Ultrasonic universal wireless charging

• US 9,620,983 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2013
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Abdelmoneum, Mohamed A., Gwin, Paul J., Mahameed, Rashed, Sprenger, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): RANKINE, TARIKH KANEM
• Application Number:
  US14/042,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

Methods and systems may provide for detecting a location of an adjacent ultrasonic receiver of a battery powered device relative to a charging surface of a contactless charger. The charging surface may include an ultrasonic array of transmitter sub arrays, wherein one or more of the transmitter sub arrays may be selectively activated based on the location to focus an ultrasonic beam on the adjacent ultrasonic receiver. In one example, a movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver may be detected and the focus of the ultrasonic beam is adjusted in response to the movement.

Claims

1. A contactless charger comprising:

a charging surface including an array of transmitter sub arrays, each transmitter sub array having a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters; and

logic to;

detect a location of an adjacent ultrasonic receiver of a battery powered device relative to the charging surface based on a differential in a ultrasonic beam reflection energy with respect to planar a beam reflector positioned at a perimeter of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver, the planar beam reflector to direct the ultrasonic beam energy away from the adjacent ultrasonic receiver;

determine a three-dimensional characteristic of a movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver based on the differential; and

selectively activate one or more of the transmitter sub arrays based on the location to focus an ultrasonic beam on the adjacent ultrasonic receiver.

2. The contactless charger of claim 1, wherein the logic is to:

detect the movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver, and

adjust the focus of the ultrasonic beam in response to the movement.

3. The contactless charger of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the logic is to:

receive one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers, and

use the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers to identify the differential in beam reflection energy with respect to the beam reflector positioned at a perimeter of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver.

4. The contactless charger of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and an ultrasonic ranger, and the logic is to:

receive one or more signals from the light detectors,

receive one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers, and

determine the three-dimensional characteristic of the movement based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers.

5. The contactless charger of claim 2, wherein the logic is to:

detect an out of range condition associated with the movement, and

discontinue the ultrasonic beam in response to the out of range condition.

6. The contactless charger of claim 5, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the logic is to:

use the transmitter sub arrays to send a known wave pulse to the adjacent ultrasonic receiver,

receive one or more signals from the light detectors, and

receive one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers, wherein the out of range condition is detected based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers.

7. The contactless charger of claim 1, wherein the charging surface further includes a light sensor, the logic to:

detect a charge light of the battery powered device,

determine a charge level of the battery powered device based on a status of the charge light, and

adjust a power of the ultrasonic beam based on the charge state of the battery powered device.

8. A method of operating a contactless charger, comprising:

detecting a location of an adjacent ultrasonic receiver of a battery powered device relative to a charging surface of the contactless charger based on a differential in a ultrasonic beam reflection energy with respect to planar a beam reflector positioned at a perimeter of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver the planar beam reflector to direct the ultrasonic beam energy away from the adjacent ultrasonic receiver, the charging surface including an ultrasonic array of transmitter sub arrays;

determining a three-dimensional characteristic of a movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver based on the differential; and

selectively activating one or more of the transmitter sub arrays based on the location to focus an ultrasonic beam on the adjacent ultrasonic receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, further including:

detecting the movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver; and

adjusting the focus of the ultrasonic beam in response to the movement.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the method further includes:

receiving one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers; and

using the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers to identify the differential in beam reflection energy with respect to the beam reflector positioned at the perimeter of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and an ultrasonic ranger, and the method further includes:

receiving one or more signals from the light detectors;

receiving one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers; and

determining a three-dimensional characteristic of the movement based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers.

12. The method of claim 9, further including:

detecting an out of range condition associated with the movement; and

discontinuing the ultrasonic beam in response to the out of range condition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the method further includes:

using the transmitter sub arrays to send a known wave pulse to the adjacent ultrasonic receiver;

receiving one or more signals from the light detectors; and

receiving one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers, wherein the out of range condition is detected based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the charging surface further includes a light sensor, the method further including:

detecting a charge light of the battery powered device;

determining a charge level of the battery powered device based on a status of the charge light; and

adjusting a power of the ultrasonic beam based on the charge state of the battery powered device.

15. At least one computer readable storage medium comprising a set of non-transitory computer-executable instructions which, if executed by a contactless charger, cause the contactless charger to:

detect a location of an adjacent ultrasonic receiver of a battery powered device relative to a charging surface of the contactless charger based on a differential in a ultrasonic beam reflection energy with respect to planar a beam reflector positioned at a perimeter of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver the planar beam reflector to direct the ultrasonic beam energy away from the adjacent ultrasonic receiver, the charging surface to include an ultrasonic array of transmitter sub arrays;

determine a three-dimensional characteristic of a movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver based on the differential; and

selectively activate one or more of the transmitter sub arrays based on the location to focus an ultrasonic beam on the adjacent ultrasonic receiver.

16. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

detect the movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver; and

adjust the focus of the ultrasonic beam in response to the movement.

17. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

receive one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers; and

use the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers to identify the differential in beam reflection energy with respect to the beam reflector positioned at the perimeter of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver.

18. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and an ultrasonic ranger, and the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

receive one or more signals from the light detectors;

receive one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers; and

determine a three-dimensional characteristic of the movement based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers.

19. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

detect an out of range condition associated with the movement; and

discontinue the ultrasonic beam in response to the out of range condition.

20. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

use the transmitter sub arrays to send a known wave pulse to the adjacent ultrasonic receiver;

receive one or more signals from the light detectors; and

receive one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers, wherein the out of range condition is detected based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers.

21. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the charging surface further includes a light sensor and the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

detect a charge light of the battery powered device;

determine a charge level of the battery powered device based on a status of the charge light; and

adjust a power of the ultrasonic beam based on the charge state of the battery powered device.