Systems and methods for assigning groups of antennas to transmit wireless power to different wireless power receivers

• US 9,876,536 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Douglas, Leabman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US14/584,107
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• 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 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 7/00034 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 embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. The transmitter can locate the at least one receiver in a three-dimensional space using a communication medium (e.g., Bluetooth technology). The transmitter generates a waveform to create a pocket of energy around each of the at least one receiver. The transmitter uses an algorithm to direct, focus, and control the waveform in three dimensions. The receiver can convert the transmission signals (e.g., RF signals) into electricity for powering an electronic device. Accordingly, the embodiments for wireless power transmission can allow powering and charging a plurality of electrical devices without wires.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting wireless power comprising:

determining, by a transmitter, whether a first wireless power receiver coupled to a first electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

transmitting, by the transmitter, a communication signal to the first wireless power receiver to identify a location the of first wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter;

assigning, by the transmitter, a plurality of antennas of the transmission antenna array to the first wireless power receiver coupled to a first electronic device;

generating, by the transmitter, two or more power transmission waves with the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver;

determining, by the transmitter, whether a second wireless power receiver coupled to a second electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

transmitting, by the transmitter, a communication signal to the second wireless power receiver to identify a location the of second wireless power receiver relative to the transmission antenna array;

re-assigning, by the transmitter, the plurality of antennas of the transmission antenna array by creating a first group of the plurality of antennas and a second group of the plurality of antennas, wherein the first group of the plurality of antennas is assigned to the first wireless power receiver and the second group of the plurality of antennas is assigned to the second wireless power receiver;

generating, by the transmitter, at a first period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the first group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver; and

generating, by the transmitter, at the first period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the second group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the second wireless power receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the transmitter, whether a third wireless power receiver coupled to a third electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

determining, by the transmitter, whether a fourth wireless power receiver coupled to a fourth electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

determining, by the transmitter, whether a fifth wireless power receiver coupled to a fifth electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

transmitting, by the transmitter, a communication to the third wireless power receiver to track a location the of third wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter;

transmitting, by the transmitter, a communication to the fourth wireless power receiver to track a location of fourth wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter; and

transmitting, by the transmitter, a communication to the fifth wireless power receiver to track a location the of fifth wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

re-assigning, by the transmitter, the plurality of antennas of the transmission antenna array by creating a modified first group of the plurality of antennas, a modified second group of the plurality of antennas, a third group of the plurality of antennas, and a fourth group of the plurality of antennas.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

generating, by the transmitter, at a second period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified first group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver;

generating, by the transmitter, at the second period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified second group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the second wireless power receiver;

generating, by the transmitter, at the second period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the third group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the third wireless power receiver; and

generating, by the transmitter, at the second period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the fourth group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fourth wireless power receiver.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

generating, by the transmitter, at a third period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified first group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fifth wireless power receiver;

generating, by the transmitter, at the third period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified second group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the second wireless power receiver;

generating, by the transmitter, at the third period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the third group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the third wireless power receiver; and

generating, by the transmitter, at the third period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the fourth group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fourth wireless power receiver.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

generating, by the transmitter, at a fourth period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified first group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fifth wireless power receiver;

generating, by the transmitter, at the fourth period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified second group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver;

generating, by the transmitter, at the fourth period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the third group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the third wireless power receiver; and

generating, by the transmitter, at the fourth period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the fourth group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fourth wireless power receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to operate in frequency bands of 900 MHz, 2.5 GHz, or 5.8 GHz.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas have at least one polarization or a polarization including a vertical pole, horizontal pole, circularly polarized, left hand polarized, right hand polarized or a combination of polarizations.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas are flat antennas, patch antennas, or dipole antennas.

10. A system for transmitting wireless power comprising:

a transmitter configured to;

determine whether a first wireless power receiver coupled to a first electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

transmit a communication signal to the first wireless power receiver to identify a location the of first wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter;

assign a plurality of antennas of the transmission antenna array to the first wireless power receiver coupled to a first electronic device;

generate two or more power transmission waves with the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver;

determine whether a second wireless power receiver coupled to a second electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

transmit a communication signal to the second wireless power receiver to identify a location the of second wireless power receiver relative to the transmission antenna array;

re-assign the plurality of antennas of the transmission antenna array by creating a first group of the plurality of antennas and a second group of the plurality of antennas, wherein the first group of the plurality of antennas is assigned to the first wireless power receiver and the second group of the plurality of antennas is assigned to the second wireless power receiver;

generate at a first period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the first group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver; and

generate at the first period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the second group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the second wireless power receiver.

11. The system of claim 10, the transmitter further configured to:

determine whether a third wireless power receiver coupled to a third electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

determine whether a fourth wireless power receiver coupled to a fourth electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

determine whether a fifth wireless power receiver coupled to a fifth electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

transmit a communication to the third wireless power receiver to track a location the of third wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter;

transmit a communication to the fourth wireless power receiver to track a location the of fourth wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter; and

transmit a communication to the fifth wireless power receiver to track a location the of fifth wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter.

12. The system of claim 11, the transmitter further configured to:

re-assign the plurality of antennas of the transmission antenna array by creating a modified first group of the plurality of antennas, a modified second group of the plurality of antennas, a third group of the plurality of antennas, and a fourth group of the plurality of antennas.

13. The system of claim 12, the transmitter further configured to:

generate at a second period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified first group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver;

generate at the second period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified second group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the second wireless power receiver;

generate at the second period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the third group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the third wireless power receiver; and

generate at the second period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the fourth group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fourth wireless power receiver.

14. The system of claim 13, the transmitter further configured to:

generate at a third period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified first group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fifth wireless power receiver;

generate at the third period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified second group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the second wireless power receiver;

generate at the third period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the third group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the third wireless power receiver; and

generate at the third period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the fourth group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fourth wireless power receiver.

15. The system of claim 14, the transmitter further configured to:

generate at a fourth period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified first group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fifth wireless power receiver;

generate at the fourth period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the modified second group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver;

generate at the fourth period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the third group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the third wireless power receiver; and

generate at the fourth period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the fourth group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the fourth wireless power receiver.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to operate in frequency bands of 900 MHz, 2.5 GHz, or 5.8 GHz.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of antennas have at least one polarization or a polarization including a vertical pole, horizontal pole, circularly polarized, left hand polarized, right hand polarized or a combination of polarizations.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of antennas are flat antennas, patch antennas, or dipole antennas.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions for transmitting wireless power that, when executed by a processor that is coupled with a transmitter, cause the transmitter to:

determine whether a first wireless power receiver coupled to a first electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

transmit a communication signal to the first wireless power receiver to identify a location the of first wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter;

assign a plurality of antennas of the transmission antenna array to the first wireless power receiver coupled to a first electronic device;

generate two or more power transmission waves with the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver;

determine whether a second wireless power receiver coupled to a second electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

transmit a communication signal to the second wireless power receiver to identify a location the of second wireless power receiver relative to the transmission antenna array;

re-assign the plurality of antennas of the transmission antenna array by creating a first group of the plurality of antennas and a second group of the plurality of antennas, wherein the first group of the plurality of antennas is assigned to the first wireless power receiver and the second group of the plurality of antennas is assigned to the second wireless power receiver;

generate at a first period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the first group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the first wireless power receiver; and

generate at the first period of time, two or more power transmission waves with the second group of the plurality of antennas forming controlled constructive interference patterns that converge at the location of the second wireless power receiver.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, comprising further executable instructions that cause the transmitter to:

determine whether a third wireless power receiver coupled to a third electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

determine whether a fourth wireless power receiver coupled to a fourth electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

determine whether a fifth wireless power receiver coupled to a fifth electronic device is within range of the transmitter;

transmit a communication to the third wireless power receiver to track a location the of third wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter;

transmit a communication to the fourth wireless power receiver to track a location the of fourth wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter; and

transmit a communication to the fifth wireless power receiver to track a location the of fifth wireless power receiver relative to the transmitter.