Wireless charging of tools using a toolbox transmitter

• US 9,893,555 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thapa, Sailesh
• Application Number:
  US14/585,797
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Configurations and methods of wireless power transmission for cordless power tools are disclosed. Wireless power transmission for charging one or more cordless power tools may include a toolbox with an embedded transmitter capable of emitting RF waves for the generation of pockets of energy; a battery attached or embedded in the toolbox to supply power to the transmitter; a cable that may connect toolbox'"'"'s battery to a suitable external power source for charging; and one or more cordless power tools which may include rechargeable batteries and receivers that may utilize pockets of energy for wireless charging or powering. When the battery in the toolbox is charged to suitable levels, the toolbox can be disconnected from the external power source and carried to an area or location where one or more cordless power tools may receive wireless charging.

Claims

1. A method for wireless transmission of power to a cordless power tool, comprising:

establishing, by a transmitter that is coupled to at least two antennas for transmitting power transmission waves to a plurality of cordless power tools, a connection with a power source that is used to charge a battery of the transmitter;

determining, by the transmitter, whether the battery has a charge level that is above a threshold charge level;

in accordance with determining that the battery has the charge level that is above the threshold charge level, identifying, by a communication component of the transmitter that is distinct from the at least two antennas of the transmitter, a cordless power tool of the plurality of cordless power tools that requires wireless charging;

receiving, by the communication component of the transmitter, information that identifies a power requirement of the cordless power tool and a location of a receiver that is coupled to the cordless power tool; and

transmitting, by the transmitter, a plurality of power transmission waves through the at least two antennas in response to the received information, wherein the plurality of power transmission waves are transmitted so that the plurality of power transmission waves converges to form a pocket of energy in proximity to the location of the receiver.

2. The method for wireless transmission of power to a cordless power tool of claim 1, wherein the power transmission waves are selected from the group consisting of:

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

3. The method for wireless transmission of power to a cordless power tool of claim 1, wherein the transmitter establishes communication with the receiver when the cordless power tool is within a predetermined distance from the transmitter.

4. The method for wireless transmission of power to a cordless power tool of claim 3, wherein the transmitter establishes communication with the receiver that is coupled with the cordless power tool upon receiving a communication signal using a standard wireless communication protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the plurality of power transmission waves includes transmitting the plurality of power transmission waves in accordance with charging priorities that are established using a processor of the transmitter.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

while transmitting the plurality of power transmission waves, checking for additional cordless power tools of the plurality of cordless power tools that may require wireless charging; and

in accordance with identifying an additional cordless power tool of the plurality of cordless power tools that requires wireless charging, transmitting additional RF power transmission waves to an additional received coupled to the additional cordless power tool in accordance with the established charging priorities, wherein;

the additional power transmission waves are transmitted so that the additional plurality of power transmission waves converges to form an additional pocket of energy in proximity to a location of the additional receiver that is coupled to the additional cordless power tool.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the checking is performed continuously by the transmitter, while the transmitter is transmitting the plurality of power transmission waves.

8. An apparatus for wireless transmission of power to a cordless power tool, the apparatus comprising:

a battery; and

a transmitter coupled to the battery, the transmitter comprising;

at least two or more antennas configured to transmit a plurality of power transmission waves to a plurality of cordless power tools; and

a communication component, distinct from the at least two or more antennas of the transmitter, configured to communicate with respective receivers coupled to the plurality of cordless power tools;

a processor that is configured to determine whether the battery has a charge level that is above a threshold charge level;

the communication component further configured to;

in accordance with the determining that the battery has the charge level that is above the threshold charge level, identify a cordless power tool of the plurality of cordless power tools that requires wireless charging; and

receive information that identifies a power requirement of the cordless power tool and a location of a receiver that is coupled to the cordless power tool;

the transmitter configured to transmit, using the at least two or more antennas and in response to the received information, a plurality of power transmission waves that are transmitted so that the plurality of power transmission waves converges to form a pocket of energy in proximity to the location of the receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is coupled to a portable toolbox.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least two or more antennas of the transmitter are flat antennas, patch antennas, dipole antennas, or combinations thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least two or more antennas of 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least two or more antennas of the transmitter are configured to polarize the plurality of power transmission waves, the polarization of the plurality of power transmission waves to include vertical polarization, horizontal polarization, circular polarization, elliptical polarization, or combinations thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least two or more antennas and the communication component.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmitter communicates with the receiver through a communication signal using a standard wireless communication protocol.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the plurality of power transmission waves so that the plurality of power transmission waves converge to form the pocket of energy at an optimum time and location based on the information received from the receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the processor is further configured to establish charging priorities, and

transmitting the plurality of power transmission waves includes transmitting the plurality of power transmission waves in accordance with charging priorities that are established using a processor of the transmitter.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transmitter is further configured to:

while transmitting the plurality of power transmission waves, check for additional cordless power tools of the plurality of cordless power tools that may require wireless charging; and

in accordance with identifying an additional cordless power tool of the plurality of cordless power tools that requires wireless charging, transmit additional RF power transmission waves to an additional received coupled to the additional cordless power tool in accordance with the established charging priorities, wherein;

the additional power transmission waves are transmitted so that the additional plurality of power transmission waves converges to form an additional pocket of energy in proximity to a location of the additional receiver that is coupled to the additional cordless power tool.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the checking is performed continuously by the transmitter, while the transmitter is transmitting the plurality of power transmission waves.

19. A wireless charging apparatus for a cordless power tool, comprising:

a cordless power tool; and

a receiver coupled to the cordless power tool, the receiver comprising;

a communication component configured to transmit, to a different communication component of a transmitter, information that identifies a power requirement of the cordless power tool and a location of the receiver, wherein;

the transmitter is coupled with a battery and

the transmitter identifies the cordless power tool as requiring wireless charging after the transmitter determines that the battery has a charge level that is above a threshold charge level;

an antenna configured to receive a pocket of energy generated by the transmitter in response to the information transmitted by the communication component, wherein the pocket of energy is generated by at least two antenna elements of the transmitter by transmitting a plurality of power transmission waves that converges to form the pocket of energy in proximity to the location of the receiver, wherein the at least two antenna elements of the transmitter are distinct from the different communication component of the transmitter; and

a rectifying circuit configured to convert energy from the received pockets of energy into electricity to charge the cordless power tool.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the communication component communicates with the different communication component of the transmitter through a transmission signal using a standard wireless communication protocol.