Multi-mode transmitter

• US 9,966,765 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Adam
• Application Number:
  US14/585,506
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 307149
• 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 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

Abstract

An apparatus for wireless power transmission is provided. The apparatus comprises a transmitter comprising a first antenna element and a second antenna element. The transmitter is configured to emit a first signal by the first antenna element and a second signal by the second antenna element. The first signal comprises a plurality of wireless power waves establishing a pocket of energy. The second signal is different from the first signal. The second signal provides Wi-Fi access.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless power transmission, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter comprising an antenna array, the antenna array including first antenna elements and a second antenna element, wherein;

the first antenna elements are part of a first portion of the antenna array;

the second antenna element is part of a second portion of the antenna array distinct from the first portion;

the transmitter is configured to emit first signals by the first antenna elements and a second signal by the second antenna element;

the first signals comprise a plurality of wireless power waves establishing a pocket of energy; and

the second signal is different from the first signals, wherein the second signal provides Wi-Fi access.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are symmetrical geometrically.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are asymmetrical geometrically.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first portion comprises a first plurality of antenna elements,

the second portion comprises a second plurality of antenna elements, and

the first plurality of antenna elements is numerically different from the second plurality of antenna elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first portion comprises a first plurality of antenna elements,

the second portion comprises a second plurality of antenna elements, and

the first plurality of antenna elements is numerically identical to the second plurality of antenna elements.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to emit the first signals and the second signal concurrently.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode, and

the transmitter is configured to emit the first signals during the first mode only and the second signal during the second mode only.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter is configured to emit (i) the first signals to a first receiver and (ii) the second signal to a second receiver, and

a device comprises the first receiver and the second receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to emit (i) the first signals to a first receiver coupled to a first device and (ii) the second signal to a second receiver coupled to a second device different from the first device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter is configured to emit the first signals to a first receiver and the second signal to a second receiver, and

the first receiver and the second receiver are one receiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to:

define a signal path based at least in part on at least one of (i) gain information obtained from a receiver and (ii) phase information obtained from the receiver, and

emit the first signals by the first antenna elements via the signal path.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transmitter is configured to emit the first signals adaptively based at least in part on the signal path.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter is configured to determine a position of a first receiver based at least in part on a signal triangulation of a second receiver,

the transmitter is configured to emit the first signals to the first receiver based at least in part on the position,

the first receiver and the second receiver are coupled to a device,

the signal triangulation is based on a third signal different from the first signals and the second signal, and

the transmitter is configured to receive the third signal from the second receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein of the plurality of wireless power waves is a plurality of radio frequency wireless power waves.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pocket of energy is established based at least in part on the transmitter bouncing at least one of the plurality of wireless power waves off at least one of:

(i) a furniture item, (ii) a floor, (iii) a wall extending from the floor, and (iv) a ceiling extending from the wall.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a renewable energy source coupled to the transmitter, wherein the renewable energy source is configured to power the transmitter.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second signal provides Wi-Fi access by providing a device that receives the second signal with an internet connection.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first signals are emitted by the transmitter to a receiver; and

the pocket of energy is established by constructive interference of the plurality of wireless power waves at a location of the receiver.

19. A method of wireless power transmission, comprising:

at a transmitter comprising an antenna array having first antenna elements and a second antenna element;

emitting first signals by the first antenna elements, wherein the first signals comprise a plurality of wireless power waves establishing a pocket of energy; and

emitting a second signal by the second antenna element, the second signal being different from the first signals, wherein;

the second signal provides Wi-Fi access;

the first antenna elements are part of a first portion of the antenna array; and

the second antenna element is part of a second portion of the antenna array distinct from the first portion.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a transmitter comprising an antenna array having first antenna elements and a second antenna element, the one or more programs including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the transmitter to:

emit first signals by the first antenna elements, wherein the first signals comprise a plurality of wireless power waves establishing a pocket of energy; and

emit a second signal by the second antenna element, the second signal being different from the first signals, wherein;

the second signal provides Wi-Fi access;

the first antenna elements are part of a first portion of the antenna array; and

the second antenna element is part of a second portion of the antenna array distinct from the first portion.