WIRELESS POWER HARVESTING AND TRANSMISSION WITH HETEROGENEOUS SIGNALS

• US 20180115185A1
• Filed: 12/07/2017
• Published: 04/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: John, Michael Sasha
• Granted Patent: US 10,348,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The present invention is a wireless power system which includes components which can be recharged by harvesting wireless power, wireless power transmitters for transmitting the power, and devices which are powered from the components. Features such as temperature monitoring, tiered network protocols including both data and power communication, and power management strategies related to both charging and non-charging operations, are used to improve performance of the wireless network. Rechargeable batteries which are configured to be recharged using wireless power have unique components specifically tailored for recharging operations rather than for providing power to a device. A wireless power supply for powering implanted devices benefits from an external patient controller which contains features for adjusting both power transmission and harvesting provided by other components of the wireless power network.

Claims

1. A remote device with wireless power receiver comprising:

a first wireless power harvesting circuit optimized for harvesting a first wireless power signal from a first wireless power source;

a second wireless power harvesting circuit optimized for harvesting a second wireless power signal;

wherein said first wireless power signal and said second wireless power signal are different types of wireless power signals;

a load configured for receiving harvested wireless power; and

,

a communication/control module designed to be programmed to provide control over signals sent from the first wireless power harvesting circuit and the second wireless power harvesting circuit to the load, or other component, of the remote device with the wireless power receiver.

2. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the first wireless power harvesting circuit is optimized for wireless power harvesting from at least one of the following list of wireless power sources:

electromagnetic near field;

electromagnetic far field;

an RF field broadcast from an electrical mains;

ambient RF energy;

energy transmitted from a transmitter which is configured to transmit information on the transmission protocol; and

,

wherein the second wireless power harvesting circuit is optimized for harvesting wireless power from one of the remaining wireless power sources in the list of wireless power sources.

3. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication/control module is programmed to control which of the first wireless power harvester and the second wireless power harvester provides power to the remote device at least in part based on one of the following group:

a characteristic of power available to the first wireless power harvesting circuit;

a characteristic of power present in the second wireless power harvesting circuit;

the relative power available to the first harvesting circuit compared to the second harvesting circuit;

a command sent from the device;

a selection made by a user of the device;

information provided by an energy profile module; and

,

information transmitted by a least one wireless power transmitter.

4. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 3, wherein the characteristic of power present on the first wireless power harvesting circuit is at least one of:

efficiency of power harvesting;

magnitude of charge harvested, an energy profile calculated for at least one power signal, a pattern of at least one wireless power signal, and data communicated through a pattern of at least one wireless power signal.

5. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication/controller module is programmed to control which of the first wireless power harvesting circuit and the second wireless power harvesting circuit provides power to at least one load of the remote device based at least in part on a characteristic of the load.

6. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication/control module is programmed to control which of the first wireless power harvesting circuit and the second wireless power harvesting circuit provides power to the load of the remote device based at least in part on communication between the communication/control module and one of the group of:

the device, and a communication module of a power transmitter.

7. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication/control module is programmable to do at least one of the following:

provide power from both the first wireless power harvesting circuit and the second wireless power harvesting circuit simultaneously to at least one load, select which of the first and second power harvester provides power to the load;

select a module in the power receiver to which at least some of the power is routed.

8. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication/control module is programmed to control which of the first wireless power harvesting circuit and the second wireless power harvesting circuit provides power to the load of the remote device based at least in part on at least one of:

data calculated upon a recent sample of energy harvesting and characteristics of the charge capability of at least one wireless power signal.

9. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication/control module is programmed to control which of the first wireless power harvesting circuit and the second wireless power harvesting circuit provides power based upon information related to at least one power transmission scheme implemented by at least one power transmitter.

18. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication/control module controls charging operations in a programmable manner in accordance with control signals that are sent from the first wireless power source which is a wireless transmitter configured to provide communication with and control of the remote device.

19. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the first wireless power harvesting circuit is optimized for wireless power from at least one of the following list of wireless power sources:

electromagnetic near field;

electromagnetic far field;

an RF field induced by an electrical mains;

ambient RF energy; and

,

wherein the second wireless power harvesting circuit is optimized for harvesting wireless power from the same type of wireless power source in the list of wireless power sources, and this same type of wireless power source has a different energy profile than the first wireless power signal.

20. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the device is further configured with circuitry to adjust power harvesting characteristics in order to improve wireless power harvesting according to at least one of the following methods:

operating a power calibration routine to evaluate at least two power harvesting parameter values and selecting the value that produced better power harvesting for subsequent energy harvesting;

operating a power calibration routine in combination with a power source that is a power transmitter that can communicate with the device;

receiving a signal from the first power source which provides information about how the power harvesting should be adjusted in order to provide power harvesting well suited for the signal that will be transmitted by the power source;

sending information to the wireless power source which identifies a wireless power transmission protocol that can be used by the wireless power source in order to provide wireless power transmission using a protocol that is well suited for a viable harvesting protocol of the device.

10. A remote device with a wireless power receiver comprising:

an adjustable power harvester selectively configurable between a first configuration optimized for wireless power harvesting of a first signal from a first wireless power source and a second configuration optimized for wireless power harvesting of a second signal;

a load; and

,

a communication/control module designed to programmably configure the adjustable power harvesting between the first configuration and the second configuration and to provide control over signals sent to the load, or other component, of the remote device with wireless power receiver.

11. The remote device with wireless power receiver of claim 10 wherein the adjustable circuit is a rectenna circuit configured so that the resonance of the taps is provided to be selectively configurable using programmable resistors.

12. A far field wireless power system comprising:

a remote device including a first antenna for harvesting RF energy;

a far field wireless power source having a low power mode and an RF energy transmission mode, the far field wireless power source configured to utilize less power during low power mode than during power RF energy transmission mode;

and wherein the remote device and the far field wireless power source communicate using a communication signal to enable the far field wireless power source to change between a low power mode and an RF energy transmission mode.

13. The far field wireless power system of claim 12 wherein the remote device initiates the communication signal, the far field wireless power source receives the communication signal and in response to a characteristic of this transmission does one of providing or inhibiting transmission of far field wireless power.

14. The far field wireless power system of claim 12 wherein the far field wireless power source transmits the communication signal, the remote device receives the communication signal and communicates with the far field wireless power source to at least one of provide or inhibit transmission of far field wireless power.

15. The far field wireless power system of claim 12 wherein the far field wireless power source further includes providing the source with a controller that will shut off RF power transmission if a “

power off”

event occurs, such event selected from the group of;

a selected interval occurs during which no communication is received from the remote device;

an interval related to a time of day occurs;

a motion sensor does not indicate motion across a selected period;

a “

device present”

communication is not received from the remote device across a defined interval, and, communication attempted with the remote device fails to evoke a response from the remote device.

16. The far field wireless power system of claim 12 wherein the far field wireless power source in the low power mode operates to enable reception of a signal sent from a remote device and is provided with circuitry that triggers an exit of the low power mode in response to a reception of the signal that the remote device has requested wireless power.

17. The far field wireless power system of claim 12 wherein the far field wireless power source shuts off or reduces wireless power supply during low power mode.