Systems and methods for generating and transmitting wireless power transmission waves using antennas having a spacing that is selected by the transmitter

• US 10,027,168 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• 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 M
• Application Number:
  US14/860,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• 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 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein may generate and transmit power waves that, as result of their physical waveform characteristics (e.g., frequency, amplitude, phase, gain, direction), converge at a predetermined location in a transmission field to generate a pocket of energy. Receivers associated with an electronic device being powered by the wireless charging system, may extract energy from these pockets of energy and then convert that energy into usable electric power for the electronic device associated with a receiver. The pockets of energy may manifest as a three-dimensional field (e.g., transmission field) where energy may be harvested by a receiver positioned within or nearby the pocket of energy.

Claims

1. A method in wireless power transmission system, the method comprising:

determining, by a transmitter that includes at least two antenna arrays, one or more parameters indicated by sensor data and mapping data, the one or more parameters associated with a location of a wireless power receiver within a transmission field of the transmitter;

determining, by the transmitter, an output frequency of power waves based on the one or more parameters;

selecting, by the transmitter, a desired spacing distance between the at least two antenna arrays of the transmitter based upon the one or more parameters, the desired spacing distance selected so that the power waves, when transmitted by the at least two antenna arrays, constructively interfere to form a pocket of energy at the location of the wireless power receiver;

adjusting, by the transmitter, respective positions of one or more antenna arrays of the at least two antenna arrays within the transmitter so that the at least two antenna arrays are separated by the desired spacing distance; and

while the at least two antenna arrays are separated by the desired spacing distance, transmitting, by the at least two antenna arrays of the transmitter, the power waves using the output frequency into the transmission field to form the pocket of energy at the location of the wireless power receiver, wherein the wireless power receiver is configured to use energy from the pocket of energy to provide power or charge to an electronic device that is coupled with the wireless power receiver.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating, by the transmitter, one or more null spaces within the transmission field of the transmitter based upon the sensor data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data comprises internal sensors data and external sensors data.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power waves comprise chirp waves, and the output frequency is continually changed by the transmitter.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power waves are generated by a waveform generator electrically connected to the transmitter.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the power waves is of a type selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic wave, radio wave, microwave, ultrasound wave, and magnetic resonance.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power waves are generated by a waveform generator that is an integral component of the transmitter.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter receives at least one communications signal from a receiver using a wireless communication protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and FM radio signal.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two antenna arrays comprises two or more antennas.

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

one or more transmitters, each of the one or more transmitters comprising;

at least two antenna arrays, each of the at least two antenna arrays comprising two or more antennas configured to transmit power waves;

a microprocessor configured to;

determine one or more parameters indicated by sensor data and mapping data, the one or more parameters associated with a location of a wireless power receiver within a transmission field of the corresponding transmitter;

based on the one or more parameters, determine an output frequency of power waves;

select a desired spacing distance between the at least two antenna arrays of the corresponding transmitter based upon the one or more parameters, the desired spacing distance selected so that the power waves, when transmitted by the at least two antenna arrays, constructively interfere to form a pocket of energy at the location of the wireless power receiver;

adjust, by the transmitter, respective positions of one or more antenna arrays of the at least two antenna arrays within the transmitter so that the at least two antenna arrays are separated by the desired spacing distance; and

while the at least two antenna arrays are separated by the desired spacing distance, transmit, by the at least two antenna arrays of the transmitter, the power waves using the output frequency into the transmission field to form the pocket of energy at the location of the wireless power receiver, wherein the wireless power receiver is configured to use energy from the pocket of energy to provide power or charge to an electronic device that is coupled with the wireless power receiver.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the microprocessor is configured to, based on the one or more parameters, select:

the at least one transmitter from the one or more transmitters, the output frequency of the power waves, a shape of the at least two antenna arrays, and the desired spacing distance between the at least two antenna arrays, to form one or more null spaces at one or more locations in the transmission field.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a receiver, the receiver comprising one or more antennas configured to receive energy from the pocket of energy generated using the power waves for charging a targeted electronic device.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising one or more external sensors configured to determine location of one or more receivers and one or more objects within the transmission field.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more transmitters comprises one or more sensors configured to determine location of one or more receivers and one or more objects within the transmission field of the corresponding transmitter.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more transmitters receive location data of one or more receivers and one or more objects based on heat mapping data.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more parameters are determined in relation to maximum permissible exposure level.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein a communication connection is established by the one or more transmitters hosting a communication signal between the one or more transmitters and one or more receivers, and wherein the communications signal contain data indicating a location data associated with the one or more receivers, and power level information of one or more electronic devices associated with the one or more receivers.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least one antenna of the one or more transmitters is selected from the group consisting of a flat antenna, a patch antenna, and a dipole antenna, and wherein the height of the at least one antenna is from about ⅛

inches to about 1 inch, and wherein the width of at least one antenna is from about ⅛

inches to about 1 inch.

19. The system according to claim 10, wherein one or more antennas of the one or more transmitters are configured to operate in independent frequencies that allow a multichannel operation of pocket-forming in at least one of a single array, a pair array, and a quad array.