Methods for adjusting the power of an external reader
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for adjusting the power level of an external reader of an electronic device. The external reader transmits power to the electronic device with a radio frequency electromagnetic signal. The electronic device may rectify the radio frequency electromagnetic signal and create a rectified voltage. The rectified voltage may be positively correlated to the power level transmitted by the external device. The rectified power can be used to power a component of the electronic device, such as a component configured to measure either a voltage or power associated with the rectified voltage. The electronic device may communicate the measured voltage or power back to the external reader. Based on the communicated voltage or power, the external reader may adjust its power level of the transmitted power.
1. A method comprising
transmitting, by a reader device, electromagnetic radiation with a power level,
receiving, by the reader device, backscattered electromagnetic radiation as a voltage-indication signal,
generating, by the reader device, a voltage-indication signal based on the backscatter electromagnetic radiation;
determining, by the reader device, a working voltage harvested by a device that caused the backscattered electromagnetic radiation;
determining, by the reader device, a voltage requirement for the device based on a function associated with the device; and
responsive to determining the voltage requirement, adjusting the power level based on the voltage requirement and the determined working voltage.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the voltage requirement is further based on a threshold power requirement for the device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the voltage requirement is further based on a function the device will perform.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the power level is further based on both the voltage requirement and a power usage of the reader device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to not receiving backscatter, increasing the power level.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to determining the voltage of the device is not high enough to power a power unit of the device, increasing the power level of the transmitted electromagnetic radiation.
7. The method of claim 1 , further outputting a sound based on the voltage-indication signal.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication of desired functionality for the device, and wherein determining the voltage requirement is further based on the indication of the desired functionality for the device.
9. A system comprising a reader device, the reader device comprising:
an antenna configured to:
transmit electromagnetic radiation with a power level, and
receive backscattered electromagnetic radiation as a voltage-indication signal and output a voltage-indication signal based on the backscatter electromagnetic radiation; and
a control unit configured to:
determine a working voltage harvested by a device that caused the backscattered electromagnetic radiation based on the voltage-indication signal;
determine a voltage requirement for the device based on a function associated with the device;
responsive to determining the voltage requirement, adjust the power level based on the voltage requirement and the determined working voltage;
communicate with a display device; and
transmit one or more signals to the display device, the one or more signals indicating the voltage requirement or the power level.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the reader device comprises the display device.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the reader device is separate from the display device.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
receive, from the display device, an indication of desired functionality for the device, and
determine the voltage requirement based on the indication of the desired functionality for the device.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the reader device is a wearable device.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to access one or more configuration data stored in a memory of the reader device; and determine the voltage requirement further based on the configuration data.
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to receive sensor data from the device and to store the sensor data in a memory of the reader device.
16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to receive sensor data from the device and to transmit the received sensor data to the display device.
17. A display device comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
a processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
receive a voltage-indication signal from a reader device, the voltage-indication signal based on backscatter electromagnetic radiation received by the reader device from a target device;
determine a working voltage harvested by the target device based on the voltage-indication signal;
determine a voltage requirement for the target device based on a function associated with the target device; and
responsive to determining the voltage requirement, cause the reader device to adjust a power level of electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the reader device based on the voltage requirement and the determined working voltage.
18. The display device of claim 17 , wherein the display device comprises the reader device.
19. The display device of claim 17 , wherein the reader device is separate from the display device.
20. The display device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
receive a user input indicating a desired functionality for the target device, and
cause the reader device to change a configuration of the target device based on the indication of the desired functionality of the target device.
21. The display device of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
determine the voltage requirement based on the indication of the desired functionality for the target device.
22. The display device of claim 17 , wherein the display device is a wearable device.
23. The display device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to access one or more configuration data, and determine the voltage requirement further based on the configuration data.
24. The display device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to receive sensor data from the reader device and to store the sensor data in the non-transitory computer-readable medium.