Enhanced transmitter using frequency control for wireless power transmission

• US 9,793,758 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US14/286,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20150340910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 320108
• 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 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

An enhanced transmitter for wireless power transmission is disclosed. The transmitter may be able to transmit radio frequency (RF) waves or pockets of energy for charging or powering an electronic device. The transmitter may include antenna element arrangements for receiving RF waves from a plurality of wireless sources and process them using a dedicated RF integrated circuit (RFIC) and set of antenna elements for receiving RF input signals from a plurality of wireless power sources. A digital signal processor (DSP) may be used to control reception using the dedicated RFIC and antenna elements of reception and to control transmission of wireless power selecting the transmitting RFICs and configuration of antenna elements to send RF waves or pockets of energy to a wireless receiver. The frequency of RF waves received may be sampled through a down converter array and line addressing devices to send the signals received to a micro-controller including a proprietary algorithm which control switching and processing necessary for faster and enhanced wireless power transmission, thus improving transmission efficiency.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling transmission of wireless signals suitable for charging devices, comprising:

a controller;

at least one receiving circuit, operatively coupled to the controller;

a plurality of transmitting circuits, operatively coupled to the controller;

a communication component coupled to the controller and configured to communicate with a receiver to identify a location for forming a controlled constructive interference pattern; and

an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements, wherein a first portion of the plurality of antenna elements are respectively coupled to the at least one receiving circuit and a second portion of the plurality of antenna elements are respectively coupled to the plurality of transmitting circuits;

wherein;

the at least one receiving circuit is configured to receive incoming RF signals from the receiver using the first portion of the plurality of antenna elements,

the controller is configured to;

(i) sample and process the incoming RF signals, and

(ii) control operation of the plurality of transmitting circuits so as to generate outgoing RF signals having a frequency that is higher than a frequency of the incoming RF signals to form the controlled constructive interference pattern proximate to the location, and

the plurality of transmitting circuits is configured to;

(i) generate the outgoing RF signals having the frequency that is higher than the frequency of the incoming RF signals and

(ii) cause the second portion of the plurality of antenna elements to transmit the outgoing RF signals having the frequency that is higher than the frequency of the incoming RF signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the plurality of transmitting circuits by selecting at least some of the second portion of the plurality of antenna elements for concentrating transmission of the outgoing RF signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the selected at least some of the second portion of the plurality of antenna elements concentrate transmission of the outgoing RF signals by wirelessly broadcasting the outgoing RF signals to form the controlled constructive interference pattern proximate to the location.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is selected from the group consisting of:

a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, and an ARM microprocessor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving circuit is configured to down-convert a range of the frequency of the incoming RF signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one receiving circuit is configured to adjust at least one of a phase and a relative magnitude of the frequency of the incoming RF signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprises patch antennas.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication component is configured to receive information for processing by the controller to optimize a time and one or more locations for transmitting the outgoing RF signals.

9. An apparatus for controlling transmission of wireless signals suitable for charging devices, comprising:

a controller;

one or more receiving circuits configured to receive incoming RF signals from a receiver;

a communication component coupled to the controller and configured to communicate with the receiver to identify a location for forming a controlled constructive interference pattern; and

an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements, wherein a first portion of the plurality of antenna elements are respectively coupled to the one or more receiving circuits and a second portion of the plurality of antenna elements are respectively coupled to a plurality of transmitting circuits;

wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the one or more receiving circuits and the plurality of transmitting circuits, and

the controller is configured to;

(i) send switching signals to the one or more receiving circuits to select a sub-portion of the first portion of antenna elements to receive the incoming RF signals,

(ii) process the incoming RF signals to obtain a frequency thereof, and

(iii) control operation of the plurality of transmitting circuits so as to generate outgoing RF signals having a frequency that is higher than the frequency of the incoming RF signals to form the controlled constructive interference pattern proximate to the location, and the plurality of transmitting circuits is configured to;

(i) generate the outgoing RF signals having the frequency that is higher than the frequency of the incoming RF signals and

(ii) cause the second portion of the plurality of antenna elements to transmit the outgoing RF signals having the frequency that is higher than the frequency of the incoming RF signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sub-portion comprises at least one of a row or a column of the plurality of antenna elements in the antenna array.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the transmitting circuit by selecting at least some of the second portion of the plurality of antenna elements for concentrating transmission of the outgoing RF signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the selected at least some of the second portion of the plurality of antenna elements concentrate transmission of the outgoing RF signals by wirelessly broadcasting the outgoing RF signals to form the controlled constructive interference pattern proximate to the location.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is selected from the group consisting of:

a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, and an ARM microprocessor.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiving circuit is configured to down-convert a range of the frequency of the incoming RF signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the receiving circuit is configured to adjust at least one of a phase and a relative magnitude of the frequency of the incoming RF signals.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprises patch antennas.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communications component is configured to receive information for processing by the controller to optimize a time and one or more locations for transmitting the outgoing RF signals.

18. A method for providing wireless power, comprising:

receiving, by a first portion of antennas in an antenna array of a transmitter coupled to a receiver circuit of the transmitter, incoming RF signals;

receiving, by a communication component of the transmitter, from a receiver, a communication signal containing a location associated with the receiver;

generating, by a transmitting circuit of the transmitter and for transmission by a second portion of antennas in the antenna array, outgoing RF signals in accordance with the location associated with the receiver,

utilizing a controller, which is operatively coupled to the receiver circuit, the transmitting circuit, and the communication component, of the transmitter to;

(i) sample and process the incoming RF signals and

(ii) control operation of the transmitting circuit so as to generate the outgoing RF signals having a frequency that is higher than a frequency of the incoming RF signals to form a controlled constructive interference pattern proximate to the location associated with the receiver; and

(iii) cause the second portion of antennas of the antenna array of the transmitter to transmit the outgoing RF signals having the frequency that is higher than the frequency of the incoming RF signals to form the controlled constructive interference pattern proximate to the location associated with the receiver.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating, by the transmitting circuit, the outgoing RF signals includes generating at least two outgoing RF signals.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

phase shifting and gain adjusting one of the at least two outgoing RF signals with respect to the other of the at least two outgoing RF signals to generate the controlled constructive interference pattern proximate to the location associated with the receiver.