SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER IN MULTIPATH VEHICLE ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20170179766A1
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ossia, Inc.
• Inventors: Zeine, Hatem Ibrahim, Ebadi, Siamak
• Granted Patent: US 10,424,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for leveraging multipath wireless transmissions for high data rate communication and charging devices within multipath vehicle environments are described. The techniques include deploying a wireless charger, including an array of antennas, within a vehicle interior. The wireless charger may detect an incoming signal from a client device. Each antenna in the array may determine an offset for the received signal, which is then used to tune parameters for each antenna individually. Upon transmission, the resulting signal is directionally biased toward the least lossy pathways between the device and the charger. These pathways avoid passengers and other sources of signal attenuation. Thus, for a given total power envelope, a greater total signal amplitude may be delivered to the device, with reduced exposure to any occupants of the vehicle. Additionally, the interior of the vehicle may be provisioned to help improve multipath focusing of transmissions.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission system configured for deployment in a vehicle, the system comprising:

an antenna array having multiple antennas deployed within an interior of a vehicle; and

control circuitry operatively coupled to the multiple antennas, the control circuitry configured to;

detect, at the multiple antennas of the antenna array, a signal initiated by a device within the vehicle, wherein the signal is received at the multiple antennas over multiple paths;

determine one or more offsets for each of the multiple antennas;

tune parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the corresponding offset; and

in accordance with the tuned parameters, transmit, from at least a portion of the multiple antennas, a wireless power signal to the device over one or more of the multiple paths.

2. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1, wherein the one or more offsets include time and phase offsets.

3. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transmit, from at least a second portion of the multiple antennas, a data signal in accordance with the tuned parameters.

4. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmission system is configured to utilize deploying at least one reflector within the vehicle interior.

5. The wireless power transmission system of claim 4, wherein the at least one reflector is a metal mesh or screen incorporated into at least one of a seat, a floor, a ceiling, a floor mat, or a window of the vehicle.

6. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

transmit, from at least a portion of the multiple antennas, a wireless power signal to the device over one or more of the multiple paths.

7. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

send a training transmission, wherein the training transmission includes at least one signal pulse;

receive timing and phase information for signals resulting from the training transmission;

generate a power transmission schedule based upon the timing and phase information; and

transmit wireless power according to the power transmission schedule.

8. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

periodically focus wireless power transmissions on one or more fixes locations within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle.

9. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1, wherein to tune parameters for each of the multiple antennas, the control circuitry is further configured to minimize transmissions along paths that are absorbed or lost.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from at least a second portion of the multiple antennas, a data signal in accordance with the tuned parameters.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless power signal comprises at least one of a radio frequency transmission, an ultrasonic acoustic wave, a photonic signal, and magnetic oscillations.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a propulsion system configured to propel the vehicle; and

a wireless power transmission system deployed within an interior of the vehicle, the wireless power transmission system including;

an antenna array having multiple antennas, and

control circuitry operatively coupled to the multiple antennas, the control circuitry configured to;

detect, at the multiple antennas of the antenna array, a signal initiated by a device within the vehicle, wherein the signal is received at the multiple antennas over multiple paths,

determine one or more offsets for each of the multiple antennas,

tune parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the corresponding offset, and

in accordance with the tuned parameters, transmit, from at least a portion of the multiple antennas, a wireless power signal to the device over one or more of the multiple paths.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising at least one reflector deployed within the vehicle interior.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the at least one reflector is a metal mesh or screen.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the at least one reflector is incorporated into at least one of a seat, a floor, a ceiling, a floor mat, or a window of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the wireless power signal comprises at least one of a radio frequency transmission, an ultrasonic acoustic wave, a photonic signal, and magnetic oscillations.

15. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the wireless charger is deployed within one or more of a console, a dashboard, or a ceiling of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising one or more additional wireless power transmission systems deployed within an interior of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising one or more fixed wireless power reception elements.

18. A method of operating a wireless power transmission system deployed within an interior of a vehicle for transmitting wireless energy in a multipath vehicle environment, the method comprising:

detecting, at multiple antennae of an antenna array of the wireless power transmission system, a signal initiated by a device within a vehicle, wherein the signal is received over multiple paths within the multipath vehicle environment;

determining time and phase offsets of the signal for each of the multiple antennas, wherein the one or more offsets include time and phase offsets;

tuning parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the corresponding time and phase offsets; and

transmitting a wireless power signal in accordance with the tuned parameters.