Bi-directional communication in wireless power transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019386513-A1
Application number	US-201916384765-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 15, 2019
Priority date	Jun 14, 2018
Publication date	Dec 19, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wireless power transmitter and a receiver device can communicate through a bi-directional communications channel that uses the wireless power signal transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver. Embodiments of the present invention can provide firmware/software updates to wireless power transmitter, vehicle ignition, security lock systems, data back-up and storage systems, charging node statistics and updates, E-commerce applications, contextual awareness applications, interactive user experiences, and applications to wearables and other devices

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wireless power transmitter, comprising:
an inverter coupled to a transmit coil; a wireless controller coupled to operate the inverter to generate a wireless power signal at the transmit coil; a controller coupled to the wireless controller; a bi-directional communications channel that includes a modulator and a demodulator coupled to the controller, the bi-directional communications channel providing modulation and demodulation of data transmission signals on the wireless power signal, wherein the controller exchanges functional data with a receive device placed proximate the wireless transmitter with the bi-directional communications channel to perform a function other than wireless power transmission.

2 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the functional data includes a firmware/software update and wherein the controller executes instructions to
authenticate the receive device; receive the firmware/software update if the receive device is authenticated; update firmware/software; and acknowledge the update if successful.

3 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 2 , wherein instructions to update firmware/software includes instructions to update firmware/software in the controller.

4 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 2 , wherein instructions to update firmware/software includes instructions to update firmware/software in a device coupled to the wireless power transmitter.

5 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , further including an automotive system ignition coupled to the controller, wherein the functional data includes vehicle ignition data and wherein the controller executes instructions to
authenticate the receive device; start the vehicle with the automotive system ignition if authentication is successful; and acknowledge if vehicle start is successful.

6 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the receive device is an electronic lock, the functional data is authenticating data, and wherein the controller executes instructions to
authenticate itself to the receive device; and request actuation of the electronic lock.

7 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 6 , further including a biometric reader and wherein the controller authenticates by providing a key to the electronic lock when a user of the wireless transmitter is authenticated with the biometric reader.

8 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 6 , wherein the controller authenticates by providing a key to the electronic lock when a user of the wireless transmitter is authenticated.

9 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the functional data is backup data and wherein the controller executes instructions to
authenticate the receive device; receive the backup data from the receive device if authentication is successful; and store the backup data.

10 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 9 , further including a data storage in which the backup data is stored.

11 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the functional data includes maintenance data and wherein the controller executes instructions to
authenticate the receiver device; and communicate maintenance data regarding the wireless power transmitter to the receiver device.

12 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 11 , wherein the maintenance data is performance data acquired when receiver device performs tests one the wireless transmitter to obtain performance data.

13 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 11 , further including a statistics log and wherein the controller stores performance data over time in the statistics log and the maintenance data include the contents of the statistics log.

14 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the functional data includes member services and wherein the controller executes instructions to
authenticate the receive device; and provide member services if authentication is confirmed.

15 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 14 , wherein membership services includes one or more of menu ordering, payment services, free Wi-Fi connections, and member notifications.

16 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 14 , wherein the controller provides a membership registration if authentication is not confirmed.

17 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the functional data includes location information, and wherein the controller executes instructions to provide location of the wireless power transmitter to the receive device.

18 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 17 , wherein the location information includes orientation data.

19 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the functional data is location data received from the receive device.

20 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the functional data is contextually dependent on location of the wireless power transmitter.

21 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 20 , wherein the functional data includes one or more location dependent advertisements or notices, emergency services, safety alerts, exit routes, to the receiving device.

22 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 20 , further providing information to a third device in close proximity to the position of the wireless power transmitter.

23 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the receive device is powered solely from the wireless power signal.

24 . The wireless power transmitter of claim 23 , wherein the receive device is a wearable device, an on-the-go device, a waterproof device, or a dustproof device.

25 . A method of operating a wireless transmitter, comprising
providing a wireless power signal; exchanging functional data transmitted over a bi-directional communication channel on the wireless power signal with a receive device to perform a function other than wireless power transfer.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the functional data includes a firmware/software update and further including:
authenticating the receive device; receiving the firmware/software update if the receive device is authenticated; updating firmware/software; and acknowledging the update if successful.

27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the functional data includes vehicle ignition data and further including:
authenticating the receive device; starting the vehicle with an automotive system ignition if authentication is successful; and acknowledging vehicle start if successful.

28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the receive device is an electronic lock, the functional data is authenticating data, and further including:
authenticating itself to the receive device; and requesting actuation of the electronic lock.

29 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the functional data is backup data and further including:
authenticating the receive device; receiving the backup data from the receive device if authentication is successful; and storing the backup data.

30 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the functional data includes maintenance data further including:
authenticating the receiver device; and communicating maintenance data regarding the wireless power transmitter to the receiver device.

31 . The method of claim 25 , wherein

Assignees

• Integrated Device Tech

Inventors

• Bavisi Amit D
• Akkinepally Gopinath
• Lee Aihua
• Qi Tao
• Stephens Christopher
• Mehas Gustavo
• Smith Nicholaus
• Jeong Chan Young
• Kim Changjae
• Shin Hojun

Classifications

• H02J50/80 Primary

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

• B60R25/403

  Power supply in the vehicle · CPC title

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title

• G06F21/44

  Program or device authentication · CPC title

• G06F21/34

  involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards · CPC title