Wireless power transfer for appliances and equipments
First Claim
1. An apparatus for wirelessly transferring power to a receive antenna of a receiver device, comprising:
- a transmit antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic field to wirelessly transfer the power to the receive antenna at a resonant frequency within a coverage area of the transmit antenna;
an amplifier configured to output electric power to the transmit antenna for generating the electromagnetic field;
a presence detector configured to detect a presence of the receiver device within the coverage area in the absence of physical contact with the receiver device, of using the electromagnetic field, and of receiving data communication from the receiver device, and configured to generate a presence signal in response to the detection of the presence of the receiver device; and
a controller operably coupled to the presence detector and the amplifier and configured to adjust the output of the amplifier in response to the presence signal, the controller being further configured to cause power to be simultaneously transmitted to two or more receiver devices within the coverage area and to subsequently register each of the two or more receiver devices.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. A transmitting device or a receiving device for use in a wireless transfer system may be equipment or a household appliance. The transmitting device includes a transmit antenna to wirelessly transfer power to a receive antenna by generating a near field radiation within a coupling-mode region. An amplifier applies an RF signal to the transmit antenna. A presence detector detects a presence of a receiver device within the coupling-mode region. A controller adjusts a power output of the amplifier responsive to the presence of a receiver device. The presence detector may also detect a human presence. The power output may be adjusted at or below the regulatory level when the presence signal indicates human presence and above a regulatory level when the presence signal indicates human absence.
191 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for wirelessly transferring power to a receive antenna of a receiver device, comprising:
-
a transmit antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic field to wirelessly transfer the power to the receive antenna at a resonant frequency within a coverage area of the transmit antenna; an amplifier configured to output electric power to the transmit antenna for generating the electromagnetic field; a presence detector configured to detect a presence of the receiver device within the coverage area in the absence of physical contact with the receiver device, of using the electromagnetic field, and of receiving data communication from the receiver device, and configured to generate a presence signal in response to the detection of the presence of the receiver device; and a controller operably coupled to the presence detector and the amplifier and configured to adjust the output of the amplifier in response to the presence signal, the controller being further configured to cause power to be simultaneously transmitted to two or more receiver devices within the coverage area and to subsequently register each of the two or more receiver devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method, comprising:
-
generating an electromagnetic field to wirelessly transfer power at a resonant frequency of a transmit antenna from the transmit antenna to a receive antenna of a receiver device in a coverage area of the transmit antenna; detecting a presence of the receiver device within the coverage area in the absence of physical contact with the receiver device, of using the electromagnetic field, and of receiving data communication from the receiver device; adjusting a power output of the transmit antenna in response to the presence of the receive antenna; receiving power in the coverage area with the receive antenna disposed within the coverage area; simultaneously transmitting power to two or more receiver devices within the coverage area; and subsequently registering each of the two or more receiver devices. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method, comprising:
-
generating an electromagnetic field to wirelessly transfer power at a resonant frequency of a transmit antenna from the transmit antenna to a receive antenna of a receiver device in a coverage area of the transmit antenna; repeating generation of the electromagnetic field with a repeater antenna to create a repeated coverage area different from the coverage area; detecting a presence of the receiver device within the repeated coverage area in the absence of physical contact with the receiver device, of using the electromagnetic field, and of receiving data communication from the receiver device; adjusting a power output of the transmit antenna in response to the presence of the receiver device; receiving power from the repeated coverage area with the receive antenna disposed within the repeated coverage area; simultaneously transmitting power to two or more receiver devices within the repeated coverage area; and subsequently registering each of the two or more receiver devices. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A wireless power transfer system, comprising:
-
means for generating an electromagnetic field to wirelessly transfer power at a resonant frequency of a transmit antenna from the transmit antenna to a receive antenna of a receiver device in a coverage area of the transmit antenna; means for detecting a presence of the receiver device within the coverage area in the absence of physical contact with the receiver device, of using the electromagnetic field, and of receiving data communication from the receiver device; means for adjusting a power output of the transmit antenna in response to the presence of the receive antenna; means for receiving power in the coverage area with the receive antenna disposed within the coverage area; means for simultaneously transmitting power to two or more receiver devices within the coverage area; and means for subsequently registering each of the two or more receiver devices. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A wireless power transfer system, comprising:
-
means for generating an electromagnetic field to wirelessly transfer power at a resonant frequency of a transmit antenna from the transmit antenna to a receive antenna of a receiver device in a coverage area of the transmit antenna; means for repeating generation of the electromagnetic field with a repeater antenna to create a repeated coverage area different from the coverage area; means for detecting a presence of the receiver device within the repeated coverage area in the absence of physical contact with the receiver device, of using the electromagnetic field, and of receiving data communication from the receiver device; means for adjusting a power output of the transmit antenna in response to the presence of the receiver device; means for receiving power from the repeated coverage area with the receive antenna disposed within the repeated coverage area; means for simultaneously transmitting power to two or more receiver devices within the repeated coverage area; and means for subsequently registering each of the two or more receiver devices. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
-
Specification