WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION WITH SELECTIVE RANGE

• US 20170170665A9
• Filed: 07/20/2015
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Brewer, Gregory Scott, Leabman, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,148,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a methodology for wireless power transmission based on pocket-forming. This methodology may include one transmitter and at least one or more receivers, being the transmitter the source of energy and the receiver the device that is desired to charge or power. The transmitter may identify and locate the device to which the receiver is connected and thereafter aim pockets of energy to the device in order to power it. Pockets of energy may be generated through constructive and destructive interferences, which may create null-spaces and spots of pockets of energy ranged into one or more radii from transmitter. Such feature may enable wireless power transmission through a selective range, which may limit operation area of electronic devices and/or may avoid formation of pockets of energy near and/or over certain areas, objects and people.

Claims

1. A method for wireless power transmission comprising:

generating, by a transmitter, radio frequency (RF) waves through an antenna connected to the transmitter;

defining, by the transmitter, a region of space to form a pocket of energy for charging or powering an electronic device, wherein defining the region of space comprises selecting a range of distance from the transmitter for the pocket of energy;

directing, by the transmitter, the RF waves to accumulate in the region of space in a form of constructive interference patterns; and

generating, by the transmitter, a null-space in a form of destructive interference patterns of the generated RF waves outside of the selected range from the transmitter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the null-space is formed at an obstacle proximate to the electronic device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate using one of a plurality of standard wireless communication protocols of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, FM, or Zigbee.

4. A system for wireless power transmission comprising:

a transmitter configured for generating radio frequency (RF) waves through an antenna connected to the transmitter;

a micro-controller within the transmitter configured to control the RF waves to direct the RF waves to accumulate as a pocket of energy in a region of space in a form of constructive interference patterns of the generated RF waves, thereby selecting a range from the transmitter configured for charging or powering an electronic device in the region of space having the pocket of energy, and

the micro-controller further configured to generate a null-space in the form of destructive interference patterns of the generated RF waves outside of the selected range.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the antennas are configured to operate in a frequency band of generally 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, or 5.7 GHz.

6. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a receiver connected to the electronic device and having a micro-controller configured to communicate with the transmitter micro-controller to generate the pocket of energy for the receiver.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the micro-controller is configured to direct the RF waves to accumulate as the pocket of energy proximate to a receiver regardless of any obstacles proximate to the receiver.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the micro-controller is configured to direct the RF waves to form a null-space at an obstacle proximate to the receiver.

9. The system according to claim 4, wherein the micro-controller for the transmitter is configured to communicate using one of a plurality of standard wireless communication protocols of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, FM, or Zigbee.

10. A system for wireless power transmission comprising:

a transmitter configured for generating at least two radio frequency (RF) waves and short RF control signals, the transmitter comprising;

at least two RF antennas configured to transmit at least two RF waves through the antennas converging in 3-d space to accumulate as a pocket of energy in the form of constructive interference patterns of RF waves;

a micro-controller configured for controlling constructive interference patterns of the RF waves to accumulate the pocket of energy in a predetermined areas or region in 3-D space and for controlling the destructive interference patterns of the RF waves to form a null-space; and

wherein the constructive interference patterns of RF waves form the pocket of energy within a range from the transmitter for charging or powering the electronic device and wherein the destructive interference patterns of RF waves form the null-space outside of the range.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the null-space is configured as a zone where RF waves do not accumulate to form the pocket of energy.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the null-space is formed in a region having sensitive equipment or people.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a receiver connected to the portable electronic device having a micro-controller configured to communicate with the transmitter micro-controller to generate the pocket of energy.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the micro-controller for the transmitter is configured to communicate using one of a plurality of standard wireless communication protocols of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, FM, or Zigbee.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the antennas are configured to operate in a frequency band of generally 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, or 5.7 GHz.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the micro-controller of the transmitter is configured to dynamically adjust pocket-forming for a plurality of ranges to regulate power for one or more targeted receivers.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the receiver and transmitter micro-controllers are configured to communicate to change frequencies and phase on one or more RF waves to form an unified waveform that forms pockets of energy and null-spaces along pocket-forming, wherein pockets of energy are available in certain predetermined areas where a constructive interference of the waves exist.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, tablet, music player, computer, and toy.

19. The system according to claim 10, wherein more than one electronic device is powered at the same time in a different range for each electronic device.

20. The system according to claim 10, wherein the antennas are configured to operate in predetermined frequencies at generally 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, or 5.7 GHz, to transmit at least two RF waveforms to create a unified waveform for the range for the pocket of energy.