Wireless Power Harvesting And Transmission With Heterogeneous Signals

• US 20150303710A1
• Filed: 06/25/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: John, Michael Sasha
• Granted Patent: US 9,318,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• 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 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The present invention is a wireless power system which includes components which can be recharged by harvesting wireless power, wireless power transmitters for transmitting the power, and devices which are powered from the components. Features such as temperature monitoring, tiered network protocols including both data and power communication, and power management strategies related to both charging and non-charging operations, are used to improve performance of the wireless network. Rechargeable batteries which are configured to be recharged using wireless power have unique components specifically tailored for recharging operations rather than for providing power to a device. A wireless power supply for powering implanted devices benefits from an external patient controller which contains features for adjusting both power transmission and harvesting provided by other components of the wireless power network.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A transmitter for wireless power transmission comprising:

at least two antennas configured to transmit at least two radio frequency power signals;

a communication module connected to the at least two antennas, the communication module configured to transmit a first radio frequency communication signal and receive a second radio frequency communication signal;

a power transmission module connected to the at least two antennas, the power transmission module configured to generate the at least two radio frequency power signals; and

a power transmitter control module connected to the power transmission module, the power transmitter control module configured to control a characteristic of the at least two radio frequency power signals, the power transmitter control module connected to the communication module to control the first radio frequency communication signal;

wherein the power transmitter control module controls the characteristic by at least one of phase-shifting or amplitude-adjusting a first of the at least two radio frequency power signals with respect to a second of the at least two radio frequency power signals to provide a summation of the first and second radio frequency power signals via constructive and destructive interference patterns at a location for reception by an electronic device.

22. The transmitter of claim 21, wherein the second radio frequency communication signal is from the electronic device and comprises at least one of the location of the electronic device, calibration information, a feedback signal, and energy profile information.

23. The transmitter of claim 21, wherein the second radio frequency communication signal comprises a calibration signal to improve summation at the location for reception.

24. The transmitter of claim 23, wherein the power transmitter control module is configured to control a characteristic of at least one of the at least two radio frequency power signals according to the calibration signal.

25. The transmitter of claim 21, wherein the power transmitter control module is configured to adjust at least one of (i) a direction of at least one of the at least two radio frequency power signals, (ii) an amplitude of the summation, or (iii) an energy profile of the summation.

26. The transmitter of claim 21, wherein the power transmitter control module is configured to adjust a direction of at least one of the at least two radio frequency power signals to create an active element of a wireless power field at the location for reception by the electronic device.

27. The transmitter of claim 21, wherein the power transmitter control module is configured to adjust the amplitude of the at least two radio frequency power signals based on energy profile information.

28. The transmitter of claim 21, wherein the power transmitter control module is configured to adjust at least one of frequency, direction, spectral range, wave shape, strength, and other characteristics of the at least two radio frequency power signals to increase summation at the location for reception.

29. The transmitter of claim 21, wherein the power transmitter control module is configured to adjust characteristics of radio frequency power signals transmitted by at least one of the at least two antennas and an additional transmitter.

30. The transmitter of claim 21, wherein the at least two antennas comprise more than two antennas, and the power transmitter control module is configured to communicate with the electronic device during calibration to activate a subset of the more than two antennas.

31. The transmitter of claim 30, wherein the subset of the more than two antennas contain at least two antennas that are substantially orthogonally disposed to each other.

32. The transmitter of claim 21, wherein the power transmitter control module controls the characteristic by at least one of phase-shifting or amplitude-adjusting the first of the at least two radio frequency power signals with respect to the second of the at least two radio frequency power signals to provide an additional summation of the first and second radio frequency power signals via constructive and destructive interference patterns at an additional location for reception by an additional electronic device.

33. A method of providing wireless power transmission comprising:

transmitting a first radio frequency communication signal and receiving a second radio frequency communication signal;

generating at least two radio frequency power signals using at least two antennas; and

controlling a characteristic of the at least two radio frequency power signals,

wherein a first of the at least two radio frequency power signals is at least one of phase-shifted or amplitude-adjusted with respect to a second of the least two radio frequency power signals to provide a summation via constructive and destructive interference patterns of the at least two radio frequency power signals at a location for reception by an electronic device.

34. The method of claim 33, comprising capturing power at a wireless power harvester module of the electronic device for charging or powering the electronic device.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the second radio frequency communication signal comprises at least one of a power status, an identification, and a location of the electronic device.

36. The method of claim 33, comprising adjusting a direction of at least one of the at least two radio frequency power signals to transmit primarily to a particular area of a room.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least two antennas comprise more than two antennas, and the method comprises selecting a subset of the more than two antennas to transmit power primarily to a particular area of a room.

38. A wireless power transmission system comprising:

a power source;

a transmitter including (i) at least two antennas configured to transmit at least two radio frequency power signals, (ii) a communication module connected to the at least two antennas, the communication module configured to transmit a first radio frequency communication signal and receive a second radio frequency communication signal, (iii) a power transmission module connected to the at least two antennas and to the power source, the power transmission module configured to generate the at least two radio frequency power signals, and (iv) a power transmitter control module connected to the power transmission module, the power transmitter control module configured to control a characteristic of the at least two radio frequency power signals, the power transmitter control module connected to the communication module to control the first radio frequency communication signal, wherein the power transmitter control module controls the characteristic by at least one of phase-shifting or amplitude-adjusting a first of the at least two radio frequency power signals with respect to a second of the at least two radio frequency power signals to provide a summation of the first and second radio frequency power signals via constructive and destructive interference patterns at a location for reception by an electronic device; and

the electronic device includes (i) at least one antenna configured to receive the summation of the first and second radio frequency power signals, (ii) a wireless power harvester module having rectifier circuitry connected to the at least one antenna, and (iii) an energy storage module connected to the wireless power harvester module.

39. The wireless power transmission system of claim 38, wherein the power source comprises an additional transmitter that supplies energy wirelessly, a wall outlet, USB, or other electrical source of power.

40. The wireless power transmission system of claim 38, wherein the power transmitter control module is configured to adjust a direction of at least one of the at least two radio frequency power signals to create an active element of a wireless power field at the location for reception by the electronic device.