Systems and methods for designating a master power transmitter in a cluster of wireless power transmitters

• US 10,153,645 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Douglas, Leabman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stables, David M
• Application Number:
  US15/061,506
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

An example method is performed at a first transmitter in communication with other power transmitters, the method including: receiving, from a respective transmitter of the other transmitters, information indicating at least (1) a network address, and (2) status information regarding whether the respective transmitter is in master or non-master mode. The method also includes, if none of the other power transmitters is in the master mode, determining whether a first network address of the first transmitter is lower than respective network addresses of the other transmitters. The method further includes: if the first network address is lower than the respective network addresses: operating the first transmitter in the master mode; and sending an indication that the first transmitter is in the master mode. While the first transmitter is in the master mode, the first transmitter assigns each of the other transmitters to transmit power waves to one or more receivers.

Claims

1. A method of designating a master power transmitter in a cluster of wireless power transmitters, comprising:

at a first power transmitter that is in wireless communication with other power transmitters;

receiving, from a respective power transmitter of the other power transmitters, signals including information indicating at least (1) a network address of the respective power transmitter, and (2) status information of the respective power transmitter regarding whether the respective power transmitter is in a master mode or a non-master mode;

in accordance with a first determination that none of the other power transmitters is in the master mode, determining whether a first network address of the first power transmitter is lower than respective network addresses of the other power transmitters;

in accordance with a second determination that the first network address is lower than the respective network addresses of the other power transmitters;

operating the first power transmitter in the master mode;

sending, to each of the other power transmitters, an indication that the first power transmitter is in the master mode; and

while the first power transmitter is operating in the master mode, assigning each of the other power transmits to transmit wireless power waves to one or more power receivers.

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

receiving information from each of the other power transmitters that identifies respective signal strength levels detected at each of the other power transmitters for one or more power receivers; and

based on the received information that identifies the signal strength levels, assigning each of the other power transmitters to transmit wireless power waves to one or more of the one or more power receivers.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the first power transmitter is operating in the master mode;

receiving a signal from a second power transmitter of the other power transmitters that indicates that the second power transmitter is in the master mode;

comparing the first network address with a second network address of the second power transmitter;

in accordance with a determination that the first network address is higher than the second network address, operating the first power transmitter in the non-master mode.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that the first network address is lower than the second network address, continuing to operate the first power transmitter in the master mode,

wherein the second power transmitter ceases to operate in the master mode and begins to operate in the non-master mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a respective power transmitter of the other power transmitters that is assigned to transmit wireless power to a first power receiver of the one or more power receivers transmits radio frequency (RF) power waves to the first power receiver.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the RF power waves transmitted by the respective power transmitter to the first power receiver are transmitted so that the RF power waves constructively interfere at a location of the first power receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from the respective power transmitter of the other power transmitters is periodically received from the respective power transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein information indicating at least (1) a network address of each respective power transmitter of the other power transmitters, and (2) status information of each respective power transmitter of the other power transmitters regarding whether the respective power transmitter is in a master mode or a non-master mode is received periodically from each respective power transmitter of the other power transmitters.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before the first power transmitter is operating in the master mode;

receiving, from a second power transmitter of the other power transmitters that is operating in the master mode, an instruction that the first power transmitter should begin transmitting wireless power to a respective power receiver of the one or more power receivers.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

requesting authorization from the second power transmitter to begin transmitting wireless power to the respective power receiver before receiving the instruction from the second power transmitter.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

requesting the authorization to begin transmitting wireless power to a first power receiver in accordance with a determination that strength of signals received from the first power receiver has increased to above a signal strength threshold that indicates that the first power receiver should be assigned to the first power transmitter.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

while transmitting RF wireless power waves to a first power receiver;

requesting, from the second power transmitter, termination of transmission of RF wireless power waves by the first power transmitter to the first power receiver in accordance with a determination that strength of signals received from the first power receiver has decreased to below a signal strength threshold that indicates that the first power receiver should be assigned to the first power transmitter.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the first power transmitter is operating in the master mode or the non-master mode, periodically broadcasting, to the other power transmitters, signals including information indicating at least (1) the first network address of the first power transmitter, and (2) status information of the first power transmitter regarding whether the first power transmitter is in the master mode or the non-master mode.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the first power transmitter is started or reset, the first power transmitter is initially operating in the non-master mode.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the signals received from the other power transmitters are signals sent using User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

16. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

an array of antennas;

a communication component; and

one or more processors,

wherein the wireless power transmitter is in wireless communication with other wireless power transmitters, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

receive, from a respective power transmitter of the other power transmitters, signals including information indicating at least (1) a network address of the respective power transmitter, and (2) status information of the respective power transmitter regarding whether the respective power transmitter is in a master mode or a non-master mode;

in accordance with a first determination that none of the other power transmitters is in the master mode, determine whether a first network address of the first power transmitter is lower than respective network addresses of the other power transmitters;

in accordance with a second determination that the first network address is lower than the respective network addresses of the other power transmitters;

operate the first power transmitter in the master mode;

send, to each of the other power transmitters, an indication that the first power transmitter is in the master mode; and

while the first power transmitter is operating in the master mode, assign each of the other power transmits to transmit wireless power waves to one or more power receivers.

17. A non-statutory computer readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a first wireless power transmitter with one or more processors, a communication component, and an array of antennas configured to transmit power waves, the first power transmitter in wireless communication with other power transmitters, cause the first wireless power transmitter to:

receiving, from a respective power transmitter of the other power transmitters, signals including information indicating at least (1) a network address of the respective power transmitter, and (2) status information of the respective power transmitter regarding whether the respective power transmitter is in a master mode or a non-master mode;

in accordance with a first determination that none of the other power transmitters is in the master mode, determining whether a first network address of the first power transmitter is lower than respective network addresses of the other power transmitters;

in accordance with a second determination that the first network address is lower than the respective network addresses of the other power transmitters;

operating the first power transmitter in the master mode;

sending, to each of the other power transmitters, an indication that the first power transmitter is in the master mode; and

while the first power transmitter is operating in the master mode, assigning each of the other power transmits to transmit wireless power waves to one or more power receivers.