Systems and methods for secure wireless transmission of power using unidirectional communication signals from a wireless-power-receiving device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12224599-B2
Application number	US-202217885443-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2022
Priority date	Aug 12, 2020
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of secure wireless transmission of power using unidirectional communication signals from a wireless-power-receiving device. The method includes, receiving, from a wireless-power-transmitting device that includes a first communications radio, a first wireless-power-transmission signal at a wireless-power-receiving device that includes a second communications radio. In response to receiving the first wireless-power-transmission signal: broadcasting, via the second communications radio of the wireless-power-receiving device and without establishing a communications channel between the first and second communications radios, a data packet, the data packet including information identifying (i) at least one power requirement of a power source of the wireless-power-receiving device (ii) an amount of power received by the wireless-power-receiving device from the first wireless-power-transmission signal. After broadcasting the data packet, receiving, from the wireless-power-transmitting device, additional wireless-power-transmission signals at the wireless-power-receiving device, wherein the wireless-power-transmitting device transmits each of the additional wireless-power-transmission signals using a predetermined sequence of different transmission characteristics.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of secure wireless transmission of power using unidirectional communication signals from a wireless-power-receiving device, comprising:
receiving, from a wireless-power-transmitting device that includes a first communications radio, a first wireless-power-transmission signal at the wireless-power-receiving device that includes a second communications radio;
in response to receiving the first wireless-power-transmission signal:
broadcasting, via the second communications radio of the wireless-power-receiving device and without establishing a communications channel between the first and second communications radios, a first data packet that includes information identifying (i) at least one power requirement of a power source of the wireless-power-receiving device and (ii) an amount of power received by the wireless-power-receiving device from the first wireless-power-transmission signal;

receiving, from the wireless-power-transmitting device, a second wireless-power-transmission signal at the wireless-power-receiving device;
in response to receiving the second wireless-power-transmission signal, broadcasting, via the second communications radio of the wireless-power-receiving device and without establishing a communications channel between the first and second communications radios, a second data packet that includes information indicating that the power source is charging but needs more power, wherein the wireless-power-transmitting device is configured to utilize the information indicating that the power source is charging but needs more power to adjust characteristics of wirelessly transmitted power waves to increase an amount of power provided to the wireless-power-receiving device;
receiving, from the wireless-power-transmitting device, a third wireless-power-transmission signal at the wireless-power-receiving device; and
in response to receiving the third wireless-power-transmission signal, broadcasting, via the second communications radio of the wireless-power-receiving device and without establishing a communications channel between the first and second communications radios, a third data packet that includes information indicating that the power source is charging but is receiving too much power, wherein the wireless-power-transmitting device is configured to utilize the information indicating that the power source is charging but is receiving too much power to adjust characteristics of wirelessly transmitted power waves to decrease an amount of power provided to the wireless-power-receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1 , including:
after broadcasting the data packet, receiving, from the wireless-power-transmitting device, additional wireless-power-transmission signals at the wireless-power-receiving device, wherein information in the additional wireless-power-transmission signals is based on the data packet.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet is broadcast via a low-energy communication protocol.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the wireless-power-transmitting device that includes the first communications radio is also configured to send a second wireless-power-transmission signal to another wireless-power-receiving device that includes a third communications radio; and
the other wireless-power-receiving device is configured to, in response to receiving the second wireless-power-transmission signal, broadcast, via the third communications radio of the other wireless-power-receiving device and without establishing a communications channel between the first and third communications radios, another data packet, the other data packet including information identifying (i) at least one power requirement of a power source of the other wireless-power-receiving device, and (ii) an amount of power received by the other wireless-power-receiving device from the second wireless-power-transmission signal.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the wireless-power-receiving device and the other wireless-power-receiving device receive power from the wireless-power-transmitting device during at least one overlapping period of time.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the wireless-power-receiving device is a different type of electronic device than the other wireless-power-receiving device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless-power-receiving device is within a wireless-power-transmission range of the wireless-power-transmitting device when the second communications radio transmits the data packet.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the wireless-power-transmission range is a near-field transmission range of less than or equal to 12 inches from the wireless-power-transmitting device.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the wireless-power-transmission range is a far-field transmission range of greater than 12 inches from the wireless-power-transmitting device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless-power-transmitting device includes a charging pad that the wireless-power-receiving device rests on.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless-power-transmitting device includes a plurality of antennas, wherein respective antennas of the plurality of antennas are configured to be activated based on a determined location of the wireless-power-receiving device on the charging pad.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second communications radio of the wireless-power-receiving device communicates in a unidirectional manner with the first communications radio of the wireless-power-transmitting device and does not receive any communication signals from the first communications radio of the wireless-power-transmitting device.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet includes encrypted data.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet also includes information regarding a charge status of a power source for the wireless-power-receiving device, the information regarding the charge status of the power source including an indication of one or more of: the power source (i) is not charging, (ii) is charging at an optimal configured rate, (iii) has a fault condition.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless-power-receiving device broadcasts the data packet a predetermined time interval before transmitting another data packet.

16. A wireless-power-receiving device, comprising:
a power source configured to provide usable power to the wireless-power-receiving device; and
a second communications radio configured to:
receive, from a wireless-power-transmitting device that includes a first communications radio, a first wireless-power-transmission signal at the wireless-power-receiving device that includes the second communications radio; and
in response to receiving the first wireless-power-transmission signal:
broadcast, via the second communications radio of the wireless-power-receiving device and without establishing a communications channel between the first and second communications radios, a first data packet, the first data packet including information identifying (i) at least one power requirement of a power source of the wireless-power-receiving device, and (ii) an amount of power received by the wireless-power-receiving device from the first wireless-power-transmission signal;

receive, from the wireless-power-transmitting device, a second wireless-power-transmission signal at the wireless-power-receiving device;
in response to receiving the second wireless-power-transmission signal, broadcast, via the second communications radio of the wireless-power-receiving device and without establishing a communications chan

Assignees

• Energous Corp

Inventors

• Jain Deepak
• Ahamed Noorul Ameen Thufile

Classifications

• 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

• H02J50/27

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

• H02J50/40

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

• H02J50/60

  responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings · CPC title

• H02J50/23

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