System and method for enabling automatic charging schedules in a wireless power network to one or more devices
The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits power transmission signals (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. Example methods for controlling the transmission are also disclosed, one such method including: (i) storing, in a storage, respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated with a respective receiver of one or more receivers, (ii) determining, based on the user-defined charging schedule data, respective time periods at which to transmit power transmission waves to each receiver of the one or more receivers, including a first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to a first receiver of the one or more receivers, and (iii) based upon determining a location of the first receiver during the first time period, causing the two or more antenna elements to transmit power transmission waves that constructively interfere to provide pocket-forming energy at the first receiver.
1. An apparatus for controlling wireless power delivery, comprising:
a transmitter comprising:
two or more antenna elements;
a power transmission signal circuit, operatively coupled to the two or more antenna elements;
a processor, operatively coupled to the power transmission signal circuit, wherein the processor is configured to:
control transmission of power transmission waves that constructively interfere to provide pocket-forming energy in three-dimensional space to one or more receivers via the two or more antenna elements and the power transmission signal circuit, and
a storage, operatively coupled to the processor, the storage being configured to store respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated in the storage with a respective receiver of the one or more receivers,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine, based on the user-defined charging schedule data, respective time periods at which to transmit power transmission waves to each receiver of the one or more receivers, including a first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to a first receiver of the one or more receivers, wherein the first time period is determined based on user-defined charging schedule data that is associated in the storage with the first receiver; and
based upon determining a location of the first receiver during the first time period, cause the two or more antenna elements to transmit power transmission waves that constructively interfere to provide pocket-forming energy at the location of the first receiver.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated with a respective receiver in the storage comprises data identifying one or more of: a time at which to wirelessly deliver power to the respective receiver, a physical location at which the respective receiver is to be charged, angular location data, and a priority with which the respective receiver is to receive wirelessly delivered power relative to other receivers of the one or more receivers.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive modified user-defined charging schedule data for the first receiver and store the modified user-defined charging schedule in the storage as associated with the first receiver, and
determine, based on the modified user-defined charging schedule data, an adjusted first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to the first receiver.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the storage of the transmitter is configured to store user-defined charging schedule data for one or more other transmitters providing wireless power delivery.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power transmission waves are radio frequency power transmission waves.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the determining the location of the first receiver is performed using information that is received during the first time period.
7. A method for controlling wireless power delivery, comprising:
at a transmitter with two or more antenna elements, a power transmission signal circuit operatively coupled to the two or more antenna elements, a processor operatively coupled to the power transmission signal circuit, and a storage operatively coupled to the processor:
storing, in the storage, respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated with a respective receiver of one or more receivers;
determining, based on the user-defined charging schedule data, respective time periods at which to transmit power transmission waves to each receiver of the one or more receivers, including a first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to a first receiver of the one or more receivers, wherein the first time period is determined based on user-defined charging schedule data that is associated in the storage with the first receiver; and
based upon determining a location of the first receiver during the first time period, causing the two or more antenna elements to transmit power transmission waves that constructively interfere to provide pocket-forming energy at the location of the first receiver.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the respective user-defined charging schedule data that is associated with a respective receiver in the storage comprises data identifying one or more of: a time at which to wirelessly deliver power to the respective receiver, a physical location at which the respective receiver is to be charged, angular location data, and a priority with which the respective receiver is to receive wirelessly delivered power relative to other receivers of the one or more receivers.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving modified user-defined charging schedule data for the first receiver and storing the modified user-defined charging schedule in the storage as associated with the first receiver, and
determining, based on the modified user-defined charging schedule data, an adjusted first time period during which to transmit power transmission waves to the first receiver.
10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising storing user-defined charging schedule data for one or more other transmitters providing wireless power delivery.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the power transmission waves are radio frequency power transmission waves.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining the location of the first receiver is performed using information that is received during the first time period.