Proximity transmitters for wireless power charging systems
First Claim
1. A transmitter for wireless power charging, the transmitter comprising:
- a plurality of antennas configured to transmit one or more wireless power transmission waves to a receiver that uses the one or more wireless power transmission waves for charging or powering of a device associated with the receiver;
an interface configured to couple to a computing device at a corresponding interface of the computing device, and to receive electrical current from the computing device via the corresponding interface of the computing device;
a communications component configured to receive one or more communications signals from the device associated with the receiver, wherein the one or more communications signals are distinct from the one or more wireless power transmission waves; and
a controller configured to;
determine a signal strength of the one or more communications signals;
determine whether the device associated with the receiver is within a proximity threshold from the transmitter based at least in part on the signal strength of the one or more communications signals;
determine at least one waveform characteristic for wireless power transmission waves based at least in part on the signal strength of the one or more communications signals; and
activate a first subset of antennas of the plurality of antennas to transmit the wireless power transmission waves to the receiver upon determining that the device associated with the receiver is within the proximity threshold from the transmitter, wherein;
the plurality of antennas includes a first number of antennas, the first subset of antennas includes a second number of antennas, the second number of antennas is at least two, and the second number of antennas is less than the first number of antennas; and
the first subset of antennas transmits the wireless power transmission waves with the at least one waveform characteristic to cause each of the wireless power transmission waves to constructively interfere with another wireless power transmission wave at the receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems and methods addressing the shortcomings in the art, and may also provide additional or alternative advantages as well. The embodiments described herein provide a wireless charging proximity transmitter configured to intelligently generate waveforms of various types, such as radio-frequency waves and ultrasound waves, among others. The wireless charging transmitter may be used for providing energy to a receiver that is proximately located to the transmitter. The receiver may be coupled to, or may be a component of, an electrical device that is intended to receive the power from the wave-based energy produced by the wireless proximity transmitter.
963 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A transmitter for wireless power charging, the transmitter comprising:
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a plurality of antennas configured to transmit one or more wireless power transmission waves to a receiver that uses the one or more wireless power transmission waves for charging or powering of a device associated with the receiver; an interface configured to couple to a computing device at a corresponding interface of the computing device, and to receive electrical current from the computing device via the corresponding interface of the computing device; a communications component configured to receive one or more communications signals from the device associated with the receiver, wherein the one or more communications signals are distinct from the one or more wireless power transmission waves; and a controller configured to; determine a signal strength of the one or more communications signals; determine whether the device associated with the receiver is within a proximity threshold from the transmitter based at least in part on the signal strength of the one or more communications signals; determine at least one waveform characteristic for wireless power transmission waves based at least in part on the signal strength of the one or more communications signals; and activate a first subset of antennas of the plurality of antennas to transmit the wireless power transmission waves to the receiver upon determining that the device associated with the receiver is within the proximity threshold from the transmitter, wherein; the plurality of antennas includes a first number of antennas, the first subset of antennas includes a second number of antennas, the second number of antennas is at least two, and the second number of antennas is less than the first number of antennas; and the first subset of antennas transmits the wireless power transmission waves with the at least one waveform characteristic to cause each of the wireless power transmission waves to constructively interfere with another wireless power transmission wave at the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of wireless charging, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a proximity transmitter comprising an interface configured to couple the proximity transmitter at a corresponding interface of a computing device, electric current from the computing device via the corresponding interface of the computing device and the interface of the proximity transmitter; receiving, by a communications component of the proximity transmitter, one or more communications signals from a device associated with a receiver; determining, by a controller of the proximity transmitter; a signal strength of the one or more communications signals; whether the device associated with the receiver is within a proximity threshold from the proximity transmitter based at least in part on the signal strength of the one or more communications signals; and at least one waveform characteristic for wireless power waves based at least in part on the signal strength of the one or more communications signals; and activating, by the controller of the proximity transmitter, a first subset of antennas of a plurality of antennas of the proximity transmitter that transmit wireless power waves to the receiver upon determining that the device associated with the receiver is within the proximity threshold from the proximity transmitter, wherein; the wireless power waves are distinct from the one or more communications signals; the receiver uses the wireless power waves to charge or power the device associated with the receiver; the plurality of antennas includes a first number of antennas, the first subset of antennas includes a second number of antennas; the second number of antennas is at least two and less than the first number of antennas; and the first subset of antennas transmits the wireless power waves with the at least one waveform characteristic to cause each of the wireless power waves to constructively interfere with another power wave at the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification