ULTRASONIC UNIVERSAL WIRELESS CHARGING

• US 20150091498A1
• Filed: 10/01/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Abdelmoneum, Mohamed A., Gwin, Paul J., Mahameed, Rashed, Sprenger, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,620,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

Methods and systems may provide for detecting a location of an adjacent ultrasonic receiver of a battery powered device relative to a charging surface of a contactless charger. The charging surface may include an ultrasonic array of transmitter sub arrays, wherein one or more of the transmitter sub arrays may be selectively activated based on the location to focus an ultrasonic beam on the adjacent ultrasonic receiver. In one example, a movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver may be detected and the focus of the ultrasonic beam is adjusted in response to the movement.

Claims

1. A contactless charger comprising:

a charging surface including an array of transmitter sub arrays, each transmitter sub array having a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters; and

logic to;

detect a location of an adjacent ultrasonic receiver of a battery powered device relative to the charging surface, and

selectively activate one or more of the transmitter sub arrays based on the location to focus an ultrasonic beam on the adjacent ultrasonic receiver.

2. The contactless charger of claim 1, wherein the logic is to:

detect a movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver, and

adjust the focus of the ultrasonic beam in response to the movement.

3. The contactless charger of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the logic is to:

receive one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers,

use the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers to identify a differential in beam reflection energy with respect to a beam reflector positioned at a perimeter of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver, and

determine a three-dimensional characteristic of the movement based on the differential.

4. The contactless charger of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and an ultrasonic ranger, and the logic is to:

receive one or more signals from the light detectors,

receive one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers, and

determine a three-dimensional characteristic of the movement based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers.

5. The contactless charger of claim 2, wherein the logic is to:

detect an out of range condition associated with the movement, and

discontinue the ultrasonic beam in response to the out of range condition.

6. The contactless charger of claim 5, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the logic is to:

use the transmitter sub arrays to send a known wave pulse to the adjacent ultrasonic receiver,

receive one or more signals from the light detectors, and

receive one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers, wherein the out of range condition is detected based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers.

7. The contactless charger of claim 1, wherein the charging surface further includes a light sensor, the logic to:

detect a charge light of the battery powered device,

determine a charge level of the battery powered device based on a status of the charge light, and

adjust a power of the ultrasonic beam based on the charge state of the battery powered device.

8. A battery powered device comprising:

an ultrasonic receiver;

a beam reflector positioned at a perimeter of the ultrasonic receiver; and

a charge circuit to transfer a charge signal from the ultrasonic receiver to a battery.

9. The battery powered device of claim 8, further including a housing, wherein the beam reflector is coupled to an external surface of the housing.

10. The battery powered device of claim 9, further including a charge light disposed on the external surface of the housing.

11. A method of operating a contactless charger, comprising:

detecting a location of an adjacent ultrasonic receiver of a battery powered device relative to a charging surface of the contactless charger, the charging surface including an ultrasonic array of transmitter sub arrays; and

selectively activating one or more of the transmitter sub arrays based on the location to focus an ultrasonic beam on the adjacent ultrasonic receiver.

12. The method of claim 11, further including:

detecting a movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver; and

adjusting the focus of the ultrasonic beam in response to the movement.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the method further includes:

receiving one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers;

using the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers to identify a differential in beam reflection energy with respect to a beam reflector positioned at a perimeter of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver; and

determining a three-dimensional characteristic of the movement based on the differential.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and an ultrasonic ranger, and the method further includes:

receiving one or more signals from the light detectors;

receiving one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers; and

determining a three-dimensional characteristic of the movement based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers.

15. The method of claim 12, further including:

detecting an out of range condition associated with the movement; and

discontinuing the ultrasonic beam in response to the out of range condition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the method further includes:

using the transmitter sub arrays to send a known wave pulse to the adjacent ultrasonic receiver;

receiving one or more signals from the light detectors; and

receiving one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers, wherein the out of range condition is detected based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the charging surface further includes a light sensor, the method further including:

detecting a charge light of the battery powered device;

determining a charge level of the battery powered device based on a status of the charge light; and

adjusting a power of the ultrasonic beam based on the charge state of the battery powered device.

18. At least one computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions which, if executed by a contactless charger, cause the contactless charger to:

detect a location of an adjacent ultrasonic receiver of a battery powered device relative to a charging surface of the contactless charger, the charging surface to include an ultrasonic array of transmitter sub arrays; and

selectively activate one or more of the transmitter sub arrays based on the location to focus an ultrasonic beam on the adjacent ultrasonic receiver.

19. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

detect a movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver; and

adjust the focus of the ultrasonic beam in response to the movement.

20. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

receive one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers;

use the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers to identify a differential in beam reflection energy with respect to a beam reflector positioned at a perimeter of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver; and

determine a three-dimensional characteristic of the movement based on the differential.

21. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and an ultrasonic ranger, and the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

receive one or more signals from the light detectors;

receive one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers; and

determine a three-dimensional characteristic of the movement based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the ultrasonic rangers.

22. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

detect an out of range condition associated with the movement; and

discontinue the ultrasonic beam in response to the out of range condition.

23. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein a plurality of the transmitter sub arrays have a light detector and a corresponding ultrasonic receiver and the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

use the transmitter sub arrays to send a known wave pulse to the adjacent ultrasonic receiver;

receive one or more signals from the light detectors; and

receive one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers, wherein the out of range condition is detected based on the one or more signals from the light detectors and the one or more signals from the corresponding ultrasonic receivers.

24. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the charging surface further includes a light sensor and the instructions, if executed, cause the contactless charger to:

detect a charge light of the battery powered device;

determine a charge level of the battery powered device based on a status of the charge light; and

adjust a power of the ultrasonic beam based on the charge state of the battery powered device.