Systems and methods for wireless power transfer in multipath vehicle environments
Systems and methods for leveraging multipath wireless transmissions for high data rate communication and charging devices within multipath vehicle environments are described. The techniques include deploying a wireless charger, including an array of antennas, within a vehicle interior. The wireless charger may detect an incoming signal from a client device. Each antenna in the array may determine an offset for the received signal, which is then used to tune parameters for each antenna individually. Upon transmission, the resulting signal is directionally biased toward the least lossy pathways between the device and the charger. These pathways avoid passengers and other sources of signal attenuation. Thus, for a given total power envelope, a greater total signal amplitude may be delivered to the device, with reduced exposure to any occupants of the vehicle. Additionally, the interior of the vehicle may be provisioned to help improve multipath focusing of transmissions.
1. A wireless power transmission system configured for deployment in a vehicle, the system comprising:
an antenna array having multiple antennas deployed within an interior of a vehicle; and
control circuitry operatively coupled to the multiple antennas, the control circuitry configured to:
detect, at the multiple antennas of the antenna array, a signal initiated by a device within the vehicle, wherein the signal is received at the multiple antennas over multiple paths;
determine one or more time or phase offsets for each of the multiple antennas;
tune parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the one or more time or phase offsets;
in accordance with the tuned parameters, direct at least a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a first wireless power signal to the device over one or more of the multiple paths;
access one or more fixed time or phase offsets for each of the multiple antennas for delivering power to a non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle;
re-tune the parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the one or more fixed time or phase offsets; and
in accordance with the re-tuned parameters, direct at least a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a second wireless power signal to the non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle over one or more paths.
2. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more time or phase offsets include time and phase offsets.
3. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transmit, from at least a second portion of the multiple antennas, a data signal in accordance with the tuned parameters.
4. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power transmission system is configured to utilize at least one reflector within the vehicle interior.
5. The wireless power transmission system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one reflector is a metal mesh or screen incorporated into at least one of a seat, a floor, a ceiling, a floor mat, or a window of the vehicle.
6. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fixed time or phase offsets are preconfigured based on predetermined locations of the non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element and the wireless power transmission system.
7. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
send a training transmission, wherein the training transmission includes at least one signal pulse;
receive timing and phase information for signals resulting from the training transmission;
generate a power transmission schedule based upon the timing and phase information; and
direct at least a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit wireless power according to the power transmission schedule.
8. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
periodically focus wireless power transmission on one or more fixed locations within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle.
9. The wireless power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein to tune parameters for each of the multiple antennas, the control circuitry is further configured to minimize transmissions along paths that are absorbed or lost.
10. A vehicle comprising:
a propulsion system configured to propel the vehicle; and
a wireless power transmission system deployed within an interior of the vehicle, the wireless power transmission system including:
multiple antennas, and
control circuitry operatively coupled to the multiple antennas, the control circuitry configured to:
detect, at the multiple antennas, a signal initiated by a device within the vehicle, wherein the signal is received at the multiple antennas over multiple paths,
determine one or more time or phase offsets for each of the multiple antennas,
tune parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on the one or more time or phase offsets,
in accordance with the tuned parameters, direct at east a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a first wireless power signal to the device over one or more of the multiple paths,
re-tune the parameters for each of the multiple antennas based on one or more fixed time or phase offsets; and
in accordance with the re-tuned parameters, direct at least a portion of the multiple antennas to transmit a second wireless power signal to a non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle over one or more paths.
11. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising at least one reflector deployed within the vehicle interior.
12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one reflector is a metal mesh or screen.
13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one reflector is incorporated into at least one of a seat, a floor, a ceiling, a floor mat, or a window of the vehicle.
14. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the first or second wireless power signals comprise at least one of a radio frequency transmission, an ultrasonic acoustic wave, a photonic signal, and magnetic oscillations.
15. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the wireless power transmission system is deployed within one or more of a console, a dashboard, or a ceiling of the vehicle.
16. The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising one or more additional wireless power transmission systems deployed within an interior of the vehicle.
17. A method of operating a wireless power transmission system deployed within an interior of a vehicle for transmitting wireless energy in a multipath vehicle environment, the method comprising:
detecting, at multiple antennas of the wireless power transmission system, a signal initiated by a device within a vehicle, wherein the signal is received over multiple paths within the multipath vehicle environment;
determining one or more offsets of the signal for at least a first subset of the multiple antennas, wherein the one or more offsets include time and phase offsets;
tuning parameters for each antenna of the first subset of the multiple antennas based on the one or more offsets;
transmitting a first wireless power signal in accordance with the tuned parameters of at least the first subset of the multiple antennas;
tuning parameters for each antenna of a second subset of the multiple antennas based on one or more fixed offsets, wherein the one or more fixed offsets include time and phase offsets; and
transmitting a second wireless power signal in accordance with the tuned parameters of at least the second subset of the multiple antennas to a non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element on the vehicle over one or more paths.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein one or more fixed offsets are preconfigured based on predetermined locations of the non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element and the wireless power transmission system.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second wireless power signal provides power to the non-beaconing fixed-point power reception element as part of a failsafe or redundancy mechanism.