Circuit for managing multi-band operations of a wireless power transmitting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11594902-B2
Application number	US-202217667445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2022
Priority date	Dec 12, 2016
Publication date	Feb 28, 2023
Grant date	Feb 28, 2023

Abstract

Techniques are described for managing operations of a wireless-power-transmitting device, capable of operating in multiple radio-frequency (RF) bands. An example integrated circuit includes (i) an interface to couple with a power amplifier, (ii) an encryption block configured to authorize wireless-power-receiving devices, and (iii) a processing subsystem. The processing subsystem is configured to determine, using the encryption block, that multiple wireless-power-receiving devices are authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power at multiple distinct frequencies. And after determining that the multiple wireless-power-receiving devices are authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power, the processing subsystem provides multiple input signals, including signals having different respective frequencies, to the power amplifiers via the interface, to be amplified such that, when the amplified signals are sent to antennas, the antennas transmit RF signals to multiple receivers at multiple frequencies. The processing subsystem, interface, and encryption block are on a single integrated circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A circuit for managing operations of a wireless-power-transmitting device that is capable of operating in multiple radio-frequency (RF) bands, the circuit comprising:
an interface to couple with a power amplifier;
an encryption block configured to ensure that only authorized wireless-power-receiving devices are able to receive wirelessly-delivered power;
a processing subsystem configured to:
determine, using the encryption block, that first and second wireless-power-receiving devices are authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power, wherein:
the first wireless-power-receiving device is configured to receive RF wireless-power signals transmitted using a first frequency, and
the second wireless-power-receiving device is configured to receive RF wireless-power signals transmitted using a second frequency distinct from the first frequency; and

after determining that the first and second wireless-power-receiving devices are authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power, provide, via the interface:
an input signal to the power amplifier to be amplified such that, when it is provided to a first antenna, the first antenna is caused to transmit an RF wireless-power signal using the first frequency, and
another input signal to the power amplifier to be amplified such that, when it is provided to a second antenna, the second antenna is caused to transmit another RF wireless-power signal using the second frequency,

wherein the processing subsystem, the interface, and the encryption block are on a single integrated circuit.

2. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a waveform generator;
an RF oscillator; and
an RF converter, wherein,
the waveform generator uses the RF oscillator and the RF converter to generate at least one of the input signals provided to the power amplifier.

3. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the single integrated circuit includes a DC-DC converter used in conjunction with generating each of the input signals provided to the power amplifier.

4. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second antennas are configured to transmit RF wireless-power signals at the first frequency and the second frequency, respectively, during an overlapping period of time.

5. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the first antenna is configured to transmit the RF signal at the first frequency at a first set of points in time,
the second antenna is configured to transmit the RF signal at the second frequency at a second set of points in time, distinct from the first set of points in time, and
the first set of points in time and the second set of points in time are selected such that a continuous charge is provided to the first and second wireless-power-receiving devices.

6. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the encryption block is configured to separately authenticate (i) the first wireless-power-receiving device for receiving RF wireless-power signals transmitted using the first frequency, and (ii) the second wireless-power-receiving device for receiving RF wireless-power signals transmitted using the second frequency.

7. The circuit of claim 6 , wherein the encryption block is also configured to secure data-communication exchanges with the first and second wireless-power-receiving devices.

8. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the processing subsystem is configured to receive an indication of output power provided by the power amplifier to a respective antenna of the first and second antennas.

9. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the interface is a first interface, and the circuit further comprises:
a second interface, distinct from the first interface, to couple with an external wireless data-communication component that is configured to use a communication protocol to communicate with the first and second wireless-power-receiving devices.

10. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein one or both the first interface and the second interface are digital interfaces.

11. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the input signal is a first input signal, and the other input signal is a second input signal, and the processing subsystem is further configured to:
determine, using information from the encryption block, that third and fourth wireless-power-receiving devices are authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power, wherein:
the third wireless-power-receiving device is configured to receive RF wireless-power signals transmitted using a third frequency distinct from the first frequency and the second frequency, and
the fourth wireless-power-receiving device is configured to receive RF wireless-power signals transmitted using a fourth frequency distinct from the first frequency, the second frequency, and the third frequency; and

after determining that the third and fourth wireless-power-receiving devices are authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power, provide, via the interface:
a third input signal to the power amplifier to be amplified such that, when it is provided to a third antenna, causes the third antenna to transmit an RF wireless-power signal using the third frequency, and
a fourth input signal to the power amplifier to be amplified such that, when it is provided to a fourth antenna, causes the fourth antenna to transmit an RF wireless-power signal using the fourth frequency.

12. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a beamforming circuit configured to provide phase-shifted signals to the power amplifier to ensure that the input signals, provided to the power amplifier via the interface, are transmitted to the first and second wireless-power-receiving devices with appropriate phase characteristics.

13. The circuit of claim 12 , wherein the processing subsystem is further configured to:
determine whether at least one of the first and second wireless-power-receiving devices requires phase-shifted RF wireless-power signals to be provided by at least one of the first and second antennas; and
in accordance with determining that no phase-shifted RF wireless-power signals are required, causing the input signals to bypass the beamforming circuit while providing the input signals via the interface to the power amplifier.

14. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are a same multi-band antenna.

15. The circuit of claim 14 , wherein:
the same multi-band antenna is a meandered line antenna that includes multiple conductive segments.

16. The circuit of claim 15 , wherein the meandered line antenna is configured to:
operate in a single frequency band when a first conductive segment of the multiple conductive segments is not coupled to a second conductive segment of the multiple conductive segments, and
operate in two distinct frequency bands when the first conductive segment is coupled to the second conductive segment.

17. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are distinct and separate antennas.

18. A radio-frequency (RF) power transmitter comprising:
a first antenna;
a second antenna;
at least one power amplifier coupled to the first and second antennas; and
a single integrated circuit for managing operations of a wireless power-transmitting device that is capable of operating in multiple RF bands, the single integrated circuit comprising:
an interface to couple with the at least one power amplifier;
an encryption block configured to ensure that only authorized wireless-power-receiving devices are able to receive wirelessly-delivered power;
a processing subsystem configured to:
determine, using the encryption b

Assignees

• Energous Corp

Inventors

• Johnston Cesar
• Bosso Brian

Classifications

• H02J7/70 Primary

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• Y02B40/00

  Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers · CPC title

• H02J50/40

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

• H02J50/23

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

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title