Systems and methods for controlling operation of a transmitter of a wireless power network based on user instructions received from an authenticated computing device powered or charged by a receiver of the wireless power network

• US 10,211,682 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2014
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• 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): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dominique, Emmanuel R
• Application Number:
  US14/272,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20150326051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• 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 50/402 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 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An example method for managing a wireless power network includes: transmitting, via an antenna array of a transmitter, radio frequency waves that constructively interfere to produce energy pockets for receipt by a receiver, and the receiver is not in contact with the transmitter and is coupled with an authenticated computing device distinct from the receiver. The method also includes: executing a power transmitter manager application, the power transmitter manager application causing the transmitter to perform operations including: sending for display at the authenticated computing device a plurality of configuration options that are used to control operation of the transmitter; receiving an updated value for at least one of the plurality of configuration options; and, in response to receiving the updated value, controlling transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver using the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options.

Claims

1. A system for managing a wireless power network, the system comprising:

at least one transmitter that includes a processor, an antenna array, and a communications interface distinct from the antenna array, the at least one transmitter configured to transmit, via the antenna array, radio frequency waves that constructively interfere to produce a plurality of energy pockets suitable for receipt by a receiver, wherein the receiver is not in physical contact with the at least one transmitter and the receiver is coupled with an authenticated computing device distinct from the receiver; and

at least one power transmitter manager application executed by the processor of the at least one transmitter, the at least one power transmitter manager application configured to cause the at least one transmitter to;

send, via the communications interface for display to a user at the authenticated computing device that is distinct from the receiver, a plurality of configuration options that are used to control operation of the at least one transmitter;

receive, via the communications interface, an updated value for at least one of the plurality of configuration options, where the updated value is based on information provided by the user at the authenticated computing device; and

in response to receiving the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options, control transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver using the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options, wherein the receiver uses energy from the radio frequency waves to provide power or charge to the authenticated computing device.

2. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1, wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a power usage requirement for an electronic device that is associated with the receiver.

3. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1, wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a current battery level for the authenticated computing device that is associated with the receiver.

4. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1, wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a time period at which an electronic device associated with the receiver is scheduled to be charged.

5. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1, wherein the communications interface of the at least one transmitter communicates with the authenticated computing device using a protocol selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth®

, Bluetooth®

Low Energy, WiFi™

, ZigBee®

, and combinations thereof.

6. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1, wherein:

the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a schedule for charging various electronic devices; and

controlling transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver includes transmitting radio frequency waves to the receiver in accordance with the schedule.

7. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1, wherein the at least one power transmitter manager application is also configured to:

receive, via the communications interface, a broadcast message based on information provided by the user at the authenticated computing device; and

in response to receiving the broadcast message, broadcasting via the communications interface the broadcast message to an electronic device associated with the receiver.

10. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1, wherein the receiver converts energy from the radio frequency waves into usable power for charging an electronic device, and the receiver is not integral to the electronic device.

11. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 10, wherein the receiver is communicatively coupled to a power receiver application that is executing at the electronic device, and the power receiver application is configured to receive instructions from the at least one power transmitter manager application.

12. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 11, wherein the electronic device is in communication with a graphical user interface that is used by the power receiver application to provide an additional user of the electronic device control over at least one task performed by the at least one power transmitter manager application.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one transmitter is part of a wireless power network that includes an additional transmitter distinct from the at least one transmitter, and

the at least one power transmitter manager application is also configured to send the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options to the additional transmitter.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter is part of a wireless power network, and the authenticated computing device is authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power through the wireless power network.

8. A method for managing a wireless power network, comprising:

transmitting, via an antenna array of a transmitter that includes a processor and a communications interface that is distinct from the antenna array, radio frequency waves that constructively interfere to produce a plurality of energy pockets for receipt by a receiver, wherein the receiver is not in physical contact with the transmitter and the receiver is coupled with an authenticated computing device distinct from the receiver; and

executing, by the processor of the transmitter, a power transmitter manager application, wherein the power transmitter manager application causes the transmitter to perform operations including;

sending, via the communications interface for display to a user at the authenticated computing device that is distinct from the receiver, a plurality of configuration options that are used to control operation of the at least one transmitter;

receiving, via the communications interface, an updated value for at least one of the plurality of configuration options, where the updated value is based on information provided by the user at the authenticated computing device; and

in response to receiving the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options, controlling transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver using the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options, wherein the receiver uses energy from the radio frequency waves to provide power or charge to the authenticated computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communications interface of the transmitter communicates with the authenticated computing device using a communication protocol selected from the group of Bluetooth®

, Bluetooth®

Low Energy, WiFi™

, ZigBee®

, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a power usage requirement for an electronic device that is associated with the receiver.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a current battery level for the authenticated computing device that is associated with the receiver.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a time period at which an electronic device associated with the receiver is scheduled to be charged.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a schedule for charging various electronic devices; and

controlling transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver includes transmitting radio frequency waves to the receiver in accordance with the schedule.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one power transmitter manager application is also configured to:

receive, via the communications interface, a broadcast message based on information provided by the user at the authenticated computing device; and

in response to receiving the broadcast message, broadcasting via the communications interface the broadcast message to an electronic device associated with the receiver.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiver converts energy from the radio frequency waves into usable power for charging an electronic device, and the receiver is not integral to the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiver is communicatively coupled to a power receiver application that is executing at the electronic device, and the power receiver application is configured to receive instructions from the at least one power transmitter manager application.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic device is in communication with a graphical user interface that is used by the power receiver application to provide an additional user of the electronic device control over at least one task performed by the at least one power transmitter manager application.

23. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one transmitter is part of a wireless power network that includes an additional transmitter distinct from the at least one transmitter, and

the at least one power transmitter manager application is also configured to send the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options to the additional transmitter.

24. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one transmitter is part of a wireless power network, and the authenticated computing device is authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power through the wireless power network.