Systems and methods of transmitting power transmission waves based on signals received at first and second subsets of a transmitter's antenna array

• US 9,906,065 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• 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): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Xuan
• Application Number:
  US14/583,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20160099612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,158 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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

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 of wirelessly transmitting power, the method comprising:

at a wireless power transmitter comprising an antenna array;

receiving, by a first subset of antennas of the antenna array, a first signal from a wireless power receiver;

receiving, by a second subset of antennas of the antenna array, a second signal from the wireless power receiver, wherein the second subset of antennas includes at least one antenna not included in the first subset of antennas;

based on an analysis of the first and second signals, determining, by the controller, transmission features for power transmission waves that cause the power transmission waves to constructively interfere around a location of the wireless power receiver when transmitted by the antenna array; and

after determining the transmission features based on the analysis of the first and second signals, transmitting, by the antenna array, power transmission waves having the determined transmission features, the power transmission waves constructively interfering around the location of the wireless power receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subset of antennas is substantially perpendicular to the second subset of antennas within the antenna array.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subset of antennas is a row of antennas and the second subset of antennas is a column of antennas.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the wireless power transmitter:

determining a horizontal angle representing the location of the wireless power receiver relative to the wireless power transmitter based on the first signal; and

determining a vertical angle representing the location of the wireless power receiver relative to the wireless power transmitter based on the second signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the transmission features include phase and gain; and

determining the transmission features includes;

determining a phase at which to transmit the power transmission waves based on the horizontal angle; and

determining a gain with which to transmit the power transmission waves based on the vertical angle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting the power transmission waves having the determined transmission features includes transmitting the power transmission waves at the determined phase and with the determined gain so that the power transmission waves constructively interfere around the location of the wireless power receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission features for the power transmission waves are further determined using previously stored data about the antenna array.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the wireless power transmitter, saving the determined transmission features for the power transmission waves, wherein the saved transmission features are used to determine future transmission features.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the power transmission waves are radio frequency power transmission waves.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the power transmission waves are selected from the group consisting of:

electromagnetic waves, radio frequency waves, microwaves, sound waves, and ultrasonic waves.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second subsets of antennas have at least one common antenna.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna array includes additional antennas that are distinct and separate from antennas in the first and second subsets of antennas.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the power transmission waves having the determined transmission features comprises transmitting at least one power transmission wave having the determined transmission features at each antenna of the antenna array.

14. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

an antenna array comprising a first subset of antennas and a second subset of antennas, the antenna array being configured to;

receive, by the first subset of antennas, a first signal from a wireless power receiver; and

receive, by the second subset of antennas, a second signal from the wireless power receiver, wherein the second subset of antennas includes at least one antenna not included in the first subset of antennas;

a controller configured to determine, based on an analysis of the first and second signals, transmission features for power transmission waves that cause the power transmission waves to constructively interfere around a location of the wireless power receiver when transmitted by the antenna array,

wherein the antenna array is further configured to transmit power transmission waves having the determined transmission features after the controller determines the transmission features based on the analysis of the first and second signals, the power transmission waves constructively interfering around the location of the wireless power receiver.

15. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the first subset of antennas is substantially perpendicular to the second subset of antennas within the antenna array.

16. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the first subset of antennas is a row of antennas and the second subset of antennas is a column of antennas.

17. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a horizontal angle representing the location of the wireless power receiver relative to the wireless power transmitter based on the first signal; and

determine a vertical angle representing the location of the wireless power receiver relative to the wireless power transmitter based on the second signal.

18. The wireless power transmitter of claim 17, wherein:

the transmission features include phase and gain; and

determining the transmission features includes;

determining a phase at which to transmit the power transmission waves based on the horizontal angle; and

determining a gain with which to transmit the power transmission waves based on the vertical angle.

19. The wireless power transmitter of claim 18, wherein transmitting the power transmission waves having the determined transmission features includes transmitting the power transmission waves at the determined phase and with the determined gain so that the power transmission waves constructively interfere around the location of the wireless power receiver.

20. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the transmission features for the power transmission waves are further determined using previously stored data about the antenna array.

21. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to save the determined transmission features for the power transmission waves, wherein the saved transmission features are used to determine future transmission features.

22. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the power transmission waves are radio frequency power transmission waves.

23. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the power transmission waves are selected from the group consisting of:

electromagnetic waves, radio frequency waves, microwaves, sound waves, and ultrasonic waves.

24. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the first and second subsets of antennas have at least one common antenna.

25. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein the antenna array includes additional antennas that are distinct and separate from the first and second subsets of antennas.

26. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14, wherein transmitting the power transmission waves having the determined transmission features comprises transmitting a power transmission wave at each antenna of the antenna array.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a wireless power transmitter comprising an antenna array, the one or more programs including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless power transmitter to:

receive, by a first subset of antennas of the antenna array, a first signal from a wireless power receiver;

receive, by a second subset of antennas of the antenna array, a second signal from the wireless power receiver, wherein the second subset of antennas includes at least one antenna not included in the first subset of antennas;

based on an analysis of the first and second signals, determine transmission features for power transmission waves that cause the power transmission waves to constructively interfere around a location of the wireless power receiver when transmitted by the antenna array; and

after determining the transmission features based on the analysis of the first and second signals, transmit, by the antenna array, power transmission waves having the determined transmission features, the power transmission waves constructively interfering around the location of the wireless power receiver.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the first subset of antennas is substantially perpendicular to the second subset of antennas within the antenna array.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the first subset of antennas is a row of antennas and the second subset of antennas is a column of antennas.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless power transmitter to:

determine a horizontal angle representing the location of the wireless power receiver relative to the wireless power transmitter based on the first signal; and

determine a vertical angle representing the location of the wireless power receiver relative to the wireless power transmitter based on the second signal.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein:

the transmission features include phase and gain; and

determining the transmission features includes;

determining a phase at which to transmit the power transmission waves based on the horizontal angle; and

determining a gain with which to transmit the power transmission waves based on the vertical angle.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein transmitting the power transmission waves having the determined transmission features includes transmitting the power transmission waves at the determined phase and with the determined gain so that the power transmission waves constructively interfere around the location of the wireless power receiver.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the transmission features for the power transmission waves are further determined using previously stored data about the antenna array.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless power transmitter to save the determined transmission features for the power transmission waves, wherein the saved transmission features are used to determine future transmission features.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the power transmission waves are radio frequency power transmission waves.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the power transmission waves are selected from the group consisting of:

electromagnetic waves, radio frequency waves, microwaves, sound waves, and ultrasonic waves.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the first and second subsets of antennas have at least one common antenna.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the antenna array includes additional antennas that are distinct and separate from the first and second subsets of antennas.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein transmitting the power transmission waves having the determined transmission features comprises transmitting a power transmission wave at each antenna of the antenna array.