Wireless charging methods and systems for game controllers, based on pocket-forming

• US 9,899,861 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Brewer, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Arun
• Application Number:
  US14/585,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 320107
• 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 present invention provides wireless charging methods and systems for powering game controllers. The methods and systems may include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers. In some embodiments the transmitters and receivers may be embedded to game console and game controllers, respectively. In other embodiments, the transmitters and receivers may be connected as a separate device to the game console and game controllers, respectively. The method may include wireless power transmission through suitable techniques such as pocket-forming.

Claims

1. A method for wireless power supply to a game controller, the method comprising:

receiving, by a transmitter and from a receiver coupled with a game controller, a communication signal indicating a power requirement of the game controller;

in response to receiving the communication signal from the receiver;

determining a location of the game controller based on the communication signal;

generating, by the transmitter, a plurality of radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves; and

controlling, by the transmitter, transmission of the generated plurality of RF power transmission waves through at least two antenna elements coupled to the transmitter, wherein the transmitter shifts a phase and a gain of a respective RF power transmission wave with respect to other respective RF power transmission waves so that the plurality of RF power transmission waves converges to form a constructive interference pattern in proximity to the determined location of the game controller.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is integrated with the game controller, and the receiver is configured to receive energy accumulated in the constructive interference pattern that is formed from convergence of the plurality of RF power transmission waves.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is coupled with the game controller via an external cover of the game controller, and the receiver includes a plurality of antennas adapted to be a part of the external cover of the game controller.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter receives the communication signal from the receiver using a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, or FM radio.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the constructive interference pattern comprises a pocket of energy, and the method further comprises regulating the pocket of energy using adaptive pocket-forming.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a far-field transmitter.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving an additional communication signal from an additional receiver coupled to an additional game controller, wherein the additional receiver is distinct from the receiver and the additional game controller is distinct from the game controller;

controlling, by the transmitter, transmission of an additional plurality of RF power transmission waves so that the additional plurality of RF power transmission waves converges to form an additional constructive interference pattern in proximity to a location of the additional game controller, wherein the location of the additional game controller is determined by the transmitter based on the additional communication signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter is coupled with a game console, and

generating the plurality of RF power transmission waves includes generating the plurality of RF power transmission waves using power received from the game console.

9. An apparatus for wireless power transmission to a game controller, comprising:

a power source;

a transmitter coupled to the power source and comprising;

at least two or more antenna elements to transmit radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves that are transmitted so as to form respective constructive interference patterns; and

a communication component configured to receive a communication signal from a receiver coupled to a game controller;

the transmitter configured to;

in response to receiving the communication signal from the receiver;

determine a location of the game controller based on the communication signal; and

generate a plurality of RF power transmission waves; and

control transmission of the generated plurality of RF power transmission waves through the at least two or more antenna elements, wherein the transmitter shifts a phase and a gain of a respective RF power transmission wave with respect to other respective RF power transmission waves so that the plurality of RF power transmission waves converges to form a constructive interference pattern in proximity to the determined location of the game controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least two or more antenna elements of the transmitter are flat antennas, patch antennas, dipole antennas, or combinations thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least two or more antenna elements of the transmitter are part of an array of antenna elements that operates in independent frequencies configured to allow a multichannel operation of forming respective constructive interference patterns by the transmitter, wherein the antenna array is configured as a single array, pair array, quad array, or other suitable arrangement.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least two or more antenna elements coupled to the transmitter are configured to polarize the plurality of RF power transmission waves to include vertical polarization, horizontal polarization, circular polarization, elliptical polarization, or combinations thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communication component of the transmitter receives the communication signal using a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth®

, Wi-Fi®

, ZigBee®

, or FM radio.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transmitter is a far-field transmitter.

15. A wireless charging apparatus for a game controller, comprising:

a game controller; and

a receiver coupled to the game controller, the receiver comprising;

a communication component configured to transmit a communication signal to a transmitter;

an antenna configured to receive energy accumulated in a constructive interference pattern, wherein the constructive interference pattern is formed by controlled transmission of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves, by at least two antenna elements of the transmitter, wherein the transmitter shifts a phase and a gain of a respective RF power transmission wave with respect to other respective RF power transmission waves so that the plurality of RF power transmission waves converges to form the constructive interference pattern in proximity to a location of the game controller;

a rectifying circuit configured to convert the received energy into electricity to charge the game controller.

16. The wireless charging apparatus for a game controller of claim 15, wherein the antenna of the receiver is adapted to be a part of an external cover of the game controller.

17. The wireless charging apparatus for a game controller of claim 15, wherein the communication signal is transmitted by the receiver using a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth®

, ZigBee®

, or FM radio.

18. The wireless charging apparatus for a game controller of claim 15, wherein the constructive interference pattern comprises a pocket of energy that is regulated by the transmitter by utilizing adaptive pocket-forming.

19. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmitter is a far-field transmitter.

20. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 15, wherein the receiver is configured to modify polarization of the antenna to optimize reception of the plurality of RF power transmission waves.