Intelligent multi-mode wireless power transmitter system

• US 10,547,211 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2017
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PowerSphyr Inc.
• Original Assignee: PowerSphyr Inc.
• Inventors: Meng, David F., Wright, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Paul
• Application Number:
  US15/786,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20180109146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 343754, 343866, 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/12 Arrangements for reducing harmonics from ac input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A device including a processor configured to identify a power receiving device and to determine a range configuration relative to the power receiving device is provided. The device also includes a first antenna configured to emit a propagating radiation at a selected frequency and in a selected direction, and a first power transmitting circuit configured to provide a signal at the selected frequency to the first antenna when the processor identifies the power receiving device within a far field configuration from the device. The device also includes a plate, configured to couple a ground terminal of the first power transmitting circuit with the first antenna and including a planar surface and at least an extension angled in a direction of increased directivity of the propagating radiation. Methods for fabricating and using a device as above are also provided.

Claims

1. A device for wirelessly transferring charging or operating power to a load coupled to a power receiving device, comprising:

a processor configured to identify the power receiving device and to determine a range configuration relative to the power receiving device;

a first antenna comprising a dielectric surrounding a coiled conductor configured to emit a propagating radiation at a selected frequency and in a selected direction;

a first power transmitting circuit having a ground terminal and configured to provide a power signal at the selected frequency to the first antenna when the processor identifies the power receiving device within a far field configuration from the device; and

a plate configured to couple the ground terminal of the first power transmitting circuit with the first antenna and comprising a planar surface substantially parallel to the first antenna and at least an extension from the planar surface angled in a direction of the propagating radiation.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second antenna configured to generate an inductively coupled field at a second frequency to provide power to the power receiving unit when the processor identifies the power receiving device within a near field configuration from the device, wherein the second antenna comprises an inductive coil and receives the power from a second power transmitting circuit.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to indicate whether the device is operating in a first power transfer mode or in a second power transfer mode based on the range configuration determined by the processor.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a matching network switch coupled with the first power transmitting circuit and configured to provide multiple power signals at multiple frequencies within a selected bandwidth for the first antenna, wherein each of the multiple power signals is directed to a different power receiving unit.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the plate is a multilayer stack comprising two trace layers separated by a power plane, and a ground layer coupled with a ground terminal in the first power transmitting circuit.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna comprises a ceramic dielectric surrounding the coiled conductor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna comprises a planar inverted-F antenna laid on a plane perpendicular to the planar surface of the plate.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna comprises a monopole antenna including a conducting extension laid on a plane perpendicular to the planar surface of the plate.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the extension of the plate is angled in a direction of increased directivity in opposite directions.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the extension of the plate is angled in a direction of increased directivity in at least two propagating directions.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the extension of the plate is angled in a direction of increased directivity having a hemispherical breadth in a direction orthogonal to a plane of the first antenna.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the plate form a first antenna assembly, the first antenna assembly mounted on a rotational mount having a rotation axis in the planar surface of the plate, and wherein the rotational mount is configured to rotate about the rotation axis to rotate the first antenna assembly in a plane substantially orthogonal to the planar surface of the plate.