Wireless power receiver with boost converters directly coupled to a storage element

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/272,179, filed on May 7, 2014, which is herein fully incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/891,430, filed on May 10, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/946,082, filed on Jul. 19, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/891,399, filed on May 10, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/891,445, filed on May 10, 2013; U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,625, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Receivers for Wireless Power Transmission,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,630, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Methodology for Pocket-Forming,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,634, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Transmitters for Wireless Power Transmission,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,640, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Methodology for Multiple Pocket-Forming,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,641, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Wireless Power Transmission with Selective Range,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,643, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Method for 3 Dimensional Pocket-Forming,” all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates in general to wireless power transmission, and more specifically, to receivers for converting power from RF waves into electrical energy that can be used by electronic devices.

BACKGROUND

Wireless power transmission may be based on the extraction and conversion of power or energy from transmitted RF waves. One challenge that may be present during wireless power transmission is that power or energy extracted from RF waves may be variable due to inherent characteristics of the medium, in this case air. Moreover, the power that can be extracted from RF waves may be zero at some instances of the wireless power transmission. The variability of the power extracted from RF waves may be fueled by interference produced by electronic devices, walls, metallic objects, and electromagnetic signals, among others.

What is needed is a wireless receiver that may be capable of operating with a variable power source derived from RF waves. It may be also desirable to have a wireless receiver that may operate at low voltage or power levels.

SUMMARY

An enhanced receiver apparatus for receiving, extracting and converting power or voltage from transmitted RF waves is disclosed herein. The receiver may deliver the extracted and converted power or voltage to an electronic device for charging or powering.

In one embodiment, the receiver may include an antenna array, an input boost converter, a storage element, an output boost converter, a communication subsystem, a switch, and a load. Communication subsystem may include a low-dropout regulator (LDO), a microcontroller, and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

According to some aspects of this embodiment, the antenna array may include one or more antenna elements that may convert RF waves into alternating current (AC) power or voltage. Each antenna element may be operatively coupled with a rectifier which may rectify AC voltage or power to direct current (DC) voltage or power. The input boost converter may step up the rectified DC voltage into a more stable voltage or power that may be utilized by the internal components of the receiver or may be applied to the load.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, the storage element (a battery or a capacitor) may be charged by the input boost converter, while the communication subsystem may be powered by the storage element. The output boost converter may step up the voltage from the battery to apply a continuous and suitable power or voltage to the load, for charging or powering the electronic device. The microcontroller may regulate the switch operation for interrupting or resuming the delivery of power or voltage at the load.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, the microcontroller in the communication subsystem may monitor power measurements at different nodes or sections of the receiver for adjusting the operation of input and output boost converters according to load requirements. The microcontroller may run a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for adjusting the operation of the input boost converter so that the power pulled from the antenna array can be controlled or optimized. In addition, microcontroller may set up current limits at the output boost converter for matching load requirements.

In another embodiment, a power conversion process that can be implemented in the receiver may include rectification of the AC voltage generated by the antenna elements; first boost conversion to step up and stabilize the rectified voltage; charging of the storage element; second boost conversion to step up the output voltage of the storage element and match load requirements; and delivery of continuous and suitable power or voltage to the load.

The disclosed receiver may be able to extract and convert energy from RF waves to apply continuous and suitable power or voltage to the load, for charging or powering the electronic device that may be operatively coupled with the receiver. In addition, the receiver may work at very low power levels and may be able to adjust its operation for matching load requirements. Additional features and advantages can become apparent from the detailed descriptions which follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure can be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. In the figures, reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless power transmission using pocket forming.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a transmitter which may be used in wireless power transmission.

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of an enhanced receiver that may be used for extracting and converting power from transmitted RF waves, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a power transmission process that may be implemented by an enhanced receiver during wireless power transmission, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is here described in detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which form a part here. Other embodiments may be used and/or other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description are not meant to be limiting of the subject matter presented here.

As used here, the following terms may have the following definitions:

“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 which may include at least one antenna, at least one rectifying circuit, at least one input boost converter, at least one storage element, at least one output boost converter, at least one switch, and at least one communication subsystem for powering or charging an electronic device using RF waves.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless power transmission 100 using pocket-forming. A transmitter 102 may transmit controlled Radio Frequency (RF) waves 104 which may converge in 3-D space. These RF waves 104 may be controlled through phase and/or relative amplitude adjustments to form constructive and destructive interference patterns (pocket-forming). Pockets of energy 106 may be formed at constructive interference patterns and can be 3-dimensional in shape, while null-spaces may be generated at destructive interference patterns. A receiver 108 may then utilize pockets of energy 106 produced by pocket-forming for charging or powering a cordless electronic device 110, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer (as shown in FIG. 1), a music player, an electronic toy, and the like. In some embodiments, there can be multiple transmitters 102 and/or multiple receivers 108 for powering various electronic devices 110 at the same time. In other embodiments, adaptive pocket-forming may be used to regulate the power transmitted to electronic devices 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates the block diagram of transmitter 102 which may be used in wireless power transmission 100. Transmitter 102 may include a housing 202, at least two or more antenna elements 204, at least one RF integrated circuit (RFIC) 206, at least one digital signal processor (DSP) or micro-controller 208, and one communications component 210. Housing 202 can be made of any suitable material which may allow for signal or wave transmission and/or reception, for example plastic or hard rubber. Antenna elements 204 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 204 may include vertical or horizontal polarization, right hand or left hand polarization, elliptical polarization, or other suitable polarizations as well as suitable polarization combinations. Suitable antenna types may include, for example, patch antennas with heights from about ⅛ inches to about 8 inch and widths from about ⅛ inches to about 6 inch. Other antenna elements 204 types that can be used include meta-materials based antennas, dipole antennas, and planar inverted-F antennas (PIFAs), among others.

RFIC 206 may include a proprietary chip for adjusting phases and/or relative magnitudes of RF signals which may serve as inputs for antenna elements 204 for controlling pocket-forming. These RF signals may be produced using a power source 212 and a local oscillator chip (not shown) using a suitable piezoelectric material. Micro-controller 208 may then process information sent by receiver 108 through communications component 210 for determining optimum times and locations for pocket-forming. Communications component 210 may be based on standard wireless communication protocols which may include BLUETOOTH, WI-FI or ZIGBEE. In addition, communications component 210 may be used to transfer other information such as an identifier for the device or user, battery level, location or other such information. Other communications component 210 may be possible, including radar, infrared cameras or sound devices for sonic triangulation of electronic device 110 position.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of receiver 108 which can be used for wireless powering or charging one or more electronic devices 110 as exemplified in wireless power transmission 100 (as shown in FIG. 1). According to some aspects of this embodiment, receiver 108 may operate with the variable power source generated from transmitted RF waves 104 (as shown in FIG. 1) to deliver constant and stable power or energy to electronic device 110. In addition, receiver 108 may use the variable power source generated from RF waves 104 to power up electronic components within receiver 108 for proper operation.

Receiver 108 may be integrated in electronic device 110 and may include a housing (not shown in FIG. 3) that can be made of any suitable material to allow for signal or wave transmission and/or reception, for example plastic or hard rubber. This housing may be an external hardware that may be added to different electronic equipment, for example in the form of cases, or can be embedded within electronic equipment as well.

Receiver 108 may include an antenna array 302 which may convert RF waves 104 or pockets of energy 106 into electrical power. Antenna array 302 may include one or more antenna elements 304 operatively coupled with one or more rectifiers 306. RF waves 104 may exhibit a sinusoidal shape within a voltage amplitude and power range that may depend on characteristics of transmitter 102 and the environment of transmission. The environment of transmission may be affected by changes to or movement of objects within the physical boundaries, or movement of the boundaries themselves. It may be also affected by changes to the medium of transmission; for example, changes to air temperature or humidity. As a result, the voltage or power generated by antenna array 302 at receiver 108 may be variable. As an illustrative embodiment, and not by way of limitation, the alternating current (AC) voltage or power generated by antenna element 304 from transmitted RF waves 104 or pocket of energy 106 may vary from about 0 volts or 0 watt to about 5 volts at 3 watts.

Antenna element 304 may include suitable antenna types for operating in frequency bands similar to the bands described for transmitter 102 from FIG. 2. Antenna element 304 may include vertical or horizontal polarization, right hand or left hand polarization, elliptical polarization, or other suitable polarizations as well as suitable polarization combinations. Using multiple polarizations can be beneficial in devices where there may not be a preferred orientation during usage or whose orientation may vary continuously through time, for example electronic device 110. On the contrary, for devices with well-defined orientations, for example a two-handed video game controller, there might be a preferred polarization for antennas which may dictate a ratio for the number of antennas of a given polarization. Suitable antenna types may include patch antennas with heights from about ⅛ inches to about 6 inches and widths from about ⅛ inches to about 6 inches. Patch antennas may have the advantage that polarization may depend on connectivity, i.e. depending on which side the patch is fed, the polarization may change. This may further prove advantageous as receiver 108 may dynamically modify its antenna polarization to optimize wireless power transmission 100.

Rectifier 306 may include diodes or resistors, inductors or capacitors to rectify the AC voltage generated by antenna element 304 to direct current (DC) voltage. Rectifier 306 may be placed as close as is technically possible to antenna element 304 to minimize losses. In one embodiment, rectifier 306 may operate in synchronous mode, in which case rectifier 306 may include switching elements that may improve the efficiency of rectification. As an illustrative embodiment, and not by way of limitation, output of rectifier 306 may vary from about 0 volts to about 5 volts.

An input boost converter 308 can be included in receiver 108 to convert the variable DC output voltage of rectifier 306 into a more stable DC voltage that can be used by components of receiver 108 and/or electronic device 110. Input boost converter 308 may operate as a step-up DC-to-DC converter to increase the voltage from rectifier 306 to a voltage level suitable for proper operation of receiver 108. As an illustrative embodiment, and not by way of limitation, input boost converter 308 may operate with input voltages of at least 0.4 volts to about 5 volts to produce an output voltage of about 5 volts. In addition, input boost converter 308 may reduce or eliminate rail-to-rail deviations. In one embodiment, input boost converter 308 may exhibit a synchronous topology to increase power conversion efficiency.

As the voltage or power generated from RF waves 104 may be zero at some instants of wireless power transmission 100, receiver 108 can include a storage element 310 to store energy or electric charge from the output voltage produced by input boost converter 308. In this way, storage element 310, through an output boost converter 316, may deliver continuous voltage or power to a load 312, where this load 312 may represent the battery or internal circuitry of electronic device 110 requiring continuous powering or charging. For example, load 312 may be the battery of a mobile phone requiring constant delivery of 5 volts at 2.5 watts.

Storage element 310 may include a battery 314 to store power or electric charge from the voltage received from input boost converter 308. Battery 314 may be of different types, including but not limited to, alkaline, nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), and lithium-ion, among others. Battery 314 may exhibit shapes and dimensions suitable for fitting receiver 108, while charging capacity and cell design of battery 314 may depend on load 312 requirements. For example, for charging or powering a mobile phone, battery 314 may deliver a voltage from about 3 volts to about 4.2 volts.

In another embodiment, storage element 310 may include a capacitor (not shown in FIG. 3) instead of battery 314 for storing and delivering electrical charge as required by the receiver. As a way of example, in the case of charging or powering a mobile phone, receiver 108 may include a capacitor with operational parameters suitable for matching load 312 requirements.

Receiver 108 may also include output boost converter 316 operatively coupled with storage element 310 and input boost converter 308, where this output boost converter 316 may be used for matching impedance and power requirements of load 312. As an illustrative embodiment, and not by way of limitation, output boost converter 316 may increase the output voltage of battery 314 from about 3 or 4.2 volts to about 5 volts which may be the voltage required by the battery or internal circuitry of electronic device 110. Similarly to input boost converter 308, output boost converter 316 may be based on a synchronous topology for enhancing power conversion efficiency.

Storage element 310 may provide power or voltage to a communication subsystem or a controller 318, which may include a low-dropout regulator (LDO 320), a microcontroller 322, and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EE PROM 324). LDO 320 may function as a DC linear voltage regulator to provide a steady voltage suitable for low energy applications as in microcontroller 322. Microcontroller 322 may be operatively coupled with EE PROM 324 to store data pertaining the operation and monitoring of receiver 108. Microcontroller 322 may also include a clock (CLK) 330 input and general purpose inputs/outputs (GPIOs).

In one embodiment, microcontroller 322 in conjunction with EEPROM 324 may run an algorithm for controlling the operation of input and output boost converters 308, 316 according to load 312 requirements. Microcontroller 322 may actively monitor the overall operation of receiver 108 by taking one or more power measurements 326 (ADC) at different nodes or sections as shown in FIG. 3. For example, microcontroller 322 may measure how much voltage or power is being delivered at rectifier 306, input boost converter 308, battery 314, output boost converter 316, communication subsystem 318, and/or load 312. Microcontroller 322 may communicate these power measurements 326 to load 312 so that electronic device 110 may know how much power it can pull from receiver 108. In another embodiment, microcontroller 322, based on power measurements 326, may control the power or voltage delivered at load 312 by adjusting the load current limits at output boost converter 316. Yet in another embodiment, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm may be executed by microcontroller 322 to control and optimize the amount of power that input boost converter 308 can pull from antenna array 302.

In another embodiment, microcontroller 322 may regulate how power or energy can be drained from storage element 310 based on the monitoring of power measurements 326. For example, if the power or voltage at input boost converter 308 runs too low, then microcontroller 322 may direct output boost converter 316 to drain battery 314 for powering load 312.

Receiver 108 may include a switch 328 for resuming or interrupting power being delivered at load 312. In one embodiment, microcontroller 322 may control the operation of switch 328 according to terms of services contracted by one or more users of wireless power transmission 100 or according to administrator policies.

FIG. 4 shows a power conversion process 400 that may be implemented in receiver 108 during wireless power transmission 100. According to some aspects of this embodiment, power conversion process 400 may allow power extraction from RF waves 104 and/or pockets of energy 106 to provide suitable voltage or power to internal components of receiver 108 and electronic device 110.

Power conversion process 400 may start when antenna element 304 may convert (401) RF waves 104 and/or pockets of energy 106 into AC voltage or power. At step 402, rectifier 306 may rectify this AC voltage or power into DC voltage or power. At this stage, the DC voltage or power generated at rectifier 306 may be variable depending on conditions for extracting power from RF waves 104 and/or pockets of energy 106. Subsequently at step 404, input boost converter 308 may step up the DC voltage or power obtained from rectifier 306 to a voltage or power level that may be used by storage element 310 or other internal components of receiver 108. In one embodiment, input boost converter 308 may receive an input (based on a MPPT algorithm) from microcontroller 322 for adjusting and optimizing the amount of power that can be pulled from antenna array 302. At this stage, the stabilized and increased voltage at input boost converter 308 may be directly utilized by load 312, but it may not be continuous at all times given the inherently characteristics of RF waves 104.

The stabilized DC voltage produced by input boost converter 308 may be used to charge storage element 310, where storage element 310 may be in the form of a battery or a capacitor, at step 406. Storage element 310 may maintain suitable charging levels at all times for delivering continuous power to load 312. In addition, storage element 310 may provide suitable power or voltage to communication subsystem 318.

The voltage or power generated by storage element 310 can be step up by output boost converter 316 to match impedance and power requirements of load 312, at step 408. In one embodiment, microcontroller 322 may set up current limits at output boost converter 316 to adjust the amount of power being delivered at load 312 according to the application.

After the second boost conversion, output boost converter 316 may now supply stable and continuous power or voltage to load 312 within suitable electrical specifications for charging or powering electronic device 110 which may be operatively coupled with receiver 108, at step 410.

Microcontroller 322 may control switch 328 to interrupt or resume the delivery of power or voltage at load 312 according to terms of services contracted by users of wireless power transmission 100. For example, if wireless power transmission 100 is a service provided to a user of receiver 108, then microcontroller 322, through the use of switch 328, can interrupt or resume the powering or charging of electronic device 110 according to the status of user's contract. Furthermore, microcontroller 322 may regulate the operation of switch 328 based on charging or powering priorities established for one or more electronic devices 110. For example, microcontroller 322 may open switch 328 if the electronic device 110 coupled with receiver 108 has a lower powering or charging priority compared to another electronic device coupled with a suitable receiver that may require charging and that may have a higher priority for charging. In this case, transmitter 102 may direct RF waves 104 towards the receiver coupled with the electronic device with higher charging or powering priority.

The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed herein.