-adjustable transmitter antenna that continuously transmits the power waves to form constructive interference patterns defining a pocket of energy proximate to a position of the receiver;

a rectifier coupled to the antenna, wherein the rectifier is configured to rectify an alternating current (AC) from the power waves received by the antenna to provide a direct current (DC);

a power converter coupled to the rectifier, wherein the power converter is configured to regulate a DC voltage of the DC current from the rectifier to charge at least one of an auxiliary power supply associated with a portable electronic device and a battery associated with the portable electronic device;

a communication device configured to generate a communication signal identifying at least one of the auxiliary power supply associated with the portable electronic device, a position of the receiver relative to the transmitter, and a charge level of the battery associated with the portable electronic device, wherein the antenna of the receiver receives the power waves from the transmitter while the communication device transmits the communication signal to the transmitter indicating the position of the receiver relative to the transmitter; and

a micro-controller coupled to the communication device and at least one of the auxiliary power supply associated with the portable electronic device and the battery associated with the portable electronic device, the micro-controller configured to;

in conjunction with receiving the plurality of power waves, determine whether the electronic device is in a sleep mode;

in accordance with a determination that the portable electronic device is in the sleep mode, exit the sleep mode;

in accordance with a determination that the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the portable electronic device, provide power to the portable electronic device using the charged auxiliary power supply; and

regulate a defined time interval in which at least one of the auxiliary power supply associated with the portable electronic device and the battery associated with the portable electronic device is used to provide power to the portable electronic device.