METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING LOCATION-BASED WIRELESS CHARGING

• US 20160087486A1
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Adi Shaliv, Justin Lipman, Oleg Pogorelik, Shahar Porat
• Inventors: POGORELIK, OLEG, PORAT, SHAHAR, SHALIV, ADI, LIPMAN, JUSTIN
• Granted Patent: US 9,564,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0043 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensor coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Methods and systems for optimizing wireless charging are provided. The method may include identifying, by a charging controller, charging apparatus location information associated with a wireless charging apparatus configured to direct charging beams, and identifying, by the charging controller, an optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the charging apparatus location information. The method may include receiving, by the charging controller, a first location information associated with a mobile device, and determining, by the charging controller, a first proximity of the mobile device to the optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the first location information. The method may include transmitting, by the charging controller, first optimal charging indicator information to the mobile device, the first optimal charging indicator information based at least in part on the first proximity.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing wireless charging comprising:

identifying, by a charging controller, charging apparatus location information associated with a wireless charging apparatus configured to direct charging beams;

identifying, by the charging controller, an optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the charging apparatus location information;

receiving, by the charging controller, a first location information associated with a mobile device;

determining, by the charging controller, a first proximity of the mobile device to the optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the first location information; and

transmitting, by the charging controller, first optimal charging indicator information to the mobile device, the first optimal charging indicator information based at least in part on the first proximity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the charging controller, a second location information associated with the mobile device; and

determining, by the charging controller, a second proximity of the mobile device to the optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the second location information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting, by the charging controller, a second optimal charging indicator information to the mobile device, the second optimal charging indicator information based at least in part on the second proximity.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting, by the charging controller, an optimized charging indicator to the mobile device, the optimized charging indicator based at least in part on the second proximity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first optimal charging indicator information comprises proximity information associated with the first proximity, and directional guidance information associated with a direction of the optimal charging zone with respect to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the directional guidance information comprises three-dimensional direction information.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first optimal charging indicator information further comprises a charging optimization indication associated with a current percentage of charging optimization.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the charging controller, a charge request from the mobile device; and

directing, by the charging controller, the wireless charging apparatus to charge the mobile device based at least in part on the charge request and the first proximity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging controller is integrated into the wireless charging apparatus.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging, by the wireless charging apparatus, the mobile device.

11. A method for optimizing wireless charging comprising:

identifying, by a charging controller, charging apparatus location information associated with a wireless charging apparatus configured to direct charging beams;

receiving, by the charging controller, a first location information associated with a mobile device;

determining, by the charging controller, an optimal charging zone based at least in part on the first location information; and

directing, by the charging controller, the wireless charging apparatus to shape the charging beams directed by the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the optimal charging zone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the charging beams are shaped by adjusting a natural frequency, a phase, or a magnitude of the charging beams directed by the wireless charging apparatus.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting, by the charging controller, the wireless charging apparatus from a plurality of available wireless charging apparatuses.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining, by the charging controller, a proximity of the mobile device to the optimal charging zone based at least in part on the first location information.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining, by the charging controller, a total coverage area of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the charging apparatus location information;

determining, by the charging controller, a first proximity of the mobile device to the total coverage area of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the first location information; and

transmitting, by the charging controller, a first optimal charging indicator information to the mobile device, the first optimal charging indicator information based at least in part on the first proximity.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the charging controller, a second location information associated with the mobile device; and

determining, by the charging controller, a second proximity of the mobile device to the total coverage area of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the second location information.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting, by the charging controller, a second optimal charging indicator information to the mobile device, the second optimal charging indicator information based at least in part on the second proximity.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first optimal charging indicator information comprises proximity information associated with the first proximity, and directional guidance information associated with a direction of the optimal charging zone with respect to the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by the charging controller, a charge request from the mobile device; and

directing, by the charging controller, the wireless charging apparatus to charge the mobile device based at least in part on the charge request and the first proximity.

20. A wireless charging apparatus comprising:

a power supply;

a power distribution device configured to wirelessly charge connected mobile devices;

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

a charging controller comprising one or more processors configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the one or more processors is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

identify charging apparatus location information associated with the wireless charging apparatus;

identify an optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the charging apparatus location information;

receive a first location information associated with a mobile device;

determine a first proximity of the mobile device to the optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the first location information; and

transmit first optimal charging indicator information to the mobile device, the first optimal charging indicator information based at least in part on the first proximity.

21. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 20, wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive a second location information associated with the mobile device; and

determine a second proximity of the mobile device to the optimal charging zone of the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the second location information.

22. A wireless charging apparatus comprising:

a power supply;

a power distribution device configured to wirelessly charge connected mobile devices;

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

a charging controller comprising one or more processors configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the one or more processors is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

identify charging apparatus location information associated with the wireless charging apparatus;

receive a first location information associated with a mobile device;

determine an optimal charging zone based at least in part on the first location information; and

direct the wireless charging apparatus to shape the charging beams directed by the wireless charging apparatus based at least in part on the optimal charging zone.

23. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 22, wherein the charging beams are shaped by adjusting a natural frequency, a phase, or a magnitude of the charging beams directed by the wireless charging apparatus.