Remote power charging of electronic devices

• US 7,443,057 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patrick Nunally
• Original Assignee: Patrick Nunally
• Inventors: Nunally, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): DeBeradinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/999,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20060113955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 307/149
• US Class Current: 307/149
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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

Abstract

A wireless charging and power system for electronic devices 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 plurality of constructive transmitted frequencies, and a power receiver system that receives the transmitted frequencies. The power receiver system is preferably incorporated in a device and includes an energy receptor capable of receiving the wireless transmitted energy and transferring the energy from the transmitted frequencies to an energy storage device included in the device. 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.

Claims

1. A method of providing electrical power to an electronic device, the method comprising:

transmitting a first energy signal to the electronic device;

transmitting one or more additional energy signals to the electronic device, wherein each of the one or more additional energy signals is transmitted at a frequency that is different than the first energy signal; and

transmitting a feedback signal from the electronic device indicating whether the one or more additional energy signals constructively interferes with the first energy signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy signal provides electrical power to the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy signal and the one or more additional energy signals provide electrical power to the electronic device.

4. A system for providing electrical power to an electronic device, the system comprising:

a power transmission unit configured to transmit one or more frequencies of a energy signal;

a power receiving module configured to receive the one or more frequencies of the energy signal;

a feedback module configured to transmit a feedback signal to the power transmission unit indicating a level of constructive interference in the received one or more frequencies of the energy signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the power transmission unit is configured to receive the feedback signal and adjust a frequency of one of the one or more frequencies of energy signals in response to the feedback signal.

6. A method of transmitting a wireless energy signal from a power transmission unit, the method comprising:

(a) transmitting a first frequency energy signal and a second frequency energy signal;

(b) determining if the first frequency and second frequency energy signals have constructively combined at a power receiving unit;

(c) in response to determining that the first frequency and second frequency energy signals have not constructively combined at the power receiving unit, adjusting a value of the second frequency and returning to step (a); and

(d) in response to determining that the first frequency and second frequency energy signals have constructively combined at the power receiving unit, continuing to transmit the first frequency and the second frequency energy signals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the act of determining is based at least partly upon a feedback signal received from the power receiving unit.

8. A method of receiving a wireless energy signal at a power receiving unit, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a first frequency energy signal and a second frequency energy signal;

(b) determining if a power level of the first frequency energy signal and the second frequency energy signal is greater than a power level of the first frequency energy signal;

(c) in response to determining that the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals is not greater than the power level of the first frequency energy signal, returning to step (a); and

(d) in response to determining that the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals is greater than the power level of the first frequency energy signal, transmitting a feedback signal to a power transmission unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the feedback signal indicates that the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals is greater than the power level of the first frequency energy signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the feedback signal comprises an indication of the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein in response to determining that the power level of the first and second frequency energy signals is not greater than the power level of the first frequency energy signal, transmitting to the power transmission unit a feedback signal indicating that the power level has not increased.

12. A method of providing electrical power to an electronic device, the method comprising:

transmitting a first energy signal to the electronic device;

transmitting one or more additional energy signals to the electronic device, wherein each of the one or more additional energy signals is transmitted at a phase that is different than the first energy signal; and

transmitting a feedback signal from the electronic device indicating whether the one or more additional energy signals constructively interferes with the first energy signal.

13. A system for providing electrical power to an electronic device, the system comprising:

a power transmission unit configured to transmit one or more phases of an energy signal;

a power receiving module configured to receive the one or more phases of the energy signal; and

a feedback module configured to transmit a feedback signal to the power transmission unit indicating a level of constructive interference in the received one or more frequencies of the energy signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the power transmission unit is further configured to transmit one or more frequencies of the energy signal and the power receiving module is configured to receive the one or more frequencies of the energy signal.