Methods and apparatus for wirelessly powered lighting

• US 9,723,699 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Von Novak, III, William Henry, Burrell, Kelsey Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Alexander H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahr, Kurtis R
• Application Number:
  US15/197,515
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Aspects comprise apparatus and methods for wirelessly powered lighting products. One aspect comprises an apparatus that generates light from a wirelessly coupled power source. The apparatus comprises a first conductive loop configured to enclose an area, the first conductive loop configured to resonate and generate an induced current when excited by a magnetic field generated by a transmitter. The apparatus further comprises a first set of one or more capacitive elements coupled to the first conductive loop, the coupled first conductive loop and first one or more capacitive elements configured to form a first resonant circuit. The apparatus also comprises a first set of one or more lighting devices integrated with the first conductive loop, the first set of one or more lighting devices each configured to generate a light based on the induced current that flows through the first set of one or more lighting devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first conductive loop configured to enclose an area, the first conductive loop configured to resonate and generate an induced current when excited by a magnetic field generated by a transmitter;

a first plurality of capacitive elements coupled to the first conductive loop, each of the first plurality of capacitive elements distributed along the first conductive loop such that the coupled first conductive loop and first plurality of capacitive elements form a first resonant circuit; and

a first plurality of lighting devices integrated with the first conductive loop, the first plurality of lighting devices each configured to generate a light based on the induced current that flows through the first plurality of lighting devices,

wherein each one of the first plurality of capacitive elements is coupled in series with one of the first plurality of lighting devices to form a lighting node comprising at least one capacitive element and at least one lighting device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a regulator configured to regulate a brightness of the light generated by the first set of one or more lighting devices by regulating the current that flows through the first conductive loop.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the regulator comprises one of a capacitive regulator, a switchmode regulator, or a linear regulator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rectifier coupled to the first conductive loop, the rectifier configured to rectify the induced current into a direct current (DC) voltage to provide power to the first plurality of lighting devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a power storage device configured to store a charge based on the DC voltage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductive loop is further configured to generate a second magnetic field for wirelessly transferring power to a second conductive loop positioned such that at least a portion of an area enclosed by the second conductive loop is perpendicular to the transmitter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of lighting devices emits light of a first primary color and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a second conductive loop having a second plurality of capacitive elements integrated with the second conductive loop and a second plurality of lighting device integrated with the second conductive loop, wherein the second plurality of lighting devices emits light of a second primary color; and

a third conductive loop having a third plurality of capacitive elements integrated with the third conductive loop and a third plurality of lighting device integrated with the third conductive loop, wherein the third plurality of lighting devices emits light of a third primary color.

8. A method for providing light with a wirelessly powered lighting product, the method comprising:

generating an induced current via a first conductive loop and a first plurality of capacitive elements at a resonant frequency when exposed to a magnetic field generated by a transmitter, each of the first plurality of capacitive elements distributed along the first conductive loop such that the coupled first conductive loop and the first plurality of capacitive elements form a resonant circuit; and

generating light via a first plurality of lighting devices integrated with the first conductive loop based on the induced current that flows through the first plurality of lighting devices,

wherein each one of the plurality of capacitive elements is coupled in series with one of the plurality of lighting devices to form a lighting node comprising at least one capacitive element and at least one lighting device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising regulating, via a current regulator, a brightness of the light emitted by the first plurality of lighting devices by regulating the induced current that flows through the first conductive loop.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the current regulator comprises one of a capacitive regulator, a switchmode regulator, or a linear regulator.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising rectifying the induced current, via a rectifier coupled to the first conductive loop, into a direct current (DC) voltage to provide power to the first plurality of lighting devices.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing a charge based on the DC voltage.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first conductive loop is further configured to generate a second magnetic field for wirelessly transferring power to a second conductive loop positioned such that at least a portion of an area enclosed by the first second conductive loop is perpendicular to the transmitter.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the light via the first plurality of lighting devices comprises generating light of a first primary color and wherein the method further comprises:

generating light of a second primary color via a second plurality of lighting devices integrated with a second conductive loop based on induced current that flows through the second plurality of lighting devices; and

generating light of a third primary color via a third plurality of lighting devices integrated with a third conductive loop based on induced current that flows through the third plurality of lighting devices.

15. An apparatus for providing light, the apparatus comprising:

first means for generating a first induced current when excited by a magnetic field generated by a transmitter, wherein the generating means encloses an area and is configured to resonate;

a first plurality of means for forming a first resonant circuit when coupled to the first generating means, each of the first plurality of forming means distributed along the first generating means; and

a first plurality of means for emitting light, integrated with the first generating means, based on the first induced current that flows through the first plurality of light emitting means,

wherein each one of the first plurality of forming means is coupled in series with one of the first plurality of light emitting means to form a lighting node comprising at least one forming means and at least one light emitting means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for regulating a brightness of the light emitted by the first plurality of light emitting means by regulating the first induced current that flows through the first conductive loop.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for regulating a brightness comprises one of a capacitive current regulator, a switchmode current regulator, or a linear current regulator.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for rectifying the first induced current into a direct current (DC) voltage to provide power to the first plurality of light emitting means.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for storing a charge based on the DC voltage.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first generating means is further configured to generate a second magnetic field for wirelessly transferring power to a means for generating a second induced current positioned such that at least a portion of an area enclosed by the second generating means is perpendicular to the transmitter.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the each of the first plurality of light emitting means generates light of a first primary color and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a second plurality of means for emitting light of a second primary color integrated with a second means for generating a second induced current; and

a third plurality of means for emitting light of a third primary color integrated with a third means for generating a third induced current.

22. A system comprising:

a wireless power transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power via a magnetic field; and

a light emitting product comprising;

a first conductive loop configured to enclose an area, the first conductive loop configured to resonate and generate an induced current when excited by the magnetic field generated by the transmitter,

a first plurality of capacitive elements coupled to the first conductive loop, each of the first plurality of capacitive elements distributed along the first conductive loop such that the coupled first conductive loop and first plurality of capacitive elements form a first resonant circuit, and

a first plurality of lighting devices integrated with the first conductive loop, the first plurality of lighting devices each configured to generate a light based on the induced current that flows through the first plurality of lighting devices,

wherein each one of the first plurality of capacitive elements is coupled in series with one of the first plurality of lighting devices to form a lighting node comprising at least one capacitive element and at least one lighting device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the wireless power transmitter comprises a second conductive loop, the second conductive loop configured to enclose an area smaller than the area of the first conductive loop.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a third conductive loop comprising a second plurality of lighting devices integrated with the third conductive loop, the third conductive loop configured to resonate and generate an induced current when at least excited by a secondary magnetic field generated by the first conductive loop.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the light emitting product further comprises a current regulator configured to control a brightness of the light emitted by the first plurality of lighting devices by regulating the induced current that flows through the first conductive loop.