Wireless power delivery using a base station to control operations of a plurality of wireless power transmitters

• US 9,882,427 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael, Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhou, Zixuan
• Application Number:
  US14/069,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20150123496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure may provide wireless power system used in a wireless powered house for providing power and charge to a plurality of mobile and non-mobile devices. Wireless powered house may include a single base station which may be connected to several transmitters, the base station may manage operation of every transmitter in an independently manner or may operate them as a single transmitter. Wireless powered house may include a variety of protocols for powering devices; such protocols may be customized by the user.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating and controlling wireless power delivery at a plurality of wireless power transmitters using a base station, the method comprising:

receiving, at a base station that is communicatively coupled with a plurality of wireless power transmitters;

first information sent to a first wireless power transmitter of the plurality of wireless power transmitters by a first wireless power receiver, and

second information sent to a second wireless power transmitter of the plurality of wireless power transmitters, distinct from the first wireless power transmitter, by a second wireless power receiver, distinct from the first wireless power receiver;

in accordance with determining, by a processor in the base station, (i) that the first information indicates that the first wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power and (ii) that the first wireless power receiver is within a range of the first wireless power transmitter, causing, by the base station, the first wireless power transmitter to transmit a first plurality of radio frequency (RF) power waves that forms a constructive interference pattern in proximity to a location of the first wireless power receiver; and

in accordance with determining, by the processor in the base station, (i) that the second information indicates that the second wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power and (ii) that the second wireless power receiver is not within range of the second wireless power transmitter, causing, by the base station, the second wireless power transmitter to transmit a second plurality of RF power waves to a range enhancer that directs the second plurality of RF power waves towards a location of the second wireless power receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the base station is also coupled with a power source, and

the first plurality of RF power waves and the second plurality of RF power waves are generated using power supplied by the power source that is coupled with the base station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generation of the first plurality of RF power waves and the second plurality of RF power waves is managed by the processor in the base station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless power transmitters are located in different rooms.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the range enhancer is a reflector.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the range enhancer is a repeater that includes a third wireless power receiver for receiving the second plurality of RF power waves and a third wireless power transmitter for re-transmitting the second plurality of RF power waves towards the location of the second wireless power receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first wireless power receiver is associated with a set of restrictions, and transmitting the first plurality of RF power waves is performed after determining that the set of restrictions is satisfied.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the set of restrictions is satisfied includes determining that the location of the first wireless power receiver is within a restricted area associated with the first wireless power receiver.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second information are transmitted in respective coded signals.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, accessing, by the processor in the base station, powering statistics associated with the first and second wireless power receivers to determine when to cause the first and second wireless power transmitters to cease transmitting the first plurality of RF power waves and the second plurality of RF power waves, respectively, to the first and second wireless power receivers, respectively.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in accordance with determining, by the processor in the base station, that the first information indicates that the first wireless power receiver is not authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power, forgoing causing the first wireless power transmitter to transmit the first plurality of RF power waves.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in accordance with determining, by the processor in the base station, that the second information indicates that the second wireless power receiver is not authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power, forgoing causing the second wireless power transmitter to transmit the second plurality of RF power waves.

13. A base station for authenticating and controlling wireless power delivery at a plurality of wireless power transmitters, the base station comprising:

a processor that is coupled with a plurality of wireless power transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive;

first information sent to a first wireless power transmitter of the plurality of wireless power transmitters by a first wireless power receiver, and

second information sent to a second wireless power transmitter of the plurality of wireless power transmitters, distinct from the first wireless power transmitter, by a second wireless power receiver, distinct from the first wireless power receiver;

in accordance with determining (i) that the first information indicates that the first wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power and (ii) that the first wireless power receiver is within a range of the first wireless power transmitter, cause the first wireless power transmitter to transmit a first plurality of radio frequency (RF) power waves that forms a constructive interference pattern in proximity to a location of the first wireless power receiver; and

in accordance with determining (i) that the second information indicates that the second wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power and (ii) that the second wireless power receiver is not within range of the second wireless power transmitter, cause the second wireless power transmitter to transmit a second plurality of RF power waves to a range enhancer that directs the second plurality of RF power waves towards a location of the second wireless power receiver.

14. The base station of claim 13, further comprising a power source, wherein

the first plurality of RF power waves and the second plurality of RF power waves are generated using power supplied by the power source that is coupled with the base station.

15. The base station of claim 14, wherein generation of the first plurality of RF power waves and the second plurality of RF power waves is managed by the processor in the base station.

16. The base station of claim 13, wherein the first and second wireless power transmitters are located in different rooms.

17. The base station of claim 13, wherein the range enhancer is a reflector.

18. The base station of claim 13, wherein the range enhancer is a repeater that includes a third wireless power receiver for receiving the second plurality of RF power waves and a third wireless power transmitter for re-transmitting the second plurality of RF power waves towards the location of the second wireless power receiver.

19. The base station of claim 13, wherein:

the first wireless power receiver is associated with a set of restrictions, and

transmitting the first plurality of RF power waves is performed after determining that the set of restrictions is satisfied.

20. The base station of claim 19, wherein determining that the set of restrictions is satisfied includes determining that the location of the first wireless power receiver is within a restricted area associated with the first wireless power receiver.

21. The base station of claim 13, wherein the first and second information are transmitted in respective coded signals.

22. The base station of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to access powering statistics associated with the first and second wireless power receivers to determine when to cause the first and second wireless power transmitters to cease transmitting the first plurality of RF power waves and the second plurality of RF power waves, respectively, to the first and second wireless power receivers, respectively.

23. The base station of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in accordance with determining that the first information indicates that the first wireless power receiver is not authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power, forgo causing the first wireless power transmitter to transmit the first plurality of RF power waves.

24. The base station of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in accordance with determining that the second information indicates that the second wireless power receiver is not authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power, forgo causing the second wireless power transmitter to transmit the second plurality of RF power waves.