RF powered specialty lighting, motion, sound

• US 20080054729A1
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Original Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Inventors: Greene, Charles E., Harrist, Daniel W., McElhinny, Michael Thomas, Graham, David Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/149
• 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 50/402 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: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for wirelessly powering an item. A source is configured to send wireless power. A target is configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power. A component is connected to and configured to receive the useable power from the target. When the component receives the usable power, the component activates. Also disclosed is an assembly including a system for wirelessly powering a component and a structure for supporting the system and an item.

Claims

1. A system for wirelessly powering an item, comprising:

a source configured to send wireless power;

a target configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a usable power; and

a component connected to and configured to receive the usable power from the target, wherein when the component receives the usable power, the component activates and the active component can be sensed by a person.

2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the source includes a wireless power transmitter.

3. A system as described in claim 2 wherein the source includes a transmitting antenna.

4. A system as described in claim 3 wherein the source includes a wired power source.

5. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the target includes an RF power receiver.

6. A system as described in claim 5 wherein the receiver includes a power harvester.

7. A system as described in claim 6 wherein the harvester includes circuitry to convert RF power into DC power.

8. A system as described in claim 7 wherein the target includes a receiving antenna.

9. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the component includes a light.

10. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the component has movable parts.

11. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the component produces sound.

12. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the component produces a scent.

13. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the component includes a changeable surface.

14. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the target and the component are incorporated into the item.

15. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the item is an ornament.

16. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the item has a snowflake shape.

17. A system as described in claim 16 wherein the snowflake shape is configured to be supported by a surface.

18. A system as described in claim 17 wherein the surface is a window.

19. A system as described in claim 1 including one or more additional sources.

20. A system as described in claim 19 wherein the source and the one or more additional sources are connected.

21. A system as described in claim 20 wherein the source and the one or more additional sources are connected in series.

22. A system as described in claim 20 wherein the source and the one or more additional sources are connected in parallel.

23. A system as described in claim 1 including one or more additional targets.

24. A system as described in claim 23 wherein the target and the one or more additional targets are connected.

25. A system as described in claim 1 including one or more additional components.

26. A system as described in claim 25 wherein the component and the one or more additional components are connected.

27. A system as described in claim 1 including one or more controllers electrically connected to the system to control the system.

28. A system as described in claim 1 including one or more switches electrically connected to the system to aid with the control of the system.

29. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the source includes an attachment mechanism for attaching to a structure.

30. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the target includes an attachment mechanism for attaching to a structure.

31. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the component includes an attachment mechanism for attaching to a surface.

32. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the source operates on batteries.

33. A system as described in claim 2 wherein the wireless power transmitter pulses power wirelessly.

34. A system as described in claim 9 including a switch which controls the light.

35. A system as described in claim 34 wherein the light is an LED.

36. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the target includes a charge storage element which stores power to supply to the component.

37. A system as described in claim 36 including means for activating the component.

38. A system as described in claim 37 wherein the activating means includes a switch that passes or accepts power to the component.

39. A system as described in claim 38 wherein the activating means includes a voltage sensor such that when a predetermined voltage level is reached, the switch is activated to allow power to flow to the component.

40. A system as described in claim 38 wherein the activating means includes a timer to control activation of the switch.

41. A system as described in claim 38 wherein the activating means includes a button to control activation of the switch.

42. A system as described in claim 11 wherein the component includes a speaker.

43. A system as described in claim 42 wherein the component includes a driver to control the speaker.

44. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the item has an orb shape.

45. A system as described in claim 1 including a housing having a face, and the target is replaceable unit that fits in the face.

46. An ornament comprising:

a housing;

a receiving antenna in contact with a housing;

a wireless RF energy harvester disposed in the housing that receives wireless energy and converts it into DC; and

at least one LED disposed in the housing electrically connected to and powered by the harvester.

47. An ornament as described in claim 46 wherein the housing has a snowflake shape or an orb shape or a jack-o-lantern shape or a candy cane shape.

48. An ornament as described in claim 46 wherein the housing has a plurality of faces that are interchangeable on the housing, the faces being a snowflake shape, a orb shape or an jack-o-lantern shape or a candy cane shape.

49. An ornament as described in claim 47 wherein the housing has a face, and the receiving antenna and the harvester form a unit that has snaps which snap into the face.

50. A Christmas tree comprising:

a structure having a trunk and branches;

at least one ornament which are held by the structure, each ornament having a receiving antenna, a wireless RF power harvester connected to the receiving antenna which converts RF wireless energy into DC, and at least one LED electrically connected to and powered by the harvester; and

an RF transmitter which transmits wireless RF energy to the ornaments and in electrical communication with the ornaments.

51. A tree as described in claim 50 including an urn from which the structure extends.

52. An assembly comprising:

a system for wirelessly powering a component; and

a structure for supporting the system, wherein the system includes;

a source configured to send wireless power; and

a target electrically connected to the component and configured to receive the wireless power, to convert the wireless power to a useable power, and to activate the component using the useable power.

53. An item that is wirelessly powered comprising:

a target configured to receive wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power; and

a component connected to and configured to receive the useable power from the target, wherein when the component receives the usable power, the component activates and the active component can be sensed by a person.

54. A method for wirelessly powering an item comprising the steps of:

sending wireless power from a source;

receiving the wireless power at a target;

converting the wireless power to a useable power at the target;

receiving the useable power from the target at a component connected to the target; and

activating the component when the component receives the usable power, wherein the active component can be sensed by a person.

55. A structure comprising:

a base; and

an element extending from the base having a first portion through which at least one wireless power transmitter is attached to the element, and a second portion through which at least one target configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power is attached to the element.

56. A system for wirelessly power an item attached to a tree comprising:

a source configured to send wireless power; and

at least one target configured to receive the wireless power and convert the wireless power to a useable power wherein the at least one target is attached to the tree.