Systems and methods for device and power receiver pairing

• US 9,853,458 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Douglas, Leabman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mourad, Rasem
• Application Number:
  US14/584,324
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. The transmitter can locate the at least one receiver in a three-dimensional space using a communication medium (e.g., Bluetooth technology). The transmitter generates a waveform to create a pocket of energy around each of the at least one receiver. The transmitter uses an algorithm to direct, focus, and control the waveform in three dimensions. The receiver can convert the transmission signals (e.g., RF signals) into electricity for powering an electronic device. Accordingly, the embodiments for wireless power transmission can allow powering and charging a plurality of electrical devices without wires.

Claims

1. A method for pairing an electronic device, comprising:

transmitting, by an electronic device, a communication signal containing electronic device information to at least one of a plurality of transmitters capable of providing controlled power transmission waves that produce a pocket of energy;

receiving, by the electronic device from a first transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, pairing authentication and a database associated with at least one of a plurality of receivers to pair with the electronic device;

scanning, by the electronic device, for at least one of the plurality of receivers;

determining, by the electronic device, a first receiver of the plurality of receivers within a threshold range of the electronic device;

transmitting, by the electronic device, a pairing request to the first receiver;

transmitting, by the electronic device to the first transmitter, an update to the database to include an association between the electronic device and the first receiver; and

receiving, by the electronic device, two or more power transmission waves from the first transmitter with at least two antennas, the two or more power transmission waves accumulating in the form of constructive interference patterns to form a pocket of energy at the electronic device coupled to the first receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein electronic device information comprises at least one of an electronic device identification, current battery status, charge history information, and proximity to at least one of the plurality of transmitters.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one advertisement for display on the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pairing authentication of the electronic device with the first transmitter is based on proximity of the electronic device to the first transmitter.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating a power request to the at least one of the plurality of transmitters.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pairing authentication is effective after the electronic device has been in communication with the first transmitter over a predetermined period of time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined period of time is set by a user.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than 5 seconds.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the electronic device measures a signal strength of the first transmitter during the predetermined period of time.

10. A system comprising:

an electronic device configured to;

transmit a communication signal containing electronic device information to at least one of a plurality of transmitters capable of providing controlled power transmission waves that produce a pocket of energy;

receive from a first transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, pairing authentication and a database associated with at least one of a plurality of receivers to pair with the electronic device;

scan for at least one of the plurality of receivers;

determine a first receiver of the plurality of receivers within a threshold range of the electronic device;

transmit a pairing request to the first receiver;

transmit to the first transmitter, an update to the database to include an association between the electronic device and the first receiver; and

receive two or more power transmission waves from the first transmitter with at least two antennas, the two or more power transmission waves accumulating in the form of constructive interference patterns to form a pocket of energy at the electronic device coupled to the first receiver.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein electronic device information comprises at least one of an electronic device identification, current battery status, charge history information, and proximity to at least one of the plurality of transmitters.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising providing at least one advertisement for display on the electronic device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the pairing authentication of the electronic device with the first transmitter is based on proximity of the electronic device to the first transmitter.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising communicating a power request to the at least one of the plurality of transmitters.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the pairing authentication is effective after the electronic device has been in communication with the first transmitter over a predetermined period of time.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined period of time is set by a user.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than 5 seconds.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic device measures a signal strength of the first transmitter during the predetermined period of time.