Pulse transmission method

• US 20070149162A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Powercast, Llc
• Original Assignee: Powercast, Llc
• Inventors: Harrist, Daniel, Shearer, John, Greene, Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/651,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20070149162A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.100
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0408 with power amplifiers

Abstract

Disclosed is a transmitter for transmitting power wirelessly to a receiver to power a load comprises a pulse generator for producing pulses of power. The transmitter comprises a power sensor which can sense when other transmitters are transmitting in order for the generator to transmit the pulses at the appropriate time. Disclosed is a power sensor for a pulse generator of a transmitter which can sense when other transmitters are transmitting in order for the generator to transmit the pulses at the appropriate time. Disclosed is a system for power transmission. Disclosed is a method for transmitting power to a receiver to power a load. Disclosed is an apparatus for transmitting power to a receiver to power a load. Disclosed is a system for power transmission.

Claims

1. A transmitter for transmitting power wirelessly to a receiver to power a load comprising:

a pulse generator for producing pulses of power; and

a power sensor which can sense when other transmitters are transmitting in order for the generator to transmit the pulses at the appropriate time.

2. A transmitter as described in claim 1 wherein the power sensor is in communication with the pulse generator.

3. A transmitter as described in claim 1 wherein the power sensor is in communication with a microcontroller controlling the pulse generator.

4. A transmitter as described in claim 1 wherein the power sensor is in communication with an analog to digital converter in communication with a microcontroller controlling the pulse generator.

18. A transmitter as described in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator includes a frequency generator having an output, and an amplifier in communication with the frequency generator.

19. A transmitter as described in claim 18 including an enabler which controls the frequency generator or the amplifier to form the pulses.

20. A transmitter as described in claim 19 wherein the enabler defines a time duration between pulses.

21. A transmitter as described in claim 20 wherein the time duration is greater than one-half of one cycle of the frequency generator output.

22. The transmitter as described in claim 21 wherein the power of the transmitted pulses is equivalent to an average power of a continuous wave power transmission system.

23. A transmitter as described in claim 22 wherein the average power Pavg of the pulses is determined by

$P_{\mathrm{AVG}}=\frac{P_{\mathrm{PEAK}}}{}$

( T PULSE ) T PERIOD .

24. A transmitter as described in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator produces a continuous amount of power between pulses.

25. A transmitter as described in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator produces pulses at different output frequencies sequentially.

26. A transmitter as described in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator produces pulses at different amplitudes.

27. A transmitter as described in claim 26 wherein the pulse generator includes a plurality of frequency generators;

an amplifier; and

a frequency selector in communication with the frequency generators and the amplifier, that determines and routes the correct frequency from the frequency generators to the amplifier.

28. A transmitter as described in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator transmits data between the pulses.

29. A transmitter as described in claim 1 wherein the pulse generator transmits data in the pulses.

30. A transmitter as described in claim 18 including a gain control which controls the frequency generator or the amplifier to form the pulses.

31. A transmitter as described in claim 30 wherein the gain control defines a time duration between pulses.

5. A power sensor for a pulse generator of a transmitter which can sense when other transmitters are transmitting in order for the generator to transmit the pulses at the appropriate time comprising:

an antenna; and

an analog to digital converter or a voltage comparator or an input pin.

6. A system for power transmission comprising:

a transmitter which transmits pulses of power and which senses when other transmitters are transmitting in order for the generator to transmit the pulses at the appropriate time; and

a receiver which receives the pulses of power transmitted by the power transmitter to power a load.

7. A system as described in claim 6 wherein the receiver transmits data when the transmitter is not transmitting a pulse.

8. A method for transmitting power to a receiver to power a load comprising the steps of:

producing pulses of power with a pulse generator; and

transmitting the pulses based on a power sensor which can sense when other transmitters are transmitting in order for the generator to transmit the pulses at the appropriate time.

9. An apparatus for transmitting power to a receiver to power a load comprising:

a plurality of transmitters, each of which produce pulses of power and each of which having an associated sensor that can sense when the transmitters are producing the pulses so the associated transmitter can transmit the pulses at the appropriate time which are received by the receiver to power the load.

10. A method for transmitting power to a receiver to power a load comprising the steps of:

producing pulses of power from a plurality of transmitters each having an associated sensor that can sense when the transmitters are producing the pulses so the associated transmitter can transmit the pulses at the appropriate time which are received by the receiver to power the load.

11. A system for power transmission comprising:

a transmitter which transmits pulses of power having an average transmitted power; and

a receiver which receives the pulses of power transmitted by the power transmitter to power a load, the pulses produced by the transmitter yielding voltages at the receiver which are higher than continuous-wave systems having the same average transmitted power as the transmitter.

12. A system for power transmission comprising:

a transmitter which transmits pulses of power; and

a receiver adapted to be disposed in a patient which receives the pulses of power transmitted by the power transmitter to power a load.

13. A system for power transmission comprising:

a transmitter which transmits pulses of power having an average transmitted power; and

a receiver which receives the pulses of power transmitted by the power transmitter to power a load, the pulses produced by the transmitter yielding instantaneous open circuit voltages at the receiver which are higher than continuous-wave systems having the same average transmitted power as the transmitter enabling battery recharging at greater distance.

14. A system for power transmission comprising:

a transmitter which transmits pulses of power having an average transmitted power; and

a receiver which receives the pulses of power transmitted by the power transmitter to power a load, the pulses produced by the transmitter yielding instantaneous open circuit voltages at the receiver which are higher than continuous-wave systems having the same average transmitted power as the transmitter enabling direct powering at greater distance.

15. A system for power transmission comprising:

a transmitter which transmits pulses of power; and

a receiver which receives the pulses of power transmitted by the power transmitter to power a load and transmits data when the transmitter is not transmitting a pulse.

16. A method for transmitting power wirelessly to a receiver comprising the steps of:

sensing power by an RF power sensor; and

transmitting power wirelessly by a transmitter if the power sensed by the sensor is below a threshold.

17. A method as described in claim 16 including the step of waiting to transmit power wirelessly by the transmitter if the power sensed by the sensor is above the threshold.

32. A system for power transmission comprising:

a transmitter that produces pulses of power; and

a receiver located inside or behind an attenuating medium, wherein the receiver receives the pulses of power in order to power a load.

33. A system for power transmission comprising:

a transmitter that produces output power having an average value; and

a receiver that receives the output power in order to power a load, wherein the load is powered at distances greater than those obtained by a continuous-wave system at an average power level that is the same as the average value.

34. A system as described in claim 33 wherein the load is a battery, a circuit, or an LED.

35. A system for power transmission comprising:

a transmitter which transmits pulses of power; and

a receiver which receives the pulses of power transmitted by the transmitter to power a load, wherein the load has predetermined power requirements, and the transmitter meets the pre-determined power requirements using less average output power than a transmitter outputting a fixed amount of power.

36. A receiver which wirelessly receives pulses of power comprising:

a rectifier which receives the pulses of power, the pulses yielding voltages at the receiver which are higher than continuous-wave power having the same average power as the pulses;

a storage device in electrical communication with the rectifier which is powered by the rectifier and provides a predetermined continuous level of power; and

a load in electrical communication with the storage device and receiving power from the storage device.

37. A receiver which wirelessly receives pulses of power comprising:

a rectifier which receives the pulses of power, the pulses yielding instantaneous open circuit voltages at the receiver which are higher than continuous-wave power having the same average power as the pulses enabling battery recharging at greater distance; and

a battery in electrical communication with the rectifier and receiving power from the rectifier.

38. A receiver which wirelessly receives pulses of power comprising:

a rectifier which receives the pulses of power, the pulses yielding instantaneous open circuit voltages at the receiver which are higher than continuous-wave power having the same average power as the pulses enabling direct powering at greater distance;

a storage device in electrical communication with the rectifier which is powered by the rectifier and provides a predetermined continuous level of power; and

a load in electrical communication with the storage device and receiving power from the storage device.

39. A method for using pulses of power received wirelessly by a receiver comprising the steps of:

receiving the pulses of power by a rectifier of the receiver;

providing by the rectifier energy from the pulses of power; and

powering a load with the energy from the rectifier.