System and methods for using sound waves to wirelessly deliver power to electronic devices

• US 10,158,257 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHIN, JEFFREY M
• Application Number:
  US15/397,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20170179771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• 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 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Wireless charging systems, and methods of use thereof, are disclosed herein. As an example, a method includes: receiving, at a computer system, information identifying a location of a receiver device that requires charging, the location is within a predetermined range of the computer system; transmitting a first set of sound waves, via one or more transducer elements of a first pocket-forming transmitter that is coupled with the computer system, that converge in 3-D space proximate to the predetermined location of the receiver device to form a pocket of energy; while transmitting the first set of sound waves: (i) receiving a second set of sound waves from a second pocket-forming transmitter, distinct from the first pocket-forming transmitter; and (ii) charging the computer system by converting energy from the second set of sound waves into usable power.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly transmitting power using sound waves, comprising:

receiving, at a computer, information identifying a location of a receiver device that requires charging, wherein the location is within a predetermined range of the computer;

transmitting a first set of sound waves, via one or more transducer elements of a first transmitter that is mechanically coupled with the computer, that converge proximate to the location of the receiver device to form a pocket of energy at the location, wherein the receiver device is distinct from the computer; and

while transmitting the first set of sound waves that converge proximate to the location of the receiver device to form the pocket of energy at the location;

receiving, at the computer, a second set of sound waves from a second transmitter, distinct from the first transmitter, and

charging the computer by converting energy from the second set of sound waves into usable electricity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second set of sound waves includes, determining that the computer requires charging,

wherein the second set of sound waves is transmitted by the second transmitter in accordance with the determining that the computer requires charging.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the first set of sound waves to the receiver device is performed in accordance with a determination that a charge level of the computer is sufficient to allow the computer to provide wireless power to the receiver device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining that the computer requires charging is performed by the computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver device is a first peripheral device of a plurality of peripheral devices associated with the computer, and the method further comprises:

determining that a second peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral devices is not within the predetermined range of the computer; and

in accordance with determining that the second peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral devices is not within the predetermined range of the computer, selecting the second transmitter to deliver wireless power to the second peripheral device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while transmitting the first set of sound waves, determining whether an additional receiver device is located within the predetermined range of the computer; and

in accordance with determining that the additional receiver device is located with the predetermined range of the computer, transmitting by the first transmitter additional sound waves that converge proximate to a location of the additional receiver device to form an additional pocket of energy at the location of the additional receiver device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer uses the one or more transducer elements to receive the second set of sound waves from the second transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the computer is a laptop computer, and the one or more transducer elements are embedded in the laptop computer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more transducer elements are embedded in a screen of the laptop computer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is a range between one and three meters away from the computer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer is a laptop, a desktop computer, or a tablet.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver device comprises an electronic device that is coupled with a plurality of antenna elements for receiving the first set of sound waves.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic device is a peripheral device associated with the computer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of:

a mouse, a keyboard, a headset, and a smartphone.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver device is a first receiver device of a plurality of receiver devices, and the method further comprises:

receiving, at the computer, additional information identifying a location of a second receiver device of the plurality of receiver devices that requires charging, wherein the location of the second receiver device is within the predetermined range of the computer.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

establishing a charging order for the first and second receiver devices; and

transmitting one or more sets of sound waves to the first and second receiver devices in accordance with the established charging order.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first set of sound waves includes:

receiving, at the computer, instructions from the second transmitter to transmit the first set of sound waves to the receiver device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the second transmitter is a higher power transmitter than the first transmitter.

19. A computer, comprising:

a first transmitter having one or more transducer elements;

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer to;

receive, at the computer, information identifying a location of a receiver device that requires charging, wherein the location is within a predetermined range of the computer;

transmit a first set of sound waves, via the one or more transducer elements, that converge proximate to the location of the receiver device to form a pocket of energy at the location, wherein the receiver device is distinct from the computer; and

while transmitting the first set of sound waves that converge proximate to the location of the receiver device to form the pocket of energy at the location;

receive, at the computer, a second set of sound waves from a second transmitter, distinct from the first transmitter, and

charge the computer by converting energy from the second set of sound waves into usable electricity.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a computer, the one or more programs including instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the computer to:

receive, at the computer, information identifying a location of a receiver device that requires charging, wherein the location is within a predetermined range of the computer;

transmit a first set of sound waves, via one or more transducer elements of a first transmitter that is mechanically coupled with the computer, that converge proximate to the location of the receiver device to form a pocket of energy at the location, wherein the receiver device is distinct from the computer; and

while transmitting the first set of sound waves that converge proximate to the location of the receiver device to form the pocket of energy at the location;

receive, at the computer, a second set of sound waves from a second transmitter, distinct from the first transmitter, and

charge the computer by converting energy from the second set of sound waves into usable electricity.