Systems and methods for extending battery life of portable electronic devices charged by sound

• US 9,966,784 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/295,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20150349574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• 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 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for improving battery life of electronic devices such as Bluetooth headsets, smart-watches among others running on small batteries, for example coin batteries. The method may include wireless sound power transmission through suitable techniques such as pocket-forming, while including receivers and capacitors in the aforementioned devices. Wirelessly charged capacitors may provide sufficient power on which devices may run, and thus, battery life of such electronic devices may be enhanced.

Claims

1. A method to improve battery life of a portable electronic device, comprising:

receiving, by a sensor in a receiver, a plurality of sound waves at a pocket of energy, the plurality of sound waves wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter to form the pocket of energy, wherein the sensor converts the received plurality of sound waves to an alternating current;

converting, by a rectifier of the receiver, the alternating current into a direct current for charging an auxiliary power supply of an electronic device that is coupled with the receiver;

while the auxiliary power supply is being charged using the direct current;

providing power to the electronic device using a primary power supply, distinct from the auxiliary power supply; and

determining whether the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the electronic device; and

in accordance with determining that the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the electronic device;

providing power to the electronic device using the auxiliary power supply and ceasing to provide power to the electronic device using the primary supply.

2. The method to improve battery life of a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the converting the alternating current into the direct current includes:

rectifying, by the rectifier, the alternating current into the direct current; and

converting, by a power converter of the receiver, the direct current into a constant direct current (DC) voltage for charging the auxiliary power supply.

3. The method to improve battery life of a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power supply comprises a capacitor.

4. The method to improve battery life of a portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by a communication component of the receiver, a communications signal to the transmitter, wherein the communications signal is transmitted using a communication protocol selected from a group consisting of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Zigbee to carry information related to one or more power requirements of the electronic device.

5. A wireless-power-receiving electronic device comprising:

a sensor configured to receive a plurality of sound waves at a pocket of energy, the plurality of sound waves wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter to form the pocket of energy, wherein the sensor converts the received plurality of sound waves to an alternating current; and

a rectifier configured to convert the alternating current into a direct current for charging an auxiliary power supply of the wireless power receiving electronic device,

a controller, operatively coupled with the sensor and the rectifier, wherein the controller is configured to;

while the auxiliary power supply is being charged using the direct current;

provide power to the electronic device using a primary power supply, distinct from the auxiliary power supply; and

determine whether the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the electronic device; and

in accordance with determining that the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the electronic device;

provide power to the electronic device using the auxiliary power supply and ceasing to provide power to the electronic device using the primary power supply.

6. The wireless-power-receiving electronic device of claim 5, further comprising:

a communications component configured to transmit a communications signal to the transmitter, wherein the communications signal is transmitted using a communication protocol selected from a group consisting of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Zigbee to carry information related to one or more power requirements of the wireless-power-receiving electronic device.

7. The wireless-power-receiving electronic device of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary power supply comprises a capacitor for storing DC voltage.

8. The wireless-power-receiving electronic device of claim 5, wherein the wireless-power-receiving electronic device is a portable electronic device running on batteries for the primary power supply.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 5, wherein:

the primary power supply is connected in parallel to the auxiliary power supply; and

the controller of the wireless-power-receiving electronic device is configured to regulate the use of the auxiliary power supply to extend the battery life of the primary power supply.

10. The wireless-power-receiving electronic device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to:

verify status of the auxiliary and primary power supplies; and

switch the auxiliary power supply between run and sleep modes based upon a level of charge in the auxiliary power supply.

11. The wireless-power-receiving electronic device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sound waves transmitted by the transmitter are generated by transducers of the transmitter operating in frequency bands from about 10 KHz to about 50 KHz.

12. The wireless-power-receiving electronic device of claim 5, wherein the controller comprises one or more microprocessors or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

13. The wireless-power-receiving electronic device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to verify a voltage in order to predefine time intervals during which either the auxiliary power supply or the primary power supply provides power to the portable electronic device.

14. The wireless-power-receiving electronic device claim 5, wherein the auxiliary power supply comprises a capacitor and the primary power supply comprises a battery and wherein the controller is configured to verify a power delivery status to minimize power load on the battery.

15. A receiver for receiving wireless power, comprising;

a sensor configured to receive sound waves that are wirelessly transmitted by a transmitter to form a pocket of energy, wherein the sensor converts the received sound waves to an alternating current;

a rectifier connected to the sensor and configured to rectify the alternating current to generate a direct current (DC) voltage;

a power converter connected to the rectifier and configured to provide a constant DC voltage for charging at least one of an auxiliary power supply and a battery associated with a portable electronic device;

a communication device configured to transmit a communications signal identifying the auxiliary power supply and battery level of the portable electronic device; and

a micro-controller connected to the communication device and to the auxiliary power supply and the battery, and the micro-controller is configured to;

while the auxiliary power supply is being charged using the direct current;

provide power to the portable electronic device using a primary power supply, distinct from the auxiliary power supply, and

determine whether the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the portable electronic device; and

in accordance with determining that the auxiliary power supply is sufficiently charged to power the portable electronic device;

provide power to the portable electronic device using the auxiliary power supply and ceasing to provide power to the portable electronic device using the primary power supply.