Wireless charging transmitters that use sensor data to adjust transmission of power waves

• US 10,523,058 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2018
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poos, John W
• Application Number:
  US16/115,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20190089203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 307105, 307107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings

Abstract

Disclosed herein are examples of wireless charging transmitters and methods. As one example, a wireless charging transmitter includes a sensor to detect the presence of a receiver device and/or a living being and the sensor generates data according to the presence detected. The wireless charging transmitter also includes an array of antennas configured to transmit power waves to the receiver device and a surface layer that is adjacent to the array of antennas. The transmitted power waves converge to form a constructive interference pattern at a non-zero distance from the surface layer. The non-zero distance being based on the sensor data. Further, the phases and amplitudes of the transmitted power waves are determined based, at least in part, on the sensor data.

Claims

1. A wireless charging transmitter comprising:

one or more sensors configured to;

detect a living being in proximity to the wireless charging transmitter; and

generate sensor data based on detecting the living being;

an array of antennas configured to transmit power waves to a receiver device; and

a surface layer that is adjacent to the array of antennas,

wherein;

the transmitted power waves converge to form a constructive interference pattern at a non-zero distance from the surface layer, the non-zero distance being based at least in part on the sensor data;

phases and amplitudes of the transmitted power waves are determined based, at least in part, on the sensor data; and

the wireless charging transmitter is further configured to lower a power level of the transmitted power waves in response to the one or more sensors detecting the living being.

2. The wireless charging transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the wireless charging transmitter is further configured to cease transmitting the power waves in response to the one or more sensors detecting the living being.

3. The wireless charging transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the wireless charging transmitter is further configured to create transmission nulls at a location of the living being.

4. The wireless charging transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising a communications component configured to receive operational data from the receiver device;

and

the phases and amplitudes of the transmitted power waves are also determined based at least in part on the operational data.

5. The wireless charging transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the wireless charging transmitter is configured to transmit the power waves to the receiver device upon the one or more sensors detecting the receiver device being placed on the surface layer.

6. The wireless charging transmitter according to claim 1, wherein when the receiver device is positioned on the surface layer:

the wireless charging transmitter is configured to select a subset of the antennas of the array for transmitting the power waves to the receiver device.

7. The wireless charging transmitter according to claim 6, wherein the subset of the antennas is directly below the receiver device.

8. The wireless charging transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a contact sensor, a thermal sensor, a static electricity sensor, and a motion sensor.

9. The wireless charging transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the power waves are radio frequency power waves.

10. A method of wirelessly transmitting power comprising:

at a wireless charging transmitter comprising one or more sensors, an array of antennas, and a surface layer that is adjacent to the array of antennas;

detecting, by the one or more sensors, a living being in proximity to the wireless charging transmitter;

generating, by the one or more sensors, sensor data based on the detecting of the living being;

determining phases and amplitudes for power waves to be transmitted by the array of antennas based at least in part on the sensor data;

transmitting, by the array of antennas, power waves to the receiver device, wherein the transmitted power waves (i) have the determined phases and amplitudes, and (ii) converge to form a constructive interference pattern at a non-zero distance from the surface layer, the non-zero distance being based at least in part on the sensor data; and

in response to the one or more sensors detecting the living being, lowering a power level of the transmitted power waves.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the living being, ceasing to transmit the power waves.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising creating, by the wireless transmitter, transmission nulls at a location of the living being.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the transmitter also includes a communications component, and

the method further comprises receiving, by the communications component, operational data from the receiver device, wherein the phases and amplitudes of the transmitted power waves are also based at least in part on the operational data.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting, by the wireless charging transmitter, the power waves to the receiver device upon the one or more sensors detecting the receiver device being placed on the surface layer.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to detecting the receiver device positioned on the surface layer:

selecting, by the wireless charging transmitter, a subset of the antennas of the array for transmitting the power waves to the receiver device that is positioned on the surface layer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the subset of the antennas is directly below the receiver device.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a contact sensor, a thermal sensor, a static electricity sensor, and a motion sensor.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the power waves are radio frequency power waves.

19. A system of wireless power transmission, the system comprising:

a wireless charging transmitter comprising;

one or more sensors configured to;

detect a living being in proximity to the wireless charging transmitter; and

generate sensor data based on detecting the living being;

an array of antennas configured to transmit power waves to a receiver device; and

a surface layer that is adjacent to the array of antennas; and

a controller that is in communication with the wireless power transmitter and is configured to;

determine phases and amplitudes for power waves to be transmitted by the array of antennas based at least in part on the sensor data; and

transmit, by the array of antennas, power waves to the receiver device, wherein the transmitted power waves (i) have the determined phases and amplitudes, and (ii) converge to form a constructive interference pattern at a non-zero distance from the surface layer, the non-zero distance being based at least in part on the sensor data; and

in response to the one or more sensors detecting the living being, lower a power level of the transmitted power waves.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to:

in response to detecting the receiver device positioned on the surface layer;

select, by the wireless charging transmitter, a subset of the antennas of the array for transmitting the power waves to the receiver device that is positioned on the surface layer.