WIRELESS POWER DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20160268843A1
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,277,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A wireless power distribution and control system may be used to supply power wirelessly to various devices. The devices in the system may have control over the system and/or over certain features of other devices. For example, a smartphone charging in the wireless power distribution and control system may have access to and control over other devices in the system, such as the overhead lights, or a projector in a conference room. The identification of other devices, as well as commands for controlling these devices may be communicated over the wireless power link. The type and degree of control of each device in that system may vary based on access control levels for the power supplies and connected devices. The devices that receive power may be configured to automatically connect with the power distribution system and to monitor the other devices connected to the system.

Claims

1. A wireless power distribution system comprising:

a wireless power supply configured to provide power;

one or more remote devices that receive power wirelessly from the wireless power supply; and

one or more wireless power links between the wireless power supply and the one or more remote devices for the wireless power transmission, wherein the wireless power links provide for communication of information over the wireless power distribution system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the information that is communicated is encoded based on load modulation of the wireless power links.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the load modulation comprises rail voltage modulation or frequency-shift keying modulation.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the information that is communicated comprises a listing of other devices in the system or connected to the wireless power supply.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the remote devices is coupled with the wireless power supply through a different one of the wireless power links.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the remote devices can communicate the information between one another through the wireless power links with the wireless remote power supply.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller device that is configured to wirelessly receive power from the wireless power supply, wherein the information comprises information about the remote devices that is transmitted over one of the wireless power links.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller device is further configured to receive the information when not wirelessly receiving power from the wireless power supply.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the information comprises control commands that allow the controller device to control the remote devices.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the controller device can control the remote devices without wirelessly receiving power from the wireless power supply.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the information comprises access codes, wherein the access codes are required before the controller device can control the remote devices.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the information comprises access codes for accessing features, such as a wireless network for enabling communication.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the information comprises identification information for the wireless power supply or the one or more remote devices.

14. A method for communicating in a wireless power network comprising:

providing, by a wireless power supply, wireless power to one or more devices when in proximity of a wireless power supply;

establishing a power channel for each of the devices from the wireless power supply;

providing power wirelessly to each of the devices from the wireless power supply through the respective power channel; and

facilitating communication of information between the wireless power supply and each of the devices through the respective power channel.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the communication of the information is through load modulation of wireless power transmission or through frequency-shift keying modulation.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving communications between the devices at the wireless power supply; and

transmitting the communications between the devices.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the information that is communicated comprises a listing of devices in the network or the devices connected to the wireless power supply.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving, at each of the devices, an identification of a wireless power supply when that device is within a proximity of the wireless power supply;

authorizing, by the device proximate the wireless power supply, a wireless transfer of power from the wireless power supply, wherein the authorizing utilizes the identification;

communicating information from the wireless power supply to the device proximate the wireless power supply upon the authorization for the wireless power transfer; and

receiving, from an external controller device, control commands that control the device proximate the wireless power supply and other of the devices.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the external controller device is located externally from the wireless power supply and the device and the other remote devices, further wherein the controller device is configured to provide the control commands for the other remote devices from the external location.

20. In a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for establishing communication in a wireless power distribution network, the storage medium comprising instructions operative for:

identifying a device to be charged by a wireless power supply;

receiving identification from the device;

providing wireless charge based on the identification thorough a power control channel; and

establishing a communications link between the device and the wireless power supply through the power control channel.