Wireless charging and powering of healthcare gadgets and sensors

• US 9,847,677 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael, Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US14/586,160
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

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 power receipt by an electronic medical device, the method comprising:

communicating, by a receiver associated with the electronic medical device, a power requirement and an identifier for the electronic medical device to a transmitter, the identifier being data uniquely associated with the electronic medical device;

receiving, by an antenna of the receiver, a pocket of energy formed by converging power transmission waves; and

converting, by a rectifying circuit of the receiver, the received pocket of energy into electricity to charge the electronic medical device.

2. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 1, wherein the electronic medical device is a sensor configured to record medical information from a patient.

3. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 1, wherein the electronic medical device is configured to record a blood glucose level from a patient.

4. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 1, wherein the electronic medical device is configured to communicate an electronic medical record with a medical professional.

5. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is located in one or more locations at a medical facility.

6. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a plurality of antennas to receive the power transmission waves.

7. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 6, wherein the receiver includes a power converter and a communication component to establish communication with a transmitter of the power transmission waves when the electronic medical device is within a predetermined distance from the transmitter.

8. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 7, wherein the communication component communicates with a transmitter of the power transmission waves through a communication signal using a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth®

, Wi-Fi®

, ZigBee®

, or FM radio.

9. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to transmit information to a medical professional located remotely from the electronic medical device.

10. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating, by the receiver, with a transmitter of the power transmission waves to establish a path for the pocket of energy to converge in 3-d space upon an antenna of the receiver, wherein the antenna of the receiver is in communication with an antenna of the transmitter broadcasting the power transmission waves.

11. The method for wireless power receipt by an electronic medical device of claim 10, wherein the receiver communicates information to a transmitter of the power transmission waves to determine an optimum time and location for receiving a pocket of energy from the transmitter.

12. A wireless charging apparatus for an electronic medical device, comprising:

an electronic medical device; and

a receiver coupled to the electronic medical device, the receiver comprising;

an antenna configured to receive a pocket of energy formed from a convergence of power transmission waves emitted by a transmitter;

a rectifying circuit configured to convert the received pockets of energy into electricity to charge the electronic medical device; and

a communication component configured to transmit information to the transmitter.

13. The wireless charging apparatus for an electronic medical device of claim 12, wherein the power transmission waves are selected from the group consisting of:

electromagnetic waves, radio waves, microwaves, acoustics, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance.

14. The wireless charging apparatus for an electronic medical device of claim 12, wherein the receiver communicates with the transmitter through a communication signal using a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth®

, Wi-Fi®

, ZigBee®

, or FM radio.

15. The wireless charging apparatus for an electronic medical device of claim 12, wherein the pocket of energy is regulated by utilizing adaptive pocket-forming.

16. A method for wireless power supply for medical devices, the method comprising:

establishing, by a transmitter, a connection with a power source;

generating, by the transmitter, a plurality of power transmission waves to form a pocket of energy;

receiving, by the transmitter, a transmission of a power requirement of an electronic medical device and an identifier for the electronic medical device; and

transmitting, by the transmitter, the power transmission waves through at least two antennas coupled to the transmitter in response to the received transmission.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the antennas coupled to the transmitter are flat antennas, patch antennas, dipole antennas, or combinations thereof.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the antennas coupled to the transmitter operate in frequency bands of 900 MHz, 2.5 GHz, or 5.8 GHz.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the antennas coupled to the transmitter operate in independent frequencies configured to allow a multichannel operation of pocket-forming in a single array, pair array, quad array, or other suitable arrangement.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the antennas coupled to the transmitter are configured to polarize the power transmission waves, the polarization of the power transmission 1 signals to include vertical polarization, horizontal polarization, circular polarization, elliptical polarization, or combinations thereof.