Energous Corporation

Gregory Scott Brewer

Michael A Leabman

Douglas W Bell

Fay Yew

An example wireless-power receiver comprises one or more processors configured to perform operations, including receiving, via one or more antenna elements of an antenna array, a plurality of first electromagnetic (EM) signals. Each antenna element of the one or more antenna elements of the antenna array has a respective polarization. The one or more processors are further configured to perform operations including, in response to a change in an orientation of the wireless-power receiver, changing the respective polarization to a changed polarization for the one or more antenna elements of the antenna array, and receiving, via the one or more antenna elements of the antenna array, and while the one or more antenna elements have the changed polarization, a plurality of second EM signals.

Systems and methods of wirelessly delivering power to a wireless-power receiver device in response to a change of orientation of the wireless-power receiver device

A method of wireless power transmission includes transmitting, via antenna elements of an antenna array, a plurality of first signals having a first phase and a first gain. The method further includes determining a location of a receiver device based on the plurality of first signals transmitted by the antenna elements of the antenna array. The method includes adjusting, for the antenna elements of the antenna array, one of a phase and a gain based on the location of the receiver device. The method includes transmitting, via the antenna elements, a plurality of second signals having a second phase or a second gain such that the plurality of second signals are focused at a focus region that is approximately the size of an antenna array of the receiver device and provide energy at the focus region that is converted by the receiver device into usable power.

Systems and methods of determining a location of a receiver device and wirelessly delivering power to a focus region associated with the receiver device

A method of wireless power transmission is provided. The method includes, at a wireless power transmitter, receiving a signal from a receiver device and determining a location of the receiver device based, at least in part, on data included in the signal. The method further includes in response to determining that the location of the receiver device is within a wireless power transmission range of the wireless power transmitter: (I) selecting at least two antennas of the wireless power transmitter's antenna array based, at least in part, on the location of the receiver device, and (II) transmitting, via the at least two antennas of the antenna array, radio frequency power transmission waves that: (i) constructively interfere at the location of the receiver device to produce a focused energy at the location and (ii) destructively interfere around the location of the receiver device to form null-spaces around the focused energy.

Systems and methods of wirelessly delivering power to a receiver device

The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits power transmission signals. An example method of transmitting power includes: (i) in response to an input being received at a button in communication with a transmitter and before receiving any signals from a receiving electronic device identifying a location of the receiving electronic device, transmitting, by the transmitter, a first plurality of power transmission waves within a first distance of the transmitter; (ii) ceasing to transmit the first plurality of power transmission waves, and (iii) transmitting, by the transmitter, a second plurality of power transmission waves within a second distance of the transmitter that differs from the first distance, the second distance corresponding to the location of the receiving electronic device.

Systems and methods for wirelessly delivering power to electronic devices in response to commands received at a wireless power transmitter

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for an improved wireless charging transceiver pad. An example method includes: (i) receiving, by a cordless transceiver, a first plurality of power waves transmitted from a wireless power transmitter that is distinct from the cordless transceiver; (ii) charging at least partially, using energy received by the cordless transceiver from the first plurality of power waves, a first battery of the cordless transceiver; and (iii) transmitting, by the cordless transceiver using the first battery, a second plurality of power waves to a receiver, where the receiver is configured to convert energy from the second plurality of power waves to charge a second battery of an electronic device that is coupled with the receiver. The cordless transceiver is distinct from the receiver and the electronic device, and the first plurality of power waves is distinct from the second plurality of power waves.

Systems and methods for wireless charging using a cordless transceiver

An example method disclosed herein includes: transmitting, by a first set of a plurality of antennas of a transmitter, a first set of power waves to form a first constructive interference pattern at a first location of a receiver, and each antenna of the first set is a first type of antenna. The method also includes: receiving, by a communications component of the transmitter, a communication signal that identifies a second location of the receiver; and upon receiving the communication signal, selecting, based on the second location, a second set of the plurality of antennas to transmit power waves to the second location, and each antenna of the second set is a second type of antenna distinct from the first type. The method additionally includes: transmitting, by the second set of antennas, the second set of power waves to form a second constructive interference pattern at the second location.

Wireless power transmitters for selecting antenna sets for transmitting wireless power based on a receiver's location, and methods of use thereof

A method for wireless power transmission is provided. The method comprising emitting, by a first antenna element of a transmitter, a first signal comprising a plurality of wireless power waves establishing a pocket of energy. The method further comprising emitting, by a second antenna element of the transmitter, a second signal different from the first signal. The second signal provides Wi-Fi access.

Multi-mode transmitter with an antenna array for delivering wireless power and providing Wi-Fi access

A method includes: receiving, by a transmitter, an advertisement signal from a wearable device, the advertisement signal containing: (i) binary data indicating a direction of the wearable device, and (ii) one or more identifiers associated with the wearable device. The method also includes: in response to authenticating the wearable device based on the identifiers: establishing, by the transmitter, a communication channel with the wearable device; and transmitting, by the transmitter, one or more power transmission waves in the direction of the wearable device. The method further includes: receiving, by the transmitter, from the wearable device at least one control signal that indicates an adjustment for transmitting the one or more power transmission waves by the antennas of the transmitter. The method additionally includes: transmitting, by the transmitter, the one or more power transmission waves based on the adjustment and ceasing, by the transmitter, the communication channel with the wearable device.

Wearable device with wireless power and payload receiver

An example mobile device includes a built-in communications component and a receiver. The receiver includes a first radio frequency (RF) antenna element that interfaces with a constructive interference formed by wireless RF power transmission waves emitted from a far-field transmitter. The first RF antenna element is configured to transform energy from the constructive interference into an alternating current (AC) voltage. The receiver also includes a rectifier configured to convert the AC voltage into a DC voltage. The receiver further includes a power converter configured to changed the DC voltage into a constant DC voltage to provide electrical energy to the mobile device. The receiver uses the communications component to transmit, to the far-field transmitter, communication signals containing status data indicating a power transmission effectiveness of the power transmission waves. The mobile device also utilizes the communications component to communicate with electronic devices other than the far-field transmitter.

Wireless power receivers that communicate status data indicating wireless power transmission effectiveness with a transmitter using a built-in communications component of a mobile device, and methods of use thereof

The present disclosure describes a wireless tracking system for tracking the location of living beings or objects. This wireless tracking system may operate by using the wireless power transmission methodology which may include one transmitter and at least one or more receivers, being the transmitter the source of energy and the receiver the device that is desired to charge or power. Receivers and transmitters may include components to communicate between each other. Communication components may utilize wireless protocols which may have a unique identifier. The unique identifier may allow mapping, store and uploading information of devices a database located in public or private cloud-based service. A user may be able to access to information stored in database using user credentials, being able to access from any suitable device and place. Other elements may be adapted to wireless tracking system for obtaining more complete information about living beings or objects.

Wireless power transmitters for transmitting wireless power and tracking whether wireless power receivers are within authorized locations

The present disclosure describes a methodology for wireless power transmission based on pocket-forming. This methodology may include one transmitter and at least one or more receivers, being the transmitter the sender of energy and the receiver the device that is desired to charge or power. In the present disclosures, transmitters may power devices within a predefined range out of which devices may not be operable. This configuration may be beneficial in retail store settings where improved interactivity between users and devices is required. In addition, the configuration provides a safety feature to avoid unauthorized usage of electronic devices. A variation of this configuration is given in an academic setting where electronic devices utilized for learning are required to stay within school premises. Finally, an example of how such devices may improve their own form factors by using the disclosed wireless power transmission may be provided.

Wireless powering of electronic devices with selective delivery range

The present disclosure describes a methodology for wireless power transmission based on pocket-forming. The method includes a transmitter device capable of forming pockets of energy used by a receiver device to charge an electronic device such as a computers, cell phones, tablet and/or devices of the like. The method may include using an array of antennas at the transmitter to locate the position of a receiver device. The transmitter may identify the position of the device by capturing a signal from a receiving device using two subsets from the array of antennas. The subset of antennas may then be adjusted to form pockets of energy at the appropriate location of the receiving device. Previously stored data pertaining to each antenna in the array may serve to determine the proper adjustments for the entire array of antennas based on the results from the subsets used to capture the receivers signal.

Method for 3 dimensional pocket-forming

A method of wireless power transmission is provided. The method comprises generating, by a transmitter, a plurality of wireless power waves. The method further comprises outputting, by the transmitter, the wireless power waves toward a reflector such that the wireless power waves are reflected by the reflector to form a pocket of energy in proximity of a receiver configured to interface with the pocket of energy and charge a device thereby. The receiver is coupled to the device.

Wireless charging using selected reflectors

An example wireless power transmitter includes: a plurality of radio frequency (RF) antennas configured to transmit RF power waves that converge to form controlled constructive interference; and a micro-controller configured to: receive from a user device a coded signature signal, the user device being coupled to a receiver. The micro-controller is also configured to: authenticate the receiver as authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter according to the coded signature signal, and in accordance with determining that the receiver is authorized to receive wireless power from the wireless power transmitter, obtain from the receiver a set of user-defined restrictions used to determine when wireless power may be transmitted by the wireless power transmitter to the receiver. The micro-controller is additionally configured to: cause the plurality of RF antennas to transmit the RF power waves when the set of user-defined restrictions indicate that wireless power may be transmitted.

System and methods for wireless power transmission to an electronic device in accordance with user-defined restrictions

An example method for transmitting wireless power is provided, the method including: transmitting a first plurality of power transmission waves such that each of the transmission waves interferes constructively with other power transmission waves in the first plurality of power transmission waves to form controlled constructive interference at a first location having a receiver. The method also includes transmitting a second plurality of power transmission waves such that each of the second plurality of power tranmission waves interferes destructively with other power transmission waves in the second plurality of power transmission waves to form controlled destructive interference at a second location without any receiver. The method further includes receiving a communication signal from the receiver, and adjusting a phase or a gain and phase of at least one power transmission wave in each of the first plurality and the second plurality of power transmission waves based upon the communication signal.

System and methods for pocket-forming based on constructive and destructive interferences to power one or more wireless power receivers using a wireless power transmitter including a plurality of antennas

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Livermore, CA, United States of America

Gregory Scott Brewer