Systems and methods for wireless charging

• US 10,418,856 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2016
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X Development LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: X Development LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Adolf, Brian, Liu, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Sun, Pinping
• Application Number:
  US15/353,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20180138748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

Systems and methods described herein may relate to wireless energy transfer between a transmitter and a receiver via resonant coupling. In example embodiments, a method includes identifying a receiver in a wireless power transmission system and identifying a transmitter in the wireless power transmission system. The method also includes determining a real-time per-unit offer corresponding to the identified receiver and determining a real-time per-unit request corresponding to the identified transmitter. The method yet further includes determining a real-time per-unit match based on the offer and the request. The method further includes, in response to determining the match, causing the transmitter to provide electrical energy to the receiver via a wireless resonant coupling link.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver coupled to the transmitter via a wireless resonant coupling link, wherein the transmitter is configured to provide electrical energy to the receiver via the wireless resonant coupling link;

a controller comprising at least one processor and a memory, wherein the processor executes instructions stored in the memory so as to carry out operations, the operations comprising;

carrying out an authentication protocol to authenticate the receiver;

identifying the receiver as part of the authentication protocol;

identifying the transmitter;

determining a real-time per-unit offer corresponding to the receiver;

determining a real-time per-unit request corresponding to the transmitter;

determining a real-time per-unit match based on the real-time per-unit offer and the real-time per-unit request; and

in response to determining the real-time per-unit match, causing the transmitter to provide the electrical energy to the receiver via the wireless resonant coupling link;

wherein determining the real-time per-unit match based on the real-time per-unit offer and the real-time per-unit request comprises prioritizing the real-time per-unit offer when an anticipated efficiency of power transfer from the transmitter to the receiver exceeds a threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein determining at least one of:

the real-time per-unit offer, the real-time per-unit request, or the real-time per-unit match is based on an auction process.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein determining at least one of:

the real-time per-unit offer, the real-time per-unit request, or the real-time per-unit match is further based on a supply-demand relationship.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a side-channel communication link, wherein the side-channel communication link is configured to provide a bi-directional communication link between the transmitter and the receiver.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein identifying the receiver or the transmitter is based on information received via the side-channel communication link.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the real-time per-unit offer is further based on at least one of:

a use context, a present need for electrical energy, an anticipated need for electrical energy, a desired price, or a pricing preference.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the real-time per-unit request is further based on at least one of:

an energy storage device level, a time of day, an amount of other connected receivers, a desired price, or a pricing preference.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein causing the transmitter to provide the electrical energy to the receiver is responsive to receiving notification of a payment based on the real-time per-unit match.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to determining the real-time per-unit match, providing a payment via at least one of:

a user account, an auto debit transfer, a periodic transfer, or a one-time transfer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving information indicative of a real-time transmission efficiency between the transmitter and the receiver, wherein determining at least one of the real-time per-unit offer or the real-time per-unit request is based on the received information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise causing at least one of the transmitter or the receiver to move so as to increase the real-time transmission efficiency between the transmitter and the receiver.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining an energy transfer rate, wherein causing the transmitter to provide the electrical energy to the receiver comprises causing the transmitter to provide the electrical energy at the determined energy transfer rate to the receiver.

13. A method comprising:

carrying out an authentication protocol to authenticate a receiver in a wireless power transmission system;

identifying the receiver as part of the authentication protocol;

identifying a transmitter in the wireless power transmission system;

determining a real-time per-unit offer corresponding to the identified receiver;

determining a real-time per-unit request corresponding to the identified transmitter;

determining a real-time per-unit match based on the real-time per-unit offer and the real-time per-unit request; and

in response to determining the real-time per-unit match, causing the transmitter to provide electrical energy to the receiver via a wireless resonant coupling link;

wherein determining the real-time per-unit match based on the real-time per-unit offer and the real-time per-unit request comprises prioritizing the real-time per-unit offer when an anticipated efficiency of power transfer from the transmitter to the receiver exceeds a threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining at least one of:

the real-time per-unit offer, the real-time per-unit request, or the real-time per-unit match is based on an auction process or a supply-demand relationship.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless power transmission system further comprises a side-channel communication link, wherein the side-channel communication link is configured to provide a bi-directional communication link between the transmitter and the receiver.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the transmitter is also part of the authentication protocol, and wherein authentication information is received via the side-channel communication link.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving information indicative of a real-time transmission efficiency between the transmitter and the receiver, wherein determining at least one of the real-time per-unit offer or the real-time per-unit request is based on the received information.

18. A method comprising:

determining a respective identity and a respective power need of each receiver of a plurality of receivers in a wireless power transmission system;

carrying out an authentication protocol to authenticate each receiver;

determining, based on the respective identity and respective power need, a real-time per-unit offer corresponding to each receiver;

determining a real-time per-unit request corresponding to a transmitter in the wireless power transmission system;

determining at least one real-time per-unit match based on the respective real-time per-unit offers and the real-time per-unit request; and

in response to determining the at least one real-time per-unit match, causing the transmitter to provide electrical energy to the at least one corresponding receiver via at least one wireless resonant coupling link;

wherein determining the at least one real-time per-unit match based on the respective real-time per-unit offers and the real-time per-unit request comprises prioritizing the respective real-time per-unit offers when an anticipated efficiency of power transfer from the transmitter to the receiver exceeds a threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the wireless power transmission system further comprises at least one side-channel communication link, wherein the at least one side-channel communication link is configured to provide a bi-directional communication link between the transmitter and the respective receivers.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein determining the respective identity and the respective power need of each receiver of the plurality of receivers is based on information received via the side-channel communication link.