Wireless power receiver having a charger system for enhanced power delivery

• US 10,014,728 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US14/748,043
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 320108, 320128
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• 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 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters

Abstract

A wireless power receiver including at least one antenna configured to: receive radio frequency (RF) waves from a wireless power transmitter, and convert energy from the received RF waves into an alternating current. The receiver further including a rectifier coupled to the at least one antenna and configured to rectify the alternating current into a direct current. The receiver further including a charger configured to: receive the direct current from the rectifier, and control, via circuitry included in the charger, distribution of current using one or more of a plurality of conduction paths: (i) to a load, and (ii) to and from at least one storage element coupled with the charger. The circuitry is configured to select one or more of the conduction paths based at least in part on: a respective power requirement of the load; a respective power requirement of the storage element and the direct current.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver comprising:

at least one antenna configured to;

receive radio frequency (RF) waves from a wireless power transmitter; and

convert energy from the received RF waves into an alternating current;

a rectifier coupled to the at least one antenna and configured to rectify the alternating current into a direct current; and

a charger, coupled to and distinct from the rectifier, the charger configured to;

receive the direct current from the rectifier; and

control, via circuitry included in the charger, distribution of current using one or more of a plurality of conduction paths;

(i) to a load, and (ii) to and from at least one storage element coupled with the charger,

wherein;

the circuitry included in the charger is configured to select the one or more of the plurality of conduction paths based at least in part on;

a respective power requirement of the load, a respective power requirement of the at least one storage element, and the direct current; and

the at least one storage element is separate and distinct from the load.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the direct current has a first voltage; and

the wireless power receiver further comprises at least one boost converter, coupled to and distinct from the rectifier, configured to boost the first voltage of the direct current to a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 2, wherein the at least one boost converter is configured to boost the first voltage of the direct current to the second voltage according to the respective power requirement of the at least one storage element.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 3, wherein the second voltage matches the respective power requirement of the at least one storage element.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 3, wherein:

the at least one boost converter is a first boost converter;

the wireless power receiver further comprises a second boost converter configured to boost the second voltage of the direct current to a third voltage that is greater than the second voltage; and

the second boost converter is coupled to and distinct from;

(i) the rectifier, and (ii) the first boost converter.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 5, wherein the second boost converter is configured to boost the second voltage of the direct current to the third voltage according to at least one of an impedance of the load and the respective power requirement of the load.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 6, wherein the third voltage matches at least one of the impedance and the respective power requirement of the load.

8. The wireless power receiver of claim 2, wherein the at least one boost converter is configured to boost the first voltage of the direct current to the second voltage according to at least one of an impedance of the load and the respective power requirement of the load.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the second voltage matches at least one of the impedance and the respective power requirement of the load.

10. A method, comprising:

at a wireless power receiver including at least one antenna, a rectifier coupled to the at least one antenna, and a charger coupled to and distinct from the rectifier;

receiving, by the at least one antenna, radio frequency (RF) waves from a wireless power transmitter;

converting, by the at least one antenna, energy from the received RF waves into an alternating current;

rectifying, by the rectifier, the alternating current into a direct current;

receiving, by the charger, the direct current from the rectifier; and

controlling, via circuitry included in the charger, distribution of current using one or more of a plurality of conduction paths;

(i) to a load, and (ii) to and from at least one storage element coupled with the charger,

wherein;

the circuitry included in the charger is configured to select the one or more of the plurality of conduction paths based at least in part on;

a respective power requirement of the load, a respective power requirement of the at least one storage element, and the direct current; and

the at least one storage element is separate and distinct from the load.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the direct current has a first voltage;

the wireless power receiver further comprises at least one boost converter coupled to and distinct from the rectifier; and

the method further comprises boosting, by the at least one boost converter, the first voltage of the direct current to a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein boosting the first voltage of the direct current to the second voltage is performed according to the respective power requirement of the at least one storage element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second voltage matches the respective power requirement of the at least one storage element.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one boost converter is a first boost converter;

the wireless power receiver further comprises a second boost converter coupled to and distinct from;

(i) the rectifier, and (ii) the first boost converter; and

the method further comprises boosting the second voltage of the direct current to a third voltage that is greater than the second voltage.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein boosting the second voltage of the direct current to the third voltage is performed according to at least one of an impedance of the load and the respective power requirement of the load.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the third voltage matches at least one of the impedance and the respective power requirement of the load.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein boosting the first voltage of the direct current to the second voltage is performed according to at least one of an impedance of the load and the respective power requirement of the load.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second voltage matches at least one of the impedance and the respective power requirement of the load.