Wireless sound charging and powering of healthcare gadgets and sensors

• US 9,843,229 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US14/273,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20150326027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• 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 50/402 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 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

The present disclosure provides wireless charging and powering methods for healthcare gadgets and wireless sensors. The method may include wireless power transmission through suitable techniques such as pocket-forming. The methods may include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers. In some embodiments the transmitters and receivers may be embedded to medical devices and wireless sensors, respectively. In other embodiments, the receiver may be integrated into wireless sensors. In yet another embodiment, the transmitters may be positioned on strategic places so as to have a wider range for wireless power transmission to portable electronic medical devices and wireless sensors.

Claims

1. A method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor, comprising:

generating, by a sound wave (SW) circuit embedded within a transmitter coupled to a power source, power SW signals;

generating communication signals from a communication circuit embedded within the transmitter;

controlling the generated power SW signals and the communication signals with a digital signal processor;

transmitting the power SW signals through at least two transducers and the communications signals through a communication antenna, the at least two transducers electrically connected to the SW circuit and the communication antenna electrically connected to one or more communication circuits within the transmitter,

wherein the power SW signals are transmitted to converge to form controlled constructive interference in 3-D space at a receiver with an antenna connected to the electronic medical device or sensor, and

wherein the receiver is configured convert energy at the controlled constructive interference into a DC voltage for charging or powering the medical device or sensor; and

receiving, by the communication antenna, the communication signals from the receiver, wherein the communications signals generated from the receiver indicate a location of the receiver, and power requirements of the electronic medical device or sensor, and

wherein the communications signals indicate an optimum time and location for converging the power SW signals to form the controlled constructive interference at the receiver.

2. The method for wireless power transmission to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, the method further comprising:

capturing, by the receiver coupled to the electronic medical device or sensor, the energy from the controlled constructive interference generated from the power SW signals transmitted from the transmitter and converged in 3-D space at the receiver; and

powering or charging the electronic medical device or sensor from the DC voltage converted from the energy captured from the controlled constructive interference.

3. The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is centrally located in a recovery room, operating room, patient room, emergency room or common area of a hospital for charging the electronic medical device or the sensor.

4. The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is located on the ceiling in a recovery room, operating room, patient room, emergency room or common area of a hospital for charging the electronic medical device or the sensor.

5. The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the electronic medical device or sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a portable blood glucose meter, portable ultrasound machine, infrared electronic thermometer, electronic pads with electronic medical records, blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, and portable EKG.

6. The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the transmitter controls the power SW signals through phase and relative amplitude adjustments to form the controlled constructive interference in the 3-D space at the receiver.

7. The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the receiver is embedded within or attached to the electronic medical device or sensor.

8. The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein each of the transducers in the transmitter is configured to operate at a frequency band within a range of 10 KHz to 50 KHz.

9. The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, the method further comprising generating, by the transmitter, controlled constructive interference at multiple locations in 3-D space to power or charge multiple electronic medical devices or sensors within the medical facility or patient room where the transmitter is located.

10. The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processor is a microprocessor or microcontroller controlling the SW circuitry generating the power SW signals and the communications circuitry transmitting the communication signals to the receiver.

11. The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the communication signals are generated by the communications circuitry using a wireless communication protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and FM radio.

12. A system for wireless power transmission to an electronic medical device, comprising:

a portable transmitter having at least two or more transducer elements, at least one sound wave integrated circuit configured to generate power sound waves, at least one digital signal processor, and a communication circuit configured to communicate communications signals with a receiver, the at least one transducer configured to transmit the power sound waves to converge to form controlled constructive interference in 3-D space at the receiver,

wherein the at least two transducers transmit the power sound waves generated by the sound wave integrated circuit to form the controlled constructive interference at the receiver embedded or attached to the electronic medical device, and

wherein the communication circuit of the transmitter receives from the receiver via the communications signal location data and power requirements of the electronic medical device, the communications signal indicating to the digital signal processor of the transmitter an optimal time and location for transmitting the power sound waves, and the digital signal processor instructing the power sound wave integrated circuit to generate the power sound waves according to the communications signal.

13. The system for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is centrally located in a medical facility or patient room to power or charge multiple portable electronic medical devices or sensors.

14. The system for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is located on the ceiling of a medical facility or patient room to power or charge the electronic medical device or sensor.

15. The system for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 12, wherein the receiver is embedded or attached on a front or a side of a portable ultrasound machine.

16. The system for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 12, wherein the receiver is embedded or attached in a back side of a blood glucose meter or blood pressure monitor.

17. The system for wireless power transmission to an electronic medical device of claim 12, wherein the communication circuit of the transmitter communicates with the receiver using a wireless communication protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, infrared, FM radio, and Zigbee.

18. The system for wireless power transmission to an electronic medical device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the transducers of the transmitter is a piezoelectric transducer for creating the power sound waves.

19. The system for wireless power transmission to an electronic medical device of claim 12, wherein each transducers of the transmitter is configured to operate at a frequency band within a range of 10 KHz to 50 KHz.

20. The system for wireless power transmission to an electronic medical device of claim 12, wherein each transducer of the transmitter is configured to operate at an independent frequency from each transducer.