Systems and methods for using application programming interfaces to control communications between a transmitter and a receiver

• US 10,153,653 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, An
• Application Number:
  US14/586,542
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 307107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. A wireless power network may include a plurality of wireless power transmitters each with an embedded wireless power transmitter manager, including a wireless power manager application. The wireless power network may include a plurality of client devices with wireless power receivers. Wireless power receivers may include a power receiver application configured to communicate with the wireless power manager application. The wireless power manager application may include a device database where information about the wireless power network may be stored.

Claims

1. A system for controlling communication between a wireless power transmitter and at least one wireless power receiver, the system comprising:

a wireless power transmitter that includes;

a first processor configured to run a power transmitter manager application;

a first wireless communication hardware that (i) receives a broadcast signal, from at least one wireless power receiver, the broadcast signal comprising information used to identify the wireless power receiver and (ii) establishes a communication connection with the wireless power receiver that allows the wireless power receiver to send control signals comprising information that is used to determine a present location of the wireless power receiver, wherein the first wireless communication hardware has a transmitter application programming interface (API) that is used by the power transmitter manager application to instruct the first wireless communication hardware to establish the communication connection;

a transmitter power transmission signal antenna array that, based on the control signals, transmits and adjusts controlled power transmission signals that converge to form constructive and destructive interference patterns defining a pocket of energy around the present location of the wireless power receiver; and

the at least one wireless power receiver that includes;

a second processor configured to run a power receiver application;

a second wireless communication hardware that sends (i) the broadcast signal and (ii) the control signals comprising the information that is used to determine the present location of the wireless power receiver, wherein the second wireless communication hardware has a receiver API that is used by the power receiver application to instruct the second wireless communication hardware to send the broadcast signals and the control signals; and

a receiver antenna array that receives and uses electrical power from the pocket of energy created by the wireless power transmitter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter power transmission signal antenna array is controlled by a transmitter antenna manager software running on the first processor, and the transmitter antenna manager software is configured to instruct the power transmission signal antenna array to transmit the controlled power transmission signals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter manager application is also configured to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) used by a user to perform management tasks for the wireless power transmitter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter manager application calls the transmitter API for controlling a plurality of functions of the first wireless communication hardware, the plurality of functions comprising starting a connection, ending a connection, and sending data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitter API performs a callback to the power transmitter manager application after completion of a respective function of the plurality of functions.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a client device that is coupled to the at least one wireless power receiver.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless power transmitter includes a database storing information comprising identifications and attributes of the at least one wireless power receiver, and of the client device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein respective attributes comprise voltage ranges, locations, charging schedules, charging priorities, signal strength levels, levels of power usage, or duration of power usage.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the power transmitter manager application has access to the database.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the control signals further comprise amount of charge received, amount of charged used, or user account information of the client device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal and the control signals are sent over a first channel and the controlled power transmission signals are sent over a second channel that is distinct from the first channel.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal is sent over a first channel, the control signals are sent over a second channel, and the controlled power transmission signals are sent over a third channel, wherein the first channel, the second channel and the third channel are distinct from one another.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein the user uses the GUI to configure one or more of the following management tasks:

configuring power schedules for a plurality of client devices, configuring charging priorities between the plurality of client devices, configuring types of the client devices, and sending messages to the client devices.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication hardware and the second wireless communication hardware are BLUETOOTH radios.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication hardware and the second wireless communication hardware are WI-FI radios.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication hardware and the second wireless communication hardware are ZIGBEE radios.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions for controlling wirelessly transmitted power that, when executed by a processor of a wireless power transmitter, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

at the wireless power transmitter that includes the processor, a wireless communication hardware having a transmitter application programming interface (API), and a transmitter wireless antenna array;

running, by the processor, a power transmitter manager application;

causing, by the power transmitter manager application using the transmitter API, the wireless communication hardware to (i) receive a broadcast signal, from at least one wireless power receiver, the broadcast signal comprising information used to identify the wireless power receiver and (ii) establish a communication connection with the wireless power receiver that allows the wireless power receiver to send control signals comprising information that is used to determine a present location of the wireless power receiver,

instructing, by the power transmitter manager application, the transmitter wireless antenna array, based on the control signals, to transmit and adjust controlled wireless power waves that converge to form constructive and destructive interference patterns defining a pocket of energy around the present location of the wireless power receiver.