Wireless power transfer for audio playback devices
Disclosed herein are devices (e.g., audio playback devices) configured to transmit and/or receive wireless power. Wireless power can be transferred using mid-range or long-range techniques, such as electromagnetic radiation (e.g., lasers, microwaves) or electromagnetic coupling (e.g., inductive coupling, capacitive coupling). Device performance and/or power transmission may be modified dynamically based on wireless power levels, user behavior, the behavior of other devices, device grouping, or other parameters.
1 . A method for an audio playback device, the method comprising:
receiving, via a wireless power receiver, wireless power from one or more external transmitter devices;
making a first determination that at least one of a rate or a level of wireless power received from the one or more external transmitter devices has fallen below a predetermined threshold;
based on the first determination, making a first modification of audio playback via the audio playback device;
making a second determination that the rate or the level of wireless power received from the one or more external transmitter devices has exceeded the predetermined threshold; and
based on the second determination, making a second modification of audio playback to reverse the first modification.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first modification of audio playback comprises reducing a volume of audio playback.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first modification of audio playback comprises reducing a low-frequency output of audio playback.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more external transmitter devices comprises a second audio playback device.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the audio playback device is configured for synchronous audio playback with the second audio playback device.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing energy via an energy storage component of the audio playback device using the received wireless power.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving wireless power comprises receiving the wireless power over a distance of greater than about 10 cm.
8 . An audio playback device comprising:
a wireless power receiver;
one or more processors; and
data storage having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the audio playback device to perform operations comprising:
receiving, via the wireless power receiver, wireless power from one or more external transmitter devices;
making a first determination that at least one of a rate or a level of wireless power received from the one or more external transmitter devices has fallen below a predetermined threshold;
based on the first determination, making a first modification of audio playback via the audio playback device;
making a second determination that the rate or the level of wireless power received from the one or more external transmitter devices has exceeded the predetermined threshold; and
based on the second determination, making a second modification of audio playback to reverse the first modification.
9 . The audio playback device of claim 8 , wherein the first modification of audio playback comprises reducing a volume of audio playback.
10 . The audio playback device of claim 8 , wherein the first modification of audio playback comprises reducing a low-frequency output of audio playback.
11 . The audio playback device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more external transmitter devices comprises a second audio playback device.
12 . The audio playback device of claim 11 , wherein the audio playback device is configured for synchronous audio playback with the second audio playback device.
13 . The audio playback device of claim 8 , further comprising an energy storage component configured to store energy using the received wireless power.
14 . The audio playback device of claim 8 , wherein the wireless power receiver is configured to receive the wireless power over a distance of greater than about 10 cm.
15 . One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an audio playback device, cause the audio playback device to perform operations comprising:
receiving, via a wireless power receiver, wireless power from one or more external transmitter devices;
making a first determination that at least one of a rate or a level of wireless power received from the one or more external transmitter devices has fallen below a predetermined threshold;
based on the first determination, making a first modification of audio playback via the audio playback device;
making a second determination that the rate or the level of wireless power received from the one or more external transmitter devices has exceeded the predetermined threshold; and
based on the second determination, making a second modification of audio playback to reverse the first modification.
16 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the first modification of audio playback comprises reducing a volume of audio playback.
17 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the first modification of audio playback comprises reducing a low-frequency output of audio playback.
18 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the one or more external transmitter devices comprises a second audio playback device.
19 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 18 , wherein the audio playback device is configured for synchronous audio playback with the second audio playback device.
20 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise storing energy via an energy storage component of the audio playback device using the received wireless power.