SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING WIRELESS POWER TO A POWER-RECEIVING DEVICE, AND RELATED POWER-RECEIVING DEVICES

• US 20140312714A1
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,520,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/149
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

In an embodiment, a wireless power distribution system is disclosed. The wireless power distribution system includes a routing module having at least one processor configured to determine a route for a power-receiving device to travel responsive to receiving input about one or more characteristics associated with the power-receiving device or one or more wireless power transmitters for delivering power to the power-receiving device. The wireless power distribution system further includes the one or more wireless power transmitters operably coupled to the routing module. The one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to wirelessly transmit the power to the device at one or more locations along the route.

Claims

1. A wireless power distribution system, comprising:

a routing module including at least one processor configured to determine a route for a power-receiving device to travel along responsive to receiving input about one or more characteristics associated with the power-receiving device or one or more wireless power transmitters for delivering power to the power-receiving device; and

the one or more wireless power transmitters operably coupled to the routing module, the one or more wireless power transmitters configured to wirelessly transmit the power to the power-receiving device at one or more locations along the route.

2. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless power transmitters include a plurality of wireless power transmitters spaced from each other at least partially along the route.

3. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless power transmitters include at least one of a laser, a microwave source, a microwave beam source, an inductive power source, or a radio-frequency-power source.

5. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more wireless power transmitters is configured to deliver the power to the power-receiving device prior to or while the power-receiving device travels along a portion of the route in which the device consumes power at greater than a specified power consumption rate.

6. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a power delivery subsystem operably coupled to the one or more wireless power transmitters and the routing module, the power delivery subsystem including a controller configured to control delivery of the power from the one or more wireless power transmitters responsive to a request for power from the power-receiving device.

7. The wireless power distribution system of claim 6, wherein the routing module is configured to receive operational information about the one or more wireless power transmitters from the power delivery subsystem and determine the route at least partially based on the operational information.

8. The wireless power distribution system of claim 6, further comprising a power request module associated with the power-receiving device, the power request module configured to send a request for wireless power for the power-receiving device to the power delivery subsystem.

11. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor of the routing module is configured to determine the route so that the power-receiving device receives maximum power when traveling along the route for a given distribution of the one or more wireless power transmitters.

13. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor of the routing module is configured to determine an altered route based at least partially on at least one of a rate of power consumption or energy storage of the power-receiving device as the power-receiving device travels along the route.

17. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the routing module is separate from the power-receiving device.

18. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the power-receiving device is integrated with a vehicle.

19. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the power-receiving device includes a portable electronic device.

22. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics associated with the power-receiving device include at least one of type of power receiver of the power-receiving device, amount of power requested by the power-receiving device, maximum power reception capability of the power-receiving device, cumulative energy requested by the power-receiving device, location of the power-receiving device, speed at which the power-receiving device is traveling, or time at which the power-receiving device is traveling.

24. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics include peak or cumulative prices at which a user is willing to pay for the power.

26. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor of the routing module is configured to determine the route based at least partially on one or more characteristics of the one or more wireless power transmitters.

27. The wireless power distribution system of claim 26, wherein the one or more characteristics include type of power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, frequency of the power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, range that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to transmit power, directionality of the power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, location of the one or more wireless power transmitters, power level that can be transmitted from the one or more wireless power transmitters, type of energy that can be transmitted from the one or more wireless power transmitters, or cost of the power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output.

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31. A method, comprising:

at a routing module, receiving input about one or more characteristics associated with a power-receiving device in need of power; and

with at least one processor of the routing module, determining a route along which the power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsive to the receiving the input.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the power-receiving device includes a power receiver configured to convert at least a portion of the power transmitted by the one or more wireless power transmitters to electricity for powering the power-receiving device.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein determining a route along which the power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsive to the receiving the input includes determining the route in order to maximize energy distribution to the power-receiving device for a given distribution of a plurality of wireless power transmitters.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein determining a route along which the power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsive to the receiving the input includes determining the route at least partially based on minimizing deviation from a nominal route while a specified amount of the power is delivered.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein determining a route along which the power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsive to the receiving the input includes determining the route in order to maintain power distribution to the power-receiving device above a threshold power level.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein determining a route along which the power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsive to the receiving the input includes determining the route in order to minimize total cost for power distribution to the power-receiving device.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more characteristics associated with the power-receiving device include at least one of type of power receiver of the power-receiving device, amount of power requested by the power-receiving device, maximum power reception capability of the power-receiving device, cumulative energy requested by the power-receiving device, location of the power-receiving device, speed at which the power-receiving device is traveling, or time at which the power-receiving device is traveling.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more characteristics associated with the power-receiving device include at least one of allowable periods for the power-receiving device without power delivery, operating mode of the power-receiving device, or energy storage capacity of the power-receiving device.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein determining a route along which the power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsive to the receiving the input includes determining the route at least partially based on one or more characteristics of a plurality of wireless power transmitters from which the power is to be transmitted.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the one or more characteristics of the plurality of wireless power transmitters include type of power that at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to output, frequency of the power that at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to output, range that at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to transmit power, directionality of the power that at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to output, or location of the plurality of wireless power transmitters, power level that can be transmitted from the plurality of wireless power transmitters, type of energy that can be transmitted from the plurality of wireless power transmitters, cost of power that the at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to output.

45. The method of claim 31, further comprising, at a power delivery subsystem, receiving a request for power for the power-receiving device.

46. The method of claim 31, further comprising, sending information to the routing module about one or more characteristics of a plurality of wireless power transmitters from which the power is to be transmitted.

49. The method of claim 31, wherein the power-receiving device is integrated with a vehicle.

50. The method of claim 31, wherein the power-receiving device includes a portable electronic device.

53. The method of claim 31, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the power to the power-receiving device at one or more locations along the route.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein wirelessly transmitting power to the power-receiving device at one or more locations along the route includes wirelessly transmitting relatively more power along a portion of the route in which the power-receiving device consumes power at greater than an average power consumption rate.

58. The method of claim 31, wherein the route directs the power-receiving device to a location to receive the power, directs the power-receiving device to a location to receive the power along the route at a selected time, or directs the power-receiving device to receive a specified amount of the power.

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59. A method, comprising:

sending information about one or more characteristics associated with a power-receiving device in need of power; and

responsive to the sending the information, at the power-receiving device, receiving route information about a route along which the power-receiving device can receive the power wirelessly.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising powering the power-receiving device with energy associated with the received power.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the one or more characteristics associated with the power-receiving device include type of power receiver of the power-receiving device, amount of power requested by the power-receiving device, maximum power reception capability of the power-receiving device, cumulative energy requested by the power-receiving device, location of the power-receiving device, speed at which the power-receiving device is traveling, time at which the power-receiving device is traveling, allowable periods without power delivery for the power-receiving device, or operating mode of the power-receiving device.

64. The method of claim 59, further comprising receiving at least a portion of the power at the power-receiving device at one or more locations along the route.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein receiving at least a portion of the power at the power-receiving device at one or more locations along the route includes receiving a maximized energy distribution at the power-receiving device for a given distribution of a plurality of wireless power transmitters from which the power is to be transmitted.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein receiving at least a portion of the power at the power-receiving device at one or more locations along the route includes receiving a selected amount power at the power-receiving device when the power-receiving device consumes power at greater than a specified power consumption rate.

80. The method of claim 59, wherein the route directs the power-receiving device to travel to a location to receive the power.

81. The method of claim 59, wherein the route directs the power-receiving device to travel to a location to receive the power at a selected time.

82. The method of claim 59, wherein the route directs the manner in which the power-receiving device travels between power draws.

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72. The method of claim 71, wherein the one or more characteristics of the one or more wireless power transmitters include type of power that one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, frequency of the power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, range that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to transmit power, directionality of the power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, or location of the one or more wireless power transmitters, power level that can be transmitted from the one or more wireless power transmitters, type of energy that can be transmitted from the one or more wireless power transmitters, cost of power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein the one or more characteristics of the one or more wireless power transmitters include type of power that the one or more wireless power transmitters is configured to output, frequency of the power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, range that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to transmit power, directionality of the power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, or cost of power that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output.

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84. A method of distributing wireless power, comprising:

wirelessly receiving data about a route along which a power-receiving device can travel to receive power wirelessly;

wirelessly sending a request for delivery of the power to one or more locations along the route that the power-receiving device is to travel; and

responsive to the sending the request, wirelessly receiving at least a portion of the power at the power-receiving device at the one or more locations along the route.

85. The method of claim 84, further comprising selecting the route from a plurality of different routes.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein the route is subject to constraints on at least one of start and end locations, on duration, on allowable deviation from a reference route.

87. The method of claim 84, wherein the one or more characteristics include peak or cumulative prices at which a user is willing to pay for the power.

88. The method of claim 84, wherein wireless receiving data about a route along which a power-receiving device can travel to receive power wirelessly includes displaying the route on the power-receiving device.

89. The method of claim 84, further comprising powering the power-receiving device with energy associated with the wirelessly received power.

90. The method of claim 84, further comprising prior to the receiving the route, sending information to a routing module that determines the route, wherein the information includes power-receiving device information about one or more characteristics associated with the power-receiving device or a plurality of wireless transmitters that can transmit power to the power-receiving device.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein the one or more characteristics associated with the power-receiving device include type of power receiver of the power-receiving device, amount of power requested by the power-receiving device, maximum power reception capability of the power-receiving device, cumulative energy requested by the power-receiving device, location of the power-receiving device, speed at which the power-receiving device is traveling, or operating mode of the power-receiving device.

94. The method of claim 90, wherein the one or more characteristics of the plurality of wireless power transmitters include type of power that the at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to output, frequency of the power that the at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to output, range that the at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to transmit power, directionality of the power that the at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to output, or cost of power that the at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to output

97. The method of claim 84, wherein the power-receiving device includes a portable electronic device.

101. The method of claim 84, wherein wirelessly receiving at least a portion of the power at the power-receiving device at the one or more locations along the route includes wirelessly receiving relatively more power along a portion of the route in which the power-receiving device consumes power at greater than an average power consumption rate.

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102. A method, comprising:

with at least one processor of a routing module, determining a route along which a power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly based at least partially on one or more characteristics of at least one of a plurality of wireless power transmitters.

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