Systems and methods for wireless power distribution allocation

• US 10,177,601 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, Emily B., Ramakrishnan, Siva
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Adam
• Application Number:
  US15/007,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20160149436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 361139
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• 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 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

Systems and methods for power distribution allocation are provided. A system may establish a first wireless connection between the system and a first mobile device. The system may receive a first power request from the first mobile device, the first power request associated with a first minimum energy charge of the first mobile device, and may determine an available charging capacity of the charging system. The system may determine a first energy charge to provide wirelessly to the first mobile device, and may establish a second wireless connection with a second mobile device. The system may receive a second power request from the second mobile device, and may receive a first charge indicator from the first mobile device associated with a present charging status of the first mobile device. The system may determine a second energy charge to provide wirelessly to the second mobile device.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission unit (PTU) for providing wireless power charging signals to multiple wireless power receiving units (PRUs), the PTU comprising:

a resonator to provide wireless power to first and second PRUs;

a communications radio for wirelessly communicating with the first and second PRUs;

wherein the PTU is to

provide charging power to the first PRU;

receive a request through the communications radio to provide charging power to the second PRU;

determine if the PTU has capacity to provide the requested charging power to the second PRU in addition to the current charging power of the first PRU;

if the PTU does not have the capacity, adjust power being provided to the first PRU or provide less than the requested power to the second PRU so that the power may be provided to both the first and second PRUs.

2. The PTU of claim 1, wherein the communications radio uses a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) link to communicate with the at least a first PRU.

3. The PTU of claim 1, wherein the communications radio uses a Near Field Communications link to communicate with the at least a first PRU.

4. The PTU of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the communications radio to control the communications.

5. A method of wireless charging by a first power transmitting unit (PTU), comprising:

providing charging power to a first power receiving unit (PRU);

receiving a request through a communications radio to provide charging power to a second PRU;

determining if the PTU has capacity to provide the requested charging power to the second PRU in addition to the current charging power of the first PRU;

if the PTU does not have the capacity, adjusting power being provided to the first PRU or providing less than the requested power to the second PRU so that the power may be provided to both the first and second PRUs.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising communicating through the communications radio over a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communications link.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising communicating through the communications radio over a Near Field Communications link.

8. A non-transitory storage medium containing instructions, which when executed, cause performance of operations comprising:

providing charging power to a first power receiving unit (PRU);

receiving a request through a communications radio to provide charging power to a second PRU;

determining if a capacity to provide the requested charging power to the second PRU in addition to the current charging power of the first PRU is sufficient;

if the capacity is not sufficient, adjusting power being provided to the first PRU or providing less than the requested power to the second PRU so that the power may be provided to both the first and second PRUs.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise communicating through the communications radio over a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communications link.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise communicating through the communications radio over a Near field Communications (NFC) link.