Systems and methods for wireless power transfer in multipath vehicle environments
First Claim
1. A wireless power transmission system configured for deployment in a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an antenna array having multiple antennas deployed within an interior of a vehicle; and
control circuitry operatively coupled to the multiple antennas, the control circuitry configured to;
detect, at the multiple antennas of the antenna array, a signal initiated by a device within the vehicle, wherein the signal is received at the multiple antennas over multiple paths;
determine one or more time or phase offsets for each of the multiple antennas;
tune parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the one or more time or phase offsets;
in accordance with the tuned parameters, direct at least a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a first wireless power signal to the device over one or more of the multiple paths;
access one or more fixed time or phase offsets for each of the multiple antennas for delivering power to a non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle;
re-tune the parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the one or more fixed time or phase offsets; and
in accordance with the re-tuned parameters, direct at least a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a second wireless power signal to the non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle over one or more paths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for leveraging multipath wireless transmissions for high data rate communication and charging devices within multipath vehicle environments are described. The techniques include deploying a wireless charger, including an array of antennas, within a vehicle interior. The wireless charger may detect an incoming signal from a client device. Each antenna in the array may determine an offset for the received signal, which is then used to tune parameters for each antenna individually. Upon transmission, the resulting signal is directionally biased toward the least lossy pathways between the device and the charger. These pathways avoid passengers and other sources of signal attenuation. Thus, for a given total power envelope, a greater total signal amplitude may be delivered to the device, with reduced exposure to any occupants of the vehicle. Additionally, the interior of the vehicle may be provisioned to help improve multipath focusing of transmissions.
11 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A wireless power transmission system configured for deployment in a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an antenna array having multiple antennas deployed within an interior of a vehicle; and control circuitry operatively coupled to the multiple antennas, the control circuitry configured to; detect, at the multiple antennas of the antenna array, a signal initiated by a device within the vehicle, wherein the signal is received at the multiple antennas over multiple paths; determine one or more time or phase offsets for each of the multiple antennas; tune parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the one or more time or phase offsets; in accordance with the tuned parameters, direct at least a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a first wireless power signal to the device over one or more of the multiple paths; access one or more fixed time or phase offsets for each of the multiple antennas for delivering power to a non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle; re-tune the parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the one or more fixed time or phase offsets; and in accordance with the re-tuned parameters, direct at least a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a second wireless power signal to the non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle over one or more paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle comprising:
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a propulsion system configured to propel the vehicle; and a wireless power transmission system deployed within an interior of the vehicle, the wireless power transmission system including; multiple antennas, and control circuitry operatively coupled to the multiple antennas, the control circuitry configured to; detect, at the multiple antennas, a signal initiated by a device within the vehicle, wherein the signal is received at the multiple antennas over multiple paths, determine one or more time or phase offsets for each of the multiple antennas, tune parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the one or more time or phase offsets, in accordance with the tuned parameters, direct at east a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a first wireless power signal to the device over one or more of the multiple paths, re-tune the parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on one or more fixed time or phase offsets; and in accordance with the re-tuned parameters, direct at least a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a second wireless power signal to a non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle over one or more paths. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a wireless power transmission system deployed within an interior of a vehicle for transmitting wireless energy in a multipath vehicle environment, the method comprising:
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detecting, at multiple antennas of the wireless power transmission system, a signal initiated by a device within a vehicle, wherein the signal is received over multiple paths within the multipath vehicle environment; determining one or more offsets of the signal for at least a first subset of the multiple antennas, wherein the one or more offsets include time and phase offsets; tuning parameters for each antenna of the first subset of the multiple antennas based on the one or more offsets; transmitting a first wireless power signal in accordance with the tuned parameters of at least the first subset of the multiple antennas; tuning parameters for each antenna of a second subset of the multiple antennas based on one or more fixed offsets, wherein the one or more fixed offsets include time and phase offsets; and transmitting a second wireless power signal in accordance with the tuned parameters of at least the second subset of the multiple antennas to a non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle over one or more paths. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification