REMOTE CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20140375261A1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humavox Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Humavox Ltd.
• Inventors: Manova-Elssibony, Asaf, Galan, Oded
• Granted Patent: US 9,711,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• 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 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• 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: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A charging device (200) is provided for communicating with one or more consumer devices (300) for remotely charging at least one of them upon demand of the consumer. The charging device (200) comprises a transmitter unit associated with an antenna unit comprising a power antenna configured to define at least one charging zone for transmitting charging power to the at least one charging zone; a receiver for receiving signals from consumers (300) located within the charging zone; and a controller unit. The controller is configured and operable to be responsive to a request signal from a consumer (300) indicative of demand for charging, to initiate a charging process of the consumer by radiation from the power antenna toward said consumer (300) to supply power required for operating a functional unit of said consumer (300). The power antenna may comprise an array of directional antenna elements, each defining the charging zone within a different angular segment of entire charging space defined by a radiation pattern of the antenna array.

Claims

1. A charging device configured and operable for communicating with one or more consumers for remotely charging at least one consumer upon demand of said consumer, said charging device comprising a transmitter unit associated with an antenna unit comprising a power antenna configured to define at least one charging zone for transmitting charging power to said at least one charging zone, a receiver for receiving signals from consumers located within said charging zone, and a controller unit, said controller being configured and operable to be responsive to a request signal from a consumer indicative of demand for charging to initiate a charging process of the consumer by radiation from the antenna unit toward said consumer to supply power required for operating a functional unit of said consumer;

and wherein said controller is configured and operable for identifying a position of the consumer from the received request signal.

3. A charging device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured and operable in one of the following modes:

a push mode to initiate transmission of inquiring signals from a transmitter to the charging zone to cause the consumer to transmit the request signal indicative of the demand for charging and a pool mode to be activated by communication initiated by the consumer.

6. A charging device according to claim 1, wherein said power antenna comprises an array of directional antenna elements, each antenna element defining the charging zone within a different angular segment of entire charging space defined by a radiation pattern of the antenna array.

7. A charging device according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured and operable for identifying the position of the consumer by identifying its distance and its relative angle from the receiver and/or identifying a change in the position of the consumer during a charging process to optimize its charging in a new position.

8. A charging device according to claim 1, configured and operable for charging more than one consumer simultaneously, each consumer located at different location and distance from said charging device, wherein upon demand for charging said charging device starts the charging process from the most relevant high directlivity antenna/s of said antenna array.

10. A charging device according to claim 1, wherein further comprising:

a power supply operable by the controller to provide power to said transmitter unit and to said receiver; and

said transmitter unit comprises a data receiver/transmitter adapted to receive data and transmit data from and to said at least one consumer via the antenna unit.

12. A charging device according to claim 10, further comprising a user interface wherein said user interface is adapted to carry out at least one of the following:

indicating about a charging status of the consumer;

enabling to activate manual charging of each consumer separately;

resetting the charging device;

determining preferred functions and parameters of a charging process; and

calibrating the charging device according to the specific consumer to be charged and specific needs and preferences.

14. A consumer device configured and operable for communicating with a charging device of claim 1, the consumer device comprising a functional unit requiring electric power for operation, and a communication unit comprising a consumer controller, an antenna unit for receiving electromagnetic radiation from surroundings and generating electric output, and a harvester circuit configured for receiving the electric output of the antenna unit and transferring corresponding power to an energy storage unit associated with said functional unit, the consumer controller being configured and operable for generating a request signal addressed to the remote charging device indicative of a demand for charging said energy storage unit.

15. A consumer device according to claim 14, wherein the consumer controller is configured and operable to carry out at least one of the following:

for monitoring stored energy level in the energy storage unit, and, upon identifying a limited energy condition, generating said request signal to a remote charging device;

for periodically generating the request signal to a remote charging device, in accordance with a priory known energy consumption of the energy storage unit based on the operation of the functional unit; and

to be responsive to inquiring signals from a remote charging device to monitor stored energy level in the energy storage unit, and, upon identifying a limited energy condition, generating said request signal to the remote charging device.

18. A consumer device according to claim 14, further comprising a data unit comprising a data transceiver and a data antenna adapted to transmit and receive data toward and from the charging device.

19. A consumer device according to claim 14, wherein said functional unit comprises one of the following:

a remote control, a medical device, an imager, a mobile phone, a media player, a personal computer wireless accessory, and a home use wireless device.

20. A consumer device according to claim 19, wherein said remote control comprises one of the following:

a television remote control;

an air condition remote control, a DVD player remote control, a smart home general remote control, an electric shutter remote control;

said medical device comprises one of the following;

a hearing aid, a cardiac pacemaker, a cardiac defibrillator;

said personal computer wireless accessory comprises one of the following;

a computer mouse, a computer keyboard, wireless loudspeakers, wireless headphones; and

said home use wireless device comprises one of the following;

a wireless electric shaver, a wireless electric tooth brush, and a wireless electric hair removal.

27. A charging system according to claim 19, wherein said controller of the charging device is configured and operable for identifying a change in the position of the consumer during a charging process to optimize its charging in a new position.

28. A charging system according to claim 19, wherein the controller of the charging device has at least one of the following configurations:

(i) is configured and operable in a push mode to initiate transmission of inquiring signals from a transmitter to the charging zone to cause the consumer to transmit the request signal indicative of the demand for charging; and

(ii) controller is configured and operable in a pool mode to be activated by communication initiated by the consumer.

29. A charging system according to claim 19, wherein said power antenna of the charging device comprises an array of directional antenna elements, each antenna element defining the charging zone within a different angular segment of entire charging space defined by a radiation pattern of the antenna array.

30. A charging system according to claim 19, configured and operable for charging more than one consumer simultaneously.

31. A consumer system according to claim 19, wherein the consumer controller has one of the following configurations:

(a) is configured and operable for monitoring stored energy level in the energy storage unit, and, upon identifying a limited energy condition, generating said request signal to a remote charging device;

(b) is configured and operable for periodically generating the request signal to a remote charging device, in accordance with a priory known energy consumption of the energy storage unit based on the operation of the functional unit;

(c) is configured and operable to be responsive to inquiring signals from a remote charging device to monitor stored energy level in the energy storage unit, and, upon identifying a limited energy condition, generating said request signal to the remote charging device.

32. A consumer system according to claim 19, further comprising a data unit comprising a data transceiver and a data antenna adapted to transmit and receive data toward and from the charging device.

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24. A charging system for remotely charging multiple consumer devices upon demand from the consumer devices, the system comprising:

at least one charging device comprising a transmitter unit associated with an antenna unit comprising a power antenna configured to define at least one charging zone for transmitting charging power to said at least one charging zone, a receiver for receiving signals from consumers located within said charging zone, and a controller unit, said controller being configured and operable to be responsive to a request signal from a consumer indicative of demand for charging to initiate a charging process of the consumer by radiation from the antenna unit toward said consumer to supply power required for operating a functional unit of said consumer; and

at least one consumer device being a subscriber of said at least one charging device, the consumer device comprising a functional unit requiring electric power for operation, and a communication unit comprising a controller unit, an antenna unit for receiving electromagnetic radiation from surroundings and generating electric output, and a harvester circuit configured for receiving the electric output of the antenna unit and transferring corresponding power to an energy storage unit associated with said functional unit, the controller unit being configured and operable for generating the request signal addressed to said at least one remote charging device indicative of a demand for charging said energy storage unit, and for identifying a position of the consumer from the received request signal by identifying its distance and its relative angle from the receiver.

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