Systems and methods for selecting antennas to generate and transmit power transmission waves

• US 10,020,678 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US14/861,397
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• 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: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Systems and methods to generate and transmit power waves are disclosed herein. An example method includes: transmitting, by one or more transmitters, one or more power waves to provide power. A first antenna of a first antenna array of one or more antenna arrays of a respective transmitter of the one or more transmitters is located at a distance from a second antenna of a second antenna array of the one or more antenna arrays such that power waves transmitted by the first antenna and the second antenna are directed to form a pocket of energy to provide power to the targeted electronic device. The respective transmitter determines the distance between the first and second antennas: based upon one or more parameters received in a communication signal from the targeted electronic device, and to allow a desired mutual coupling effect between the first and second antennas.

Claims

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

one or more transmitters, a respective transmitter of the one or more transmitters comprising one or more antenna arrays configured to transmit power waves, wherein;

a first antenna of a first antenna array of the one or more antenna arrays is located at a distance from a second antenna of a second antenna array of the one or more antenna arrays such that power waves transmitted by the first antenna and the second antenna are directed to form a pocket of energy to provide power to a targeted electronic device;

the respective transmitter is configured to determine the distance between the first and second antennas;

based upon one or more parameters received in a communication signal from the targeted electronic device, and

to allow a desired mutual coupling effect between the first and second antennas; and

the mutual coupling effect is inductive or capacitive coupling between the first and second antennas.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the targeted electronic device is coupled with a wireless power receiver that is configured to convert energy from the pocket of energy into usable power for powering the targeted electronic device or for charging a battery of the targeted electronic device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second antennas are each coupled with respective movable elements that are moved based on instructions provided by a processor of the respective transmitter to create the distance between the first and second antennas.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second antennas are selected by a processor of the respective transmitter because the first and second antennas are separated by the distance.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second antennas are positioned at a depth with respect to each other, the depth selected by a processor of the respective transmitter to cause the power waves respectively transmitted by the first and second antennas to form the pocket of energy with desired geometric dimensions.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the depth is measured along a z-axis, and the distance between the first and second antennas is measured along (i) an x-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the z-axis or (ii) a y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the z-axis.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the depth is also selected to ensure that the pocket of energy has a first power level within the desired geometric dimensions of the pocket of energy and to ensure that a second power level outside of the pocket of energy is substantially less than the first power level.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is configured to transmit power waves at a different point in time relative to transmission of power waves by the second antenna.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each of the first antenna and second antenna arrays comprises at least one row or at least one column of antennas; and

the first antenna array is positioned at a first plane spaced to be offset by a pre-defined distance behind the second antenna array in a second plane within the respective transmitter depending on a location of the targeted electronic device.

10. A method for wireless power transmission, the method comprising:

transmitting, by one or more transmitters, one or more power waves to provide power to a targeted electronic device, a respective transmitter of the one or more transmitters comprising one or more antenna arrays, wherein;

a first antenna of a first antenna array of the one or more antenna arrays is located at a distance from a second antenna of a second antenna array of the one or more antenna arrays such that power waves transmitted by the first antenna and the second antenna are directed to form a pocket of energy to provide power to the targeted electronic device;

determining, by the respective transmitter, the distance between the first and second antennas;

based upon one or more parameters received in a communication signal from the targeted electronic device, and

to allow a desired mutual coupling effect between the first and second antennas, wherein the mutual coupling effect is inductive or capacitive coupling between the first and second antennas.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the targeted electronic device is coupled with a wireless power receiver that is configured to convert energy from the pocket of energy into usable power for powering the targeted electronic device or for charging a battery of the targeted electronic device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second antennas are each coupled with respective movable elements that are moved based on instructions provided by a processor of the respective transmitter to create the distance between the first and second antennas.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second antennas are selected by a processor of the respective transmitter because the first and second antennas are separated by the distance.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second antennas are positioned at a depth with respect to each other, the depth selected by a processor of the respective transmitter to cause the power waves respectively transmitted by the first and second antennas to form the pocket of energy with desired geometric dimensions.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the depth is measured along a z-axis, and the distance between the first and second antennas is measured along (i) an x-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the z-axis or (ii) a y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the z-axis.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the depth is also selected to ensure that the pocket of energy has a first power level within the desired geometric dimensions of the pocket of energy and to ensure that a second power level outside of the pocket of energy is substantially less than the first power level.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first antenna is configured to transmit power waves at a different point in time relative to transmission of power waves by the second antenna.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein:

each of the first antenna and second antenna arrays comprises at least one row or at least one column of antennas; and

the respective transmitter positions the first antenna array at a first plane spaced to be offset at a pre-defined distance behind the second antenna array in a second plane within the respective transmitter depending on a location of the targeted electronic device.