WIRELESS SOUND TRACKING POCKET-FORMING

• US 20150318729A1
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US14/266,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20150318729A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a wireless tracking system for tracking the location of living beings or objects. This wireless tracking system may operate by using the wireless power transmission methodology, which may include one transmitter and at least one or more receivers. The transmitter producing sound waves is the source of energy and the receiver is connected to an electronic device that is desired to charge or power. Transmitter and receiver may include communications components to communicate between each other. Communication components may utilize wireless protocols Which may have a unique identifier. The unique identifier may allow mapping, store and uploading information of devices a database located in public or private cloud-based service. A user may be able to access to information stored in database using user credentials, being able to access from any suitable device and place. Other elements may be adapted to wireless tracking system for obtaining more complete information about living beings or objects.

Claims

1. A method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device, comprising:

connecting a receiver to the electronic device;

receiving sound wave pockets of energy at the receiver from a pocket-forming transmitter;

charging and powering the portable electronic device from the wirelessly transmitted sound wave pockets of energy accumulated at the receiver for charging and powering the electronic device; and

tracking a living being or an object from signals communicated between the receiver and the transmitter.

2. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the signals include an unique identifier related to the electronic device to track the living being or object.

3. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the signals are short RF signals with an unique identifier configured from a MAC address for Wi-Fi, an International Mobile Equipment identity number, a 15-digit unique identifier for GSM, UMTS and LTE networks, Unique Device ID for iPhones, iPads and ipods, Android ID or International Mobile Subscriber identity for a SIM card.

4. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the receiver and transmitter each include a controller connected to a communication device for communications between the receiver and the transmitter to control the power and charging of the electronic device through the sound waves and to control the tracking, monitoring and identifying of the living being or the object.

5. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 4, further comprising the step of communicating between the receiver and transmitter through short pilot signals on conventional wireless communication protocols including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Zigbee with data information for battery level, geographical location and the unique identifier.

6. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 5, further comprising the step of uploading the data information to a cloud based service for easy access by a tracking end user.

7. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the receiver is embedded in a bracelet, necklace, belt, ring, ear chips or a watch.

8. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is adapted to a GPS, a real-time location system or other existent tracking system for finding, monitoring and controlling the location of the living being or object.

9. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the living being is an animal or a human.

10. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the object is a car, electronic devices, commodities or other objects of value.

11. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 1, further including the step of implementing externally the connection of the receiver to the portable electronic device in the configuration of a case and further including the step of connecting the case to the electronic device through an universal serial bus or other suitable electrical connection.

12. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device includes either a passive or an active integrated chip with a battery power source and the receiver embedded therein to receive pocket of sound energy.

13. The method for wireless power transmission to a portable electronic device of claim 5, further comprising the step of transmitting simultaneously both Wi-Fi signals and power sound signals from the transmitter to the receiver.

14. A tracking method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device, comprising:

supplying sound wave pockets of energy to a receiver including a sensor element, a digital signal processor (DSP), a rectifier;

a power converter and a communication circuitry connected to the portable electronic device with a battery;

powering or charging the receiver from sound wave pockets of energy from a pocket-forming or a beam forming transmitter including transducers, an integrated chip controlled by a DSP for generating the sound wave pockets of energy to charge or power the battery of the electronic device and a communication device controlled by the DSP;

communicating the power level of the battery and the geographical location of the receiver to the transmitter through short RF signals between the receiver and transmitter communication circuitry over conventional wireless communication protocols; and

transmitting an unique identifier related to the electronic device through communication protocols sent from the receiver to the transmitter for tracking the location of the receiver and the connected electronic device.

15. The tracking method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

decoding the sound waves to identify the gain and phase of the receiver to determine the location of the receiver;

tracking, controlling, monitoring or identifying living beings or objects by the decoded short RF signals; and

charging the battery through the receiver when in the proximity to the transmitter to provide an inexhaustible source of operating power for the electronic device.

16. The tracking method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 14, further including the step of uploading the location of the electronic device to a cloud-based service.

17. The tracking method fur wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the receiver includes an integrated or an ASIC chip connected to the electronic device.

18. The tracking method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the electronic device includes an unique identifier related to Wi-Fi MAC address, an international Mobile Equipment Identity number, an Unique Device ID, an Android ID or an International Mobile Subscriber ID.

19. The tracking method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the receiver with the unique identifier is incorporated into a dog collar for tracking the location of the dog.

20. The tracking method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the receiver with the unique identifier is incorporated into an ankle bracelet monitor for monitoring the location of a human being on a court supervision sentence.

21. The tracking method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 14, further comprising the step of tracking a predetermined human being, animal or object.

22. The tracking method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the cloud services are either public or private and require user credentials or authorization to gain access to accumulated data of the electronic device various locations over a period of time.

23. The tracking method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the receiver is powered or charged from a transmitter located in a public establishment including stores, coffee shops, libraries, offices or manufacturing facilities.

24. A tracking system for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device, comprising:

a receiver connected to the portable electronic device with a sensor for receiving sound wave pockets of energy formed from constructive interference patterns of sound waves from a transmitter and for transforming the pockets of energy into an AC voltage;

a rectifier connected to the sensor for converting the AC Voltage into a DC voltage;

a power converter for changing the DC voltage into a constant DC voltage to charge a battery in the electronic device;

a communication circuit in the receiver powered by the battery; and

an unique identifier associated with the receiver sent by the receiver communication circuit to a cloud service or to the transmitter and further including information about the battery status, charging history and location history back to the transmitter or cloud service for tracking the electronic device.

25. The tracking system for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 24, wherein the receiver communicates with the transmitter through short pilot signals sent through receiver and transmitter communication circuitry, respectively.

26. The tracking system for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 24, wherein the receiver information is uploaded to a private or public cloud service requiring credentials to access.

27. The tracking system for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 24, wherein the receiver is embedded in a chip that is attached to a human being or an object to monitor the location of the human or object over a predetermined time interval.

28. The tracking system for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 24, wherein the receiver is externally connected to the portable electronic device in the form of a ease with an universal serial bus or other electrical connection.