Wireless power infrastructure

• US 8,536,736 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Abramo, Keith, Kinlaw, Joshua R., Leong, Joseph C., Rodriguez, Adrian X., Woloschyn, Gregory B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US12/418,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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

A wireless power infrastructure for delivering wireless power from a wireless network to mobile devices. The infrastructure includes a plurality of power transmission hubs, each hub having: a first capacitor for transmitting a signature frequency for a defined range; and a set of second capacitors, each for transmitting resonant wireless power within the defined range at a selectable frequency. A mobile device for obtaining wireless resonant the plurality of power transmission hubs is also described, and includes: a first variable capacitor for detecting a signature frequency associated with a proximately located power transmission hub; a second variable capacitor for receiving wireless resonant capacitor from the proximately located power transmission hub; and a synchronization system for setting the second variable capacitor to a frequency that is synchronized with a wireless resonant power transmission of the proximately located power transmission hub.

Claims

1. A wireless power infrastructure for delivering wireless power from a wireless network to mobile devices, the infrastructure comprising:

a plurality of power transmission hubs, each hub including;

a first capacitor that generates a fixed signature frequency to uniquely identify the hub for a defined range, wherein the fixed signature frequency is unusable as a source of wireless power, but is detectable by a mobile device within the defined range; and

a set of second variable capacitors, each generates resonant wireless power to a mobile device within the defined range at a selectable frequency,

wherein a mobile device receives wireless power from a hub that transmits the strongest signature frequency to the mobile device while the mobile device moves within the network.

2. The wireless power infrastructure of claim 1, each hub further comprising a communication system for communicating with a mobile device residing within the defined range in order to synchronize a frequency of a second variable capacitor with a receiving variable capacitor in the mobile device.

3. The wireless power infrastructure of claim 2, wherein the communication system includes a system for communicating a hash map to the mobile device, wherein the hash map includes a list of frequencies associated with the plurality of power transmission hubs.

4. The wireless power infrastructure of claim 1, each hub further comprising a control system for turning each second variable capacitor on and off.

5. The wireless power infrastructure of claim 1, each hub further comprising a security system for limiting access to transmission of resonant wireless power.

6. A mobile device having a wireless power management system for obtaining wireless resonant power from a wireless power network having a plurality of power transmission hubs, comprising:

a first variable capacitor for detecting a signature frequency associated with a proximately located power transmission hub, the signature frequency being a fixed frequency unique to the hub, wherein the fixed signature frequency is unusable as a source of wireless power, but is detectable by the mobile device to identify the hub;

a second variable capacitor for receiving wireless resonant power from the proximately located power transmission hub; and

a synchronization system for setting the second variable capacitor to a frequency that is synchronized with a wireless resonant power transmission of the proximately located power transmission hub,

wherein the mobile device receives wireless resonant power from a hub that transmits the strongest signature frequency to the mobile device while the mobile device moves within the network.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, further comprising a signature frequency detection system for causing the first variable capacitor to vary capacitance to scan for signature frequencies.

8. The mobile device of claim 6, further comprising a communication system for communicating with the proximately located power transmission hub to set the frequency for wireless resonant power transmission between the mobile device and proximately located power transmission hub.

9. The mobile device of claim 6, further comprising hand-off logic for terminating reception of wireless resonant power from a current hub and for activating reception of wireless resonant power from a new hub as the device moves closer to the new hub and away from the current hub.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the hand-off logic includes logic for analyzing signal strengths of the signature frequencies of the current hub and new hub.

11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the hand-off logic includes logic for causing the first variable capacitor and the second variable capacitor to switch roles during a hand-off process.

12. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the hand-off logic includes logic for causing a signal to be transmitted to the current hub directing the current hub to cease transmitting power to the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the hand-off logic includes logic for causing a signal to be transmitted to the new hub directing the new hub to begin transmitting power to the mobile device.

14. The mobile device of claim 6, further comprising a security system for enabling the mobile device to participate in the wireless power network.

15. The mobile device of claim 6, further comprising a system for receiving a hash map that includes a list of frequencies associated with the plurality of power transmission hubs.

16. A method of obtaining wireless resonant power with a mobile device in a wireless power network, comprising:

identifying a first signature frequency using a first variable capacitor, the signature frequency being a fixed frequency uniquely identifying each of a plurality of hubs in the wireless power network, wherein the fixed signature frequency is unusable as a source of wireless power, but is detectable by the mobile device within a defined range of the hub;

associating a first hub with the first signature frequency;

communicating with the first hub to establish a power transmission frequency;

adjusting a second variable capacitor to the power transmission frequency; and

receiving wireless resonant power via the second variable capacitor from the first hub,

wherein the mobile device receives wireless resonant power from a hub that transmits the strongest signature frequency to the mobile device while the mobile device moves within the wireless power network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising implementing a hand-off process if a second signature frequency associated with a second hub is detected while the mobile device is receiving wireless resonant power from the hub.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the hand-off process includes determining a strength of the first signature frequency and a strength of the second signature frequency.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the hand-off process includes:

communicating with the second hub to establish a new power transmission frequency;

adjusting a second variable capacitor to the new power transmission frequency; and

receiving wireless resonant power via the second variable capacitor from the second hub.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the hand-off process includes causing the first hub to terminate power transmission by transmitting a signal to the first hub.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the hand-off process includes causing the second hub to begin power transmission by transmitting a signal to the first hub.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the hand-off process causes the first variable capacitor and the second variable capacitor to switch roles.

23. A method for delivering wireless power from a hub in a wireless power network having a plurality of power transmission hubs to a mobile device, comprising:

generating a signature frequency to a defined range from a first capacitor, the signature frequency being a fixed frequency unique to the hub, wherein the fixed signature frequency is unusable as a source of wireless power, but is detectable by a mobile device within the defined range;

receiving a communication from a mobile device that the mobile device is within the defined range and requires wireless power;

setting a selected frequency of a variable capacitor;

communicating the selected frequency to the mobile device; and

transmitting resonant wireless power at the selected frequency,

wherein the mobile device receives wireless resonant power from a hub that transmits the strongest signature frequency to the mobile device while the mobile device moves within the wireless power network.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising utilizing a control system to disable transmission of the resonant wireless power.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising communicating with a second hub that previously provided resonant wireless power to the mobile device that the second hub should terminate transmission of resonant wireless power to the mobile device.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving a communication from the mobile device that transmission of resonant wireless power to the mobile device is no longer required; and

communicating to a new hub that transmission of resonant wireless power to the mobile device is required.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a security system to limit access to the hub.