Systems, methods, and devices for utilizing a wire of a sound-producing device as an antenna for receipt of wirelessly delivered power

• US 10,848,853 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2017
• Issued: 11/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Hosseini, Alister
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Shawkat M
• Application Number:
  US15/631,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20180376235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 320108, 327517, 333 171, 375142, 375219, 375257, 375295, 375316
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/807 Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/14 Relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/008 using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

The wireless power receiver includes at least one wire of a sound-producing device. The at least one wire configured for both conveying sound signals or securing at least part of the sound-producing device to a user, and receiving power waves. The wireless power receiver also includes power harvesting circuitry coupled with the at least one wire and a power source of an electronic device, like a battery. The power harvesting circuitry is configured to isolate the received power waves from the conveyed sound signals, convert the received power waves to usable energy, and provide the usable energy to the power source of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver, comprising:

at least one wire that is coupled to and positioned between a speaker and power-harvesting circuitry of a sound-producing device, wherein the sound-producing device is configured to be coupled to an electronic device that provides audio data, and the at least one wire being configured to;

convey the audio data such that it passes through at least part of the power-harvesting circuitry and also passes through circuitry that generates sound signals based on the audio data, and the sound signals are conveyed by the at least one wire to the speaker; and

while conveying the sound signals to the speaker, receive power waves wirelessly transmitted to the sound-producing device by a wireless power transmitter; and

the power harvesting circuitry coupled with (i) the at least one wire and (ii) a power source of the sound-producing device, the power harvesting circuitry being configured to;

isolate the power waves;

convert the power waves that were received by the at least one wire and isolated by the power-harvesting circuitry to usable energy; and

provide the usable energy to the power source of the sound-producing device.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting circuitry is also configured to isolate the power waves that were received by the at least one wire from the conveyed sound signals.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one wire is an external wire of the sound-producing device.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one wire includes a conductive shield adapted to receive power waves; and

the power harvesting circuitry is configured to receive the power waves via the conductive shield.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the sound-producing device is a hearing aid.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the sound-producing device is coupled to the electronic device via a headphone jack.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 6, wherein the electronic device is selected from a group consisting of:

a mobile phone;

a tablet computer;

a laptop computer;

a handheld electronic device; and

a portable electronic device.

8. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting circuitry is configured to convert energy from two or more types of power waves.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting circuitry includes a rectifier and a power converter.

10. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting circuitry is a component of an integrated wireless power receiving circuit.

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, wherein the integrated wireless power receiving circuit includes a controller configured to manage power conversion by the integrated wireless power receiving circuit.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, wherein the integrated wireless power receiving circuit includes a matching circuit adapted to match a frequency for the at least one wire.

13. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, wherein the integrated wireless power receiving circuit is configured to isolate the power waves from other electrical signals travelling along the at least one wire.

14. A sound-producing device configured to receive wirelessly delivered power, comprising:

a speaker;

power-harvesting circuitry;

at least one wire coupled to and positioned between the speaker and the power-harvesting circuitry, wherein the sound-producing device is configured to be coupled to an electronic device that provides audio data, and the at least one wire being configured to;

convey the audio data such that it passes through at least part of the power-harvesting circuitry and also passes through circuitry that generates sound signals based on the audio data, and the sound signals are conveyed by the at least one wire to the speaker; and

while conveying the sound signals to the speaker, operate as an antenna to receive power waves wirelessly transmitted to the sound-producing device by a wireless power transmitter; and

a power source coupled to the power harvesting-circuitry and configured to provide power to the sound-producing device,

wherein the power harvesting circuitry is configured to;

isolate the power waves;

convert the power waves that were received by the at least one wire and isolated by the power-harvesting circuitry to usable electricity; and

provide the usable electricity to the power source.

15. The sound-producing device of claim 14, wherein the at least one wire is further configured to secure the sound-producing device to a user'"'"'s ear.

16. The sound-producing device of claim 14, wherein the power harvesting circuitry is configured to convert energy from two or more types of power waves.

17. The sound-producing device of claim 14, wherein the power harvesting circuitry includes a rectifier and a power converter.

18. The sound-producing device of claim 14, wherein the power waves are radio frequency signals that are transmitted so that they constructively interfere in proximity to the sound-producing device.

19. The sound-producing device of claim 14, wherein the power waves have a frequency of 915 megahertz (MHz), 2.4 gigahertz (GHz), or 5.8 GHz.

20. The sound-producing device of claim 14, wherein the power waves are received from a far-field power transmitter or a near-field power transmitter.

21. The sound-producing device of claim 14, wherein the at least one wire operates as a monopole antenna.

22. A method of harvesting wireless power, comprising:

a sound-producing device including;

(i) a speaker, (ii) power-harvesting circuitry, (iii) at least one wire coupled to and positioned between the speaker and the power-harvesting circuitry, and (iv) a power source coupled to the power harvesting circuitry, wherein the sound-producing device is configured to be coupled to an electronic device that provides audio data;

conveying, by the at least one wire, the audio data such that it passes through at least part of the power-harvesting circuitry and also passes through circuitry that generates sound signals to the speaker;

receiving, by the at least one wire, while conveying the sound signals to the speaker, power waves wirelessly transmitted to the sound-producing device by a wireless power transmitter;

isolating, by the power-harvesting circuitry, the power waves;

converting, by the power-harvesting circuitry, the power waves that were received by the at least one wire and isolated by the power-harvesting circuitry to usable electricity; and

providing, by the power-harvesting circuitry, the usable electricity to the power source, the power source being configured to provide power to the sound-producing device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one wire secures the sound-producing device to a user'"'"'s ear.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the power harvesting circuitry converts energy from two or more types of power waves.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the power waves are radio frequency signals that are transmitted so that they constructively interfere in proximity to the sound-producing device.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the power waves are received from a far-field power transmitter or a near-field power transmitter.