RF POWERED SPECIALTY LIGHTING, MOTION, SOUND

• US 20110148347A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Original Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Inventors: Greene, Charles E., Harrist, Daniel W., McElhinny, Michael Thomas, Graham, David Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,432,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for wirelessly powering an item. A source is configured to send wireless power. A target is configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power. A component is connected to and configured to receive the useable power from the target. When the component receives the usable power, the component activates. Also disclosed is an assembly including a system for wirelessly powering a component and a structure for supporting the system and an item.

Claims

1-56. -56. (canceled)

57. An apparatus, comprising:

a power harvester configured to convert power wirelessly received from a power transmitter to a usable power;

a charge storage element configured to store at least a portion of the usable power;

a component configured to receive the useable power stored within the charge storage element;

a circuit electrically coupled to the charge storage element and the component, the circuit configured to provide the usable power stored within the charge storage element to the component when the circuit is activated, the circuit configured to not provide the usable power stored within the charge storage element to the component when the circuit is not activated; and

a timer operatively coupled to the circuit and configured to control when the circuit is activated.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the timer is configured to activate the circuit for a predetermined duration of time at predetermined intervals of time.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the timer is a first timer, the apparatus further comprising:

a second timer, the first timer configured to synchronize with the second timer based on a pulsed waveform wirelessly received from the power transmitter.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the timer is configured to activate the circuit when power ceases to be wirelessly received from the power transmitter.

61. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the timer is configured to activate the circuit when a voltage at the charge storage element reaches a predetermined voltage level.

62. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the wirelessly received power is RF power and the usable power is DC power.

63. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the circuit includes at least one of a single-pole single-throw (SPST) switch, a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch, a pin diode switch, or a transistor.

64. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the circuit is a voltage monitoring circuit that includes at least one of a comparator, a regulator, a DC-to-DC converter, or a switch.

65. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the component is activated in response to the usable power.

66. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising:

an indicator operatively coupled to the charge storage element and configured to receive the useable power stored within the charge storage element to activate, the indicator configured to provide an indication that an event has occurred when the indicator is activated.

67. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the charge storage element is a first charge storage element, the component being a second charge storage element configured to store at least a portion of the useable power provided from the first charge storage element to the second charge storage element when the circuit is activated.

68. An apparatus, comprising:

an AC-to-DC converter configured to receive a power wirelessly transmitted from a source and to produce a DC power;

a first component configured to store at least a portion of the DC power;

a second component configured to receive DC power from the first component;

a timer circuit operatively coupled to the first component and the second component, the timer circuit configured to enable DC power to be received by the second component from the first component during a first time period such that the second component is operable during the first time period, the timer circuit configured to prohibit DC power from being received by the second component from the first component during a second time period such that the second component is inoperable during the second time period.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, further comprising:

a circuit component electrically coupled to the first component, the second component and the timer circuit, the timer circuit configured to activate the circuit component during the first time period such that DC power flows from the first component to the second component via the circuit component during the first time period.

70. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the timer circuit is configured to enable DC power to be received by the second component from the first component at a first rate during the first time period such that the second component is operable in a first state during the first time period,

the timer circuit is configured to enable DC power to be received by the second component from the first component at a second rate during a third time period such that the second component is operable in a second state different from the first state during the third time period.

71. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the second component is electrically coupled to the first component in response to a first output of the timer circuit associated with the first time period, the second component being electrically disconnected from the first component in response to a second output of the timer circuit associated with the second time period.

72. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the power received by the AC-to-DC converter is a pulsed power.

73. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the second component is configured to activate an item during the first time period when the second component is operable.

74. The apparatus of claim 68, further comprising:

a support structure coupled to the source; and

a housing coupled to the support structure and within which at least one of the AC-to-DC converter, the first component, the second component or the timer circuit is disposed.

75. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the second component is configured to store at least a portion of the DC power received from the first component.

76. An apparatus, comprising:

a power harvester configured to convert wirelessly received power to a usable power;

a first charge storage element configured to store at least a portion of the usable power;

a second charge storage element configured to receive at least a portion of the useable power stored within the first charge storage element and to store at least a portion of the usable power received from the first charge storage element;

a circuit operatively coupled to the first charge storage element and the second charge storage element, the circuit configured to enable the usable power from the first charge storage element to be received by the second charge storage element when the circuit is activated, the circuit configured to prevent the usable power from the first charge storage element to be received by the second charge storage element when the circuit is deactivated; and

a timer operatively coupled to the circuit and configured to operatively control the activation of the circuit.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, further comprising:

a first target including the first charge storage element and the circuit;

a second target including the second charge storage element, the first target and the second target being electrically connected in series.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the circuit includes at least one of a single-pole single-throw (SPST) switch, a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch, a pin diode switch, a transistor, a comparator, a regulator, or a DC-to-DC converter.

79. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the second charge storage element is configured to be electrically coupled to a component that activates in response to receiving the usable power stored within the second charge storage element.

80. The apparatus of claim 76, further comprising:

a voltage sensor operatively coupled to the first charge storage element and the circuit, the timer operatively coupled the voltage sensor and configured to control the operation of the voltage sensor, the voltage sensor configured to activate the circuit when a voltage at the first charge storage element reaches a predetermined voltage level.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, further comprising:

a first target including the first charge storage element, the voltage sensor and the circuit;

a second target including the second charge storage element, the first target and the second target being electrically connected in series.