System integration of wireless power transmission subsystem

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9698628-B2
Application number	US-201113325952-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2011
Priority date	Dec 14, 2011
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, systems, methods, and devices are disclosed that include a power source integrated with a host computing device, and configured to provide power to the host computing device, and a wireless power transmission module coupled to the host computing device. The wireless power transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit power derived from the power source independent of whether the host computing device is in a powered-off state or not. The host computing device may be configured to stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that at least one of one or more predetermined transmission policies has been violated or that an unrecoverable error has occurred at the host computing device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a power source integrated with a host computing device, and configured to provide power to the host computing device;
a wireless power transmission module, coupled to the host computing device, configured to wirelessly transmit power derived from the power source, wherein the wireless power transmission module is to derive power from the power source during a plurality of operational states of the host computing device including a powered-off state; and
a controller to control power transmission by the wireless power transmission module including terminate active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a time duration during which the wireless power transmission module is kept active exceeds a time duration threshold, and terminate active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a remaining power level of the power source is below a power level threshold, wherein, to terminate active power transmission, the controller is to determine whether or not a control signal is detected on a Universal Serial Bus connection between the wireless power transmission module and the host computing device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the host computing device is a personal computer, or a mobile computing device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source or a direct current (DC) power source.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the host computing device is configured to stop the wireless power transmission from the wireless power transmission module.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the wireless power transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit power based upon one or more predetermined transmission policies.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more predetermined transmission policies are provided through a user interface associated with the host computing device, and stored in a memory associated with the host computing device.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more predetermined transmission policies include a first threshold for a remaining energy level at the power source to maintain the wireless power transmission, a second threshold related to a time duration for keeping the wireless power transmission module activated, an activation time instant of the wireless power transmission module, and an amount of power to be transmitted by the wireless power transmission module.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the host computing device is configured to stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that at least one of the one or more predetermined transmission policies has been violated.

9. The system of claim 4 , wherein the host computing device is configured to stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that an unrecoverable error occurred at the host computing device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power transmission module is further configured to monitor an energy level of the power source.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power transmission module is further configured to periodically poll the host computing device to determine a current energy level of the power source, whether the power source is coupled to an AC power source, or both.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein a total amount of power provided by the power source is configured in accordance with a maximum amount of power drawn by the wireless power transmission module.

13. A device, comprising:
a processor;
a power source configured to provide power to one or more components of the device; and
a wireless power transmission module configured to wirelessly transmit power derived from the power source, wherein the wireless power transmission module is to derive power from the power source during a plurality of operational states of the device including a powered-off state,
wherein the processor is to control power transmission by the wireless power transmission module including terminate active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a time duration during which the wireless power transmission module is kept active exceeds a time duration threshold, and terminate active power transmission by the wireless power transmission module when a remaining power level of the power source is below a power level threshold, wherein, to terminate active power transmission, the processor is to determine whether or not a control signal is detected on a Universal Serial Bus connection of the device.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the power source is coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source or a direct current (DC) power source.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the device is a personal computer or a mobile computing device.

16. The device of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to stop the wireless power transmission from the wireless power transmission module.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the wireless power transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit power based upon one or more predetermined transmission policies.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more predetermined transmission policies are provided through a user interface associated with the device, and stored in a memory associated with the device.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more predetermined transmission policies include a first threshold for a remaining energy level at the power source to maintain the wireless power transmission, a second threshold related to a time duration for keeping the wireless power transmission module activated, an activation time instant of the wireless power transmission module, and an amount of power to be transmitted by the wireless power transmission module.

20. The device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to:
monitor one or more operational characteristics of the power source and the wireless power transmission module related to the one or more predetermined transmission policies, and
stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that the one or more monitored operational characteristics have violated at least one of the one or more predetermined transmission policies.

21. The device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to stop the wireless power transmission based on a determination that an unrecoverable error occurred at the device.

22. The device of claim 20 , wherein, to stop the wireless transmission, the processor is configured to change a state of a Universal Serial Bus interface connection between the wireless power transmission module and the processor.

23. The device of claim 13 , wherein the wireless power transmission module is further configured to monitor an energy level of the power source.

24. The device of claim 13 , wherein the wireless power transmission module is further configured to periodically poll the processor to determine a current energy level of the power source, whether the power source is coupled to an AC power source, or both.

25. An apparatus, comprising:
an antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic field to transmit power wirelessly;
a power reception module adapted to be coupled with a power source of a computing device, and receive power therefrom during a plurality of operational states of the computing device including a powered-of

Assignees

• Cain Gamil A
• Walsh Jim
• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Cain Gamil A
• Walsh Jim

Classifications

• G06F1/3203

  Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode · CPC title

• H02J50/80

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

• G06F1/26

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title

• H02J17/00 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J50/20 Primary

  using microwaves or radio frequency waves · CPC title