Systems and methods for automatically testing the communication between wireless power transmitter and wireless power receiver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10439448-B2
Application number	US-201414465487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2014
Priority date	Aug 21, 2014
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A method includes, at a transmitter, performing a test of communications with a receiver, the test comprising: (i) sending, by a communications component of the transmitter, a first message to the receiver, (ii) receiving, by the communications component, a second message from the receiver in response to the first message, and (iii) comparing operational metric(s) associated with the first and second messages with respective expected values for each of the operational metric(s) to determine an outcome for the test. The method further includes sending a report to a remote server that includes the determined outcome for the test, and after sending the report, stopping performance of the test and starting normal operation of the transmitter in which the transmitter transmits, by at least some of the transmitter's antennas, power waves to a location of the receiver. The receiver uses energy from the power waves to charge/power an electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of wireless power transmission, comprising: at a wireless power transmitter having a communications component, a plurality of antenna elements configured to transmit power waves, and at least one processor:
performing a test of communications with a wireless power receiver, the test of communications comprising:
sending, by the communications component, a first message to the wireless power receiver;
receiving, by the communications component, a second message from the wireless power receiver in response to the first message; and
comparing, by the at least one processor, one or more operational metrics associated with the first and second messages with respective expected values for each of the one or more operational metrics to determine an outcome for the test;

sending, by the communications component, a report to a remote server that includes the determined outcome for the test;
receiving information from the remote server to authenticate the wireless power receiver, wherein authentication of the wireless power receiver is distinct and separate from the test of communications; and
after sending the report, stopping performance of the test and starting a normal operation of the wireless power transmitter in which the wireless power transmitter transmits, by at least some of the plurality of antennas, power waves that converge to form a constructive interference pattern in proximity to a location of the wireless power receiver,
wherein the wireless power receiver uses energy from the constructive interference pattern to charge or power an electronic device that is coupled with the wireless power receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, while performing the test, the wireless power transmitter has not started normal operation.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, while performing the test, the wireless power transmitter does not transmit power waves.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outcome of test indicates that an error occurred in accordance with determining that at least one operational metric of the one or more operational metrics fails to meet a corresponding expected value for the at least one operational metric.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outcome of the test indicates that the test passes in accordance with determining that each of the one or more operational metrics meets a respective corresponding expected value.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, at the wireless power transmitter:
before starting normal operation of the wireless power transmitter, detecting a plurality of wireless power receivers located in proximity to the wireless power transmitter, the plurality including the wireless power receiver,
wherein starting normal operation occurs after communication with each wireless power receiver of the plurality of wireless power receivers is tested by the wireless power transmitter.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, sending a new report to the remote server that indicates an outcome of respective tests of communications with each wireless power receiver of the plurality of wireless power receivers tested during performance of the test.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, at the wireless power transmitter:
detecting a trigger, wherein the test is performed in response to detecting the trigger.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein detecting the trigger comprises one of the following: (i) detecting initiation of a start-up of the wireless power transmitter and (ii) detecting that the communications component has received a command from the remote server.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power transmitter is a far-field wireless power transmitter.

11. A wireless power transmitter, comprising:
at least one processor;
a communications component;
a plurality of antennas configured to transmit power waves; and
memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless power transmitter to:
perform a test of communications with a wireless power receiver, the executable instructions for performing the test of communications cause the wireless power transmitter to:
send, by the communications component, a first message to the wireless power receiver;
receive, by the communications component, a second message from the wireless power receiver in response to the first message; and
compare, by the at least one processor, one or more operational metrics associated with the first and second messages with respective expected values for each of the one or more operational metrics to determine an outcome for the test;

send, by the communications component, a report to a remote server that includes the determined outcome for the test;
receive information from the remote server to authenticate the wireless power receiver, wherein authentication of the wireless power receiver is distinct and separate from the test of communications; and
after sending the report, stop performance of the test and start a normal operation of the wireless power transmitter in which the wireless power transmitter transmits, by at least some of the plurality of antennas, power waves that converge to form a constructive interference pattern in proximity to a location of the wireless power receiver,
wherein the wireless power receiver uses energy from the constructive interference pattern to charge or power an electronic device that is coupled with the wireless power receiver.

12. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11 , wherein, while performing the test, the wireless power transmitter has not started normal operation.

13. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11 , wherein, while performing the test, the wireless power transmitter does not transmit power waves.

14. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11 , wherein the outcome of test indicates that an error occurred in accordance with determining that at least one operational metric of the one or more operational metrics fails to meet a corresponding expected value for the at least one operational metric.

15. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11 , wherein the outcome of the test indicates that the test passes in accordance with determining that each of the one or more operational metrics meets a respective corresponding expected value.

16. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the wireless power transmitter to:
before starting normal operation of the wireless power transmitter, detect a plurality of wireless power receivers located in proximity to the wireless power transmitter, the plurality including the wireless power receiver,
wherein starting normal operation occurs after communication with each wireless power receiver of the plurality of wireless power receivers is tested by the wireless power transmitter.

17. The wireless power transmitter of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the wireless power transmitter to:
send a new report to the remote server that indicates an outcome of respective tests of communications with each wireless power receiver of the plurality of wireless power receivers tested during performance of the test.

18. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the wireless power transmitter to:
detect a trigger, wherein the test is performed in response to detecting the trigger; and
th

Assignees

• Energous Corp

Inventors

• Bell Douglas
• Leabman Michael A

Classifications

• H02J13/1335

  involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi®, ZigBee® or Bluetooth® · CPC title

• H02J13/1333

  by means of mobile telephony · CPC title

• G06F11/221

  to test buses, lines or interfaces, e.g. stuck-at or open line faults · CPC title

• G06F1/1635

  Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter · CPC title

• H02J50/20

  using microwaves or radio frequency waves · CPC title