Audience response system with batteryless response units

• US 9,729,002 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fleetwood Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fleetwood Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Ureel, Emil J., Israels, Kyle A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US15/357,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20170163075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 320167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004

Abstract

A wireless response system and method of receiving user input selections at a base station includes distributing a plurality of response units to users. The response units wirelessly communicate with the base station in order to retrieve user responses received by the response units. Each of the response units has a user input device that is configured to receiving user input selections, a controller that is responsive to the user input device to process user inputs and to communicate responses wirelessly to the base station and a power supply having a super capacitor. The super capacitor is charged with a wireless-charging circuit and current is supplied from the super capacitor to the controller. Current supplied to the controller is controlled.

Claims

1. A wireless response system, comprising:

a base station and a plurality of response units, said response units wirelessly communicating with said base station in order to retrieve user responses received by said response units;

each of said response units having a user input device that is adapted to receiving user input selections, a controller that is responsive to said user input device to process user inputs and to communicate responses wirelessly to said base station and a power supply that is adapted to supply power to operate said controller;

wherein said power supply comprises a super capacitor and a wireless-charging circuit that is adapted to charge said super capacitor;

wherein said wireless-charging circuit is adapted to supply a current to charge said super capacitor and wherein said power supply or said controller is configured to control the current that is drawn from said super capacitor in a manner that allows said super capacitor to acquire sufficient charge from said wireless-charging circuit to operate said controller.

2. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 1 including a voltage-detecting power source that is adapted to withhold power from said controller until voltage on said super capacitor reaches a particular level.

3. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said power source is adapted to supply power to said controller when voltage on said super capacitor reaches the particular level and to continue to supply power to said controller when voltage on said super capacitor decreases below the particular level.

4. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said power source comprises a voltage regulator.

5. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said voltage regulator comprises a low drop-out voltage regulator.

6. The response system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charge circuit comprises a voltage multiplier.

7. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 1 including a load regulator, said load regulator substantially withholds power from said controller until occurrence of an event.

8. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said load regulator comprises a power impulse circuit, said power impulse circuit adapted to apply an output voltage to said controller upon occurrence of the event for a limited period of time.

9. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said power impulse circuit includes a voltage regulator and a trigger, said trigger enabling said voltage regulator to apply the output voltage to said controller.

10. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said trigger enables said voltage regulator for a limited period of time upon actuation of said user input device.

11. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said voltage regulator comprises a low drop-out voltage regulator.

12. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller is programmed to respond to an application of power to said controller by entering a quiescent mode.

13. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller is programmed to stay in a reset mode until voltage on said super capacitor reaches a particular level.

14. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said controller is programmed to respond to the voltage on said super capacitor reaching the particular level by configuring inputs and outputs thereof and entering the quiescent mode.

15. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said controller is programmed to awake from the quiescent mode in response to the operation of said user input device.

16. A wireless response system, comprising:

a base station and a plurality of response units, said response units wirelessly communicating with said base station in order to retrieve user responses received by said response units;

each of said response units having a user input device that is adapted to receiving user input selections, a controller that is responsive to said user input device to process user inputs and to communicate responses wirelessly to said base station and a power supply that is adapted to supply power to operate said controller;

wherein said power supply comprises a super capacitor and a wireless-charging circuit that is adapted to charge said super capacitor, wherein said wireless-charging circuit is adapted to supply a current to charge said super capacitor; and

a wireless charging station adapted to inductively couple electrical energy to said charging circuit, wherein said wireless charging station comprises a charging coil and a coil-driving circuit wherein said coil-driving circuit comprises a pair of electrical series connected field-effect transistors and a transistor drive circuit, said transistor drive circuit ensuring only one of said transistors is conducting at a time.

17. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said charging coil is configured to inductively couple with a plurality of said response units.

18. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said charging coil comprises at least one loop of an electrical conductor that is configured to at least partially surround said plurality of said response units.

19. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said at least one loop of an electrical conductor completely surrounds said plurality of said response units.

20. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said transistor drive circuit provides dead time during which neither of said transistors is conducting between intervals when one of said transistors is conducting.

21. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said coil driving circuit comprises an auto-tuning circuit that regulates voltage across said charging coil by modifying the frequency of the coil driving circuit.

22. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said coil driving circuit includes an error detection circuit that determines that said auto-tuning circuit has failed to achieve regulation.

23. The wireless response system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said error detection circuit monitors voltage across said charging coil and resets said auto-tuning circuit if the voltage across said charging coil is below a threshold.

24. A wireless response system, comprising:

a base station and a plurality of response units, said response units wirelessly communicating with said base station in order to retrieve user responses received by said response units;

each of said response units having a user input device that is adapted to receiving user input selections, a controller that is responsive to said user input device to process user inputs and to communicate responses wirelessly to said base station and a power supply that is adapted to supply power to operate said controller;

wherein said power supply comprises a super capacitor and a wireless-charging circuit that is adapted to charge said super capacitor;

wherein said wireless-charging circuit is adapted to supply a current to charge said super capacitor and wherein said power supply or said controller is configured to control the current that is drawn from said super capacitor in a manner that allows said super capacitor to acquire sufficient charge from said wireless-charging circuit to operate said controller; and

a wireless charging station adapted to inductively couple electrical energy to said charging circuit, wherein said wireless charging station comprises a charging coil and a coil-driving circuit wherein said coil-driving circuit comprises a pair of electrical series connected field-effect transistors and a transistor drive circuit, said transistor drive circuit ensuring only one of said transistors is conducting at a time.