Systems and methods for assigning a power receiver to individual power transmitters based on location of the power receiver

• US 9,965,009 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• 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): Nguyen, Phil
• Application Number:
  US14/585,847
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• 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 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• 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: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming

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 processor-based system for managing a wireless power transmission system comprising a plurality of power transmitters and a power receiver, the processor-based system comprising:

a transmitter manager that includes a processor;

a database operatively coupled to the processor; and

a communication apparatus, operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the communication apparatus is operable to communicate with the plurality of power transmitters and the power receiver in the wireless power transmission system,

wherein the processor is configured to;

assign the power receiver to a first power transmitter of the plurality of power transmitters, wherein the first power transmitter wirelessly transmits controlled radio frequency (RF) waves that converge and constructively interfere near the power receiver;

receive and store system operation data associated with the power receiver in the database, wherein the stored system operation data is received from the first transmitter and is controlled by the transmitter manager, and the system operation data includes information used to determine a location of the power receiver;

receive updated system operation data from the first power transmitter, wherein the updated system operation data comprises a change in the location of the power receiver;

in accordance with a determination that the changed location of the power receiver is closest to the first power transmitter, instruct the first power transmitter to adjust the wireless transmission of the controlled RF waves based on the changed location; and

in accordance with a determination that the changed location of the power receiver is closest to a second power transmitter of the plurality of power transmitters distinct from the first power transmitter, (i) assign control of the system operation data associated with the power receiver to the second power transmitter and (ii) instruct the second power transmitter to begin wirelessly transmitting additional controlled RF waves to the power receiver.

2. The processor-based system of claim 1, wherein the system operation data comprises at least one of errors, faults, trouble reports, logs of operational events, a command issued by the at least one power receiver, power receiver and power transmitter hardware configurations, amount of power transmitted per power transmitter and per power receiver, metrics of software and hardware activity, metrics of automatic operation performed by system software, location of the at least one power receiver, a transmitter communications transition, and power receiver charge scheduling configuration.

3. The processor-based system of claim 1, wherein the network comprises one of a local area network (LAN), virtual private network (VPN) and a wireless area network (WAN).

4. The processor-based system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter manager is configured within at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters.

5. The processor-based system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to authorize the system operation data.

6. The processor-based system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit, via the communication apparatus, the system operation data to the second power transmitter.

13. The processor-based system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter manager is configured on a server distinct from the plurality of power transmitters.

14. The processor-based system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to share the system operation data with other devices in the wireless power transmission system.

15. The processor-based system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to, in accordance with the determination that the changed location of the power receiver is closest to a second power transmitter of the plurality of power transmitters distinct from the first power transmitter, send the system operation data associated with the power receiver to the second power transmitter.

18. The processor-based method of claim 1, further comprising, in accordance with the determination that the changed location of the power receiver is closest to a second power transmitter of the plurality of power transmitters distinct from the first power transmitter, send the system operation data associated with the power receiver to the second power transmitter.

7. A processor-based method for managing a wireless power transmission system comprising a plurality of power transmitters and a power receiver, the method comprising:

at a transmitter manager with a processor, wherein the processor is operatively coupled to a database and a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus is operable to communicate with the plurality of power transmitters and the power receiver in the wireless power transmission system;

assigning the power receiver to a first power transmitter of the plurality of power transmitters, wherein the first power transmitter wirelessly transmits controlled radio frequency (RF) waves that converge and constructively interfere near the power receiver;

receiving and storing system operation data associated with the power receiver in the database, wherein the system operation data is received from the first transmitter and is controlled by the transmitter manager, and the stored system operation data includes information used to determine a location of the power receiver;

receiving updated system operation data from the first power transmitter, wherein the updated system operation data comprises a change in the location of the power receiver;

in accordance with a determination that the changed location of the power receiver is closest to the first power transmitter, instructing the first power transmitter to adjust the wireless transmission of the controlled RF waves based on the changed location; and

in accordance with a determination that the changed location of the power receiver is closest to a second power transmitter of the plurality of power transmitters distinct from the first power transmitter, (i) assigning control of the system operation data associated with the power receiver to the second power transmitter and (ii) instructing the second power transmitter to begin wirelessly transmitting additional controlled RF waves to the power receiver.

8. The processor-based method of claim 7, wherein the system operation data comprises at least one of errors, faults, trouble reports, logs of operational events, a command issued by the at least one power receiver, power receiver and power transmitter hardware configurations, amount of power transmitted per power transmitter and per power receiver, metrics of software and hardware activity, metrics of automatic operation performed by system software, location of the at least one power receiver, a transmitter communications transition, and power receiver charge scheduling configuration.

9. The processor-based method of claim 7, wherein the network comprises one of a local area network (LAN), virtual private network (VPN) and a wireless area network (WAN).

10. The processor-based method of claim 7, wherein the transmitter manager is configured within at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters.

11. The processor-based method of claim 7, further comprising authorizing the system operation data.

12. The processor-based method of claim 7, further comprising the step of transmitting, via the communication apparatus, the system operation data to the second power transmitter.

16. The processor-based method of claim 7, wherein the transmitter manager is configured on a server distinct from the plurality of power transmitters.

17. The processor-based method of claim 7, further comprising sharing the system operation data with other devices in the wireless power transmission system.