Telemetry system with wireless power receiver and monitoring devices

• US 20140246924A1
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hello, Inc.
• Inventors: Proud, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,432,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0255 Recording instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0803 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• 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 power receiver includes a rectifier coupled to an antenna which is configured to receive a wireless power signal, and convert the wireless power signal to a direct current input signal. A direct current-to-direct current converter generates a direct current output signal based in part on the direct current input signal and a pulse-width modulation signal. A pulse modulator is configured to adjust an alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver by modifying, based in part on the direct current input signal, a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal to the direct current-to-direct current converter. A monitoring device is in communication with the rectifier and the pulse modulator. The monitoring device has one or more sensors and a unique user ID. The one or more sensors acquire user information selected from of at least one of, a user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver, comprising:

a rectifier coupled to an antenna, the antenna configured to receive a wireless power signal, the rectifier configured to convert the wireless power signal to a direct current input signal;

a direct current-to-direct current converter configured to generate a direct current output signal based in part on the direct current input signal and a pulse-width modulation signal;

a pulse modulator configured to adjust an alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver by modifying, based in part on the direct current input signal, a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal to the direct current-to-direct current converter; and

a monitoring device in communication with the rectifier and the pulse modulator, the monitoring device having one or more sensors and a unique user ID, the one or more sensors acquiring user information selected from of at least one of, a user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information, and ID circuitry at the monitoring device.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the direct current-to-direct current converter is further configured to adjust a power output of the direct current output signal based in part on the voltage of the direct current input signal.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the pulse modulator is further configured to modify the pulse-width modulation signal to the direct current-to-direct current converter responsive to a current of the direct current input signal.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the pulse modulator is further configured to modify the pulse-width modulation signal to the direct current-to-direct current converter based at least in part on one of a voltage of the direct current output signal and a current of the direct current output signal.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the pulse modulator further comprises a comparator configured to generate the pulse-width modulation signal based in part on a comparison of the direct current input signal and a reference signal.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the pulse modulator further comprises a processor, the processor configured to:

receive the direct current input signal;

sample a value of the direct current input signal; and

adjust the alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver wherein adjusting comprises adjusting the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal based in part on the value sampled from the direct current input signal.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

sample at least one of a current of the direct current input signal, a voltage of the direct current output signal, and a current of the direct current output signal; and

further adjust the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal based in part on the sampled current of the direct current input signal, the sampled voltage of the direct current output signal, the sampled current of the direct current output signal, or combinations thereof.

8. The wireless power receiver of claim 6, further comprising:

an input current sensor configured to generate an input-current-sense signal based in part on a current of the direct current input signal; and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

receive the input-current-sense signal; and

sample the input-current-sense signal;

wherein adjusting the alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver further comprises adjusting the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal based in part on the sampled input-current-sense signal.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 6, further comprising:

an output current sensor configured to generate an output-current-sense signal based in part on a current of the direct current output signal; and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

receive the output-current-sense signal;

sample the output-current-sense signal; and

sample the voltage of the direct current output signal,

wherein adjusting the alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver further comprises adjusting the pulse-width modulation signal based in part on the sampled voltage of the direct current output signal and the sampled output-current-sense signal.

10. The wireless power receiver of claim 6, wherein the value sampled is one or more of a current of the direct input signal and a voltage of the direct input signal.

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the pulse modulator further comprises a processor, the processor configured to:

receive the direct current input signal; and

sample a value of the direct current input signal, wherein modifying the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal comprises modifying the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal based in part on the sampled value from the direct current input signal to reduce a power output on the direct current output signal to a power level less than optimal and acceptable to a receiver device configured to receive the direct current output signal.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the direct current-to-direct current converter comprises a buck converter or a boost converter configured to receive the direct current input signal, the direct current output signal, and the pulse-width modulation signal, the direct current-to-direct current converter configured to:

adjust an input impedance on the direct current input signal; and

adjust a voltage of the direct current output signal relative to the direct current input signal based in part on the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a wireless power signal at a wireless power receiver;

rectifying the wireless power signal to a direct current input signal;

converting the direct current input signal to a direct current output signal;

modifying an alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver by adjusting a power output of the direct current output signal based in part on the direct current input signal; and

communication a monitoring device with the wireless power receiver, the monitoring device having one or more sensors and a unique user ID, the one or more sensors acquiring user information selected from of at least one of, a user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information, and ID circuitry at the monitoring device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying the alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver further comprises adjusting the power output of the direct current output signal based in part on one or more of a voltage of the direct current input signal and a current of the direct current input signal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying the alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver further comprises adjusting the power output of the direct current output signal based in part on one or more of a voltage of the direct current input signal, a voltage of the direct current output signal, and a current of the direct current output signal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying the alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver further comprises adjusting the power output of the direct current output signal based in part on one or more of a voltage of the direct current input signal, a current of the direct current input signal, a voltage of the direct current output signal and a current of the direct current output signal.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein modifying the alternating current impedance of the wireless power receiver is based in part on a comparison of the direct current input signal to a voltage reference signal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the converting the direct current input signal to the direct current output signal comprises buck conversion or a boost conversion, the converting further comprising:

sampling the voltage of the direct current input signal;

determining a maximum power output responsive to the sampled voltage of the direct current input signal; and

adjusting a pulse-width modulation signal to substantially maximize the power output of the direct current output signal.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the converting the direct current input signal to the direct current output signal comprises buck conversion or a boost, the converting further comprising:

sampling a voltage of the direct current input signal;

determining a maximum power output based in part on the sampled voltage of the direct current input signal; and

adjusting a pulse-width modulation signal on the direct current output signal to a power level less than optimal and acceptable to a receiver device configured to receive the direct current output signal.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sampling one or more values from at least one of a current of the direct current input signal, a voltage of the direct current output signal, and a current of the direct current output signal; and

wherein the determining the maximum power output is based in part on one or more of the sampled values.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more values sampled is one or more of a current of the direct current input signal and a voltage of the direct current input signal.