Remote power recharge for electronic equipment
First Claim
1. A wireless recharge system for electronic equipment comprising:
- an energy source;
a power transmission unit operably connected to the energy source comprising;
a power transmitter functioning to transmit energy as a wireless power beam when activated;
a communication receiver configured to detect a power request signal and provide a request indication;
a power unit controller operably connected to the communication receiver and the power transmitter, the power unit controller responsive to said request indication to activate said power transmitter; and
a first power receiver system comprising;
an energy receptor configured to receive the wireless power beam;
an energy storage unit;
an energy beam converter that transforms energy from the received wireless power beam to an energy form compatible with said energy storage unit;
a power usage monitor operatively connected to said energy storage unit to detect a quantity of power stored in said energy storage unit; and
a power receiver system transmitter that produces the power request signal as a function of the quantity of power stored in said energy storage unit as detected by said power usage monitor.
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Abstract
A conductorless charging and power system for electronic appliances and method for communicating power to a power receiver employing wireless energy transmission are disclosed. The remote charging system includes a power transmission unit, which transmits energy as a directional power beam, and a power receiver system that receives the transmitted energy. The power receiver system is preferably incorporated in an appliance and includes an energy receptor capable of receiving the wireless power beam and transferring the energy from the beam to an energy storage device included in the appliance. The power transmission unit receives and tracks a power request signal from the power receiver system to track the power receiver system location during energy transmission. Data streams may be incorporated into the wireless signals of the remote charging system, allowing the remote charging system to function as a communications pathway as well as a power delivery system.
462 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A wireless recharge system for electronic equipment comprising:
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an energy source; a power transmission unit operably connected to the energy source comprising; a power transmitter functioning to transmit energy as a wireless power beam when activated; a communication receiver configured to detect a power request signal and provide a request indication; a power unit controller operably connected to the communication receiver and the power transmitter, the power unit controller responsive to said request indication to activate said power transmitter; and a first power receiver system comprising; an energy receptor configured to receive the wireless power beam; an energy storage unit; an energy beam converter that transforms energy from the received wireless power beam to an energy form compatible with said energy storage unit; a power usage monitor operatively connected to said energy storage unit to detect a quantity of power stored in said energy storage unit; and a power receiver system transmitter that produces the power request signal as a function of the quantity of power stored in said energy storage unit as detected by said power usage monitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A wireless recharge system comprising:
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an energy source; a plurality of power transmission units operably connected to the energy source comprising; a power transmitter configured to transmit energy as a directional wireless power beam when activated; a communication receiver configured to detect a power request signal and provide a request indication; a power unit controller operably connected to the communication receiver and the power transmitter, the power unit controller responsive to said request indication to activate said power transmitter; and at least one appliance incorporating a first power receiver system comprising; an energy receptor configured to receive the wireless power beam; an energy storage unit; an energy beam converter that transforms energy from the received wireless power beam to an energy form compatible with said energy storage unit; a power usage monitor operatively connected to said energy storage unit to detect a quantity of power stored in said energy storage unit; and a power receiver system transmitter that produces the power request signal as a function of the quantity of power stored in said energy storage unit as detected by said power usage monitor, wherein said plurality of power transmission units are incorporated into a structure at least partially surrounding said at least one appliance and providing said directional power beam to said appliance when the first power receiver system produces the power request signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A wireless recharge and communication system comprising:
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an appliance equipped with a first power receiver system including a first information signal receiver and decoder; an energy source; a power transmission unit operably connected to the energy source and comprising; a combination power transmitter and communication unit for wirelessly transmitting a combined directional energy beam and first information signal to the first power receiver system, wherein said first information signal is received and decoded by said first power receiver system, said information signal permitting communication from said power transmission unit to said appliance. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A wireless power system comprising:
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an energy source; a power transmission unit operably connected to the energy source comprising; power unit transmitter for transmitting energy as a wireless power beam to the first power receiver system, and power unit controller operably connected to the power unit transmitter for controlling the power unit transmitter, and a power unit communication transceiver for transmission of a first information signal and receipt of a second information signal; and an appliance equipped with a first power receiver system comprising; a power receiver system transceiver for receiving the first information signal from the power unit transceiver and transmitting the second information signal to the power unit transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for wirelessly recharging an appliance incorporating a power receiver system having an energy receptor comprising:
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monitoring the condition of an energy storage unit arranged to provide power to said appliance to determine a quantity of energy stored in said energy storage unit; monitoring a quantity of energy consumed by the appliance; starting transmission of a power request signal from the appliance as a function of the condition of the energy storage unit and the quantity of energy consumed by the appliance; receiving the power request signal at a first power transmission unit; transmitting a wireless power beam from a first power transmission unit to the energy receptor in response to receiving the power request signal; stopping transmission of the power request signal from the appliance as a function of the condition of the energy storage unit and the quantity of energy consumed by the appliance; and ending transmission of the wireless power beam when said power request signal is stopped. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification