Method and apparatus for wirelessly transferring power and communicating with one or more slave devices

• US 9,608,472 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creekview IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Golba LLC
• Inventors: Moshfeghi, Mehran
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US14/223,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a system for charging devices. The system includes a master device and a slave device. Some embodiments provide a method for charging devices in a system that includes a slave device and a master device. The slave device includes (1) an antenna to receive a radio frequency (RF) beam and (2) a power generation module connected to the antenna that converts RF energy received by the slave antenna to power. The master device includes (1) a directional antenna to direct RF power to the antenna of the slave device and (2) a module that provides power to the directional antenna of the master device.

Claims

1. A master device for wirelessly providing power to a set of slave devices, the master device comprising:

a power transmitter configured to wirelessly provide power to the set of slave devices;

the master device configured to;

receive an identification of each slave device in the set of slave devices;

compare the identification received from each of the slave devices with identifications of slave devices stored in a database, the database storing identification of slaves devices that are authorized to wirelessly receive power from the master device; and

wirelessly provide, utilizing the power transmitter, power to one or more slave devices in the set of slave devices having an identification that matches the identification of an authorized slave device stored in the database.

2. The master device of claim 1 further comprising a directional antenna to direct radio frequency (RF) energy to an antenna of each slave device for conversion of the RF energy to power by the slave device.

3. The master device of claim 2, wherein the RF energy is an RF beam directed to the antenna of the slave device.

4. The master device of claim 1 further comprising a coil, wherein wirelessly providing power to one or more slave devices comprises:

receiving alternating power at the coil of the master device from the power transmitter; and

transmitting energy by induction from the coil of the master device to a coil of each of said one or more slave devices for conversion of the inducted energy to power by the slave device.

5. The master device of claim 1 further configured to:

monitor a power status of the set of slave devices;

determine which slave devices gets charged; and

determine charging priorities of the slave devices being charged.

6. A method for use by a master device for wirelessly providing power to a set of slave devices, the method comprising:

receiving an identification of each slave device in the set of slave devices;

comparing the identification received from each of the slave devices with identifications of slave devices stored in a database, the database storing identification of slaves devices that are authorized to wirelessly receive power from the master device; and

wirelessly providing power to one or more slave devices in the set of slave devices having an identification that matches the identification of an authorized slave device stored in the database.

7. The method of claim 6, the master device further comprising a directional antenna, the method further comprising directing radio frequency (RF) energy to an antenna of each slave device for conversion of the RF energy to power by the slave device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the RF energy is an RF beam directed to the antenna of the slave device.

9. The method of claim 6, the master device further comprising a coil, wherein wirelessly providing power to one or more slave devices comprises:

receiving alternating power at the coil of the master device from the power transmitter; and

transmitting energy by induction from the coil of the master device to a coil of each of said one or more slave devices for conversion of the inducted energy to power by the slave device.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

monitoring a power status of the set of slave devices;

determining which slave devices gets charged; and

determining charging priorities of the slave devices being charged.

11. A slave device for wirelessly receiving energy from a master device, the slave device comprising:

a set of electronic circuitry; and

a converter configured to generate power from the energy wirelessly received from the master device for use by the set of electronic circuitry;

the slave device configured to;

transmit a slave device identification to the master device for determining authorization to wirelessly receive energy from the master device;

wirelessly receive, in response to transmitting the slave device identification to the master device, energy from the master device; and

generate, using the converter, power from the wireless energy received from the master device for use by the set of electronic circuitry of the slave device.

12. The slave device of claim 11 further configured to:

store identifying information of a set of master devices that are authorized to wirelessly provide energy to the slave device; and

allow the converter to generate power from the energy wirelessly received from a master device only when an identifying information received from the master device matches the identifying information of a master device from the set of authorized master devices.

13. The slave device of claim 11 further comprising an antenna to receive radio frequency (RF) energy from a directional antenna of the master device to convert the RF energy to power by the slave device.

14. The slave device of claim 13, wherein the RF energy is an RF beam directed by a directional antenna of the master device to the antenna of the slave device.

15. The slave device of claim 11 further comprising a coil, wherein wirelessly receiving energy from the master device comprises receiving energy by induction from a coil of the master device at the coil of the slave device to convert the inducted energy to power by the slave device.

16. The slave device of claim 11 further comprising a capacitor, the converter of the slave device further configured to store the converted power in the capacitor.

17. The slave device of claim 11 further comprising a battery, the converter of the slave device further configured to use the converted power to charge the battery of the slave device.

18. The slave device of claim 11 further comprising:

a battery;

a capacitor;

a switch connected to the battery, the capacitor, and the converter; and

a controller configured to adjust a position of the switch to connect the converter to (i) the capacitor, (ii) the battery, or (iii) both the capacitor and the battery.

19. A method for use by a slave device for generating power from energy wirelessly received from a master device, the method comprising:

transmitting a slave device identification to the master device for determining authorization to wirelessly receive energy from the master device;

wirelessly receiving, in response to transmitting the slave device identification to the master device, energy from the master device; and

generating power from the wireless energy received from the master device for use by a set of electronic circuitry of the slave device.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

storing, by the slave device, identifying information of a set of master devices that are authorized to wirelessly provide energy to the slave device; and

allowing the converter to generate power from the energy wirelessly received from a master device only when an identifying information received from the master device matches the identifying information of a master device from the set of authorized master devices.

21. The method of claim 19, the slave device further comprising an antenna to receive radio frequency (RF) energy from a directional antenna of the master device to convert the RF energy to power by the slave device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the RF energy is an RF beam directed by a directional antenna of the master device to the antenna of the slave device.

23. The method of claim 19, the slave device further comprising a coil, wherein wirelessly receiving energy from the master device comprises receiving energy by induction from a coil of the master device at the coil of the slave device to convert the inducted energy to power by the slave device.

24. The method of claim 19, the slave device further comprising a capacitor, the method further comprising storing the converted power in the capacitor.

25. The method of claim 19, the slave device further comprising a battery, the method further comprising using the converted power to charge the battery of the slave device.

26. The method of claim 19, the slave device further comprising a battery, a capacitor, and a switch connected to the battery, the capacitor, and the converter, the method further comprising adjusting a position of the switch to connect the converter to (i) the capacitor, (ii) the battery, or (iii) both the capacitor and the battery.

27. A master device for wirelessly charging a slave device, the master device comprising:

a memory storing a first identifying information of the slave device;

a processor configured to;

receive a second identifying information from the slave device; and

compare the second identifying information received from the slave device with the first identifying information of the slave device stored in the memory to determine a match; and

a power transmitter configured to;

provide power wirelessly to the slave device for wirelessly charging the slave device when the processor determines the match between the second identifying information and the first identifying information.

28. The master device of claim 27, wherein the power transmitter is configured to wirelessly provide power using RF beams.

29. The master device of claim 27, wherein the power transmitter is configured to wirelessly provide power using non-resonant induction.

30. The master device of claim 27, wherein the power transmitter is configured to wirelessly provide power using resonant induction.

31. A method for use by a master device for wirelessly charging a first device, the master device including a processor, a power transmitter and a memory storing a first identifying of the slave device, the method comprising:

receiving, using the processor, a second identifying information from the slave device;

comparing, using the processor, the second identifying information received from the slave device with the first identifying information of the slave device stored in the memory to determine a match; and

providing power wirelessly to the slave device, using the power transmitter, for wirelessly charging the slave device when the comparing, using the processor, determines the match between the second identifying information and the first identifying information.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the providing power wirelessly to the first slave device provides power using RF beams.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the providing power wirelessly to the first slave device provides power using non-resonant induction.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the providing power wirelessly to the first slave device provides power using resonant induction.