Systems and methods for controlling operation of a transmitter of a wireless power network based on user instructions received from an authenticated computing device powered or charged by a receiver of the wireless power network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10211682-B2
Application number	US-201414272066-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2014
Priority date	May 7, 2014
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

An example method for managing a wireless power network includes: transmitting, via an antenna array of a transmitter, radio frequency waves that constructively interfere to produce energy pockets for receipt by a receiver, and the receiver is not in contact with the transmitter and is coupled with an authenticated computing device distinct from the receiver. The method also includes: executing a power transmitter manager application, the power transmitter manager application causing the transmitter to perform operations including: sending for display at the authenticated computing device a plurality of configuration options that are used to control operation of the transmitter; receiving an updated value for at least one of the plurality of configuration options; and, in response to receiving the updated value, controlling transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver using the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for managing a wireless power network, the system comprising:
at least one transmitter that includes a processor, an antenna array, and a communications interface distinct from the antenna array, the at least one transmitter configured to transmit, via the antenna array, radio frequency waves that constructively interfere to produce a plurality of energy pockets suitable for receipt by a receiver, wherein the receiver is not in physical contact with the at least one transmitter and the receiver is coupled with an authenticated computing device distinct from the receiver; and
at least one power transmitter manager application executed by the processor of the at least one transmitter, the at least one power transmitter manager application configured to cause the at least one transmitter to:
send, via the communications interface for display to a user at the authenticated computing device that is distinct from the receiver, a plurality of configuration options that are used to control operation of the at least one transmitter;
receive, via the communications interface, an updated value for at least one of the plurality of configuration options, where the updated value is based on information provided by the user at the authenticated computing device; and
in response to receiving the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options, control transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver using the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options, wherein the receiver uses energy from the radio frequency waves to provide power or charge to the authenticated computing device.

2. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1 , wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a power usage requirement for an electronic device that is associated with the receiver.

3. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1 , wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a current battery level for the authenticated computing device that is associated with the receiver.

4. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1 , wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a time period at which an electronic device associated with the receiver is scheduled to be charged.

5. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1 , wherein the communications interface of the at least one transmitter communicates with the authenticated computing device using a protocol selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® Low Energy, WiFi™, ZigBee®, and combinations thereof.

6. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1 , wherein:
the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a schedule for charging various electronic devices; and
controlling transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver includes transmitting radio frequency waves to the receiver in accordance with the schedule.

7. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1 , wherein the at least one power transmitter manager application is also configured to:
receive, via the communications interface, a broadcast message based on information provided by the user at the authenticated computing device; and
in response to receiving the broadcast message, broadcasting via the communications interface the broadcast message to an electronic device associated with the receiver.

8. A method for managing a wireless power network, comprising:
transmitting, via an antenna array of a transmitter that includes a processor and a communications interface that is distinct from the antenna array, radio frequency waves that constructively interfere to produce a plurality of energy pockets for receipt by a receiver, wherein the receiver is not in physical contact with the transmitter and the receiver is coupled with an authenticated computing device distinct from the receiver; and
executing, by the processor of the transmitter, a power transmitter manager application, wherein the power transmitter manager application causes the transmitter to perform operations including:
sending, via the communications interface for display to a user at the authenticated computing device that is distinct from the receiver, a plurality of configuration options that are used to control operation of the at least one transmitter;
receiving, via the communications interface, an updated value for at least one of the plurality of configuration options, where the updated value is based on information provided by the user at the authenticated computing device; and
in response to receiving the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options, controlling transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver using the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options, wherein the receiver uses energy from the radio frequency waves to provide power or charge to the authenticated computing device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the communications interface of the transmitter communicates with the authenticated computing device using a communication protocol selected from the group of Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® Low Energy, WiFi™, ZigBee®, and combinations thereof.

10. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 1 , wherein the receiver converts energy from the radio frequency waves into usable power for charging an electronic device, and the receiver is not integral to the electronic device.

11. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 10 , wherein the receiver is communicatively coupled to a power receiver application that is executing at the electronic device, and the power receiver application is configured to receive instructions from the at least one power transmitter manager application.

12. The system for managing a wireless power network of claim 11 , wherein the electronic device is in communication with a graphical user interface that is used by the power receiver application to provide an additional user of the electronic device control over at least one task performed by the at least one power transmitter manager application.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a power usage requirement for an electronic device that is associated with the receiver.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a current battery level for the authenticated computing device that is associated with the receiver.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a time period at which an electronic device associated with the receiver is scheduled to be charged.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the updated value for the at least one of the plurality of configuration options represents a schedule for charging various electronic devices; and
controlling transmission of radio frequency waves via the antenna array to the receiver includes transmitting radio frequency waves to the receiver in accordance with the schedule.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one power transmitter manager application is also con

Assignees

• Energous Corp

Inventors

• Bell Douglas
• Leabman Michael

Classifications

• H02J50/23

  characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas · CPC title

• H02J50/80 Primary

  involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices · CPC title

• H02J50/27

  characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas · CPC title

• H04B5/0031

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J50/40

  using two or more transmitting or receiving devices (H02J50/50 takes precedence) · CPC title