Wireless power harvesting and transmission with heterogeneous signals

• US 9,101,777 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

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 wireless power system comprising:

at least two mobile devices, each comprising a wireless power harvester; and

a wireless power source having a low power mode and a power transmission mode, the wireless power source configured to utilize less power during the low power mode than during the power transmission mode;

wherein the at least two mobile devices and the wireless power source are configured to communicate using at least a first communication signal and a second communication signal to enable the wireless power source to change between the low power mode and the power transmission mode;

wherein at least one of the at least two mobile devices is assigned a priority based on a characteristic of the first communication signal and the second communication signal with the wireless power source; and

wherein the priority determines a profile of a power transmission during the power transmission mode;

wherein the profile of the power transmission is determined based on an energy profile, the profile of the power transmission comprising amplitude and frequency of the power transmission, and the energy profile comprising an estimation across an interval of at least one characteristic of a signal related to wireless power; and

wherein an amount of power transmitted respectively to each of the at least two mobile devices, at a same time in the power transmission by a single antenna of the wireless power source, is affected by the profile of the power transmission, in accordance with the priority.

2. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein one of the at least two mobile devices transmits the first communication signal, the wireless power source is configured to receive the first communication signal and in response to a characteristic of the first communication signal is configured to provide or inhibit transmission of wireless power.

3. The wireless power system of claim 1, further comprising a controller that shuts off the power transmission if a “

power off”

event occurs, a “

power off”

event selected from the group of;

no communication is received from the at least two mobile devices during a first interval of time;

a preprogrammed time of day occurs;

a motion sensor does not indicate motion over a second interval of time;

a “

device present”

communication is not received from at least one of the at least two mobile devices over a third interval of time and communication attempted with one of the at least two mobile devices fails to evoke a response from one of the at least two mobile devices.

4. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power source in the low power mode receives a signal sent from at least one of the at least two mobile devices and triggers an exit of the low power mode in response to the signal that at least one of the at least two mobile devices has requested wireless power.

5. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power source is configured to inhibit or reduce power transmission during low power mode.

6. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein a higher priority is assigned for a communication signal that occurs first in time.

7. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the first communication signal and the second communication signal is a comparison of an order of reception in time.

8. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the first communication signal and the second communication signal is a comparison of an amount of power needed from each of the at least two mobile devices.

9. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two mobile devices is configured to initiate the first communication signal, the wireless power source is configured to receive the first communication signal and in response to a characteristic of the first communication signal is configured to inhibit power transmission.

10. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power source is configured to transmit the first communication signal, at least one of the at least two mobile devices is configured to receive the first communication signal and to communicate with the wireless power source to inhibit power transmission.

11. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power source comprises a controller configured to inhibit wireless power transmission if a motion sensor does not indicate motion across a selected period.

12. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power source comprises a controller configured to provide a visual signal indicating whether the wireless power source is in the low power mode or the power transmission mode.

13. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power source comprises a controller configured to provide an auditory signal indicating whether the source is in the low power mode or the power transmission mode.

14. The wireless power system of claim 1, further comprising an additional wireless power source having a low power mode and a power transmission mode, the additional wireless power source configured to communicate with at least one of the wireless power source and the at least two mobile devices.

15. The wireless power system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power source comprises a controller that inhibits wireless power transmission if communication attempted with one of the at least two mobile devices fails to evoke a response from the one of the at least two mobile devices.

16. A method comprising:

assigning a first priority based on a first communication signal characteristic of a first mobile device, the first mobile device comprising a first wireless power harvester and configured to communicate with a wireless power source using a first communication signal;

assigning a second priority based on a second communication signal characteristic of a second mobile device, the second mobile device comprising a second wireless power harvester and configured to communicate with the wireless power source using a second communication signal; and

determining a profile of a power transmission based on the first and second priorities;

wherein the profile of the power transmission is determined based on an energy profile, the profile of the power transmission comprising amplitude and frequency of the power transmission, and the energy profile comprising an estimation across an interval of at least one characteristic of a signal related to wireless power; and

wherein an amount of power transmitted respectively to each of the first and second mobile devices, at a same time in the power transmission by a single antenna of the wireless power source, is affected by the profile of the power transmission, in accordance with the first and second priorities.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein assigning the first priority and assigning the second priority comprises assigning a higher priority to one of the first and second mobile devices based on the first communication signal or the second communication signal occurring first in time.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing or inhibiting power transmission in response to the first communication signal characteristic or the second communication signal characteristic.