Home base station for multiple room coverage with multiple transmitters
The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. The transmitter can locate the at least one receiver in a three-dimensional space using a communication medium (e.g., Bluetooth technology). The transmitter generates a waveform to create a pocket of energy around each of the at least one receiver. The transmitter uses an algorithm to direct, focus, and control the waveform in three dimensions. The receiver can convert the transmission signals (e.g., RF signals) into electricity for powering an electronic device. Accordingly, the embodiments for wireless power transmission can allow powering and charging a plurality of electrical devices without wires.
1. A far-field wireless power transmission system comprising:
a base station comprising a controller connected to a power source; and
a plurality of far-field transmitters connected to the base station, each of the far-field transmitters comprising respective one or more integrated circuits, and a respective set of antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of far-field transmitters is assigned to a respective coverage area,
wherein:
the controller of the base station is configured to (i) determine one or more particular far-field transmitters of the plurality of far-field transmitters to use to transmit wirelessly delivered power to a receiver located in a respective coverage area assigned to the one or more particular far-field transmitters, and (ii) provide an instruction to the one or more particular far-field transmitters to begin delivering wireless power to the receiver, and
after receiving the instruction:
the one or more particular far-field transmitters are configured to generate far-field power transmission waves via respective one or more integrated circuits and respective sets of antenna elements of the one or more particular far-field transmitters, the far-field power transmission waves forming a constructive interference pattern as a pocket of energy from which the receiver receives energy that is used to power an electronic device coupled with the receiver.
2. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the base station includes a housing for the controller and the power source.
3. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of far-field transmitters includes a communication component configured for communicating with the electronic device within range to determine powering levels.
4. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 3 , wherein each of the far-field transmitters includes a housing for respective one or more integrated circuits and a respective set of antenna elements.
5. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the base station is linked to each of the plurality of far-field transmitters through a connection comprising a coaxial cable, phone cable, Local Area Network (LAN) cable, or Wi-Fi.
6. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 3 , wherein the receiver communicates with the one or more particular far-field transmitters via respective communication components of the one or more particular far-field transmitters through wireless communication protocols to provide power level information for the electronic device.
7. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein respective far-field transmitters of the plurality of far-field transmitters are capable of powering multiple receivers connected to electronic devices, wherein the respective far-field transmitters of the plurality of far-field transmitters are configured to provide different powering or charging levels corresponding to each of the electronic devices.
8. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 4 , wherein components of the base station and the plurality of far-field transmitters are manufactured from meta-materials, micro-printing of circuits, or nano-materials.
9. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the generation of far-field power transmission waves by the one or more particular far-field transmitters is controlled by the respective one or more integrated circuits utilizing components including oscillators and piezoelectric crystals configured to create and change radio frequencies in different antenna elements of the respective sets of antenna elements connected to the respective one or more integrated circuits.
10. The far-field wireless power transmission system claim 1 , wherein the controller in the base station is configured to instruct a different far-field transmitter of the plurality of far-field transmitters to begin transmitting wirelessly delivered power when an additional receiver is within a respective coverage area assigned to the different far-field transmitter, wherein the different far-field transmitter is configured to operate at a different frequency, a different power intensity, and a different range to power an additional electronic device that is coupled with the additional receiver.
11. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of far-field transmitters is plugged into a light socket.
12. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of far-field transmitters is configured to operate at different frequencies, power intensities, and different ranges.
13. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the respective sets of one or more antenna elements of the one or more particular far-field transmitters are regulated by the controller of the base station via the respective one or more integrated circuits of the one or more particular far-field transmitters to form a plurality of desired constructive interference patterns near different locations as the receiver moves within the respective coverage area.
14. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is used by the base station to feed generation of the far-field power transmission waves by the one or more particular far-field transmitters.
15. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a time and location to form the constructive interference pattern.
16. The far-field wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the respective coverage area assigned to the one or more far-field transmitters corresponds to a room within a structure.
17. A method, comprising:
providing a base station that comprises a controller connected to a power source, and the base station is connected to a plurality of far-field transmitters, wherein each of the far-field transmitters comprises respective one or more integrated circuits and a respective set of antenna elements, and each of the plurality of far-field transmitters is assigned to a respective coverage area;
determining, by the controller of the base station, one or more particular far-field transmitters of the plurality of far-field transmitters to use to transmit wirelessly delivered power to a receiver located in a respective coverage area assigned to the one or more particular far-field transmitters; and
providing, by the controller of the base station, an instruction to the one or more particular far-field transmitters to begin delivering wireless power to the receiver; and
after receiving the instruction, generating, by the one or more particular far-field transmitters, far-field power transmission waves via respective one or more integrated circuits and respective sets of antenna elements of the one or more particular far-field transmitters, the far-field power transmission waves forming a constructive interference pattern from which the receiver receives energy that is used to power an electronic device coupled with the receiver.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
determining by the controller of the base station, an additional far-field transmitter of the plurality of far-field transmitters to use to transmit wirelessly delivered power to an additional receiver that is in a different coverage area assigned to the additional far-field transmitter; and
providing, by the controller of the base station, a new instruction to the additional far-field transmitter to begin delivering wireless power to the additional receiver.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
regulating, by the controller of the base station, the respective sets of one or more antenna elements of the one or more particular far-field transmitters via the respective one or more integrated circuits of the one or more particular far-field transmitters to form a plurality of desired constructive interference patterns near different locations as the receiver moves within the respective coverage area.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the respective coverage area assigned to the one or more far-field transmitters corresponds to a room within a structure, and
the different coverage area assigned to the additional far-field transmitter corresponds a different room, distinct from the room, within the structure.