Wireless power transmission with selective range

[0001] The present disclosure is related to Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/891,430, filed May 10, 2013, entitled Methodology for Pocket-Forming, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by this reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to electronic transmitters. and more particularly to transmitters for wireless power transmission.

[0003] 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.

[0004] The present disclosure provides various transmitter arrangements which can be utilized for wireless power transmission using suitable techniques such as pocket-forming. Transmitters may be employed for sending Radio frequency (RF) signals to electronic devices which may incorporate receivers. Such receivers may convert 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.

[0005] 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.

[0006] Wireless power transmission with selective range may be employed for charging or powering a plurality of electronic devices in a variety of spots into a variety of ranges, such spots may be surrounded by null-spaces where no pockets of energy are generated, thus, wireless power transmission may be used in applications Where pockets of energy are not desired, such applications may include sensitive equipment to pocket-forming or pockets of energy as well as people, who do not want pockets of energy near or over them. Furthermore, wireless power transmission with selective range may increase control over devices which receive charge or power, such control may be applied for limiting the operation area of certain equipment, such as, exhibition cellphones, exhibition tablets and any other suitable device that may be required to operate into a limited zone.

[0012] “Pocket-forming” may refer to generating two or more RF waves which converge in 3-d space, forming controlled constructive and destructive interference patterns.

[0013] “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.

[0014] “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.

[0015] “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 RE signals are directed to a target.

[0016] “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.

[0017] “Adaptive pocket-forming” may refer to dynamically adjusting pocket-forming to regulate power on one or more targeted receivers.

[0018] 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.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates wireless power transmission 100 using pocket-forming. A transmitter 102 may transmit controlled Radio RF waves 104 which may converge in 3-d space. These Radio frequencies (RF) waves may be controlled through phase and/or relative amplitude adjustments to form constructive and destructive interference patterns (pocket-forming). Pockets of energy 108 may be formed at constructive interference patterns and can be 3-dimensional in shape whereas null-spaces may be generated at destructive interference patterns. A receiver 106 may then utilize pockets of energy 108 produced by pocket-forming for charging or powering an electronic device, for example a laptop computer 110 and thus effectively providing wireless power transmission. In other situations there can be multiple transmitters 102 and/or multiple receivers 106 for powering various electronic equipment for example smartphones, tablets, music players, toys and others at the same time. In other embodiments, adaptive pocket-forming may be used to regulate power on electronic devices.

[0020] FIG. 2 depicts a wireless power transmission principle 200, where two waveforms, for example waveform 202 and waveform 204, as depicted in FIG. 2A may result in a unified waveform 206 as depicted in FIG. 2B. Such unified waveform 206 may be generated by constructive and destructive interference patterns between waveform 202 and waveform 204.

[0021] As depicted in FIG. 2A, at least two waveforms with slightly different frequencies such as waveform 202 and waveform 204 may be generated at 5.7 Gigahertz (GHz) and 5.8 GHz respectively. By changing the phase on one or both frequencies using suitable techniques such as pocket-forming, constructive and destructive interferences patterns may result in unified waveform 206. Unified waveform 206 may describe pockets of energy 108 and null-spaces along pocket-forming, such pockets of energy 108 may be available in certain areas where a constructive interference exists; such areas may include one or more spots which may move along pocket-forming trajectory and may be contained into wireless power range 208 X₁. Wireless power range 208 X₁ may include a minimum range and a maximum range of wireless power transmission 100, which may range from a few centimeters to over hundreds of meters. In addition, unified waveforms 206 may include several null-spaces, which may be available in certain areas where a destructive interference exists, such areas may include one or more null-spaces which may move along pocket-forming trajectory and may be contained into wireless power range 210 X₂. Wireless power range 210 X₂ may include a minimum range and a maximum range of wireless power transmission 100, which may range from a few centimeters to over hundreds of meters.

[0022] FIG. 3 depicts wireless power transmission with selective range 300, where a transmitter 302 may produce pocket-forming for a plurality of receivers 308. Transmitter 302 may generate pocket-forming through wireless power transmission with selective range 300, which may include one or more wireless charging radii 304 and one or more radii of null-space 306. A plurality of electronic devices may be charged or powered in wireless charging radii 304. Thus, several spots of energy may be created, such spots may be employed for enabling restrictions for powering and charging electronic devices, such restrictions may include: Operation of specific electronics in a specific or limited spot contained in wireless charging radii 304. Furthermore, safety restrictions may be implemented by the use of wireless power transmission with selective range 300, such safety restrictions may avoid pockets of energy 108 over areas or zones where energy needs to be avoided, such areas may include areas including sensitive equipment to pockets of energy 108 and/or people Which do not want pockets of energy 108 over and/or near them.

[0023] FIG. 4 depicts wireless power transmission with selective range 400, where a transmitter 402 may produce pocket-forming for a plurality of receivers 406. Transmitter 402 may generate pocket-forming through wireless power transmission with selective range 400, which may include one or more wireless charging spots 404. A plurality of electronic devices may be charged or powered in wireless charging spots 404. Pockets of energy 108 may be generated over a plurality of receivers 406 regardless the obstacles 408 surrounding them, such effect may be produced because destructive interference may be generated in zones or areas where obstacles 408 are present. Therefore, pockets of energy 108 may be generated through constructive interference in wireless charging spots 404. Location of pockets of energy 108 may be performed by tacking receivers 406 and by enabling a plurality of communication protocols by a variety of communication systems such as, Bluetooth technology, infrared communication, WI-FI, FM radio among others.

[0024] 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.