Multi-use wireless power and data system

• US 10,574,297 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2017
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triune Ip, LLC (Semtech Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Triune Ip, LLC (Semtech Corporation)
• Inventors: Moore, Kenneth E., Stingu, Petru Emanuel, Teggatz, Ross E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Hal
• Application Number:
  US15/729,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20180034506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• 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

A wireless device is disclosed that includes an antenna system comprising at least one inductive element and two or more capacitive elements. A switching component configured to change a circuit configuration of the capacitive elements. A controller configured to transmit a signal using the antenna system and to receive a response from a first device, to determine a communications protocol associated with the first device and to change a configuration of the antenna system in response to the detected communications protocol by actuating the switching component.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

an antenna system comprising at least one inductive element and two or more capacitive elements;

a switching component configured to change a circuit configuration of the capacitive elements; and

a controller configured to transmit a signal using the antenna system and to receive a response from a first device, to determine a communications protocol associated with the first device and to change a configuration of the antenna system in response to the determined communications protocol by actuating the switching component, wherein the antenna system is configured to transmit a first signal in accordance with a first protocol and to transmit a second signal in accordance with a second protocol if no response is received after a predetermined period of time.

2. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to detect whether the first device is within proximity to the controller and to transmit the first signal or the second signal in response to the detection.

3. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to cause the antenna system to transmit the first signal, to wait a predetermined period of time for a response, and then to transmit the second signal if no response is received.

4. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to cause the antenna system to transmit additional signals in accordance with additional protocols until a response is received.

5. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to maximize a power transfer or efficiency by tuning a transmitting entity and a receiving entity to each resonate at a frequency.

6. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein the switching component comprises one or more high-bandwidth, low-loss switches, and further comprising a device configured to measure one of a voltage, a current or a power in the first device, and wherein the controller is configured to actuate the switches as a function of the measured voltage, current or power in the first device.

7. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to transmit a signal that can generate a response in accordance with multiple different protocols.

8. A method comprising:

transmitting a signal to an antenna system comprising at least one inductive element and two or more capacitive elements;

receiving a response from a first device;

determining a communications protocol associated with the first device;

changing a configuration of the antenna system in response to the determined communications protocol by actuating a switching component configured to change a circuit configuration of the capacitive elements;

transmitting a first signal in accordance with a first protocol;

waiting a predetermined period of time for a response; and

transmitting a second signal in accordance with a second protocol if no response is received.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

detecting whether the first device is within proximity to the controller; and

transmitting the first signal or the second signal in response to the detection.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting a first data signal;

waiting a predetermined period of time for a response; and

transmitting a second data signal if no response is received.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising transmitting additional signals in accordance with additional protocols until a response is received.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising maximizing a power transfer or efficiency by tuning a transmitting entity and a receiving entity to each resonate at a frequency.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the switching component comprises one or more high-bandwidth, low-loss switches, and further comprising:

measuring one of a voltage, a current or a power in the first device; and

actuating the switches as a function of the measured voltage, current or power in the first device.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising transmitting a signal that can cause a response to be generated in accordance with multiple different protocols.

15. A method comprising:

transmitting a signal to an antenna system comprising at least one inductive element and two or more capacitive elements;

receiving a response from a first device as a function of the signal;

determining a communications protocol associated with the first device;

changing a configuration of the antenna system in response to the determined communications protocol by automatically changing a circuit configuration of the antenna system;

transmitting a first signal in accordance with a first protocol;

waiting a predetermined period of time for a response; and

transmitting a second signal in accordance with a second protocol if no response is received.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising detecting whether the first device is within proximity to the controller.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising transmitting the first signal or the second signal in response to the detection.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising transmitting a first data signal.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising waiting a predetermined period of time for a response to the first data signal.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising transmitting a second data signal if no response to the first data signal is received.