SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING WHEN TO TRANSMIT POWER WAVES TO A WIRELESS POWER RECEIVER

• US 20180254639A1
• Filed: 01/30/2018
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: BELL, Douglas, LEABMAN, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,554,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• 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 50/402 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: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Wireless power transmitters and methods of management thereof are disclosed herein. An example wireless power transmitter includes an antenna array and a communication radio configured to: establish a communication connection with a respective wireless power receiver; and receive device data from the respective wireless power receiver, the device data used to determine a location of the respective wireless power receiver. The example wireless power transmitter also includes a controller in communication with the antenna array and the communication radio, the controller configured to: determine whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive power from the wireless power transmitter; if so, determine a particular time at which RF power waves should be transmitted to the respective receiver, the particular time based at least in part on a charging schedule for the transmitter; and instruct the antenna array to transmit radio frequency (RF) power waves at the particular time.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitter, comprising:

an antenna array configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) power waves;

a communication radio configured to;

establish a communication connection with a respective wireless power receiver of one or more wireless power receivers located within a transmission field of the wireless power transmitter; and

after establishing the communication connection, receive device data from the respective wireless power receiver, wherein the device data includes data used to determine a location of the respective wireless power receiver; and

a controller in communication with the antenna array and the communication radio, the controller configured to;

determine whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter;

in accordance with determining that the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter, determine a particular time at which RF power waves should be transmitted to the respective wireless power receiver, the particular time based at least in part on a charging schedule for the wireless power transmitter; and

instruct the antenna array to transmit power waves at the particular time, the RF power waves being transmitted so that the RF power waves constructively interfere near the location of the wireless power receiver.

2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein:

the device data comprises an identifier for the respective wireless power receiver; and

the controller is configured to determine whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter using the identifier for the respective wireless power receiver.

3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein:

the device data comprises a charge level of the respective wireless power receiver;

the controller is configured to;

determine whether the charge level of the respective wireless power receiver is less than a minimum charge level; and

instruct the antenna array to transmit the RF power waves at the particular time in accordance with a determination that the charge level of the respective wireless power receiver is less than the minimum charge level.

4. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the communication radio is further configured to:

transmit the device data to a remote server; and

receive, from the remote server, the charging schedule for the wireless power transmitter, wherein the remote server generates the charging schedule based, at least in part, on the device data.

5. The wireless power transmitter of claim 4, wherein the charging schedule for the wireless power transmitter further specifies when and to which of the one or more wireless power receivers, other than the respective wireless power receiver, the wireless power transmitter should transmit RF power waves.

6. The wireless power transmitter of claim 4, wherein:

the communication radio is further configured to receive, from the remote server, an indication that the receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter; and

the controller is configured to determine whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter based on the indication received from the remote server.

7. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the device data comprises data selected from the group consisting of:

device identification data for the respective wireless power receiver, device voltage range data for the respective wireless power receiver, and device signal strength data for the respective wireless power receiver.

8. A method comprising:

at a wireless power transmitter including an antenna array, a communication radio, and a controller in communication with the antenna array and the communication radio;

establishing, by the communication radio, a communication connection with a respective wireless power receiver of one or more wireless power receivers located within a transmission field of the wireless power transmitter;

after establishing the communication connection;

receiving, by the communication radio, device data from the respective wireless power receiver, wherein the device data includes data used to determine a location of the respective wireless power receiver;

determining, by the controller, whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter;

in accordance with determining that the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter;

determining, by the controller, a particular time at which radio frequency (RF) power waves should be transmitted to the respective wireless power receiver, the particular time based at least in part on a charging schedule for the wireless power transmitter; and

instructing, by the controller, the antenna array to transmit RF power waves at the particular time, the RF power waves being transmitted so that the RF power waves constructively interfere near the location of the wireless power receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the device data comprises an identifier for the respective wireless power receiver; and

the identifier for the respective wireless power receiver is used for determining whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the device data comprises a charge level of the respective wireless power receiver;

the method further comprises determining whether the charge level of the respective wireless power receiver is less than a minimum charge level; and

instructing the antenna array to transmit the RF power waves at the particular time is performed in accordance with a determination that the charge level of the respective wireless power receiver is less than the minimum charge level.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising, at the wireless power transmitter:

transmitting, by the communication radio, the device data to a remote server; and

receiving, by the communication radio from the remote server, the charging schedule for the wireless power transmitter, wherein the remote server generates the charging schedule based, at least in part, on the device data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the charging schedule for the wireless power transmitter further specifies when and to which of the one or more wireless power receivers, other than the respective wireless power receiver, the wireless power transmitter should transmit RF power waves.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, at the wireless power transmitter:

receiving, by the communication radio from the remote server, an indication that the receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter,

wherein determining whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter is based on the indication received from the remote server.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the device data comprises data selected from the group consisting of:

device identification data for the respective wireless power receiver, device voltage range data for the respective wireless power receiver, and device signal strength data for the respective wireless power receiver.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors that are coupled with a wireless power transmitter that includes an antenna array, a communication radio, and a controller in communication with the antenna array and the communication radio, cause the wireless power transmitter to:

establish, by the communication radio, a communication connection with a respective wireless power receiver of one or more wireless power receivers located within a transmission field of the wireless power transmitter;

after establishing the communication connection;

receive, by the communication radio, device data from the respective wireless power receiver, wherein the device data includes data used to determine a location of the respective wireless power receiver;

determine, by the controller, whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter;

in accordance with determining that the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter;

determine, by the controller, a particular time at which radio frequency (RF) power waves should be transmitted to the respective wireless power receiver, the particular time based at least in part on a charging schedule for the wireless power transmitter; and

instruct, by the controller, the antenna array to transmit RF power waves at the particular time, the RF power waves being transmitted so that the RF power waves constructively interfere near the location of the wireless power receiver.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein:

the device data comprises an identifier for the respective wireless power receiver; and

the identifier for the respective wireless power receiver is used for determining whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein:

the device data comprises a charge level of the respective wireless power receiver;

the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless power transmitter to determine whether the charge level of the respective wireless power receiver is less than a minimum charge level; and

instructing the antenna array to transmit the RF power waves at the particular time is performed in accordance with a determination that the charge level of the respective wireless power receiver is less than the minimum charge level.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless power transmitter to:

transmit, by the communication radio, the device data to a remote server; and

receive, by the communication radio from the remote server, the charging schedule for the wireless power transmitter, wherein the remote server generates the charging schedule based, at least in part, on the device data.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the charging schedule for the wireless power transmitter further specifies when and to which of the one or more wireless power receivers, other than the respective wireless power receiver, the wireless power transmitter should transmit RF power waves.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein:

the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless power transmitter to;

receive, by the communication radio from the remote server, an indication that the receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter; and

determining whether the respective wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter is based on the indication received from the remote server.