Electronic control module and driver module for controlling an electronic lock module

• US 10,135,288 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FP Wireless LLC
• Original Assignee: FP Wireless LLC
• Inventors: Geiszler, Theodore D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Application Number:
  US15/280,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20170018956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 320114, 320115, 307104
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Example wireless power transfer systems and methods are described. In one implementation, an electronic control module is configured to generate a signal to be communicated to a transmitter coil. A driver module configured to receive the signal and compensate for any degradation in signal quality is electrically coupled to the electronic control module. The driver module is further coupled to the transmitter coil. A receiver coil, wirelessly electrically coupled to the transmitter coil, is configured to receive a wireless charging signal from the transmitter coil. The implementation also includes an electronic lock module electrically coupled to the receiver coil. The electronic lock module receives the wireless charging signal from the receiver coil and uses the wireless charging signal to charge a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the electronic lock module.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an electronic control module configured to generate a first electromagnetic signal having a first radio frequency to be communicated to a transmitter antenna associated with the electronic control module;

a driver module electrically coupled to the electronic control module, wherein the driver module is configured to receive the first electromagnetic signal and compensate for degradation in signal quality associated with the first electromagnetic signal, and wherein the driver module is electrically coupled to the transmitter antenna;

a receiver antenna wirelessly electrically coupled to the transmitter antenna, wherein the receiver antenna is configured to receive the first signal including a wireless charging signal from the transmitter antenna;

an electronic lock module electrically coupled to the receiver antenna, wherein the electronic lock module is configured to receive the wireless charging signal from the receiver antenna and use the wireless charging signal to charge a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the electronic lock module; and

a bi-directional data communications link established between the electronic control module and the electronic lock module when both are powered to transmit data signals in a first direction from the electronic control module to the electronic lock module using the first electromagnetic signal, and in a second direction from the electronic lock module to the electronic control module using a second electromagnetic signal having a second radio frequency, wherein the second radio frequency is different from the first radio frequency.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver module includes a plurality of resonant capacitors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver module is configured to operate at a physical distance of one foot or less from the transmitter antenna.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module is disposed between the driver module and the transmitter antenna.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module is electrically coupled to the driver module via an interface comprising a power signal, a drive signal and a ground.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver module is electrically coupled to the transmitter antenna via an interface comprising a power signal, a drive signal and a ground.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter antenna includes a coil.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver antenna includes a coil.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver module includes a plurality of drive transistors.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an electronic control module configured to generate a signal to be communicated to a transmitter antenna;

a driver module electrically coupled to the electronic control module, wherein the driver module is configured to receive the signal and compensate for degradation in signal quality associated with the signal, and wherein the driver module is electrically coupled to the transmitter antenna;

a receiver antenna wirelessly electrically coupled to the transmitter antenna, wherein the receiver antenna is configured to receive a wireless charging signal from the transmitter antenna; and

an electronic lock module electrically coupled to the receiver antenna, wherein the electronic lock module is configured to receive the wireless charging signal from the receiver antenna and use the wireless charging signal to charge a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the electronic lock module, wherein the driver module includes a squaring circuit, a class B push-pull amplifier, a final amplifier stage and a resonant circuit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the squaring circuit serves to compensate for signal degradation associated with a square wave.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the class B push-pull amplifier has as an input the output of the squaring circuit and is arranged to amplify the power of the output of the squaring circuit.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the final amplifier stage is arranged to amplify the output of the class B push-pull amplifier to generate a signal of sufficient power to drive the resonant circuit.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the resonant circuit is arranged to convert the output of the final amplifier stage into a sinusoidal signal suitable for transmission as a wireless charging signal.

15. A method comprising:

generating, using an electronic control module, one or more first electromagnetic signals having a first frequency to be communicated to a transmitter antenna associated with the electronic control module;

transmitting, via a conducting cable, the one or more first electromagnetic signals to a driver module electrically coupled to the electronic control module;

compensating, using the driver module, for signal degradation due to transmission, associated with the one or more first electromagnetic signals;

transmitting, using the driver module, the one or more compensated first electromagnetic signals to the transmitter antenna;

transmitting, via the transmitter antenna, the received compensated first electromagnetic signals as a wireless charging signal to a receiver antenna wirelessly electrically coupled to the transmitter antenna;

transmitting, using the receiver antenna, the wireless charging signal, to an electronic lock module;

charging with the electronic lock module, using the wireless charging signal, a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the electronic lock module; and

using a bi-directional data communications link configured to transmit first data signals in a first direction from the electronic control module to the electronic lock module using the first electromagnetic signal having the first radio frequency, and second data signals in a second direction from the electronic lock module to the electronic control module using a second electromagnetic signal having a second radio frequency, the second radio frequency being different from the first radio frequency.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the driver module is configured to operate at a physical distance of one foot or less from the transmitter antenna.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic control module is disposed between the driver module and the transmitter antenna.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more of the electrical signals received by the driver module are substantially square wave signals that are degraded by transmission, and wherein the compensating includes restoring a degraded square wave signal into a substantially square wave signal.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the driver module comprises one or more drive transistors.

20. A method comprising:

generating, using an electronic control module, one or more electrical signals to be communicated to a transmitter antenna;

transmitting, via a conducting cable, the one or more electrical signals to a driver module electrically coupled to the electronic control module;

compensating, using the driver module, for signal degradation due to transmission, associated with the one or more electrical signals;

transmitting, using the driver module, the one or more compensated electrical signals to the transmitter antenna;

transmitting, via the transmitter antenna, the received compensated electrical signals as a wireless charging signal to a receiver antenna wirelessly electrically coupled to the transmitter antenna;

transmitting, using the receiver antenna, the wireless charging signal, to an electronic lock module; and

charging with the electronic lock module, using the wireless charging signal, a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the electronic lock module, wherein the driver module includes a squaring circuit configured to square the one or more electrical signals;

a class B push-pull amplifier configured to amplify the one or more electrical signals;

a final amplifier stage configured to amplify the one or more electrical signals; and

a resonant circuit.