METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED WIRELESS POWER AND DATA COMMUNICATION

• US 20100142509A1
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ngo, Chiu, Zhu, Chunhui
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/343
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46

Abstract

A method and system of integrated wireless power and data transmission in a wireless device having a data communication circuit for wireless data communication and a power reception circuit including a charge storage unit. The wireless device is tuned to receive wireless RF signals in a certain frequency band via an antenna. Switching between power reception mode and data communication mode is detected. Received RF signal electrical charge is selectively distributed to the power reception circuit and/or the data communication circuit based on the switching mode and/or strength of the RF signal.

Claims

1. A method of integrated wireless power and data transmission, the method comprising, in a wireless device comprising a data communication circuit for wireless data communication and a power reception circuit including a charge storage unit:

tuning to receive wireless RF signals in a certain frequency band via an antenna;

switching between power reception mode and data communication mode; and

selectively distributing received RF signal electrical charge to the power reception circuit and/or the data communication circuit based on the switching mode and/or strength of the RF signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selectively distributing received RF signal electrical charge further comprises, in power reception mode distributing received RF signal electrical charge to the power reception circuit only to charge the charge storage unit.

3. The method of claim 2 further including turning the data communication circuit off.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein selectively distributing received RF signal electrical charge further comprises, in data communication mode:

determining strength of the RF signal; and

if the RF signal strength is less than a threshold, then distributing the RF signal electrical charge to the data communication circuit only to operate the data communication circuit.

5. The method of claim 4 further including turning the power reception circuit off.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein selectively distributing received RF signal electrical charge in data communication mode further comprises:

if the RF signal strength is greater than a threshold, then splitting distribution of the RF signal electrical charge between the data communication circuit and the power reception circuit.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein in data communication mode splitting distribution of the RF signal electrical charge further comprises splitting distribution of the RF signal electrical charge between the data communication circuit and the power reception circuit such that received RF signal electrical charge in excess of data communication circuit operational needs is distributed to the power reception circuit to charge the charge storage unit.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating control signals for switching the wireless device between a power reception mode and a data communication mode, the control signals providing switching information including information about which of the modes to switch to, and information about timing of the switching;

wherein in the data communication mode, the wireless device processes an RF transmission from a sending wireless device as a data communication, and in the power reception mode the receiving wireless device processes the RF transmission as energy radiation.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device comprises multiple antennas, such that one or more of the multiple antennas are used for data communication while one or more other antennas of the multiple antennas are used for power transmission/reception, simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device comprises multiple antennas, such that the multiple antennas operate for data communication or power transmission/reception, at a time.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the split control module is further configured for, in power reception mode, distributing received RF signal electrical charge to the power reception circuit only to charge the charge storage unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a power control module configured for turning the data communication circuit off.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a signal strength detector configured for detecting the strength of the received RF signal, wherein the split control module is further configured for, in data communication mode, if the RF signal strength is less than a threshold, then distributing the RF signal electrical charge to the data communication circuit only to operate the data communication circuit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a power control module configured for turning the power reception circuit off.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the split control module is further configured for, in data communication mode, if the RF signal strength is greater than a threshold, then splitting distribution of the RF signal electrical charge between the data communication circuit and the power reception circuit.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the split control module is further configured for, in data communication mode, splitting distribution of the RF signal electrical charge between the data communication circuit and the power reception circuit such that received RF signal electrical charge in excess of data communication circuit operational needs is distributed to the power reception circuit to charge the charge storage unit.

11. An apparatus for integrated wireless power and data transmission using radio frequency (RF) signals in a wireless network, comprising:

a tuner for tuning to receive wireless RF signals in a certain frequency band via an antenna;

a detection module configured for switching between power reception mode and

data communication mode; and

a split control module configured for selectively distributing received RF signal electrical charge to the power reception circuit and/or the data communication circuit based on the switching mode and/or strength of the RF signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a controller function configured for generating control signals for switching the wireless device between a power reception mode and a data communication mode, the control signals providing switching information including information about which of the modes to switch to, and information about timing of the switching;

wherein in the data communication mode, the receiving wireless device processes an RF transmission from a sending wireless device as a data communication, and in the power reception mode the receiving wireless device processes the RF transmission as energy radiation.

19. A wireless device, comprising:

a data communication circuit for wireless data communication;

a power reception circuit including a charge storage unit;

an interface module configured for integrated wireless power and data transmission using radio frequency (RF) signals in a wireless network, comprising;

a tuner for tuning to receive wireless RF signals in a certain frequency band via an antenna;

a detection module configured for switching between power reception mode and data communication mode; and

a split control module configured for selectively distributing received RF signal electrical charge to the power reception circuit and/or the data communication circuit based on the switching mode and/or strength of the RF signal.

20. The wireless device of claim 19 wherein:

the split control module is further configured for, in power reception mode, distributing received RF signal electrical charge to the power reception circuit only to charge the charge storage unit.

21. The wireless device of claim 20 further comprising a signal strength detector configured for detecting the strength of the received RF signal, wherein the split control module is further configured for, in data communication mode, if the RF signal strength is less than a threshold, then distributing the RF signal electrical charge to the data communication circuit only to operate the data communication circuit.

22. The wireless device of claim 21 wherein the split control module is further configured for, in data communication mode:

if the RF signal strength is greater than a threshold, then splitting distribution of the RF signal electrical charge between the data communication circuit and the power reception circuit, such that received RF signal electrical charge in excess of data communication circuit operational needs is distributed to the power reception circuit to charge the charge storage unit

23. The wireless device of claim 22 further comprising:

a wireless communication stack cross-layer function configured for generating control signals for switching the wireless device between a power reception mode and a data communication mode, the control signals providing switching information including information about which of the modes to switch to, and information about timing of the switching;

wherein in the data communication mode, the receiving wireless device processes an RF transmission from a sending wireless device as a data communication, and in the power reception mode the receiving wireless device processes the RF transmission as energy radiation.

24. A wireless communication system for radio frequency (RF) power transmission, comprising:

multiple wireless devices configured for forming a wireless network;

a wireless communication stack cross-layer function configured for generating control signals for switching each wireless device between a power reception mode and a data communication mode, the control signals providing switching information including information about which of the modes to switch to, and information about timing of the switching, wherein in the data communication mode, the receiving wireless device processes an RF transmission from a sending wireless device as a data communication, and in the power reception mode the receiving wireless device processes the RF transmission as energy radiation;

one of the wireless devices comprising;

a data communication circuit for wireless data communication;

a power reception circuit including a charge storage unit;

an interface module configured for integrated wireless power and data transmission using radio frequency (RF) signals in a wireless network, comprising;

a tuner for tuning to receive wireless RF signals in a certain frequency band via an antenna;

a detection module configured for switching between power reception mode and data communication mode; and

a split control module configured for selectively distributing received RF signal electrical charge to the power reception circuit and/or the data communication circuit based on the switching mode and/or strength of the RF signal.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the split control module is further configured for, in power reception mode, distributing received RF signal electrical charge to the power reception circuit only to charge the charge storage unit.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising a signal strength detector configured for detecting the strength of the received RF signal, wherein the split control module is further configured for, in data communication mode:

if the RF signal strength is less than a threshold, then distributing the RF signal electrical charge to the data communication circuit only to operate the data communication circuit.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the split control module is further configured for, in data communication mode:

if the RF signal strength is greater than a threshold, then splitting distribution of the RF signal electrical charge between the data communication circuit and the power reception circuit, such that received RF signal electrical charge in excess of data communication circuit operational needs is distributed to the power reception circuit to charge the charge storage unit.