TRACKING SURFACE FOR DETERMINING OPTIMAL CHARGING POSITION

• US 20160240186A1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,893,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0247 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/163 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/34 using electrical steering of transducer arrays, e.g. beam steering constructional aspects B06B1/0607, B06B1/085
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a methodology for tracking position and orientation of one or more electronic devices, which may receive charge through wireless sound power transmission based on pocket-forming. This methodology may include one transmitter and at least one or more receivers, being the transmitter the source of energy and the receiver the device that is desired to charge or power. The transmitter may identify and locate the device to which the receiver is connected for subsequently charge and/or charge it. In order to increase charging and/or powering of electronic devices, a plurality of sensors may provide information determining the optimal position and/or orientation aimed to receive charge and/or power at the maximum available efficiency.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting wireless sound power, comprising:

generating two or more sound waves from a transmitter with at least two sound wave transmit transducers;

forming controlled constructive and destructive interference patterns from the generated sound waves;

accumulating energy or power in the form of constructive interference patterns from the sound waves to form pockets of energy;

converging the pockets of energy in 3-d space to a targeted electronic device;

sensing the converging pockets of energy for determining the power level and efficiency received by the targeted electronic device; and

maintaining or changing the electronic device position for maximizing the efficiency of receiving the converged pockets of energy in a receiver connected to the electronic device with at least one antenna for powering the targeted electronic device from the pockets of energy.

2. The method for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 1, wherein the sensing is accomplished through accelerometers, infrared or OPS sensor circuits for tracking and positioning the electronic device.

3. The method for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 1, further comprising communicating circuitry in the transmitter and receiver for comparing the voltage level and power received to guide user for changing the device position to optimize position or orientation of the device for reception of the pockets of energy.

4. The method for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 3, wherein the communicating circuitry uses Bluetooth, infrared, Wi-Fi or FM radio signals for communication between the transmitter and the receiver.

5. The method for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 1, further comprising computing instructions for processing the sensed signals representing the power level and efficiency of the wireless transmitted power from the received pockets of energy.

6. A system for transmitting wireless sound power, comprising:

a transmitter generating pockets of energy for transmitting to a receiver electrically connected to at least one electronic device for receiving the pockets of energy;

a communication network on the transmitter controlled by a processor for receiving signals from the receiver to determine a battery and a power level of the electronic device and for tracking and for positioning the electronic device to the optimal position or orientation for maximizing pockets of energy reception by the receiver to charge the electronic device.

7. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 6, wherein the transmitter generates two or more sound waves from at least two sound wave transmit transducers to create constructive interference patterns from the sound waves to form the pockets of energy.

8. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 6, wherein the receiver or electronic device includes sensors generating signals representing the battery level, power level, position and orientation of the device for feeding a processor including a set of instructions to maximize the efficiency for charging at least one electronic device from the sensor signals.

9. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 8, wherein the generated pockets of energy are received by a plurality of electronic devices at a higher efficiency due to antennas orientation directed by the processor in response to the sensor signals.

10. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 6, wherein the processor includes predetermined instructions for determining the optimal position and orientation of the electronic device to receive the pockets of energy for charging the device.

11. A system for transmitting wireless sound power, comprising:

a transmitter for generating two or more sound waves having at least two sound wave transmit transducers to form controlled constructive and destructive interference patterns from the generated sound waves;

a processor within the transmitter controlling the constructive interference patterns from the generated sound waves to form pockets of energy;

a receiver with at least one sensor for accumulating the pockets of energy converging in 3-d space to a targeted electronic device;

a wireless communication network connected between transmitter and receiver for utilizing antennas located on the transmitter and receiver for broadcasting signals from one or more sensors located on the transmitter, receiver or the electronic device for determining the power level and efficiency of the charging power received by the targeted electronic device; and

wherein efficiency of the converged pockets of energy processed by the receiver connected to the electronic device are directly related to the sensor signals for determining the optimal position and orientation of the electronic device being charged. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 11, wherein the processor includes instructions for processing the sensor signals to determine the tracking and positioning of the electronic device.

12. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 11, wherein the communication network includes Bluetooth, infrared, Wi-Fi or FM radio signals.

13. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 11, wherein the sensors are accelerometers, infrared, proximity, motion detector or GPS circuits.

14. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 11, wherein the sensors provide information concerning a plurality of electronic devices ready to be charged.

15. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 11, wherein the electronic device is a cellphone, iPad, iPod, Tablet, iPhone, an Android device or other electronic device for charging a battery associated with the device.

16. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 11, wherein the transmitter produces pocket-forming over a plurality of electronic devices.

17. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 11, wherein the processor is a computer, an ASIC, a controller, microprocessor or other similar device that is capable of processing instructions.

18. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 11, wherein the transmitter creates the pocket-forming pockets of energy to converge in 3-D space in a direction related to the sensor signals representing the tracking and orientation of the electronic device.

19. The system for transmitting wireless sound power of claim 11, wherein the processor dynamically adjusts the pocket-forming to regulate power on one or more targeted electronic devices.