Patent Application
20150028694
The present disclosure relates to electronic transmitters, and more particularly to transmitters for wireless power transmission.
Electronic devices such as laptop computers, smartphones, portable gaming devices, tablets and so forth may require power for performing their intended functions. This may require having to charge electronic equipment at least once a day, or in high-demand electronic devices more than once a day. Such an activity may be tedious and may represent a burden to users. For example, a user may be required to carry chargers in case his electronic equipment is lacking power. In addition, users have to find available power sources to connect to. Lastly, users must plugin to a wall or other power supply to be able to charge his or her electronic device. However, such an activity may render electronic devices inoperable during charging. Current solutions to this problem may include inductive pads which may employ magnetic induction or resonating coils. Nevertheless, such a solution may still require that electronic devices may have to be placed in a specific place for powering. Thus, electronic devices during charging may not be portable. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a wireless power transmission system where electronic devices may be powered without requiring extra chargers or plugs, and where the mobility and portability of electronic devices may not be compromised.
The present disclosure provides various power couplings for transmitters which can be utilized for wireless power transmission using suitable techniques such as pocket-forming. All light fixtures have a fixture body and a light socket to hold the lamp and allow for its replacement. Fixtures may also have a switch to control the light. Fixtures require an electrical connection to a power source; permanent lighting may be directly wired, and moveable lamps have a plug to a wall socket for power. Transmitters of the present invention have various power couplings configured to use in a light socket mounted in a ceiling, wall or moveable lamp fixture. The power coupling further includes a pair of wires directly wireable into an electrical service within a building or mobile vehicle and the like. Yet another power coupling includes a plug for insertion into a wall socket of the electrical service. The transmitter includes an Edison screw cap for the typical light socket in lamp fixtures or a double-contact bayonet cap for another type of light socket. All of these type of electrical connection to a power source provide the various power couplings for the transmitter power source.
The transmitters of the present invention with the unique power couplings are employed to emit power RF signals to electronic devices which may incorporate receivers. Such receivers may convert the power RF signals into suitable electricity for powering and charging a plurality of electric devices. Wireless power transmission allows powering and charging a plurality of electrical devices without wires.
A transmitter including at least two antenna elements may generate RF signals through the use of one or more Radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) which may be managed by one or more microcontrollers. Transmitters may receive power from a power source, which may provide enough electricity for a subsequent conversion to RF signal. Power source may be connected through a variety of power couplings, which may depend on final application and user preferences.
In an embodiment, a transmitter arrangement includes a screw cap for light sockets connected to an electrical service, which may operate as power coupling for the transmitter.
In a further embodiment, a transmitter arrangement includes bare wires as power couplings to a residential or commercial building electrical service for a power source.
In an even further embodiment, a transmitter arrangement includes a power plug as power coupling to be inserted into a socket in an electrical service.
Transmitter arrangements provided in the present disclosure, as well as possible implementation schemes may provide wireless power transmission while eliminating the use of wires or pads for charging devices which may require tedious procedures such as plugging to a wall, and may turn devices unusable during charging. In addition, electronic equipment may require less components as typical wall chargers may not be required. In some cases, even batteries may be eliminated as a device may fully be powered wirelessly.
Non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Unless indicated as representing the background art, the figures represent aspects of the disclosure.
“Pocket-forming” may refer to generating two or more RF waves which converge in 3-d space, forming controlled constructive and destructive interference patterns.
“Pockets of energy” may refer to areas or regions of space where energy or power may accumulate in the form of constructive interference patterns of RF waves.
“Null-space” may refer to areas or regions of space where pockets of energy do not form because of destructive interference patterns of RF waves.
“Transmitter” may refer to a device, including a chip which may generate two or more RF signals, at least one RF signal being phase shifted and gain adjusted with respect to other RF signals, substantially all of which pass through one or more RF antenna such that focused RF signals are directed to a target.
“Receiver” may refer to a device including at least one antenna element, at least one rectifying circuit and at least one power converter, which may utilize pockets of energy for powering, or charging an electronic device.
“Adaptive pocket-forming” may refer to dynamically adjusting pocket-forming to regulate power on one or more targeted receivers.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, which are not to scale or to proportion, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings and claims, are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used and/or and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.
Transmitter 200 may be responsible for the pocket-forming, adaptive pocket-forming and multiple pocket-forming through the use of the components mentioned in the foregoing paragraph. Transmitter 200 may send wireless power transmission to one or more receivers 106 in form of radio signals, such signals may include any radio signal with any frequency or wavelength.
Antenna elements 202 may include flat antenna elements 202, patch antenna elements 202, dipole antenna elements 202 and any suitable antenna for wireless power transmission. Suitable antenna types may include, for example, patch antennas with heights from about ⅛ inches to about 6 inch and widths from about ⅛ inches to about 6 inch. Shape and orientation of antenna elements 202 may vary in dependency of the desired features of transmitter 200, orientation may be flat in X, Y, and Z axis, as well as various orientation types and combinations in three dimensional arrangements. Antenna elements 202 materials may include any suitable material that may allow Radio signal transmission with high efficiency, good heat dissipation and the like. Number of antenna elements 202 may vary in relation with the desired range and power transmission capability on transmitter 200, the more antenna elements 202, the wider range and higher power transmission capability.
Antenna elements 202 may include suitable antenna types for operating in frequency bands such as 900 MHz, 2.5 GHz or 5.8 GHz as these frequency bands conform to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations part 18 (Industrial, Scientific and Medical equipment). Antenna elements 202 may operate in independent frequencies, allowing a multichannel operation of pocket-forming.
In addition, antenna elements 202 may have at least one polarization or a selection of polarizations. Such polarization may include vertical pole, horizontal pole, circularly polarized, left hand polarized, right hand polarized, or a combination of polarizations. The selection of polarizations may vary in dependency of transmitter 200 characteristics. In addition, antenna elements 202 may be located in various surfaces of transmitter 200.
Antenna elements 202 may operate in single array, pair array, quad array and any other suitable arrangement, which may be designed in accordance with the desired application.
RFIC 204 may include a plurality of RF circuits which may include digital and/or analog components, such as, amplifiers, capacitors, oscillators, piezoelectric crystals and the like. RFIC 204 may control features of antenna elements 202, such as gain and/or phase for pocket-forming and manage it through direction, power level, and the like. The phase and the amplitude of pocket-forming in each antenna elements 202 may be regulated by the corresponding RFIC 204 in order to generate the desired pocket-forming and null steering. In addition RFIC 204 may be connected to microcontroller 206, which may include a digital signal processor (DSP), PIC-Class microprocessor, central processing unit, computer and the like. Microcontroller 206 may control a variety of features of RFIC 204 such as, time emission of pocket-forming, direction of the pocket-forming, bounce angle, power intensity and the like. Furthermore, microcontroller 206 may control multiple pocket-forming over multiple receivers or over a single receiver. Furthermore, transmitter 200 may allow distance discrimination of wireless power transmission.
In addition, microcontroller 206 may manage and control communication protocols and signals by controlling communication component 208. Microcontroller 206 may process information received by communication component 208 which may send and receive signals to and from a receiver in order to track it and concentrate the pocket of energy 108 on it. In addition, other information may be transmitted from and to receiver 106; such information may include authentication protocols among others. Communication component 208 may include and combine Bluetooth technology, infrared communication, WI-FI, FM radio among others. Microcontroller 206 may determine optimum times and locations for pocket-forming, including the most efficient trajectory to transmit pocket forming in order to reduce losses because obstacles. Such trajectory may include direct pocket-forming, bouncing, and distance discrimination of pocket-forming.
Transmitter 200 may be fed by a power source 210 which may include AC or DC power supply. Voltage, power and current intensity provided by power source 210 may vary in dependency with the required power to be transmitted. Conversion of power to radio signal may be managed by microcontroller 206 and carried out by RFIC 204, which may utilize a plurality of methods and components to produce radio signals in a wide variety of frequencies, wavelength, intensities and other features. As an exemplary use of a variety of methods and components for radio signal generation, oscillators and piezoelectric crystals may be used to create and change radio frequencies in different antenna elements 202. In addition, a variety of filters may be used for smoothing signals as well as amplifiers for increasing power to be transmitted. In order to be connected to a suitable power source 210, transmitter 200 may include a variety of power couplings, which may couple transmitter 200 with power source 210 in dependence of the application and user preferences.
Transmitter 200 may emit pocket-forming with a power capability from few watts to over hundreds of watts. Each antenna may manage a certain power capacity. Such power capacity may be related with the application.
Antenna elements 202, RFIC 204 and microcontrollers 206 may be connected in a plurality of arrangements and combinations, which may depend on the desired characteristics of transmitter 200.
Screw cap 302 may include a variety of electronics devices, such as, capacitors, inductors, power converters and the like. Such electronic devices may be intended for managing the power source 210, which feeds transmitter 300.
Furthermore, transmitter 300 including screw cap 302 as power connection may increase versatility of transmitter 300, because transmitter 300 is able to be located in every place where a screw cap 302 is received by a light socket.
Transmitter 300 includes several shapes which may vary in dependence with final application and user preferences.
Cables 402 include labels of positive and negative cables in case of connecting to a DC current power source 210 and/or L1 and L2 cables in case of AC current power source 210. Furthermore, more cables may be included, such cables may be for three-phase power source 210 and a ground cable connection.
Transmitter 400 includes a variety of electronics devices, such as, capacitors, inductors, power converters and the like. Such electronic devices may be intended for managing the power source 210 which may feed transmitter 300.
Transmitter 300 is located in several places due the cables 402, which may be connected to any power source 210, such power source 210 may be AC or DC in dependence with final application and user preferences.
Transmitter 300 includes several shapes which may vary in dependence with final application and user preferences.
Transmitter 500 includes a variety of electronics devices, such as, capacitors, inductors, power converters and the like. Such electronic devices are intended for managing the power source 210 which feeds transmitter 500.
Transmitter 500 includes several shapes which may vary in dependence with final application and user preferences.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments may be contemplated. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
The present disclosure is related to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. Nos. 13/891,340 filed May 10, 2013, entitled Methodology for Pocket-Forming; 13/925,469 filed Jun. 24, 2013, entitled Methodology for Multiple Pocket-Forming; 13/946,082 filed Jul. 19, 2013, entitled Method for 3 Dimensional Pocket-Forming; 13/891,399, filed May 10, 2013, entitled Receivers for Wireless Power Transmission and 13/891,445, flied May 10, 2013, entitled Transmitters for Wireless Power Transmission, the entire content of which are incorporated herein by these references.
