Ultrasonic charging apparatus, system and method

• US 9,837,849 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Wallis, David W., Herrmann, John E., Taraboulos, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US14/839,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20170063129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A charging apparatus (102), system (100) and method (500) are provided for charging and/or powering a wearable electronic device, such as electronic eyeglasses. The charging apparatus comprises an acoustic horn, a piezoelectric transducer, and charger circuitry for converting ultrasonic waves received at the horn into a charging signal. The charging signal is used for charging and/or powering the wearable electronic device while the device is being worn.

Claims

1. A method of charging a wearable electronic device, comprising:

receiving ultrasonic wave transmissions at an acoustic horn, the acoustic horn being electrically and mechanically coupled to the wearable electronic device;

generating a concentrated ultrasonic wave signal within the acoustic horn;

directing the concentrated ultrasonic wave signal to a piezoelectric transducer and an AC-DC converter located within the acoustic horn to convert the concentrated ultrasonic wave signal into a charging signal;

charging a battery coupled to the wearable electronic device via the charging signal while the wearable electronic device is being worn; and

powering the wearable electronic device with the charged battery.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving the ultrasonic wave transmissions:

transmitting ultrasonic waves from a remote ultrasonic transmitter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote ultrasonic transmitter is located in one of:

a vehicle, a lamp, a table and a chair.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising one or more of:

adjusting positioning of the acoustic horn for alignment with the remote ultrasonic transmitter; and

adjusting positioning of the remote ultrasonic transmitter for alignment with the acoustic horn.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

adjusting a frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic waves generated by the remote ultrasonic transmitter via a feedback link of the receive transducer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic horn is integrated into the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic horn is attachable to and detachable from the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

attaching the acoustic horn to the electronic device prior to charging.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wearing the electronic device while the battery of the electronic device is being charged.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmissions are received at a larger input opening of the acoustic horn, and the piezoelectric transducer and AC-DC converter are located at an output end of the acoustic horn.