Social power sharing for mobile devices based on pocket-forming

• US 9,843,213 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnett, Joel
• Application Number:
  US13/960,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20150042264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for wirelessly sharing power within multiple mobile devices connected to a power sharing community network using a mobile device application. This method may provide an easy and effective way to wirelessly share power from a group of mobile devices to other mobile devices in need of charge, located within the same area, such as a train station, bus station, food courts, airport terminals, etc. The method may include wireless power transmission through suitable techniques such as pocket-forming.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly sharing power between mobile electronic devices in public or other spaces, comprising:

executing a power sharing application that is stored in a memory of a mobile electronic device associated with a first user;

networking the mobile electronic device using the power sharing application with a power sharing network that includes a plurality of additional mobile electronic devices, wherein each respective additional mobile electronic device of the plurality of additional mobile electronic devices is associated with a respective user distinct from the first user;

determining, by the mobile electronic device, that a charge level of the mobile electronic device satisfies a threshold charge level defined in the power sharing application;

upon determining that the charge level of the mobile electronic device satisfies the threshold charge level, determining, by the mobile electronic device, whether the power sharing network includes a sufficient number of additional mobile electronic devices to start wirelessly transmitting RF power waves to a target electronic device that is connected to the power sharing network; and

upon determining that the power sharing network includes the sufficient number of additional mobile electronic devices to start wirelessly transmitting RF power waves to the target electronic device, transmitting, via a transmitter of the mobile electronic device, RF power waves that constructively interfere proximate to the target electronic device with additional RF power waves transmitted by at least a set of the plurality of additional mobile electronic devices.

2. The method for wirelessly sharing power between mobile electronic devices in public or other spaces of claim 1, wherein the transmitter of the mobile electronic device includes two or more antennas that are used to transmit the RF power waves.

3. The method for wirelessly sharing power between mobile electronic devices in public or other spaces of claim 1, wherein the power sharing application that is executing on the mobile electronic device allows the first user to set predetermined parameters for sharing or receiving power with or from other mobile devices that are in the power sharing network.

4. The method for wirelessly sharing power between mobile electronic devices in public or other spaces of claim 3, wherein the predetermined parameters include the threshold charge level and an amount of power that will be shared by the mobile electronic device with another mobile device in the power sharing network.

5. The method for wirelessly sharing power between mobile electronic devices in public or other spaces of claim 1, further comprising, broadcasting communication signals via antenna elements in the transmitter to the plurality of additional mobile electronic devices, wherein the communication signals are used to establish a path or channel for transmission of RF power waves to the target electronic device.

6. The method for wirelessly sharing power between mobile electronic devices in public or other spaces of claim 5, wherein the communication signals are transmitted using wireless communication protocols including Bluetooth, ZigBee, or FM radio.

7. The method for wirelessly sharing power between mobile electronic devices in public or other spaces of claim 1, wherein the transmitter of the mobile electronic device includes at least two antennas, a radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit, and a battery connected to a microcontroller that controls the RF integrated circuit, and

the method further comprises, adjusting, via the RF integrated circuit and the microcontroller, the at least two antennas to direct RF power waves to constructively interfere with the additional RF power waves proximate to the target electronic device.

8. The method for wirelessly sharing power between mobile electronic devices in public or other spaces of claim 1, wherein the target electronic device receives power from the mobile electronic device and the set of the plurality of additional mobile electronic devices until charging of the target electronic device is completed.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon determining that the charge level of the mobile electronic device does not satisfy the threshold charge level, requesting power from other mobile electronic devices in the power sharing network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon determining that the power sharing network does not include the sufficient number of additional mobile electronic devices, placing the mobile electronic device in a standby transmission mode until the sufficient number is satisfied.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while transmitting RF power waves, determining, by the mobile electronic device, that an amount of power shared by the mobile electronic device with the target electronic device satisfies a charge sharing threshold defined in the power sharing application; and

upon determining that the charge sharing threshold of the mobile electronic device is satisfied, ceasing transmission of RF power waves to the target electronic device.

12. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a transmitter;

one or more processors; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile electronic device to;

execute a power sharing application that is stored in the memory of the mobile electronic device, wherein the mobile electronic device is associated with a first user;

network the mobile electronic device using the power sharing application with the power sharing network that includes a plurality of additional mobile electronic devices, wherein each respective additional mobile electronic device of the plurality of additional mobile electronic devices is associated with a respective user distinct from the first user;

determine that a charge level of the mobile electronic device satisfies a threshold charge level defined in the power sharing application;

upon determining that the charge level of the mobile electronic device satisfies the threshold charge level, determine whether the power sharing network includes a sufficient number of additional mobile electronic devices to start wirelessly transmitting RF power waves to a target electronic device that is connected to the power sharing network; and

upon determining that the power sharing network includes the sufficient number of additional mobile electronic devices to start wirelessly transmitting RF power waves to the target electronic device, transmit, via the transmitter, RF power waves that constructively interfere proximate to the target electronic device with additional RF power waves transmitted by at least a set of the plurality of additional mobile electronic devices.

13. The mobile electronic device of claim 12, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile electronic device to:

upon determining that the charge level of the mobile electronic device does not satisfy the threshold charge level, request power from other mobile electronic devices in the power sharing network.

14. The mobile electronic device of claim 12, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile electronic device to:

upon determining that the power sharing network does not include the sufficient number of additional mobile electronic devices, place the mobile electronic device in a standby transmission mode until the sufficient number is satisfied.

15. The mobile electronic device of claim 12, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile electronic device to:

while transmitting RF power waves, determine that an amount of power shared by the mobile electronic device with the target electronic device satisfies a charge sharing threshold defined in the power sharing application; and

upon determining that the charge sharing threshold of the mobile electronic device is satisfied, cease transmission of RF power waves to the target electronic device.

16. The mobile electronic device of claim 12, wherein the transmitter of the mobile electronic device includes two or more antennas that are used to transmit the RF power waves.

17. The mobile electronic device of claim 12, wherein the power sharing application that is executing on the mobile electronic device allows the first user to set predetermined parameters for sharing or receiving power with or from other mobile devices that are in the power sharing network.

18. The mobile electronic device of claim 17, wherein the predetermined parameters include the threshold charge level and an amount of power that will be shared by the mobile electronic device with another mobile device in the power sharing network.

19. The mobile electronic device of claim 12, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile electronic device to:

broadcast communication signals via antenna elements in the transmitter to the plurality of additional mobile electronic devices, wherein the communication signals are used to establish a path or channel for transmission of RF power waves to the target electronic device.

20. The mobile electronic device of claim 12, wherein the transmitter of the mobile electronic device includes at least two antennas, a radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit, and a battery connected to a microcontroller that controls the RF integrated circuit;

and

the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile electronic device to;

adjust, via the RF integrated circuit and the microcontroller, the at least two antennas to direct RF power waves to constructively interfere with the additional RF power waves proximate to the target electronic device.

21. The mobile electronic device of claim 12, wherein the target electronic device receives power from the mobile electronic device and the set of the plurality of additional mobile electronic devices until charging of the target electronic device is completed.