Power transmission system, apparatus and method with communication

• US 20070010295A1
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Powercast, Llc
• Original Assignee: Firefly Power Technologies LLC (Powercast Corporation)
• Inventors: Harrist, Daniel, Shearer, John, Greene, Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/481,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20070010295A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A power transmission system with communication having a base station having a wireless power transmitter a wireless data transmission component and a first wireless data reception component. The system includes a remote station having a power harvester for converting the power from the power transmitter into direct current and a power storage component in communication with the power harvester for storing the direct current. Alternatively, the system includes a base station having a wireless power transmitter which transmits power at a frequency at which any sidebands are at or below a desired level, and a first wireless data communication component. Alternatively, the system includes a base station having a wireless power transmitter with an antenna having a range of r≧2D²/λ, where r is the distance between the power transmitter and the remote device, D is the maximum dimension of either the power transmitter antenna or the remote device antenna, and λ is the wavelength of the power frequency; and a first wireless data communication component. A method for transmitting power with communication. An apparatus for power transmission with communication.

Claims

1. A power transmission system with communication comprising:

a base station having a wireless power transmitter which transmits power at a first frequency, and a first wireless data communication component which communicates at a second frequency different from the first frequency; and

a remote station having a power harvester for converting the power from the power transmitter into direct current and a power storage component in communication with the power harvester for storing the direct current.

2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the remote station includes a second wireless data communication component in communication with the power harvester for communicating wirelessly, and core device components in communication with the power harvester.

3. A system as described in claim 2 wherein the power transmitter includes a power source, a frequency generator connected to the power source and an RF amplifier connected to the power source and a power transmission antenna.

4. A system as described in claim 3 wherein the first data communication component includes a data transmission component and a data reception component.

5. A system as described in claim 4 wherein the power transmitter has a power transmission antenna, the data transmission component has the data transmission antenna and the data reception component has a data reception antenna.

6. A system as described in claim 4 wherein the power transmitter has the power transmission antenna and the data transmission component and the data reception component are connected to and share a data antenna.

7. A system as described in claim 5 wherein the data transmission component includes a power source, a processor and memory connected to the power source and a data transmitter connected to the data transmission antenna.

8. A system as described in claim 7 wherein the data reception component includes a power source, and processor and memory connected to the power source and a data receiver connected to the data reception antenna.

9. A system as described in claim 8 wherein the second wireless data communication component includes a data transceiver in communication with the power harvester for receiving wireless data and transmitting data wirelessly.

10. A system as described in claim 9 wherein the data transceiver and the power harvester are connected to and share a receiver antenna.

11. A system as described in claim 9 wherein the data transceiver has a data transceiver antenna and the power harvester has a power reception antenna.

12. A system as described in claim 9 wherein the transceiver has a data transmitter having a data transmission antenna and a data receiver having a data reception antenna, and the power harvester has a power reception antenna.

13. A power transmission apparatus with communication comprising:

a base station having a wireless power transmitter which transmits power at a frequency at which any sidebands are at or below a desired level, and a first wireless data communication component.

14. A power transmission apparatus with communication to a remote device having an antenna comprising:

a base station having a wireless power transmitter with an antenna having a range of r≧

2D²/λ

, where r is the distance between the power transmitter and the remote device, D is the maximum dimension of either the power transmitter antenna or the remote device antenna, and λ

is the wavelength of the power frequency; and

a first wireless data communication component.

15. A method for transmitting power with communication comprising the steps of:

transmitting power wirelessly from a power transmitter of a base station;

transmitting data wirelessly from a data transmission component of the base station concurrently with the transmission of power from the power transmitter;

converting the power from the power transmitter into direct current with a power harvester at a remote station; and

storing the DC current in a power storage component in communication with the power harvester.

16. A method as described in claim 15 wherein the power transmitting step includes the step of transmitting power wirelessly from the power transmitter at a first frequency, and the data transmitting step includes the step of transmitting data wirelessly from the data transmission component at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

17. A method for transmitting power with communication comprising the steps of:

transmitting power wirelessly from a power transmitter of a base station at a frequency at which any side bands are at or below a desired level; and

transmitting data wirelessly from a data transmission component of the base station concurrently with the transmission of power from the power transmitter.

18. A method as described in claim 17 including the step of receiving data wirelessly by a wireless data reception component of the base station.

19. A method as described in claim 18 including the step of converting the power from the power transmitter into direct current with a power harvester in a remote station.

20. A method as described in claim 19 including the step of storing the DC current in a power storage component in communication with the power harvester.

21. A method for transmitting power with communication to a remote device having a power harvester and an antenna comprising the steps of:

transmitting power wirelessly from a power transmitter of a base station having a wireless power transmitter with an antenna having a range of r≧

2D²/λ

, where r is the distance between the power transmitter and the remote device, D is the maximum dimension of either the power transmitter antenna with a remote device antenna, and λ

is the wavelength of the power frequency; and

transmitting data wirelessly from a data transmission component of the base station concurrently with the transmission of power from the power transmitter.

22. A method as described in claim 21 including the step of receiving data wirelessly by a wireless data reception component of the base station.

23. A power transmission system with communication comprising:

a base station having a wireless power transmitter;

a remote station having a power harvester for converting the power from the power transmitter into direct current and a power storage component in communication with the power harvester for storing the direct current, a second data communication component in communication with the power harvester communicating data wirelessly, and core device components in communication with the power harvester; and

at least one data station remote from the base station and the remote station, which communicates the data with the second data communication component.

24. A system as described in claim 23 wherein the data includes audio and video signals.

25. A system as described in claim 24 wherein the base station includes a wireless data transmission component.

26. A system as described in claim 25 wherein the base station includes a wireless data reception component.

27. A system as described in claim 23 wherein the remote station includes a wireless data reception component.

28. A system as described in claim 27 wherein the remote station includes a keyboard.

29. A system as described in claim 28 wherein the data station in communication with a computer.

30. A system as described in claim 23 wherein the remote station includes a sensor.

31. A method for power transmission system with communication comprising the steps of:

transmitting power wirelessly from a base station;

converting the power from the power transmitter into direct current with a power harvester of a remote station;

storing the direct current in a power storage component of the remote station in communication with the power harvester;

transmitting data wirelessly from the remote station in communication with the power harvester; and

receiving at a data station the data transmitted by the remote station, the data station remote from the base station and the remote station.

32. A power transmission system with communication comprising:

a base station having a wireless power transmitter, and a first wireless data communication component,

a remote station having a power harvester for converting the power from the power transmitter into direct current and a power storage component in communication with the power harvester for storing the direct current, the operation of the remote station independent of the operation of the base station.

33. A system as described in claim 32 wherein the remote station does not provide any feedback regarding its operation to the base station.

34. A method for transmitting power with communication comprising the steps of:

transmitting power wirelessly from a power transmitter of a base station;

transmitting data wirelessly from a first data transmission component of the base station concurrently with the transmission of power from the power transmitter;

converting the power from the power transmitter into direct current with a power harvester at a remote station independent of the operation of the base station; and

storing the DC current in a power storage component in communication with the power harvester.

35. A power transmission apparatus with communication comprising:

a base station having a wireless power transmitter which transmits power in pulses, and a first wireless data communication component.

36. An apparatus as described in claim 35 wherein the first data communication component transmits data between the pulses.

37. An apparatus as described in claim 35 wherein the first data communication component transmits data at a maximum baud rate.

38. An apparatus as described in claim 37 including a power transmission antenna in communication with the power transmitter through which the pulses are transmitted, and a data communication antenna in communication with the first data communication component through which the data is communicated.

39. A method for transmitting power with communication comprising the steps of:

transmitting power wirelessly in pulses from a power transmitter of a base station; and

communicating data wirelessly from a first data communication component of the base station.

40. A power transmission apparatus with communication comprising:

a base station having a wireless power transmitter which transmits power, and a wireless data transmission component, where the power transmitter and the data transmission component are each optimized for their specific purpose.

41. A method for transmitting power with communication comprising the steps of:

transmitting power wirelessly from a power transmitter of a base station;

transmitting data wirelessly from a data transmission component of the base station;

receiving the data wirelessly at a remote station;

converting the power from the power transmitter into direct current with a power harvester at the remote station;

storing the DC current in a power storage component in communication with the power harvester;

moving the remote station out of range of the power transmitter;

continuing to receive data wirelessly from the base station at the remote station while the remote station is out of range of the power transmitter; and

returning the remote station into range of the power transmitter.

42. A power transmission system with communication comprising:

means for wirelessly transmitting power and data; and

means for converting the power from the transmitting means into direct current and receiving the data remote from the transmitting means.