REMOTE POWER CHARGING OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20060113955A1
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick Nunally
• Original Assignee: Patrick Nunally
• Inventors: Nunally, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,443,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

A wireless charging and power system for electronic devices and method for communicating power to a power receiver employing wireless energy transmission are disclosed. The remote charging system includes a power transmission unit, which transmits energy as a plurality of constructive transmitted frequencies, and a power receiver system that receives the transmitted frequencies. The power receiver system is preferably incorporated in a device and includes an energy receptor capable of receiving the wireless transmitted energy and transferring the energy from the transmitted frequencies to an energy storage device included in the device. The power transmission unit receives and tracks a power request signal from the power receiver system to track the power receiver system location during energy transmission. Data streams may be incorporated into the wireless signals of the remote charging system, allowing the remote charging system to function as a communications pathway as well as a power delivery system.

Claims

1. A method of providing electrical power to an electronic device, the method comprising:

transmitting a first energy signal to the electronic device;

transmitting one or more additional energy signals to the electronic device, wherein each of the one or more additional energy signals is transmitted at a frequency that is different than the first energy signal; and

transmitting a feedback signal from the electronic device indicating whether the one or more additional energy signals constructively interferes with the first energy signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy signal provides electrical power to the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy signal and the one or more additional energy signals provide electrical power to the electronic device.

25. The wireless recharge system of claim 1, wherein the power transmission system transmits the -wireless energy signal only after the two-way communication link is established.

4. A system for providing electrical power to an electronic device, the system comprising:

a power transmission unit configured to transmit one or more frequencies of a energy signal;

a power receiving module configured to receive the one or more frequencies of the energy signal;

a feedback module configured to transmit a feedback signal to the power transmission unit indicating a level of constructive interference in the received one or more frequencies of the energy signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the power transmission unit is configured to receive the feedback signal and adjust a frequency of one of the one or more frequencies of energy signals in response to the feedback signal.

6. A method of transmitting a wireless energy signal from a power transmission unit, the method comprising:

(a) transmitting a first frequency energy signal and a second frequency energy signal;

(b) determining if the first frequency and second frequency energy signals have constructively combined at a power receiving unit;

(c) in response to determining that the first frequency and second frequency energy signals have not constructively combined at the power receiving unit, adjusting a value of the second frequency and returning to step (a); and

(d) in response to determining that the first frequency and second frequency energy signals have constructively combined at the power receiving unit, continuing to transmit the first frequency and the second frequency energy signals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the act of determining is based at least partly upon a feedback signal received from the power receiving unit.

8. A method of receiving a wireless energy signal at a power receiving unit, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a first frequency energy signal and a second frequency energy signal;

(b) determining if a power level of the first frequency energy signal and the second frequency energy signal is greater than a power level of the first frequency energy signal;

(c) in response to determining that the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals is not greater than the power level of the first frequency energy signal, returning to step (a); and

(d) in response to determining that the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals is greater than the power level of the first frequency energy signal, transmitting a feedback signal to a power transmission unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the feedback signal indicates that the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals is greater than the power level of the first frequency energy signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the feedback signal comprises an indication of the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein in response to determining that the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals is not greater than the power level of the first frequency energy signal, transmitting to the power transmission unit a feedback signal indicating that the power level has not increased.

12. A method of charging a battery of a portable device, the method comprising:

(a) transmitting a charge request from the portable device to a charge device located remote to the portable device;

(b) transmitting a first energy signal from the charge device;

(c) receiving at the portable device the first energy signal;

(d) converting the first energy signal to an energy form that may be stored in the battery of the portable device;

(e) transmitting an acknowledgment signal from the portable device to the charge device, wherein the acknowledgment signal indicates that the first energy signal has been received;

(f) sequentially transmitting a plurality of additional energy signals from the charge device concurrently with transmission of the first energy signal, wherein each of the additional energy signals is transmitted at a different frequency;

(g) transmitting from the portable device to the charge device a signal indicating that one of the additional energy signals has constructively interfered with the first energy signal; and

(h) stopping sequential transmission of the additional energy signals and transmitting from the charge device to the portable device the one of the plurality of energy signals.

13. A wireless recharge system for electronic equipment comprising:

a power source;

a wireless energy signal unit operably connected to the power source, the power transmission unit comprising;

a power module configured to transmit a wireless energy signal comprising one or more energy signals transmitted at different frequencies;

a control module operably connected to the power module, the control module responsive to a request to activate the power module; and

a first power receiver system comprising;

a power receiving module configured to receive at least a portion of the wireless energy signal;

an energy storage module;

an energy conversion module configured to transform the wireless energy signal to an energy form that may be stored in the energy storage module;

a power usage module operatively coupled to the energy storage module and configured to detect a quantity of power stored in the energy storage module; and

a feedback module configured to communicate a feedback signal to the power transmission unit indicating a quantity of energy received at the first power receiving module and indicating a quantity of energy stored in the energy storage module.

14. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, wherein the feedback module is configured to communicate a power request signal to the power transmission unit when the quantity of energy stored in the energy storage module is less than a predetermined level.

15. The wireless recharge system of claim 14, wherein the feedback module is configured to terminate the power request signal when the quantity of energy stored in the energy storage module is greater than or equal to the predetermined level.

16. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, wherein the power transmission unit further comprises a signal feedback module configured to identify an approximate origin of the power request signal based at least upon the feedback signal from the first power receiver.

17. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, further comprising a second power receiver system having a second power receiving module configured to receive at least a second portion of the wireless energy signal, wherein the power transmission unit transmits the wireless energy signal to the first power receiving module and the second power receiving module.

18. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more energy signals has a discrete frequency.

19. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, wherein the power transmission unit transmits a first discrete frequency energy signal and, in response to receipt of a verification indication from the first power receiver system, the power transmission unit transmits a second discrete frequency energy signal.

20. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, wherein the power transmission unit comprises a two way fuse for terminating transmission of the wireless energy signal after a predefined quantity of energy has been transmitted without a corresponding verification signal from the first power receiver.

21. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, further comprising a pathway sensor at least partially located in a path of the wireless energy signal, wherein the pathway sensor is configured to terminate transmission of the power transmission in response to transmission of a predefined amount of energy without a corresponding verification signal from the first power receiver.

22. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, wherein the power receiving module comprises a plurality of energy receptors configured to receive the wireless energy signal.

23. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, wherein the power request signal is a general broadcast signal.

24. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, further comprising a two way communication link between the power transmission unit and the first power receiver system.

26. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, wherein a frequency of the one or more energy signals is selected from the group comprising:

below audible detection, at audible detection, and above audible detection.

27. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, comprising a proximity detector arranged to detect an object within a security zone adjacent the power receiving module, the proximity detector configured to end transmission of the power request signal when an object is detected in the security zone.

28. The wireless recharge system of claim 27, wherein the proximity detector is selected from the group consisting of a motion detector and a translocator signal.

29. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, further comprising an electrical device coupled to the power receiver system and configured to receive energy from the energy conversion module.

30. The wireless recharge system of claim 13, further comprising one or more additional power transmission units, wherein the power transmission unit and the one or more additional power transmission units are disposed in a single housing.

31. A wireless recharge and communication system comprising:

an electronic device including a first information signal receiver and decoder;

a combination power transmitter and communication unit for wirelessly transmitting a constructive wireless energy signal and a first information signal to the first information signal receiver, wherein the received first information signal is decoded by the decoder.

32. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 31, wherein the electronic device is configured to transmit a second information signal and the combination power transmitter and communication unit further comprises a second information signal receiver for receiving and decoding the second information signal.

33. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 32, wherein the electronic device is a cell phone and the second information signal comprises voice communications.

34. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 32, wherein the electronic device is a computer and the second information signal comprises data computer related data.

35. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 31, wherein the electronic device is a medical monitoring device.

36. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 31, wherein the electronic device is a cell phone.

37. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 31, wherein the electronic device is a remote control.

38. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 31, wherein the electronic device is a multimedia device.

39. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 32, wherein the first and second information signals provide a bi-directional communication link between the combination power transmitter and communication unit and the electronic device.

40. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 32, wherein a communication interface connects an external signal source to the combination power transmitter and communication unit and, the first information signal originates from the signal source, and the second information signal is sent to the signal source.

41. The wireless recharge and communication system of claim 32, wherein the combination power transmitter and communication unit further comprises a translocator and the second information signal comprises a translocator signal.

42. A method for wirelessly recharging a device incorporating a power receiver system having a power receiving module, the method comprising:

determining a stored quantity indicative of a quantity of energy stored in the device;

determining a consumed quantity indicative of a quantity of energy consumed by the device;

transmitting a power request signal from the device in response to determining that a ratio of the stored quantity to the consumed quantity is less that a predetermined threshold;

transmitting a wireless energy signal from a first power transmission unit to the power receiving module in response to receiving the power request signal;

stopping transmission of the power request signal from the device in response to determining that the ratio of the stored quantity to the consumed quantity is more than another predetermined threshold; and

ending transmission of the wireless energy signal when the power request signal is stopped.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising stopping transmission of the wireless energy signal in response to interruption of the power request signal.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of transmitting a power request signal comprises transmitting a data stream.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising stopping transmission of the power transmission after a predetermined amount of energy has been transmitted.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising transmitting an acknowledgment receipt to the power transmission unit and starting transmission of the wireless energy signal for a subsequent predetermined amount of energy.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the wireless energy signal comprises two or more discrete frequency transmissions each delivering an additive amount of energy.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the power receiving module is moving relative to the first power transmission unit, the method further comprising tracking a location of the power request signal.

49. A system for providing electrical power to an electronic device, the system comprising:

means for transmitting a first energy signal to the electronic device;

means for transmitting one or more additional energy signals to the electronic device, wherein each of the one or more additional energy signals is transmitted at a frequency that is different than the first energy signal; and

means for transmitting a feedback signal from the electronic device indicating whether the one or more additional energy signals constructively interferes with the first energy signal.

50. A system for wirelessly recharging a device incorporating a power receiver system having a power receiving module, the system comprising:

means for determining a stored quantity indicative of a quantity of energy stored in the device;

means for determining a consumed quantity indicative of a quantity of energy consumed by the device;

means for transmitting a power request signal from the device in response to determining that a ratio of the stored quantity to the consumed quantity is less that a predetermined threshold;

means for transmitting a wireless energy signal from a first power transmission unit to the power receiving module in response to receiving the power request signal;

means for stopping transmission of the power request signal from the device in response to determining that the ratio of the stored quantity to the consumed quantity is more than another predetermined threshold; and

means for ending transmission of the wireless energy signal when the power request signal is stopped.

51. A method of providing electrical power to an electronic device, the method comprising:

transmitting a first energy signal to the electronic device;

transmitting one or more additional energy signals to the electronic device, wherein each of the one or more additional energy signals is transmitted at a phase that is different than the first energy signal; and

transmitting a feedback signal from the electronic device indicating whether the one or more additional energy signals constructively interferes with the first energy signal.

52. A system for providing electrical power to an electronic device, the system comprising:

a power transmission unit configured to transmit one or more phases of an energy signal;

a power receiving module configured to receive the one or more phases of the energy signal; and

a feedback module configured to transmit a feedback signal to the power transmission unit indicating a level of constructive interference in the received one or more frequencies of the energy signal.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the power transmission unit is further configured to transmit one or more frequencies of the energy signal and the power receiving module is configured to receive the one or more frequencies of the energy signal.