System and method to control a wireless power transmission system by configuration of wireless power transmission control parameters

• US 9,939,864 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Douglas, Leabman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Austin
• Application Number:
  US14/585,923
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport

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. A wireless power network may include a plurality of wireless power transmitters each with an embedded wireless power transmitter manager, including a wireless power manager application. The wireless power network may include a plurality of client devices with wireless power receivers. Wireless power receivers may include a power receiver application configured to communicate with the wireless power manager application. The wireless power manager application may include a device database where information about the wireless power network may be stored.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a wireless power transmission system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless power transmitter that is hosting a web service for configuring the wireless power transmitter, a user-configured operational parameter that includes information identifying a plurality of electronic devices authorized to receive power transmission signals from the wireless power transmitter, wherein the user-configured operational parameter is received via a configuration webpage provided by the web service;

detecting, by a short-range communication radio of the wireless power transmitter, an electronic device within wireless power transmission range of the wireless power transmitter;

in response to detecting the electronic device within the wireless power transmission range of the wireless power transmitter, determining whether the electronic device is one of the plurality of electronic devices authorized to receive power transmission signals from the wireless power transmitter; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is one of the plurality of electronic devices authorized to receive power transmission signals from the wireless power transmitter, transmitting, by two or more antennas of the wireless power transmitter, power transmission signals comprising radio frequency (RF) signals that constructively interfere proximate to the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user-configured operational parameter is a first user-configured operational parameter;

the method further comprises receiving, by the wireless power transmitter, a second user-configured operational parameter defining a charging schedule for transmitting power transmission signals to one or more of the plurality of electronic devices,

the second user-configured operational parameter is received via the configuration webpage provided by the web service, and

transmitting the power transmission signals comprises transmitting the power transmission signals to the electronic device in accordance with the charging schedule.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the wireless power transmitter, the user-configured operational parameter for storage at a remote system computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user-configured operational parameter is a first user-configured operational parameter;

the method further comprises receiving, by the wireless power transmitter, a second user-configured operational parameter defining a prioritized order used by the wireless power transmitter to provide power to the plurality of electronic devices,

the second user-configured operational parameter is received via the configuration webpage provided by the web service, and

transmitting the power transmission signals comprises transmitting the power transmission signals to the electronic device in accordance with the prioritized order.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the wireless power transmitter, a system event affecting the wireless power transmitter; and

notifying, by the wireless power transmitter, one or more devices of the plurality of electronic devices of the system event in response to detecting the system event.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein an operator at a remote device inputs the user-configured operational parameter at the configuration web page provided by the web service.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is not one of the plurality of electronic devices authorized to receive power transmission signals from the wireless power transmitter;

storing, in a memory of the wireless power transmitter, identification information associated with the electronic device; and

providing a notification to an operator of the wireless power transmission system that the electronic device needs to be authorized to receive power transmission signals from the wireless power transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the notification is provided by the web service hosted by the wireless power transmitter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the user-configured operational parameter occurs while the wireless power transmitter is operating in a setup mode of operation, and

the detecting, determining, and transmitting occur while the wireless power transmitter is operating in a normal mode of operation, and

the wireless power transmitter operates in the normal mode of operation after successful completion of the setup mode of operation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

at least some of the plurality of electronic devices identified by the user-configured operational parameter were authorized, via user input received at the configuration web page, to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter during installation of the wireless power transmitter.

11. A wireless power transmitter, comprising:

an antenna array configured to transmit power transmission signals;

a short-range communication radio;

one or more processors; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless power transmitter to;

receive a user-configured operational parameter that includes information identifying a plurality of electronic devices authorized to receive power transmission signals from the antenna array of the wireless power transmitter, wherein the user-configured operational parameter is received via a configuration webpage provided by a web service hosted by the wireless power transmitter;

detect, via the short-range communication radio, an electronic device within wireless power transmission range of the wireless power transmitter;

in response to detecting the electronic device within the wireless power transmission range of the wireless power transmitter, determine whether the electronic device is one of the plurality of electronic devices authorized to receive power transmission signals from the wireless power transmitter; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is one of the plurality of electronic devices authorized to receive power transmission signals from the wireless power transmitter, transmit, via the antenna array, power transmission signals comprising radio frequency (RF) signals that constructively interfere proximate to the electronic device.

12. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein:

the user-configured operational parameter is a first user-configured operational parameter;

the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless power transmitter to receive a second user-configured operational parameter defining a charging schedule for transmitting power transmission signals to one or more of the plurality of electronic devices,

the second user-configured operational parameter is received via the configuration webpage provided by the web service, and

transmitting the power transmission signals comprises transmitting the power transmission signals to the electronic device in accordance with the charging schedule.

13. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless power transmitter to transmit the user-configured operational parameter for storage at a remote system computer.

14. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein:

the user-configured operational parameter is a first user-configured operational parameter;

the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless power transmitter to receive a second user-configured operational parameter defining a prioritized order used by the wireless power transmitter to provide power to the plurality of electronic devices,

the second user-configured operational parameter is received via the configuration webpage provided by the web service, and

transmitting the power transmission signals comprises transmitting the power transmission signals to the electronic device in accordance with the prioritized order.

15. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless power transmitter to:

detect a system event affecting the wireless power transmitter; and

notify one or more devices of the plurality of electronic devices of the system event in response to detecting the system event.

16. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein

an operator at a remote device inputs the user-configured operational parameter at one of the configuration web page provided by the web service.

17. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless power transmitter to:

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is not one of the plurality of electronic devices authorized to receive power transmission signals from the wireless power transmitter;

store, in a memory of the wireless power transmitter, identification information associated with the electronic device; and

provide a notification to an operator of the wireless power transmission system that the electronic device needs to be authorized to receive power transmission signals from the wireless power transmitter.

18. The wireless power transmitter of claim 17, wherein the notification is provided by the web service hosted by the wireless power transmitter.

19. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein:

receiving the user-configured operational parameter occurs while the wireless power transmitter is operating in a setup mode of operation, and

the detecting, determining, and transmitting occur while the wireless power transmitter is operating in a normal mode of operation, and

the wireless power transmitter operates in the normal mode of operation after successful completion of the setup mode of operation.

20. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11, wherein:

at least some of the plurality of electronic devices identified by the user-configured operational parameter were authorized, via user input received at the configuration web page, to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter during installation of the wireless power transmitter.