Power transmission control systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10291066-B1
Application number	US-201414587027-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	May 7, 2014
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to various arrangements of hardware for incorporating receiver functions into wearable portable devices. The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., 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. 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 into electricity for powering an electronic device. The embodiments for wireless power transmission can allow powering and charging a plurality of electrical devices without wires.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wireless power charging system, the system comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit power waves into a transmission field of the transmitter; and
a wearable device, wherein the wearable device comprises:
one or more antennas configured to transmit data and to receive energy from the power waves in a pocket of energy, wherein the one or more antennas provide the received energy to a receiver for extracting usable power;
a payload hardware configured to capture one or more measurements in accordance with a payload application of the wearable device, the one or more measurements corresponding to physiologic data of a user of the wearable device;
a memory configured to:
store information indicating a maximum power level that the receiver is able to extract from power waves; and
store the physiologic data; and

the receiver in electrical communication with the one or more antennas, the receiver comprising a processor configured to:
measure a power level of the extracted energy;
determine whether the power level of the extracted energy is less than the maximum power level that the receiver is able to extract; and
cause the one or more antennas to transmit:
to the transmitter, data indicating that the receiver requires higher level power waves upon determining that the power level of the extracted energy is less than the maximum power level, and
to some electronic device distinct from the transmitter, the physiologic data.

2. The wireless power charging system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises a boost converter and the processor is configured to adjust operation of the boost converter to maximize an amount of usable power extracted from the power waves.

3. The wireless power charging system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to execute a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm to adjust the operation of the boost converter.

4. The wireless power charging system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit one or more higher level power waves into the transmission field upon receiving the data indicating that the receiver requires higher level power waves.

5. The wireless power charging system of claim 4 , wherein the receiver is further configured to extract energy from the one or more higher level power waves in a pocket of energy.

6. The wireless power charging system of claim 1 , wherein:
the wearable device further comprises a battery; and
the receiver is configured to convert the extracted energy into usable power that powers the wearable device or charges the battery.

7. The wireless power charging system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more antennas are further configured to transmit, to the transmitter, data indicating a location of the wearable device.

8. The wireless power charging system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more antennas are further configured to transmit, to the transmitter, data indicating an amount of power used by the wearable device.

9. The wireless power charging system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device that is distinct from the transmitter comprises a processor configured to execute an application associated with the wearable device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more measurements corresponding to physiologic data of the user of the wearable device include measurements of the user's heart rate.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more measurements corresponding to physiologic data of the user of the wearable device include measurements of the user's blood pressure.

12. A method of wireless power charging comprising:
transmitting, by a transmitter, power waves into a transmission field of the transmitter; and
at a wearable device comprising:
one or more antennas configured to transmit data and to receive energy from the power waves in a pocket of energy;
a memory;
a payload hardware configured to capture one or more measurements in accordance with a payload application of the wearable device, the one or more measurements corresponding to physiologic data of a user of the wearable device; and
a receiver in electrical communication with the one or more antennas, wherein the receiver comprises a processor that is configured to execute instructions, the instructions including:
receiving, by the one or more antennas, energy from the power waves in a pocket of energy, wherein the one or more antennas provide the received energy to a receiver for extracting usable power;
storing, by the memory, information indicating a maximum power level that the receiver is able to extract from power waves; and
storing the physiologic data; and
measuring, by the processor, a power level of the extracted energy;
determining, by the processor, whether the power level of the extracted energy is less than the maximum power level that the receiver is able to extract; and
causing, by the processor, the one or more antennas to transmit;
to the transmitter, data indicating that the receiver requires higher level power waves upon determining that the power level of the extracted energy is less than the maximum power level, and
to some electronic device distinct from the transmitter, the physiologic data.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the receiver comprises a boost converter; and
the method further comprises adjusting, by the processor, operation of the boost converter to maximize an amount of usable power extracted from the power waves.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising executing, by the processor, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm to adjust the operation of the boost converter.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting, by the transmitter, one or more higher level power waves into the transmission field upon receiving the data indicating that the receiver requires higher level power waves.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising extracting, by the receiver, energy from the one or more higher level power waves in a pocket of energy.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the wearable device further comprises a battery; and
the method further comprises converting, by the receiver, the extracted energy into usable power that powers the wearable device or charges the battery.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting to the transmitter, by the one or more antennas, data indicating a location of the wearable device.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting to the transmitter, by the one or more antennas, data indicating an amount of power used by the wearable device.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
storing, by the memory, biometric data detected by the wearable device; and
transmitting to a smart device that is distinct from the transmitter, by the one or more antennas, the biometric data detected by the wearable device.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the smart device comprises a processor configured to execute an application associated with the wearable device.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more measurements corresponding to physiologic data of the user of the wearable device include measurements of the user's heart rate.

23. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more measurements corresponding to physiologic data of the user of the wearable device include measurements of the user's blood pressure.

Assignees

• Energous Corp

Inventors

• Leabman Michael
• Bell Douglas

Classifications

• H02J50/20 Primary

  using microwaves or radio frequency waves · CPC title

• H02J7/47

  Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source · CPC title

• H02J17/00 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J7/025

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J50/402

  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 title