Wireless sound charging methods and systems for game controllers, based on pocket-forming

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9537357-B2
Application number	US-201414273271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2014
Priority date	May 10, 2013
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

The present invention provides wireless charging methods and systems for powering game controllers. The methods and systems may include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers. In some embodiments the transmitters and receivers may be embedded to game console and game controllers, respectively. In other embodiments, the transmitters and receivers may be connected as a separate device to the game console and game controllers, respectively. The method may include wireless power transmission through suitable techniques such as pocket-forming utilizing sound waves.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A method for wireless charging of a game controller, comprising:
connecting a pocket-forming transmitter to a power source;
generating sound waves from a sound circuit embedded within the transmitter;
controlling the generated sound waves with a digital signal processor in the transmitter;
transmitting the sound waves through antenna elements connected to the transmitter to a receiver configured to capture the sound waves forming a pocket of energy in 3-D space at the receiver with antenna elements connected to the game controller to convert the pocket of energy into a DC voltage for charging or powering a battery of the gamer controller, wherein the controlled sound waves are controlled through phase and relative amplitude adjustments to form constructive interference patterns that result in the pocket of energy at the receiver for the game controller.

2. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is mounted in a central location within a gaming room and the receiver is mounted on or connected to the game controller.

3. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , further comprising:
communicating a power level of the battery and a location of the game controller within a gaming room.

4. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver each include communication circuitry for communicating information between the transmitter and the receiver.

5. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , wherein the pocket-forming transmitter is mounted on a ceiling of a game room or mounted on a game console within the game room.

6. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , wherein the receiver and the antenna elements are mounted to the game controller or the receiver and the antenna elements are mounted on a case connected electrically to the game controller.

7. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 6 , wherein the case is made out of plastic, rubber or any other suitable material with the antenna elements are mounted on the backside of the case with the number and type of elements are predetermined according to the game controller design.

8. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 4 , wherein the communication circuitry is configured to use wireless communication protocols including at least one of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and FM radio-between the transmitter and receiver.

9. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , wherein the antenna elements in the transmitter and the receiver operate in the frequency bands of about 10 KHz to about 50 KHz.

10. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating multiple pockets of energy from the pocket-forming transmitter to power or charge multiple game controllers within a predetermined distance from the transmitter.

11. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is external to the game controller in the form of a case that is a camera case, phone case or other type of external case connected to the game controller through an universal serial bus.

12. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , further comprising:
communicating between the receiver and the transmitter through one or more communication signals or one or more pilot signals using wireless communication protocols including at least one of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and FM radio signals.

13. The method for wireless charging of a game controller of claim 1 , wherein one or more communication signals sent by the receiver provide times and locations for transmitter pocket-forming and the convergence to form the pocket of energy in 3-D space to predetermined receivers of game controllers within a predetermined distance from the transmitter in a game room.

14. A wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller, comprising:
a pocket-forming transmitter for emitting power sound waves to form a pocket of energy to converge in 3-D space connected to a power source;
a receiver embedded or attached to the game controller for receiving and converting the pocket of energy to a DC voltage for charging or powering a battery of the game controller; and
a controller configured to control the sound waves through phase and relative amplitude adjustments to form constructive interference patterns that result in the pocket of energy at the receiver for the game controller.

15. The wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller of claim 14 , wherein the pocket-forming transmitter is located on the ceiling of the game room pointing downward toward the receiver for charging or powering the battery of the game controller.

16. The wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller of claim 14 , wherein the pocket-forming transmitter is internally connected to a game console and the transmitter is connected to the game console power source to produce the power sound waves.

17. The wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller of claim 14 , wherein the receiver is embedded or attached to the game controller.

18. The wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller of claim 14 , wherein the transmitter is a separate device connected to a game console through a cable or USB cable for the power source.

19. An apparatus for wireless power transmission to a game controller, comprising:
a battery connected to the game controller;
a pocket-forming transmitter having at least two or more transducer elements, at least one sound integrated circuit, at least one digital signal processor or micro-controller and a communication circuit for generating controlled sound waves to form a pocket of energy consisting of constructive interference patterns of the generated sound waves to converge in 3-D space at predetermined locations; and
a receiver embedded or attached to the game controller having at least one antenna element, at least one rectifier, at least one power converter and a communication circuit for communicating with the transmitter the exact location and power requirements of the game controller for receiving the pocket of energy converging in the 3-D space at the receiver to charge or power the game controller, wherein the transducer elements of the transmitter operate in independent frequencies that allow a multichannel operation of pocket-forming in an array arrangement selected from a group consisting of single array, pair array, and quad array for powering the game controller within a gaming room.

20. The apparatus for wireless power transmission to a game controller of claim 19 , wherein the communication circuit of the transmitter and the communication circuit of the receiver communicate using wireless protocols including at least one of Bluetooth, infrared, Wi-Fi, FM radio, and Zigbee.

21. The apparatus for wireless power transmission to a game controller of claim 19 , wherein the transmitter further includes a piezoelectric crystal capable of producing power sound waves for wireless transmission of power to charge the game controller.

22. The apparatus for wireless power transmission to a game controller of claim 19 , wherein the transducer elements of the transmitter operate in frequency bands of about 10 KHz to about 50 KHz.

Assignees

• Energous Corp

Inventors

• Leabman Michael A

Classifications

• H02J7/42

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

• H02J50/20

  using microwaves or radio frequency waves · CPC title

• H02J7/02

  for charging batteries from AC mains by converters · CPC title

• H04W12/08

  Access security · CPC title

• H02J50/80

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