Method and apparatus for enhancing the power efficiency of wireless communication devices

• US 8,416,721 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marcellus Chen
• Original Assignee: Marcellus Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Marcellus
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elallam, Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US11/857,655
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 323/371, 320/138, 363/142
• US Class Current: 370/310
• 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 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Method and system for enhancing the power efficiency of a first wireless device that includes an energy receiver. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a transmitted signal at the first wireless device, converting the transmitted signal into power through the energy receiver, and providing the power to the first wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing the power efficiency of a wireless device having a transmitter and an energy receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a transmitted signal at the energy receiver of the wireless device, wherein the transmitted signal is transmitted by the transmitter of the wireless device at a pre-determined frequency and is received by an energy receiver included in the first wireless device at the pre-determined frequency, and wherein a distance between the transmitter and the energy receiver is fixed;

setting a frequency of the energy receiver substantially to the pre-determined frequency;

converting the transmitted signal received by the energy receiver at the pre-determined frequency into power; and

supplying the power to a component of the first wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the frequency of the energy receiver substantially to the pre-determined frequency includes calibrating the energy receiver to substantially match the pre-determined frequency using one or more pre-calibrated control signal values.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined frequency is associated with one or more wireless communication standards selected from the group of GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, Bluetooth, or IEEE 802.11.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the transmitted signal into power further includes converting AC power associated with the transmitted signal received by the energy receiver into DC power through an AC to DC converter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device is one of a cellular phone, a wireless headset, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or desktop computer, a router, or a key fob.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless device further includes an electrical shield to absorb electromagnetic interference (EMI); and

the method further includes converting the electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorbed through the electrical shield into power through the energy receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the transmitted signal includes setting a frequency of the energy receiver substantially to a centered frequency of a pre-determined frequency range.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is one of a touch pad, a light, a display screen, a digital signal processor, a receiver, a transmitter, or a battery.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the power is supplied to a power supply for storage therein.

10. A wireless device comprising:

a transmitter to transmit a signal at a pre-determined frequency;

an energy receiver configured to receive a signal at the pre-determined frequency including the signal transmitted from the transmitter, convert the signal transmitted from the transmitter into power, and provide the power to a component of the wireless device; and

a control circuit to set a frequency of the energy receiver to the pre-determined frequency,

wherein a distance between the transmitter and the energy receiver is fixed.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the control circuit is configured to set the frequency of the energy receiver to the pre-determined frequency using one or more pre-calibrated control signal values.

12. The wireless device of claim 10, further comprising:

an AC to DC converter to convert AC power associated with the transmitted signal received by the energy receiver into DC power.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the wireless device is one of a cellular phone, a wireless networking device, a wireless headset, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or desktop computer, a router, or a key fob.

14. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the component is one of a touch pad, a light, a display screen, a digital signal processor, a receiver, a transmitter, or a battery.

15. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the energy receiver is configured to supply power to a power supply for storage therein.

16. A method for enhancing the power efficiency of a first wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving a first transmitted signal at the first wireless device, wherein the first transmitted signal is transmitted by a transmitter included in the first wireless device and is received by an energy receiver included in the first wireless device;

receiving a second transmitted signal at the first wireless device, wherein the second transmitted signal is transmitted by a transmitter included in a second wireless device and is received by the energy receiver included in the first wireless device;

determining whether a power of the first transmitted signal is greater than or less than a power of the second transmitted signal; and

if the power of the first transmitted signal is greater than the power of the second transmitted signal, then converting the first transmitted signal into power through the energy receiver and providing the power to the first wireless device, or

if the power of the first transmitted signal is less than the power of the second transmitted signal, then converting the second transmitted signal into power through the energy receiver and providing the power to the first wireless device.