Systems and methods for wireless power transmission by comparing voltage levels associated with power waves transmitted by antennas of a plurality of antennas of a transmitter to determine appropriate phase adjustments for the power waves

• US 9,887,739 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US14/584,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20160099756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• 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 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: 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 wireless power transmission, the method comprising:

receiving, by communications component of a transmitter, a first communication signal from a receiver, the first communication signal indicating a location associated with the receiver,

wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of antennas configured to transmit one or more power waves while the communication component of the transmitter receives one or more communications signals;

transmitting, by the transmitter, a first power wave at a first phase from a first antenna of a plurality of antennas to a location of the receiver;

receiving, by the communications component of the transmitter from the receiver, voltage level data indicating a first voltage level associated with the first power wave;

transmitting, by the transmitter, a second power wave at a second phase from a second antenna of the plurality of antennas to the location of the receiver;

receiving, by the communications component of the transmitter from the receiver, voltage level data indicating a second voltage level associated with the second power wave;

upon determining that the first voltage level associated with the first power wave was greater than the second voltage level associated with the second power wave, continue transmitting, by the transmitter, power waves at the first phase from the first antenna to the location of the receiver and adjusting the second phase of the second power wave until the second voltage level associated with the second power wave reaches at least a previously stored value for the first voltage level associated with the first power wave; and

upon determining that the second voltage level associated with the second power wave was greater than the first voltage level associated with the first power wave;

continue transmitting, by the transmitter, power waves at the second phase from the second antenna to the location of the receiver and adjusting the first phase of the first power wave until the first voltage level associated with the first power wave reaches at least a previously stored value for the second voltage level associated with the second power wave,

wherein the transmitter is configured to determine each voltage level using at least one communications signal received while transmitting at least one power wave.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna refer to the same antenna.

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

4. 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 hands.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennas is vertically polarized, horizontally polarized, circularly polarized, left hand polarized, or right hand polarized or a combination of polarizations.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power waves are selected from the group consisting of:

electromagnetic waves, radio waves, ultrasound waves, and magnetic resonance.

7. A system for wireless power transmission comprising:

a transmitter comprising a communications component and a plurality of antennas, the transmitter configured to;

receive via the communications component a first communication signal from a receiver, the first communication signal indicating a location associated with the receiver, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to transmit one or more power waves while the communication component of the transmitter receives one or more communications signals;

transmit a first power wave at a first phase from a first antenna of a plurality of antennas to the location associated with the receiver;

receive from the receiver via the communications component, voltage level data indicating a first voltage level associated with the first power wave;

transmit a second power wave at a second phase from a second antenna the location of the receiver;

receive from the receiver via the communications component, voltage level data indicating a second voltage level associated with the second power wave;

upon determining that the voltage level associated with the first power wave was greater than the voltage level associated with the second power wave, continue transmitting power waves at the first phase from the first antenna to the location of the receiver and adjusting the second phase of the second power wave until the voltage level associated with the second power wave reaches at least a previously stored value for the first voltage level associated with the first power wave; and

upon determining that the voltage level associated with the second power wave was greater than the voltage level associated with the first power wave, continue transmitting power waves at the second phase from the second antenna to the location of the receiver and adjusting the first phase of the first power wave until the voltage level associated with the first power wave reaches at least a previously stored value for the second voltage level associated with the second power wave,

wherein the transmitter is configured to determine each voltage level using each communications signal while transmitting at least one power wave.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are the same antenna.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of antennas are flat antennas, patch antennas, or dipole antennas.

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

11. The system of claim 7, wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennas is vertically polarized, horizontally polarized, circularly polarized, left hand polarized, or right hand polarized or a combination of polarizations.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the power waves are selected from the group consisting of:

electromagnetic waves, radio waves, ultrasound waves, and magnetic resonance.