TV system with wireless power transmitter

• US 9,843,763 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Kik, Phallaka
• Application Number:
  US14/584,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20160100124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 336 30, 348162, 348730, 4551271, 455129, 4553431
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 21/02 continuously variable, e.g. variometers
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

An apparatus for transmitting wireless power is provided. The apparatus comprising a television system and a transmitter coupled to the television system. The transmitter is configured to emit a plurality of wireless power waves and define a pocket of energy thereby so that a receiver is able to interface with the pocket of energy and charge a device thereby, wherein the device is coupled to the receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting wireless power, the apparatus comprising:

a television system; and

a transmitter coupled to the television system and comprising a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) transmit antennas, wherein each of the RF transmit antennas of the transmitter is configured to transmit a plurality of wireless power waves that converge to form a controlled constructive interference pattern at a location of a receiver configured to interface with the controlled constructive interference pattern and charge a device coupled to the receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the television system externally.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the television system internally.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the television system comprises a backlight and a polarization layer, wherein the backlight is positioned between the transmitter and the polarization layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transmitter extends along a first plane, wherein the polarization layer extends along a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane are parallel to each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the television system comprises a display and a bezel extending thereabout, wherein the bezel comprises at least one of the plurality of RF antennas.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the television system comprises a display and a back portion opposite thereof, wherein the back portion comprises at least one of the plurality of RF antennas.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a communicator configured to receive from the receiver a communication signal containing data to locate the receiver, and wherein the location of the controlled constructive interference pattern is determined based on the data of the communication signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the communicator is configured to receive the communication signal from the receiver via a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth®

, Wi-Fi®

, ZigBee®

, and frequency modulation (FM) radio.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the television system is configured to power the transmitter.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transmitter is configured to receive power from a first power source, wherein the television system is configured to receive power from a second power source, and wherein the first power source is independent of the second power source.

12. A method for transmitting wireless power, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) antennas of a transmitter coupled to a television system, a plurality of wireless power waves that converge to form a controlled constructive interference pattern at a location of a receiver configured to interface with the constructive interference pattern and charge a device coupled to the receiver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the television system externally.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the television system internally.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the television system comprises a backlight and a polarization layer, wherein the backlight is positioned between the transmitter and the polarization layer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitter extends along a first plane, wherein the polarization layer extends along a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane are parallel to each other.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the television system comprises a display and a bezel extending thereabout, and wherein the bezel comprises at least one of the RF antennas.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the television system comprises a display and a back portion opposite thereof, and wherein the back portion comprises at least one of the RF antennas.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, by a communicator of the transmitter configured to locate the receiver, from the receiver a communication signal indicating the location of the receiver; and

determining, by the communicator of the transmitter, the location of the receiver based upon the communication signal, wherein the controlled constructive interference pattern is formed by the RF antennas of the transmitter at the location of the receiver.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the television system is configured to power the transmitter.