Systems and methods for wireless charging using a cordless transceiver

• US 10,305,315 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Siek, Vuthe
• Application Number:
  US15/806,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20180159355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for an improved wireless charging transceiver pad. An example method includes: (i) receiving, by a cordless transceiver, a first plurality of power waves transmitted from a wireless power transmitter that is distinct from the cordless transceiver; (ii) charging at least partially, using energy received by the cordless transceiver from the first plurality of power waves, a first battery of the cordless transceiver; and (iii) transmitting, by the cordless transceiver using the first battery, a second plurality of power waves to a receiver, where the receiver is configured to convert energy from the second plurality of power waves to charge a second battery of an electronic device that is coupled with the receiver. The cordless transceiver is distinct from the receiver and the electronic device, and the first plurality of power waves is distinct from the second plurality of power waves.

Claims

1. A method for wireless charging, the method comprising:

receiving, by a cordless transceiver, a first plurality of power waves transmitted from a wireless power transmitter that is distinct from the cordless transceiver;

charging at least partially, using energy received by the cordless transceiver from the first plurality of power waves, a first battery of the cordless transceiver; and

transmitting, by the cordless transceiver using the at least partially charged first battery, a second plurality of power waves to a receiver that is in contact with the cordless transceiver,

wherein;

the receiver converts energy from the second plurality of power waves to charge a second battery of an electronic device that is coupled with the receiver;

the cordless transceiver is distinct from the receiver and the electronic device; and

the first plurality of power waves is distinct from the second plurality of power waves.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the cordless transceiver comprises at least one receiving antenna; and

receiving the first plurality of power waves from the wireless power transmitter is performed by the at least one receiving antenna.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cordless transceiver transmits the second plurality of power waves while receiving energy from the first plurality of power waves.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising converting, by at least one rectifier and at least one power converter of the cordless transceiver, the first plurality of power waves transmitted by the wireless power transmitter into the energy for charging the first battery.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the cordless transceiver comprises at least one transmitting antenna; and

transmitting the second plurality of power waves to the receiver is performed by the at least one transmitting antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the cordless transceiver comprises at least two transmitting antennas; and

transmitting the second plurality of power waves to the receiver is performed by the at least two transmitting antennas.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the at least two transmitting antennas comprise a first transmitting antenna and a second transmitting antenna;

the first transmitting antenna is configured to transmit one or more first power waves of the second plurality of power waves;

the second transmitting antenna is configured to transmit one or more second power waves of the second plurality of power waves; and

at least some of the one or more first power waves transmitted by the first transmitting antenna constructively interfere with at least some of the one or more second power waves transmitted by the second transmitting antenna at the receiver.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the method further comprises, by the cordless transceiver, transmitting data indicating the location of the cordless transceiver to the wireless power transmitter; and

the wireless power transmitter transmits the first plurality of power waves to the cordless transceiver upon determining, using the data indicating the location of the cordless transceiver, that the cordless transceiver is within a transmission field.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second plurality of power waves are radio frequency (RF) waves.

10. A cordless transceiver comprising:

at least one receiving antenna configured to receive energy from a first plurality of power waves transmitted by a wireless power transmitter;

a first battery configured to be at least partially charged using the energy received from the first plurality of power waves; and

at least one transmitting antenna configured to transmit, using the at least partially charged first battery, a second plurality of power waves to a receiver that is in contact with the cordless transceiver,

wherein;

the receiver is configured to convert energy from the second plurality of power waves to charge a second battery of an electronic device that is coupled with the receiver;

the cordless transceiver is distinct from the receiver and the electronic device; and

the first plurality of power waves is distinct from the second plurality of power waves.

11. The cordless transceiver of claim 10, wherein the cordless transceiver is configured to transmit the second plurality of power waves while receiving energy from the first plurality of power waves.

12. The cordless transceiver of claim 10, further comprising at least one rectifier and at least one power converter configured to convert the first plurality of power waves transmitted by the wireless power transmitter into the energy for charging the first battery.

13. The cordless transceiver of claim 10, further comprising at least two transmitting antennas configured to transmit, using the at least partially charged first battery, the second plurality of power waves to the receiver.

14. The cordless transceiver of claim 13, wherein:

the at least two transmitting antennas comprise a first transmitting antenna and a second transmitting antenna;

the first transmitting antenna is configured to transmit one or more first power waves of the second plurality of power waves;

the second transmitting antenna is configured to transmit one or more second power waves of the second plurality of power waves; and

at least some of the one or more first power waves transmitted by the first transmitting antenna constructively interfere with at least some of the one or more second power waves transmitted by the second transmitting antenna at the receiver.

15. The cordless transceiver of claim 10, wherein:

the cordless transceiver is further configured to transmit, to the wireless power transmitter, data indicating the location of the cordless transceiver; and

the wireless power transmitter transmits the first plurality of power waves to the cordless transceiver upon determining, using the data indicating the location of the cordless transceiver, that the cordless transceiver is within a transmission field.

16. The cordless transceiver of claim 10, wherein the first and second pluralities of power waves are radio frequency (RF) waves.

17. A system for wireless charging, the system comprising:

a wireless power transmitter configured to transmit a first plurality of power waves; and

a cordless transceiver, distinct from the wireless power transmitter, configured to;

receive energy from the first plurality of power waves;

charge at least partially, using the energy received by the cordless transceiver from the first plurality of power waves, a first battery of the cordless transceiver; and

transmit, using the at least partially charged first battery, a second plurality of power waves to a receiver that is in contact with the cordless transceiver,

wherein;

the receiver is configured to convert energy from the second plurality of power waves to charge a second battery of an electronic device that is coupled with the receiver;

the cordless transceiver is distinct from the receiver and the electronic device; and

the first plurality of power waves is distinct from the second plurality of power waves.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the cordless transceiver comprises at least one receiving antenna; and

receiving the first plurality of power waves from the wireless power transmitter is performed by the at least one receiving antenna.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the cordless transceiver is configured to transmit the second plurality of power waves while receiving energy from the first plurality of power waves.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the cordless transceiver further comprises at least one rectifier and at least one power converter configured to convert the first plurality of power waves transmitted by the wireless power transmitter into the energy for charging the first battery.