Systems and methods for maximizing wireless power transfer efficiency by instructing a user to change a receiver device's position

• US 10,141,768 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheng, Diana J
• Application Number:
  US14/584,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20160099602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

An example method includes: receiving, by an antenna of a receiver, RF power transmission waves from a transmitter, the RF waves forming controlled constructive interference patterns and destructive interference patterns in proximity to the receiver. The method also includes: transmitting, by the receiver to the transmitter, information used to determine a power level and efficiency of power received by the receiver device. The information that is used to determine the power level and efficiency indicates to the transmitter that the receiver device is receiving power at less than a maximum available efficiency. The method further includes: instructing a user of the receiver to change the receiver'"'"'s position based on a comparison of respective voltage level or power received in each respective position or orientation of the receiver until a level of efficiency that is no less than the maximum available efficiency is achieved for the efficiency of power received.

Claims

1. A method for receiving wireless power, comprising:

receiving, by at least one antenna of a receiver device, radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves from a transmitter, the RF power transmission waves converging to form controlled constructive interference patterns and destructive interference patterns in proximity to the receiver device, wherein the destructive interference patterns form a null space that surrounds the controlled constructive interference patterns and the controlled constructive interference patterns form a pocket of RF energy to be received by the receiver device;

transmitting, by the receiver device to the transmitter, information used to determine a power level of the pocket of RF energy and efficiency of power received by the receiver device via the at least one antenna from the pocket of RF energy, wherein;

the information is determined by one or more sensors in the receiver device, and

the information used to determine the power level and efficiency indicates to the transmitter that the receiver device is receiving power at less than a maximum available efficiency; and

while receiving energy from the pocket of RF energy, instructing a user of the receiver device to change a position of the receiver device based on a comparison of respective voltage level or power received in each respective position or orientation of the receiver device until a level of efficiency that is no less than the maximum available efficiency is achieved for the efficiency of power received by the receiver device via the at least one antenna.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver device includes:

an electronic device; and

a wireless power receiver coupled to the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the receiver device is initially positioned at a first position during reception of the RF power transmission waves; and

the receiver device is positioned at a second position upon achieving the maximum available efficiency.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the receiver device has a first orientation when positioned at the first position; and

the receiver device has a second orientation, different from the first orientation, when positioned at the second position.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising, while the receiver device is positioned at the second position:

instructing the user of the receiver device to maintain the receiver device at the second position; and

continuing to receive energy from the pocket of RF energy.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the position of the receiver device is changed:

receiving, by the receiver device, at least one additional RF power transmission wave from the transmitter, the at least one additional RF power transmission wave converging with at least some of the RF power transmission waves to form updated controlled constructive interference patterns and updated destructive interference patterns in proximity to the receiver device, wherein the updated destructive interference patterns form an updated null space that surrounds the updated controlled constructive interference patterns and the updated controlled constructive interference patterns form an updated pocket of RF energy to be received by the receiver device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure at least the battery level, power level, position, and orientation of the receiver device.

8. A receiver device comprising:

at least one antenna configured to receive radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves from a transmitter, the RF power transmission waves converging to form controlled constructive interference patterns and destructive interference patterns in proximity to the receiver device, wherein the destructive interference patterns form a null space that surrounds the controlled constructive interference patterns and the controlled constructive interference patterns form a pocket of RF energy to be received by the receiver device;

a communications radio configured to transmit, to the transmitter, information used to determine a power level of the pocket of RF energy and efficiency of power received by the receiver device via the at least one antenna from the pocket of RF energy, wherein;

the information is determined by one or more sensors in the receiver device, and

the information used to determine the power level and efficiency indicates to the transmitter that the receiver device is receiving power at less than a maximum available efficiency; and

a processor configured to, while receiving energy from the pocket of RF energy, instruct a user of the receiver device to change a position of the receiver device based on a comparison of respective voltage level or power received in each respective position or orientation of the receiver device until a level of efficiency that is no less than the maximum available efficiency is achieved for the efficiency of power received by the receiver device via the at least one antenna.

9. The receiver device of claim 8, wherein the receiver device includes:

an electronic device; and

a wireless power receiver coupled to the electronic device.

10. The receiver device of claim 8, wherein:

the receiver device is initially positioned at a first position during reception of the RF power transmission waves; and

the receiver device is positioned at a second position upon achieving the maximum available efficiency.

11. The receiver device of claim 10, wherein:

the receiver device has a first orientation when positioned at the first position; and

the receiver device has a second orientation, different from the first orientation, when positioned at the second position.

12. The receiver device of claim 10, wherein, while the receiver device is positioned at the second position:

the processor is further configured to instruct the user of the receiver device to maintain the receiver device at the second position; and

the at least one antenna continues to receive energy from the pocket of RF energy.

13. The receiver device of claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure at least the battery level, power level, position, and orientation of the receiver device.

14. A method of transmitting wireless power comprising:

transmitting, by a plurality of antennas of a transmitter device, radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves to a receiver device, the RF power transmission waves converging to form controlled constructive interference patterns and destructive interference patterns in proximity to the receiver device, wherein the destructive interference patterns form a null space that surrounds the controlled constructive interference patterns and the controlled constructive interference patterns form a pocket of RF energy to be received by the receiver device;

receiving, by the transmitter device from the receiver device, information used to determine a power level of the pocket of RF energy and efficiency of power received by the receiver device from the pocket of RF energy, wherein the information is determined by one or more sensors in the receiver device; and

in accordance with determining that the power level of the pocket of RF energy and the efficiency of the power received from the pocket of RF energy indicates that the receiver device is receiving power at less than a maximum available efficiency and while transmitting the RF power transmission waves,

instructing a user of the receiver device to change the receiver device'"'"'s position based on a comparison of respective voltage level or power received in each respective position or orientation of the receiver device until a level of efficiency that is no less than the maximum available efficiency is achieved for the efficiency of power received by the receiver device, the receiver device having at least one antenna for receiving energy from the pocket of RF energy.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the receiver device is initially positioned at a first position during transmission of the RF power transmission waves; and

the receiver device is positioned at a second position upon the receiver device achieving the maximum available efficiency.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the receiver device has a first orientation when positioned at the first position; and

the receiver device has a second orientation, different from the first orientation, when positioned at the second position.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising, while the receiver device is positioned at the second position:

instructing the user of the receiver device to maintain the receiver device at the second position; and

continuing to transmit the RF power transmission waves to the receiver device.

18. A transmitter device comprising:

a plurality of antennas configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves to a receiver device, the RF power transmission waves converging to form controlled constructive interference patterns and destructive interference patterns in proximity to the receiver device, wherein the destructive interference patterns form a null space that surrounds the controlled constructive interference patterns and the controlled constructive interference patterns form a pocket of RF energy to be received by the receiver device;

a communications radio configured to receive information used to determine a power level of the pocket of RF energy and efficiency of power received by the receiver device from the pocket of RF energy, wherein the information is determined by one or more sensors in the receiver device; and

a processor configured to, in accordance with determining that the power level of the pocket of RF energy and the efficiency of the power received from the pocket of RF energy indicates that the receiver device is receiving power at less than a maximum available efficiency and while the transmitting RF power transmission waves, instruct a user of the receiver device to change the receiver device'"'"'s position based on a comparison of respective voltage level or power received in each respective position or orientation of the receiver device until a level of efficiency that is no less than the maximum available efficiency is achieved for the efficiency of power received by the receiver device, the receiver device having at least one antenna for receiving energy from the pocket of RF energy.

19. The transmitter device of claim 18, wherein:

the receiver device is initially positioned at a first position during transmission of the RF power transmission waves; and

the receiver device is positioned at a second position upon the receiver device achieving the maximum available efficiency.

20. The transmitter device of claim 19, wherein, while the receiver device is positioned at the second position:

the processor is further configured to instruct the user of the receiver device to maintain the receiver device at the second position; and

the plurality of antennas continues to transmit the RF power transmission waves to the receiver device.