INTELLIGENT MULTI-MODE WIRELESS POWER SYSTEM

• US 20170294810A1
• Filed: 04/06/2016
• 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 10,411,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method and system for intelligently managed multi-mode wireless transfer of energy for charging and/or powering electronics devices. Such a system may include a near field energy transfer mode and a far field energy transfer mode that when intelligently combined or used selectively at particular ranges yields an overall improved result. An energy transfer unit connected to a power source may transfer energy over-the-air within range of at least one mode to one or more electronic devices integrated with an energy receiving unit for converting transferred energy to usable power suitable for charging and/or powering of the electronic device. The system may intelligently manage the selection, combination and/or switching of modes as optimally determined by at least one integrated control circuit combined with a communications protocol.

Claims

1. A method of providing intelligent wireless power to a device load, comprising:

a) transmitting a directed energy signal over-the-air from an energy transferring unit (ETU) to an energy receiving unit (ERU) of a device load in a first mode when the ERU is in the proximity of a far field range of the ETU; and

,

b) generating a resonant magnetic field over-the-air by said ETU wherein said resonant magnetic field is coupled with an ERU magnetic field at the same resonant frequency of the device load in a second mode when the ERU is in the proximity of a near field coupling range of the ETU,

wherein energy is transferred to the ERU from the ETU by selectively and intelligently managing the directed energy signal and the resonant magnetic field to deliver energy as needed by one or both of the modes simultaneously and with consideration to the device load'"'"'s energy requirement, energy priority and device load'"'"'s range relative to the ETU.

2. The method claim 1 wherein said ETU comprises an energy transferring unit micro-controller circuit (ETU MCC) configured to cooperate with an energy receiving unit micro-controller circuit (ERU MCC).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

a) said ETU utilizes a far field transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit said directed energy signal; and

, a source resonator configured to generate said resonate magnetic field; and

;

b) said ERU utilizes a far field receiver configured to wirelessly receive the directed energy signal transmitted from the far field transmitter; and

, a capture resonator configured to capture resonant magnetic energy in the near field generated by the source resonator.

4. The method claim 2 wherein said ETU MCC and/or the ERU MCC provides intelligent energy transfer management based on optimized mode requirements, comprising the steps of:

a) checking the requirements of a dual session to provide a device load with as much power as efficiently possible for charging and powering of said device load;

b) transferring energy from both the near and far field sources if the requirements for a dual session are satisfied and an altered range requirement does not exist wherein if an altered range requirement exists the requirements of a dual session are checked;

c) checking the availability of near field and inducing a near field session until altered range requirements exist, wherein if altered range requirements do exist then a far field search is initiated.

5. A system for providing intelligent wireless power to a device load, comprising:

a) an energy transferring unit (ETU) configured to

     1) transmit a directed energy signal over-the-air in a first mode and

     2) generate a resonate magnetic field over-the-air in a second mode;

b) an energy receiving unit (ERU) of a device load configured to

     1) receive the directed energy signal from the ETU when the ERU is in the proximity of a far field range of the ETU; and

     2) couple an ERU magnetic field thereof to the resonate magnetic field in the second mode when the ERU is in the proximity of a near field coupling range of the ETU,

wherein energy is transferred to the ERU from the ETU by intelligently managing the directed energy signal and the resonant magnetic field to deliver energy as needed by one or both of the modes simultaneously and with consideration to the device load'"'"'s energy requirement, energy priority and device load'"'"'s range relative to the ETU.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

a) said ETU comprises;

i. a far field transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit said directed energy signal; and

,

ii. a source resonator configured to generate said resonate magnetic field; and

,

b) said ERU comprises;

i. a far field receiver configured to wirelessly receive the directed energy signal transmitted from the far field transmitter; and

,

ii. a capture resonator configured to capture resonant magnetic energy in the near field generated by the source resonator.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

a) said ETU further comprises;

i. an ETU micro-controller circuit (ETU MCC) operatively connected to a power source and configured to intelligently induce wireless transfer of energy within the near field, far field or both as required, and to manage the distribution and priority of energy transfer;

ii. an ETU communications circuit configured to communicate information between the ETU and ERU; and

,

iii. an ETU amplifier/rectifier circuit configured to convert the energy for the source resonator and the transmitter antenna; and

,

b) said ERU further comprises;

i. an ERU micro-controller circuit (ERU MCC) configured to intelligently receive wireless transfer of energy within the near field, far field or both as required, and to manage the distribution and priority of energy transfer;

ii. an ERU communications circuit configured to communicate information between the ETU and ERU; and

,

iii. an ERU amplifier/rectifier circuit configured to convert the energy for the capture resonator and the receiver antenna.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said source resonator comprises a source coil operatively connected to an ETU impedance matching circuit (ETU IMC).

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said capture resonator comprises a capture coil operatively connected to an ERU impedance matching circuit (ERU IMC).

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said ERU MCC is integrated into one or more of said device loads.

11. A method of managing multi-mode transfer of wireless power, comprising:

intelligently optimizing the wireless transfer of energy from a multi-mode energy transfer unit (ETU), and capturing and receiving the optimized energy transferred wirelessly over varying distances by one or more energy receiving units (ERU'"'"'s).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy transfer unit (ETU) includes a wireless communication protocol capable of independently identifying each energy receiving unit (ERU), engaging one or more identified ERU'"'"'s, and sensing the range of each engaged ERU relative to the ETU, thus generating identification and range data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the ETU processes said identification and range data to intelligently determine which mode or modes simultaneously, shall be induced during the wireless energy transfer session of each engaged energy receiving unit in a manner that optimizes energy transfer rate and efficiency.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein an engaged ERU, upon successfully establishing a communication link with the ETU via said communication protocol, and upon determining the presence of a corresponding software program installed on a device capable of running the software will provide relevant wireless energy transfer session data in a visual format via said software program.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said ERU is integrated into a device selected from a group of electronic devices consisting of a computer, laptop computer, mobile phone, smart phone, tablet computer, and tablet phone wherein the device is capable of facilitating and running a software program for the purpose of displaying session data and offering additional command options for the energy transfer session in a visual format.