System and method for enabling automatic charging schedules in a wireless power network to one or more devices

• US 10,090,886 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Douglas, Leabman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US14/585,633
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits power transmission signals (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. Example methods for controlling the transmission are also disclosed, one such method including: (i) storing, in a storage, respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated with a respective receiver of one or more receivers, (ii) determining, based on the user-defined charging schedule data, respective time periods at which to transmit power transmission waves to each receiver of the one or more receivers, including a first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to a first receiver of the one or more receivers, and (iii) based upon determining a location of the first receiver during the first time period, causing the two or more antenna elements to transmit power transmission waves that constructively interfere to provide pocket-forming energy at the first receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling wireless power delivery, comprising:

a transmitter comprising;

two or more antenna elements;

a power transmission signal circuit, operatively coupled to the two or more antenna elements;

a processor, operatively coupled to the power transmission signal circuit, wherein the processor is configured to;

control transmission of power transmission waves that constructively interfere to provide pocket-forming energy in three-dimensional space to one or more receivers via the two or more antenna elements and the power transmission signal circuit, and

a storage, operatively coupled to the processor, the storage being configured to store respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated in the storage with a respective receiver of the one or more receivers,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

determine, based on the user-defined charging schedule data, respective time periods at which to transmit power transmission waves to each receiver of the one or more receivers, including a first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to a first receiver of the one or more receivers, wherein the first time period is determined based on user-defined charging schedule data that is associated in the storage with the first receiver; and

based upon determining a location of the first receiver during the first time period, cause the two or more antenna elements to transmit power transmission waves that constructively interfere to provide pocket-forming energy at the location of the first receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated with a respective receiver in the storage comprises data identifying one or more of:

a time at which to wirelessly deliver power to the respective receiver, a physical location at which the respective receiver is to be charged, angular location data, and a priority with which the respective receiver is to receive wirelessly delivered power relative to other receivers of the one or more receivers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive modified user-defined charging schedule data for the first receiver and store the modified user-defined charging schedule in the storage as associated with the first receiver, and

determine, based on the modified user-defined charging schedule data, an adjusted first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to the first receiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage of the transmitter is configured to store user-defined charging schedule data for one or more other transmitters providing wireless power delivery.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power transmission waves are radio frequency power transmission waves.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the first receiver is performed using information that is received during the first time period.

7. A method for controlling wireless power delivery, comprising:

at a transmitter with two or more antenna elements, a power transmission signal circuit operatively coupled to the two or more antenna elements, a processor operatively coupled to the power transmission signal circuit, and a storage operatively coupled to the processor;

storing, in the storage, respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated with a respective receiver of one or more receivers;

determining, based on the user-defined charging schedule data, respective time periods at which to transmit power transmission waves to each receiver of the one or more receivers, including a first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to a first receiver of the one or more receivers, wherein the first time period is determined based on user-defined charging schedule data that is associated in the storage with the first receiver; and

based upon determining a location of the first receiver during the first time period, causing the two or more antenna elements to transmit power transmission waves that constructively interfere to provide pocket-forming energy at the location of the first receiver.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated with a respective receiver in the storage comprises data identifying one or more of:

a time at which to wirelessly deliver power to the respective receiver, a physical location at which the respective receiver is to be charged, angular location data, and a priority with which the respective receiver is to receive wirelessly delivered power relative to other receivers of the one or more receivers.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving modified user-defined charging schedule data for the first receiver and storing the modified user-defined charging schedule in the storage as associated with the first receiver, and

determining, based on the modified user-defined charging schedule data, an adjusted first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to the first receiver.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing user-defined charging schedule data for one or more other transmitters providing wireless power delivery.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the power transmission waves are radio frequency power transmission waves.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining the location of the first receiver is performed using information that is received during the first time period.