Wireless charging system

• US 9,590,455 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Lang, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Siek, Vuthe
• Application Number:
  US14/313,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20150002080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

A wireless power transmission system includes a first power transmitter configured to transmit a first electromagnetic field, a first power receiver configured to generate electrical energy using the first transmitted electromagnetic field, a first occupancy sensor configured to indicate a first presence of a first individual within a first sensed area, and a control unit configured to control the first power transmitter based upon the indicated first presence.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission system comprising:

a first power transmitter configured to transmit a first electromagnetic field;

a first power receiver configured to generate electrical energy using the first transmitted electromagnetic field;

a first occupancy sensor configured to indicate a first presence of a first individual within a first sensed area;

a second power transmitter operatively connected to the control unit and configured to transmit a second electromagnetic field;

a second occupancy sensor configured to indicate a second presence of a second individual within a second sensed area; and

a control unit operably connected to the first power transmitter, the first occupancy sensor, the second power transmitter, and the second occupancy sensor, the control unit being configured to control the first power transmitter based upon the indicated first presence and to control the second power transmitter based upon the indicated second presence.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to deactivate the first power transmitter upon indication of the first presence of the first individual and to deactivate the second power transmitter upon indication of the second presence of the second individual.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first power transmitter is configured to transmit the first electromagnetic field in a first room;

the first sensed area is in the first room;

the second power transmitter is configured to transmit the second electromagnetic field in a second room; and

the second sensed area is in the second room.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first power transmitter is configured to receive power from a first wired receptacle;

the first occupancy sensor is configured to receive power from a second wired receptacle; and

the first occupancy sensor is configured to indicate the first presence of the first individual through the second wired receptacle and the first wired receptacle.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a wireless signal transmitter operatively connected to the second occupancy sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit a signal to the control unit based upon the indicated second presence.

6. A wireless power transmission system comprising:

a first power transmitter configured to transmit a first electromagnetic field;

a first power receiver configured to generate electrical energy using the first transmitted electromagnetic field;

a first occupancy sensor configured to indicate a first presence of a first individual within a first sensed area;

an energy storage device operatively connected to the first power receiver and the first occupancy sensor, the energy storage device configured to store the generated electrical energy and to supply the stored electrical energy to the first occupancy sensor; and

a control unit operably connected to the first power transmitter and configured to control the first power transmitter based upon the indicated first presence.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a wireless signal transmitter operatively connected to the first occupancy sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit a signal to the control unit based upon the indicated first presence.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

at least one electronic component operatively connected to the energy storage device and configured to receive stored electrical energy from the energy storage device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one electronic component includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, an alarm sensor, a thermal sensor, a motion sensor, an optical sensor, a camera, an atmosphere sensor, a resistive sensor, and a light.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the control unit includes a remote management system configured to enable a user to remotely manage operating parameters for the control unit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote management system includes a web server.

12. A method of operating a wireless power transmission system, comprising:

indicating a first presence of a first individual within a first sensed area using a first occupancy sensor;

receiving the indication of the first presence of the first individual at a control unit;

controlling with the control unit a first power transmitter based upon the received first indication;

transmitting a first electromagnetic field with the first power transmitter under the control of the control unit;

generating electrical power from the first electromagnetic field with a first power receiver;

storing the generated electrical energy in an energy storage device operatively connected to the first power receiver and the first occupancy sensor; and

supplying the stored electrical energy to the first occupancy sensor.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

deactivating the first power transmitter with the control unit upon indication of the first presence of the first individual.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

indicating a second presence of a second individual within a second sensed area using a second occupancy sensor;

receiving the indication of the second presence of the second individual at the control unit;

controlling with the control unit a second power transmitter based upon the received second indication;

transmitting a second electromagnetic field with the second power transmitter under the control of the control unit; and

generating electrical power from the second electromagnetic field with a second power receiver.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the first power transmitter is configured to transmit the first electromagnetic field in a first room;

the first sensed area is in the first room;

the second power transmitter is configured to transmit the second electromagnetic field in a second room; and

the second sensed area is in the second room.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving power at the second power transmitter from a first wired receptacle;

receiving power at the second occupancy sensor from a second wired receptacle; and

indicating the second presence of the second individual through the second wired receptacle and the first wired receptacle.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a signal to the control unit based upon the indicated first presence with a wireless signal transmitter operatively connected to the first occupancy sensor.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

supplying the stored electrical energy to at least one electronic component operatively connected to the energy storage device.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

deactivating the first power transmitter with the control unit in response to a charge level of the energy storage device being greater than a predetermined threshold.