Systems and methods for wirelessly delivering power to electronic devices in response to commands received at a wireless power transmitter

• US 10,498,144 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2017
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Rossoshek, Helen
• Application Number:
  US15/729,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20180159338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• 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 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation

Abstract

The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits power transmission signals. An example method of transmitting power includes: (i) in response to an input being received at a button in communication with a transmitter and before receiving any signals from a receiving electronic device identifying a location of the receiving electronic device, transmitting, by the transmitter, a first plurality of power transmission waves within a first distance of the transmitter; (ii) ceasing to transmit the first plurality of power transmission waves, and (iii) transmitting, by the transmitter, a second plurality of power transmission waves within a second distance of the transmitter that differs from the first distance, the second distance corresponding to the location of the receiving electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly delivering power to an electronic device, the method comprising:

in response to an input being received at a button in communication with a transmitter and before receiving any signals identifying a location of a receiving electronic device, transmitting, by the transmitter, without identifying the location of the electronic device, a first plurality of RF power transmission waves that converges at a first distance away from the transmitter;

ceasing to transmit the first plurality of RF power transmission waves when the electronic device has received a sufficient amount of power to communicate with the transmitter; and

transmitting, by the transmitter, a second plurality of RF power transmission waves that converges at a second distance away from the transmitter that differs from the first distance, the second distance corresponding to the location of the receiving electronic device,

wherein the receiving electronic device is configured to convert energy from the first and second pluralities of RF power transmission waves into usable power that powers the receiving electronic device or charges a battery of the receiving electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the method further comprises, receiving, by the transmitter, a signal from the receiving electronic device identifying the location of the receiving electronic device; and

the ceasing to transmit the first plurality of RF power transmission waves and the transmitting the second plurality of RF power transmission waves are both performed after receiving the signal from the receiving electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the button is part of an electronic tracer device that is distinct from the transmitter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic tracer device is also distinct from the receiving electronic device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the electronic tracer device;

(i) designates a first location corresponding to the first distance when the input is received; and

(ii) sends information identifying the first location corresponding to the first distance to the transmitter after the input is received; and

the method further comprises;

receiving, by the transmitter, the information identifying the first location corresponding to the first distance from the electronic tracer device; and

the transmitting the first plurality of RF power transmission waves is performed in response to receiving the first location from the electronic tracer device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the input is a first input; and

the ceasing to transmit the first plurality of RF power transmission waves and the transmitting the second plurality of RF power transmission waves are both performed after a second input is received at the button in communication with the transmitter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first plurality of RF power transmission waves is selected from the group consisting of;

microwaves, radio frequency waves, and sound waves; and

the second plurality of RF power transmission waves is selected from the group consisting of;

microwaves, radio frequency waves, and sound waves.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each RF power transmission wave of the first plurality of RF power transmission waves constructively interferes with at least one other RF power transmission wave of the first plurality of RF power transmission waves at the first distance from the transmitter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

each RF power transmission wave of the second plurality of RF power transmission waves constructively interferes with at least one other RF power transmission wave of the second plurality of RF power transmission waves at the second distance from the transmitter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the button is part of the transmitter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the input is a first input; and

the ceasing to transmit the first plurality of RF power transmission waves and the transmitting the second plurality of RF power transmission waves are both performed after a second input is received at the button.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the receiving electronic device is a wireless charging mat; and

the wireless charging mat provides wireless power to a smart device placed on top of the wireless charging mat.

15. A transmitter for wirelessly delivering power to an electronic device, the transmitter comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions, the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the transmitter to;

transmit, in response to an input being received at a button in communication with the transmitter and before receiving any signals identifying a location of a receiving electronic device and without identifying the location of the electronic device, a first plurality of RF power transmission waves that converges at a first distance away from the transmitter;

cease to transmit the first plurality of RF power transmission waves when the electronic device has received a sufficient amount of power to communicate with the transmitter; and

transmit a second plurality of RF power transmission waves that converges at a second distance away from the transmitter that differs from the first distance, the second distance corresponding to the location of the receiving electronic device,

wherein the receiving electronic device is configured to convert energy from the first and second pluralities of RF power transmission waves into usable power that powers the receiving electronic device or charges a battery of the receiving electronic device.

16. The transmitter of claim 15, wherein:

the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the transmitter to receive a signal from the receiving electronic device identifying the location of the receiving electronic device; and

the ceasing to transmit the first plurality of RF power transmission waves and the transmitting the second plurality of RF power transmission waves are both performed after receiving the signal from the receiving electronic device.

17. The transmitter of claim 15, wherein the button is part of an electronic tracer device that is distinct from the transmitter.

18. The transmitter of claim 17, wherein:

the electronic tracer device;

(i) designates a first location corresponding to the first distance when the input is received; and

(ii) sends information identifying the first location corresponding to the first distance to the transmitter after the input is received;

the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the transmitter to receive the information identifying the first location corresponding to the first distance from the electronic tracer device; and

the transmitting the first plurality of RF power transmission waves is performed in response to receiving the first location from the electronic tracer device.

19. The transmitter of claim 18, wherein:

the input is a first input; and

the ceasing to transmit the first plurality of RF power transmission waves and the transmitting the second plurality of RF power transmission waves are both performed after a second input is received at the button in communication with the transmitter.

20. The transmitter of claim 15, wherein:

the button is part of the transmitter;

the input is a first input; and

the ceasing to transmit the first plurality of RF power transmission waves and the transmitting the second plurality of RF power transmission waves are both performed after a second input is received at the button.