University of Washington

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Vikram Subramaniam Iyer

Shyamnath Gollakota

Nissanka Arachchige Bodhi Priyantha

Joshua R Smith

Vamsi Talla

Mike Nakahara

Bryce Kellogg

Arka Majumdar

Vaishnavi Nattar Ranganathan

Rajalakshmi Nandakumar

Sawyer Fuller

Johannes James

Elyas Bayati

Yogesh M Chukewad

Harsh Sandesh Desai

Examples are disclosed that relate to improving security of radio frequency (RF) backscattered communication. In one example, a RF device includes a primary RF signal receiver, a secondary signal receiver, a signal mixer, and a transmitter. The primary RF signal receiver is configured to receive a RF carrier signal sent from a base station. The secondary signal receiver is configured to receive a masking signal from the base station. The signal mixer is configured to generate a response signal based at least on the RF carrier signal and generate a mixed signal by mixing the response signal and the masking signal. The transmitter is configured to broadcast the mixed signal, via backscattering, as a masked backscattered signal.

Signal masking for secure backscattered communication

An aerial robot system may include an aerial robot having an airframe, a piezo actuator, a wing connected to the piezo actuator, and a photovoltaic cell. The system may further include a laser source configured to emit a laser beam oriented toward the photovoltaic cell for conversion by the photovoltaic cell into electrical energy. The aerial robot may further include a boost converter connected to the photovoltaic cell and configured to raise a voltage level of the electrical energy, and a signal generator connected to the boost converter and configured to generate an alternating signal. The piezo actuator is connected to the signal generator to move according to the alternating signal to cause the wing to move in a flapping motion to generate aerodynamic force that moves the robot. Methods for manufacturing aerial robots and corresponding electronics are also disclosed herein.

Untethered flying micro-robots

Systems and methods for wirelessly transmitting power across a room or space are disclosed herein. One such system is comprised of a power receiving element positioned to receive wireless power transfer, comprised of a power receiving cell and a retroreflector positioned proximate the power receiving cell, and a power transmission element configured to wirelessly transmit power towards the power receiving element. The power transmission element includes an optical power transmitter configured to emit a first laser beam with a first power density towards the receiving cell, a guard beam emitter positioned proximate the optical power transmitter and configured to emit a second laser beam with a second power density towards the retroreflectors, a light detector positioned proximate the guard beam emitter and configured to detect light reflected by the retroreflectors, and an interlock system configured to interrupt power transmission when a decrease in light incident from the retroreflectors is detected.

Systems and methods for wireless power transmission

Examples described herein include devices and systems utilizing backscatter communication to generate transmissions in accordance with wireless communication protocols. Examples are described including single sideband operation, generation of a carrier wave using Bluetooth, downlink communication to a backscatter device, and combinations thereof.

Backscatter devices including examples of single sideband operation

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Vikram Subramaniam Iyer