Wireless energy transfer in a far-field environment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An antenna system, comprising:
- a first type of metamaterial positioned on a first portion of an antenna element for shaping a beam of a power signal;
a second type of metamaterial positioned on a second portion of the antenna element for constraining the beam; and
a controller comprising an antenna actuator, a processor device, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor device for performing operations, the operations comprising;
obtaining position information about a mobile device;
obtaining motion and direction information associated with the mobile device, and height information associated with the mobile device;
determining a predicted position of the mobile device using the position information, the motion and direction information, and the height information; and
outputting a command to the antenna actuator to change a position of the antenna element based on the predicted position of the mobile device,wherein the position of the antenna element is controllable by the antenna actuator in response to the command, for wirelessly transmitting the beam for charging a power source associated with the mobile device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna system can be controlled to wirelessly transmit power to a mobile device in a far-field environment by using different types of metamaterials to shape and constrain the beam of power, controlling the antenna based on a predicted position of the mobile device, or both of these. The mobile device can use the power to charge a power source associated with the mobile device. The predicted position of the mobile device can be determined using position information, motion and direction information, and height information about the mobile device. The position of the antenna can be controlled so that the power is wirelessly transmitted to the mobile device in the Fresnel zone of the antenna.
24 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An antenna system, comprising:
-
a first type of metamaterial positioned on a first portion of an antenna element for shaping a beam of a power signal; a second type of metamaterial positioned on a second portion of the antenna element for constraining the beam; and a controller comprising an antenna actuator, a processor device, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor device for performing operations, the operations comprising; obtaining position information about a mobile device; obtaining motion and direction information associated with the mobile device, and height information associated with the mobile device; determining a predicted position of the mobile device using the position information, the motion and direction information, and the height information; and outputting a command to the antenna actuator to change a position of the antenna element based on the predicted position of the mobile device, wherein the position of the antenna element is controllable by the antenna actuator in response to the command, for wirelessly transmitting the beam for charging a power source associated with the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An antenna controller, comprising:
-
an antenna actuator; a processor device; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor device for performing operations, the operations comprising; receiving position information about a mobile device from a location system; receiving motion and direction information about the mobile device from an inertial navigation system associated with the mobile device; receiving height information about the mobile device from an inertial measurement unit associated with the mobile device; determining a predicted position of the mobile device using the position information, the motion and direction information, and the height information; and outputting a command to the antenna actuator to change a position of an antenna element based on the predicted position of the mobile device, wherein the antenna actuator is configured to control the position of the antenna element in response to receiving the command to wirelessly transmit a beam of a power signal for charging a power source associated with the mobile device, the antenna element having different types of metamaterials thereon for transmitting the beam. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method, comprising:
in response to receiving a request from a mobile device to wirelessly transmit a beam of a power signal to charge a power source associated with the mobile device; receiving position information about the mobile device from a location system; receiving motion and direction information about the mobile device from an inertial navigation system associated with the mobile device; receiving height information about the mobile device from an inertial measurement unit associated with the mobile device; determining, by an antenna controller, a predicted position of the mobile device using the position information, the motion and direction information, and the height information; controlling a position of an antenna element based on the predicted position; and wirelessly transmitting, by the antenna element having different types of metamaterials thereon, the beam to the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification