OSCILLATOR CIRCUITS FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- a sender comprising;
a first signal generator;
a first amplifier coupled to the first signal generator, said first amplifier configured to receive power from a power source and to generate an electrical transmission signal adapted to be used to generate ultrasonic waves;
a sender transducer coupled to the first amplifier, the sender transducer adapted and configured to generate ultrasonic waves based on the electrical transmission signal received from the amplifier, the sender transducer comprising at least one transmit element;
a sender controller coupled to at least one of the first signal generator, the first amplifier and the sender transducer;
at least one switch coupled to the at least one transmit element of the sender transducer, the at least one switch adapted and configured to select an oscillator circuit for the at least one transmit element;
one or more oscillator circuits coupled to the at least one switch, each of the one or more oscillator circuits adapted to modulate the phase of the electrical transmission signal; and
a sender communications device adapted to communicate with a receiver communications device; and
the receiver comprising;
a receiver transducer adapted and configured to receive ultrasonic waves generated by the sender transducer, to generate a receiver electrical signal based on the received ultrasonic waves, and to connect to a receiver electrical storage device adapted and configured to store electrical energy based on the receiver electrical signal generated by the receiver transducer;
a receiver communications device adapted and configured to send input to the sender communications device; and
a receiver controller coupled to at least one of the receiver transducer and the receiver electrical storage device.
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Abstract
A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a sender comprising; a first signal generator; a first amplifier coupled to the first signal generator, said first amplifier configured to receive power from a power source and to generate an electrical transmission signal adapted to be used to generate ultrasonic waves; a sender transducer coupled to the first amplifier, the sender transducer adapted and configured to generate ultrasonic waves based on the electrical transmission signal received from the amplifier, the sender transducer comprising at least one transmit element; a sender controller coupled to at least one of the first signal generator, the first amplifier and the sender transducer; at least one switch coupled to the at least one transmit element of the sender transducer, the at least one switch adapted and configured to select an oscillator circuit for the at least one transmit element; one or more oscillator circuits coupled to the at least one switch, each of the one or more oscillator circuits adapted to modulate the phase of the electrical transmission signal; and a sender communications device adapted to communicate with a receiver communications device; and the receiver comprising; a receiver transducer adapted and configured to receive ultrasonic waves generated by the sender transducer, to generate a receiver electrical signal based on the received ultrasonic waves, and to connect to a receiver electrical storage device adapted and configured to store electrical energy based on the receiver electrical signal generated by the receiver transducer; a receiver communications device adapted and configured to send input to the sender communications device; and a receiver controller coupled to at least one of the receiver transducer and the receiver electrical storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system, comprising:
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a signal generator; an amplifier coupled to the signal generator, said amplifier configured to receive power from a power source and to generate an electrical transmission signal adapted to be used to generate ultrasonic waves; a sender transducer coupled to the amplifier, the sender transducer adapted and configured to generate ultrasonic waves based on the electrical transmission signal received from the amplifier, the sender transducer comprising at least one transmit element; at least one switch coupled to the at least one transmit element of the sender transducer, the at least one switch adapted and configured to select an oscillator circuit for the at least one transmit element; one or more oscillator circuits coupled to the at least one switch, each of the one or more oscillator circuits adapted to modulate the phase of the electrical transmission signal; and a sender controller coupled to at least one of the signal generator, the amplifier and the sender transducer; and a sender communications device adapted to communicate with a receiver. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a signal generator; an amplifier coupled to the signal generator, said amplifier configured to receive power from a power source and to generate an electrical transmission signal adapted to be used to generate ultrasonic waves; a sender transducer coupled to the amplifier, the sender transducer adapted and configured to generate ultrasonic waves based on the electrical transmission signal received from the amplifier, the sender transducer comprising a transducer array of transmit elements; a switch-matrix comprises switches coupled to the transmit elements of the sender transducer, the switches adapted and configured to select, for each of the transmit elements, an oscillator circuit; one or more oscillator circuits coupled to the switches of the switch-matrix, each of the one or more oscillator circuits adapted to modulate the phase of the electrical transmission signal; and a sender controller coupled to at least one of the signal generator, the amplifier and the sender transducer; and a sender communications device adapted to communicate with a receiver. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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selecting a switch arrangement associated with one or both of a steering position and a focusing position for a switch-matrix; and switching switches in the switch-matrix in accordance with the selected switch arrangement to connect at least one transmit element to one of one or more oscillators; modulating a phase of an electrical transmission signal from an amplifier with the one of the one or more four oscillators circuits; and emitting from the transmit element an ultrasonic wave generated from the electrical transmission signal modulated by the one of the one or more oscillator circuits. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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selecting a switch arrangement associated with one or both of a steering position and a focusing position for a switch-matrix; and switching switches in the switch-matrix in accordance with the selected switch arrangement to connect each transmit element in a transducer array of a sender transducer to one of one or more oscillator circuits; modulating a phase of an electrical transmission signal from an amplifier with the each of the one or more oscillators circuits; and emitting from each transmit element an ultrasonic wave generated from the electrical transmission signal modulated by the one of the one or more oscillator circuits to which the transmit element is connected by the switches in the switch element. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification