Methodology for multiple pocket-forming

• US 9,893,768 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2014
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Xuan
• Application Number:
  US14/583,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20160099755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,144 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• 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 multiple pocket-forming in wireless power transmission, the method comprising:

establishing, by a transmitter, a first communication connection associating the transmitter with a first receiver in response to the transmitter receiving a first communication signal from the first receiver;

transmitting, by the transmitter, one or more first power transmission waves in a direction of the first receiver based on the first communication signal received from the first receiver;

adjusting, by the transmitter, a phase of the one or more first power transmission waves and a gain of the one or more first power transmission waves to cause the one or more first power transmission waves to converge at a first location with respect to the first receiver in accordance with the first communication signal received from the first receiver, thereby forming a pocket of energy at the first location at which the one or more first power transmission waves converge;

responsive to the transmitter receiving a second communication signal from a second receiver;

establishing, by the transmitter, a second communication connection associating the transmitter with the second receiver; and

identifying, by the transmitter, a second subset of one or more antennas from an array of antennas of the transmitter, wherein the second subset is associated with the second receiver, and wherein a first subset of one or more antennas is associated with the first receiver;

transmitting, by the transmitter, one or more second power transmission waves in the direction of the second receiver based on the second communication signal received from the second receiver, wherein the second subset of antennas transmits the one or more second power transmission waves to the second receiver; and

adjusting, by the transmitter, based on the second communication signal, a phase and a gain of the one or more second power transmission waves transmitted in the direction of the second receiver to cause the one or more second power transmission waves to converge at a second location respective to the second receiver, thereby forming a second pocket of energy at the second location.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving, by the transmitter, the second communication signal from the second receiver further comprises:

scanning, by the transmitter, at a given interval for an additional advertisement signal identifying an additional receiver.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising alternating, by the transmitter, at the given interval between scanning for the additional advertisement signal and using one or more communication connections to communicate with respective receivers.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter halts the scanning for the additional advertisement signal or uses a respective communication connection to communicate with a respective receiver at the given interval.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the transmitter, an indication of a voltage amount received at the first receiver from the one or more first power transmission waves,

wherein the transmitter adjusts the one or more first power transmission waves based on the indication of the voltage amount.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter transmits a first power transmission wave of the one or more first power transmission waves in a first trajectory and a second power transmission wave of the one or more first power transmission waves in a second trajectory.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first power transmission wave deflects off an obstruction in the first trajectory en route to converging with the second power transmission wave.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more first and second power transmission waves are a type of physical medium selected from the group consisting of:

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

9. A system for multiple pocket-forming in wireless power transmission, the system comprising:

a transmitter comprising;

a first communication component configured to establish one or more communication connections with one or more receivers respectively, including establishing, in response to receiving an advertisement signal from a first receiver, a first communication connection with the first receiver, and the first communication component is further configured to transmit and receive at a given interval one or more communication signals with each respective receiver over each respective communication connection;

an integrated circuit configured to generate power transmission waves based on data derived from each respective communication signal, and to modify the power transmission waves in accordance with each respective communication signal to form a respective pocket of energy at respective locations associated with each respective receiver; and

a plurality of antennas configured to transmit one or more power transmission waves to each respective receiver, wherein a first subset of the plurality of antennas transmits to the first receiver of the one or more receivers, and wherein one or more subsets of antennas are respectively assigned to transmit to each of the one or more receivers; and

the first receiver comprising;

a receiver communication component configured to transmit the advertisement signal identifying the first receiver, and to transmit and receive first communications signals with the transmitter over the first communication connection, wherein a respective first communication signal of the first communication signals of the first receiver indicates the amount of power derived from a respective pocket of energy formed at a first location associated with the first receiver;

a plurality of antennas configured to receive one or more first power transmission waves from the transmitter, wherein the one or more first power transmission waves are derived from the respective pocket of energy formed at the first location associated with the first receiver;

power circuitry, in response to the plurality of antennas deriving the one or more first power transmission waves from the respective pocket of energy, configured to convert the one or more first power transmission waves of the respective pocket of energy into an electrical energy and provide the electrical energy to an electronic device associated with the first receiver; and

a processor configured to determine the amount of energy derived from the respective pocket of energy and instruct the receiver communication component to transmit the respective first communication signal indicating the amount of energy to the transmitter.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the one or more communication signals are based on a wireless communication protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, Bluetooth low-energy, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), near-field communication (NFC), and ZigBee.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the power circuitry includes radar, infrared cameras, or sound devices configured for sonic triangulation for determining a position of the electronic device to converge the power transmission waves in three-dimensional space for the pocket of energy for charging or powering the electronic device.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of:

a wristwatch, a headset, a battery, and a toy.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein an antenna of the transmitter comprises plastic or rubber and is configured to transmit in a frequency range of about 900 MHz to about 5.8 GHz, and wherein an antenna of the receiver comprises plastic or rubber and is configured to receive in the frequency range of about 900 MHz to about 5.8 GHz.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of antennas of the transmitter is configured to transmit power transmission waves that are selected from the group consisting of:

electromagnetic wave, radio wave, microwave, acoustics, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance.

15. A system for multiple pocket-forming in wireless power transmission, the system comprising:

a transmitter comprising;

at least two antennas configured to transmit power transmission waves converging in constructive interference patterns to form one or more pockets of energy, wherein each respective antenna transmits each respective power transmission wave in a direction irrespective of the at least two antennas of the transmitter;

communication circuitry configured to generate the power transmission waves and one or more communications signals containing data associated with the power transmission waves; and

a first micro-controller configured to;

control generation of the constructive interference patterns of the power transmission waves to form the one or more pockets of energy at one or more locations associated with one or more receivers;

control the communication circuitry, wherein an integrated chip associated with the micro-controller is configured to adjust a phase and a magnitude of the power transmission waves to form the one or more pockets of energy at each respective location; and

compute a phase and a gain of each respective power transmission wave transmitted from each respective antenna of the transmitter, wherein the phase and the gain of each respective power transmission wave is determined irrespective of the at least two antennas; and

an electronic device comprising a receiver integrated in the electronic device comprising;

at least one antenna configured to derive energy from a respective pocket of energy of the one or more pockets of energy at a location of the receiver; and

a second micro-controller configured to generate one or more communication signals indicating energy requirements of the electronic device to the transmitter.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein each antenna of the receiver operates at a different frequency.

17. The system according to claim 15, the transmitter further comprising an array of antennas embedded into the transmitter, wherein the array of antennas comprises one or more antennas from the at least two antennas, and wherein each antenna of the array transmits at a same frequency.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of arrays of antennas, wherein one or more antennas of a first array of the plurality of arrays of the transmitter operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, and wherein one or more antennas of a second array of the plurality of arrays of the transmitter operate at a frequency of 5.8 GHz.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the transmitter comprises at least one array of antennas having a plurality of antennas configured to transmit power transmission waves to a plurality of receivers,

wherein a first subset of antennas from a first array of the at least one array transmits at a first frequency matching a first set of antennas of a first receiver of the plurality of receivers, and

wherein a second subset of antennas of the first array transmits at a second frequency matching a second set of antennas of a second receiver of the plurality of receivers.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the first and second micro-controllers communicate on wireless communication protocols selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, and Zigbee.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein at least one antenna of the transmitter operates in a frequency range of about 900 MHz to about 5.8 GHz, and wherein at least one antenna of the receiver operates in the frequency range of about 900 MHz to about 5.8 GHz.

22. The system according to claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprising the integrated receiver is selected from the group consisting of:

a tablet, a smartphone and a notebook computer.

23. The system according to claim 15, wherein the receiver of the electronic device receives power transmission waves from the respective pocket of energy using a primary frequency, and wherein the electronic device further comprises a secondary transmitter configured to transmit secondary power transmission waves to a second electronic device, wherein the secondary power transmission waves establish a secondary pocket of energy using a secondary frequency.

24. The system according to claim 15, wherein the micro-controller within the transmitter adjusts the gain and the phase of each respective power transmission wave based on the one or more communication signals received from the receiver.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the first micro-controller of the transmitter is further configured to adjust the phase to form conjugates taking into account a built-in phase of each omni-directional antenna of the at least two antennas of the transmitter to focus power transmission waves in two channels following paths that are most efficient paths to form pockets of energy relative to each of one or more receivers while avoiding obstacles.

26. A method of forming pockets of energy, the method comprising:

capturing, by a transmitter, a first signal of one or more communications signals from a first receiver device;

establishing, by the transmitter, a first communication connection hosting first communication signals between the transmitter and the first receiver;

assigning, by the transmitter, a first subset of one or more antennas of the transmitter to transmit one or more first power transmission waves to the first receiver, the one or more first power transmission waves having a phase and a gain that cause the one or more first power transmission waves to converge at a first location with respect to the first receiver based on one or more of the first communication signals, thereby forming a first pocket of energy at the first location;

at a predetermined interval;

ceasing, by the transmitter, processing of the communications signals arriving over the first communication connection at a predetermined interval;

capturing, by the transmitter, a second signal of one or more communications signals from a second receiver;

establishing, by the transmitter, a second communication connection hosting second communication signals between the transmitter and the second receiver; and

assigning, by the transmitter, a second subset of antennas of the transmitter to transmit one or more second power transmission waves to the second receiver device, the one or more second power transmission waves having a phase and a gain that cause the one or more second power transmission waves to converge at a second location with respect to the second receiver based on one or more of the second communication signals, thereby forming a second pocket of energy at the second location.