Method and apparatus for locating a portable device and then transmitting power over wireless signal

• US 9,106,106 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Eric, Chatterjee, Manjirnath, Wolf, Nathaniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIAO, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/051,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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

Abstract

A device with a sensor to detect a location of a portable device within proximity of the device and a controller to identify an amount of power to transmit to the portable device and reposition a directional antenna to transmit to the portable device an identified amount of power over a wireless signal based on the location of the portable device.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting power to a portable device comprising:

detecting a location of the portable device within proximity of a device with a sensor, wherein the location comprises a direction and a distance of the portable device relative to the device;

identifying an amount of power to transmit to the portable device;

repositioning a directional antenna of the device based on the location of the portable device and transmitting an identified amount of power over a wireless signal to the portable device;

detecting an object obstructing the wireless signal and determining whether to reposition the directional antenna based on the detected object;

responsive to determining to reposition the directional antenna, repositioning the directional antenna to transmit the wireless signal around the detected object; and

responsive to determining to not reposition the directional antenna, transmitting the wireless signal through the detected object.

2. The method for transmitting power to a portable device of claim 1 further comprising emitting polarized waves with the sensor to detect the location of the portable device.

3. The method for transmitting power to a portable device of claim 2 further comprising utilizing a time of flight of the polarized waves to detect the location of the portable device.

4. The method for transmitting power to a portable device of claim 1 wherein identifying an amount of power to transmit to the portable device includes receiving a power requirement from the portable device.

5. The method for transmitting power to a portable device of claim 1 wherein identifying an amount of power to transmit to the portable device includes identifying at least one of a make, a model, or a manufacturer of the portable device.

6. The method for transmitting power to a portable device of claim 1 further comprising identifying a frequency to utilize if transmitting the wireless signal with the identified amount of power from the device to the portable device.

7. The method for transmitting power to a portable device of claim 6 wherein the directional antenna is repositioned based on the frequency.

8. The method for transmitting power to a portable device of claim 6 wherein the directional antenna is dynamically tuned based on the frequency.

9. The method for transmitting power to a portable device of claim 6 further comprising determining whether the frequency is already being utilized by at least one of the device, the portable device, or another device and selecting a second frequency to utilize if the frequency is already being utilized and repositioning the directional antenna based on the second frequency.

10. A device comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a location of a portable device within proximity of the device, wherein the location comprises a direction and a distance of the portable device relative to the device;

a power source configured to supply power to the portable device;

a directional antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the power from the power source to the portable device; and

a controller configured to;

identify an amount of power to transmit to the portable device,

reposition the directional antenna to transmit an identified amount of power over a wireless signal based on the location of the portable device,

detect an object obstructing the wireless signal and determine whether to reposition the directional antenna based on the detected object;

responsive to a determination to reposition the directional antenna, reposition the directional antenna to transmit the wireless signal around the detected object; and

responsive to a determination to not reposition the directional antenna, transmit the wireless signal through the detected object.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the portable device includes an antenna coupled to a portable power source to receive the identified amount of power over the wireless signal.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the sensor emits circularly polarized waves over an ultra wide band to detect the location of the portable device relative to the device.

13. The device of claim 10 further comprising a communication component to detect information of the portable device for the controller to use to identify the amount of power to transmit to the portable device.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the portable device transmits at least one of a location or an orientation of the portable device to the communication component.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the directional antenna is repositioned based on at least one of the location or the orientation of the portable device.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein the directional antenna transmits the wireless signal with the identified amount of power as a directional beam.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed cause a controller to:

emit polarized waves with a sensor to detect a location of a portable device within proximity of a device, wherein the location comprises a direction and a distance of the portable device relative to the device;

detect information of the portable device to identify an amount of power to transmit to the portable device;

reposition a directional antenna of the device based on the location of the portable device and transmit an identified amount of power over a wireless signal to the portable device;

detect an object obstructing the wireless signal and determine whether to reposition the directional antenna based on the detected object;

responsive to a determination to reposition the directional antenna, reposition the directional antenna to transmit the wireless signal around the detected object; and

responsive to a determination to not reposition the directional antenna, transmit the wireless signal through the detected object.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions of claim 17 further comprising instructions that when executed cause the controller to identify at least one of a power consumption rate of the portable device or a battery level of the portable device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions of claim 17 further comprising instructions that when executed cause the controller to authenticate the portable device with an identification of the portable device before the directional antenna transmits power to the portable device.