Techniques for leveraging existing components of a device for wireless power transfer functionality

• US 10,164,484 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2016
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ossia, Inc.
• Inventors: Zeine, Hatem, Mayes, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Borroto, Alfonso Perez
• Application Number:
  US15/175,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20160359380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/318566 Comparators; Diagnosing the device under test
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Techniques are described herein for leveraging these existing components of electronic devices with wireless or internet connectivity to reduce cost, size and complexity of electronic devices while enabling wireless power transfer. The techniques described herein can also be utilized to new low cost dual-function devices that utilize one or more of the same components for both wireless connectively and wireless power transfer.

Claims

1. A method of leveraging existing components of an electronic device for wireless power reception in a wireless power delivery environment, the method comprising:

receiving, by a radio frequency (RF) communication interface component of the electronic device, wireless power delivery parameters from a retrodirective wireless power transmission system in the wireless power delivery environment,

wherein the RF communication interface is configured to communicate via a data communications protocol;

providing, by the RF communication interface component, the wireless power delivery parameters to an RF power interface component of the electronic device,

wherein the wireless power delivery parameters include beacon timing information;

responsive to receiving the wireless power delivery parameters, configuring, by the RF power interface component, a timing interface component according to at least the beacon timing information;

directing, by the RF power interface component, one or more antennas of the electronic device to transmit a beacon signal to the retrodirective wireless power transmission system responsive to a beacon notification generated by the timing interface component;

receiving, by the RF communication interface component, directed wireless power from the wireless power transmission system responsive to transmitting the beacon signal; and

processing, by the RF power interface, the directed wireless power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the beacon notification is generated by the timing interface component.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a power reception notification, directing, by the RF communication interface component, one or more antennas of the electronic device to anticipate reception of wireless power from the retrodirective wireless power transmission system during an upcoming time cycle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the power reception notification is generated by the timing interface component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless power delivery parameters further include receiving power information or code information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data communications protocol is a low power communications protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the directed power is used to operate the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the directed power is used to charge a battery of the electronic device.

9. An electronic device configured to leverage existing components for wireless power reception in a wireless power delivery environment, the electronic device comprising:

one or more antennas;

a radio frequency (RF) communication interface component configured to transmit and receive communications over the one or more antennas via a data communications protocol,

wherein the communications include wireless power delivery parameters received from a retrodirective wireless power transmission system in the wireless power delivery environment, and

wherein the wireless power delivery parameters include beacon timing information;

a RF power interface component coupled to the RF communication interface, the RF power interface configured to receive and process the wireless power delivery parameters;

a timing interface component coupled to the RF power interface, the timing interface configured to use the beacon timing information to generate and send a beacon notification to the RF power interface component,

wherein the RF communication interface component is further configured to;

direct the one or more antennas to transmit the beacon signal to the retrodirective wireless power transmission system responsive to the beacon notification,

receive directed wireless power from the retrodirective wireless power transmission system responsive to transmitting the beacon signal, and

provide the received power to the RF power interface component.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the RF communication interface component is further configured to provide the wireless power delivery parameters to the RF power interface component.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the RF power interface component is configured to, responsive to receiving the wireless power delivery parameters, configure the timing interface component according to at least one of the wireless power delivery parameters.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the wireless power delivery parameters include receiving power information and code information.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the data communications protocol is a low power communications protocol.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a battery, wherein the RF power interface component is configured to charge the battery with the directed power.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the RF power interface component is configured to process the directed power and provide the power to operate the electronic device.

16. A wireless receiver component for an electronic device, the receiver component comprising:

a power interface component, the power interface component configured to receive and process wireless power delivery parameters and direct one or more antennas to transmit beacons responsive to beacon notifications,

wherein the wireless power delivery parameters include beacon timing information;

a timing interface component coupled to the power interface, the timing interface configured to use the beacon timing information to generate and send the beacon notifications to the power interface component,

wherein the power interface component is further configured to process directed wireless power received by a leveraged communication interface component of the electronic device responsive to transmitting the beacon signals.

17. The wireless receiver component of claim 16, wherein responsive to a beacon notification, the power interface component is configured to direct one or more antennas of the electronic device to transmit a beacon signal to the retrodirective wireless power transmission system.

18. The wireless receiver component of claim 16, wherein the directed power is used to operate the electronic device or to charge a battery of the electronic device.

19. The wireless receiver component of claim 16, wherein the power interface component is further configured to, responsive to receiving the wireless power delivery parameters, configure the timing interface component according to at least one of the wireless power delivery parameters.