INTELLIGENT MULTI-MODE WIRELESS POWER SYSTEM

• US 20170294797A1
• Filed: 04/05/2017
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PowerSphyr Inc.
• Original Assignee: PowerSphyr Inc.
• Inventors: MENG, David F., WRIGHT, William B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,069,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

A method is provided that includes identifying, by a power transferring unit, a power receiving unit in a proximity of the power transferring unit. The method further includes determining whether the power receiving unit is in a near field range or in a far range of the power transferring unit, receiving a power status from the power receiving unit and generating, in the power transferring unit and based on the power status information, a directed energy signal from a power transferring unit to the power receiving unit when the power receiving unit is within a far range of the power transmitting unit. The method includes generating, in the power transferring unit and based on the power status, an inductively coupled field that is resonant with the power receiving unit, when the power receiving unit is within at least a near field range of the power transferring unit.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying, by a power transferring unit, a power receiving unit in a proximity of the power transferring unit;

determining whether the power receiving unit is in a near field range or in a far range of the power transferring unit;

receiving a power status from the power receiving unit;

generating, in the power transferring unit and based on the power status information, a directed energy signal from a power transferring unit to the power receiving unit when the power receiving unit is within a far range of the power transferring unit; and

generating, in the power transferring unit and based on the power status, an inductively coupled field that is resonant with the power receiving unit, when the power receiving unit is within at least a near field range of the power transferring unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a power status from the power receiving unit comprises receiving a charge level of a battery in the power receiving unit, a selected voltage level for charging the battery, and a selected current level for charging the battery.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transitioning the power transferring unit to a power transferring mode using the directed energy signal when a range configuration status between the power transferring unit and the power receiving unit is altered.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising simultaneously generating the directed energy signal and generating the inductively coupled field when the power receiving unit is within the near field range of the power transferring unit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the inductively coupled field when the power receiving unit is farther from the power transferring unit than the near field range.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the directed energy signal when the power receiving unit is farther from the power transferring unit than the far range.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a power receiving unit in a proximity of the power transferring unit comprises identifying multiple power receiving units in the proximity of the power transferring unit, and prioritizing at least one of the power receiving units according to the power status for generating the directed energy signal or for generating the inductively coupled field.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the directed energy signal or stopping the inductively coupled field when receiving a power transfer termination message from the power receiving unit.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the directed energy signal for a first power receiving unit and generating the inductively coupled field for a second power receiving unit.

10. A device, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor, configured to execute the instructions to cause the device to perform steps to;

identify a power transferring unit in a proximity of the device;

determine whether the device is in a near field range or in a far range of the power transferring unit;

transmit a power status of the device to the power transferring unit;

receive, based on the power status of the device, a directed energy signal from the power transferring unit when the device is within a far range of the power transmitting unit; and

receive, based on the power status, an inductively coupled field that is resonant with the power receiving unit, when the power receiving unit is within at least a near field range of the power transferring unit.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor comprises a passively tuned integrated circuit configured to tune a radio-frequency antenna to receive the directed energy signal from the power transferring unit.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor comprises a passively tuned integrated circuit to tune a receiving resonator in resonance with the inductively coupled field.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising a radio-frequency to direct current converter and a direct-current to direct-current converter to provide the power signal to a battery.

14. The device of claim 10, further comprising a circuit configured to convert the directed energy signal and the inductively coupled field to a direct current signal to charge a battery in the device.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor comprises a power management circuit configured to receive a first power from the directed energy signal and a second power from the inductively coupled field, and to determine a total power provided to a battery in the device based on the first power and the second power.

16. The device of claim 10, further comprising a first circuit to convert the directed energy signal to a first direct current power, and a second circuit to convert the inductively coupled field into a second direct current power, wherein the first direct current power and the second direct current power are provided to charge a battery in the device.

17. A method, comprising

identifying, by a power receiving unit, a power transferring unit in a proximity of the power receiving unit;

determining whether the power receiving unit is in a near field range or in a far range of the power transferring unit;

transmitting a power status to the power transferring unit;

receiving, in the power receiving unit and based on the power status, a directed energy signal from the power transferring unit to the power receiving unit when the power receiving unit is within a far range of the power transmitting unit; and

receiving, in the power receiving unit and based on the power status information, an inductively coupled field that is resonant with the power receiving unit, when the power receiving unit is within at least a near field range of the power transferring unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting a power status to the power transferring unit comprises transmitting a charge level of a battery in the power receiving unit, a selected voltage level for charging the battery, and a selected current level for charging the battery.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting a power transfer termination message to the power transferring unit when a battery is fully charged in the power receiving unit.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying a wireless communication signal and converting the wireless communication signal to a direct current power signal to charge a battery in the power receiving unit.