WIRELESS CHARGING WITH MULTIPLE POWER RECEIVING FACILITIES ON A WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20160301259A1
• Filed: 04/08/2016
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ossia, Inc.
• Inventors: Zeine, Hatem, Alfarra, Anas, Mayes, Dale, El-Rukby, Fady, Mahmoud, Samy, Springer, John B., Renneberg, Benjamin Todd, Shylendra, Prithvi, Johnson, Anthony L., Williams, Douglas Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 9,620,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency 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 50/80 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 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

The disclosed system utilizes multiple wireless power receivers (antennas and or paths) for receiving power. The disclosed system includes a chip, such as an application specific chip (ASICs) connectable to multiple antennas and units to convert radio frequency (RF) power into direct current (DC) power. The disclosed system can also include antennas that are used to receiving power, communicate, and send a beacon signal. The disclosed system also comprises a mobile electronic device to receive wireless power using multiple antennas connected or coupled to multiple wireless power receivers.

Claims

1. At least one integrated circuit configured to receive wireless power from multiple antennas over radio-frequency transmissions, wherein the multiple antennas are coupled to a transmitter, the integrated circuit comprising:

multiple antennas ports configured to receive wireless power from two or more antennas, and configured to transmit a beacon signal to the transmitter;

a detection unit for each of the multiple antenna ports and configured to detect received wireless power;

a rectifying unit for each of the multiple antenna ports and configured to convert received wireless power in radio frequency (RF) to direct current (DC) power, and to output the DC power to an external device;

a communication unit configured to filter data from the received wireless power;

a beacon signal unit configured to transmit the beacon signal to the transmitter to thereby permit the transmitter to determine an identity and location of the integrated circuit; and

a control unit configured to switch the integrated circuit between filtering data, rectifying RF power, and transmitting a beacon signal.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

additional multiple antenna ports coupled to additional multiple antennas, wherein the two or more antennas are spaced apart from the additional multiple antennas, all of which are configured to receive wireless power; and

an additional detection unit for each of the additional multiple antennas and configured to detect received wireless power; and

an additional rectifying unit for each of the additional multiple antennas and configured to convert received wireless power in radio frequency (RF) to direct current (DC).

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the detection unit is coupled to a central processing unit and wherein the central processing unit receives detected power level information from the detection unit and analyzes the information to determine which of the two or more antennas are receiving power.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising a ZigBee, IEEE 802.11 or Bluetooth communications chip coupled to the communication unit.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising a smart phone, laptop computer, tablet computer, display device or game controller into which the integrated circuit is incorporated.

6. A system for receiving wireless power comprising:

at least two receiving units spaced apart from each other and carried by a portable device, wherein each of the receiving units comprises;

at least one antenna, wherein the at least one antenna receives an RF power signal;

at least one RF-DC converter, coupled to the at least one antenna, and configured to receive the RF power signals and convert the RF power signals to DC power;

a power management circuit for regulating the DC power; and

a battery for receiving and storing the DC power.

7. The system for receiving wireless power of claim 6, wherein the component for regulation the DC power is maximum power point tracking (MMPT).

8. The system for receiving wireless power of claim 6, wherein the RF-DC converter includes at least one rectifier.

9. The system for receiving wireless power of claim 6, wherein each of the receiving units further comprises at least one maximum power tracking loop unit coupled to the power management unit and configured to regulate power received by the at least one antenna.

10. A system for providing wireless power to a device, the system comprising:

at least two inputs respectively coupled to at least two antennas, wherein the at least two antennas receive, and provide to the at least two inputs, radio frequency (RF) power;

means, coupled to the at least two inputs, for converting the received RF signals into DC power; and

means for storing the DC power for use by the device.

11. The system of claim 10, the system further comprising:

means for controlling or managing the DC power.

12. The system of claim 10, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting a beacon signal to a wireless power transmitter.

13. A method for providing wireless power to a device, the method comprising:

receiving concurrently, at multiple antennas, radio frequency (RF) power transmitted from a wireless power transmitter,

wherein the wireless power transmitter has numerous power transmitting antennas that each transmit an RF power signal;

converting the received RF power from at least two of the multiple antennas to DC power; and

providing the DC power to the device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting to the transmitter a beacon signal, wherein the transmitter can determine a location of the device based on the beacon signal.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

concurrently transmitting the beacon signal and receiving RF power.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein providing DC power to the device further comprises:

sending the DC power to power management integrated circuit within the device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein providing DC power to the device further comprises:

sending the DC power to the battery within the device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein providing DC power to the device further comprises:

sending the DC power to different components of the device.

19. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

sensing an amount of power received at one of the multiple antennas, determining that an antennas is receiving a low amount of RF, and switching that antenna off.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

communicating with a transmitter using ZigBee, IEEE 802.11 or Bluetooth communications.