IP Library Granted Patent US 12,136,822
Granted Patent B2
US 12,136,822 · App. 17/810,464 · Granted Nov 5, 2024

Mesh network for power retransmissions

Inventors: Yoshiki Tanaka (Osaka, JP); Shinichi Kodama (Shijonawate, JP); Tetsuya Shihara (Kadoma, JP)
Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
H02J50/001H02J50/20H02J50/50H02J50/80
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,136,822
App. No.
17/810,464
Granted
Nov 5, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects are described for a device comprising a wireless transceiver configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) emission from a source device, an energy-harvesting unit configured to charge the first device wirelessly, using a first part of the RF emission, and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver. The processor is configured to modulate the first part of the RF emission based on information detected by the device and determine that an energy level of the device is above a threshold. The processor is further configured to transmit, in response to determining that the energy level is above the threshold, using the wireless transceiver, the modulated first part of the RF emission to the source device. The processor is further configured to transmit, in response to determining that the energy level is above the threshold, using the wireless transceiver, a second part of the RF emission wirelessly to another device to charge the other device.

Claims (23)

1. A device, comprising:

one or more antennas configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) emission wirelessly from a source device;

a power splitting circuitry configured to:

split the RF emission into a first part and a second part of the RF emission based on a threshold; and

transmit the first part of the RF emission to an energy harvesting circuitry while transmitting the second part of the RF emission to a wireless transceiver;

the energy harvesting circuitry configured to charge the device using the first part of the RF emission;

the wireless transceiver configured to receive the second part of the RF emission; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and configured to:

determine that an energy level of an energy storage unit of the device is above the threshold; and

in response to determining that the energy level is above the threshold, transmit, using the wireless transceiver, the second part of the RF emission wirelessly to a second device to charge the second device.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

modulate the first part of the RF emission based on information detected by the device; and

transmit, using the wireless transceiver, the modulated first part of the RF emission to the source device in response to determining that the energy level is above the threshold.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether a power level of transmitting the second part of the RF emission is above an interference threshold to other devices in a range; and

adjust the power level based on results of the determining.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the threshold based on a second energy level that supports functions of the device.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the device comprises a sensor, and wherein the functions of the device comprises information gathering of the sensor.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the second energy level supports the functions of the device for a predetermined period of time.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the threshold based on a periodicity of the RF emission.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the periodicity of the RF emission based on a configuration message received from the source device.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the periodicity of the RF emission based on previously received RF emissions.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the threshold based on an amount of information stored in the device.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2025
From: FUNAI GROUP CO., LTD
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 073121/0824 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2025
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. (F/K/A FE-TECH CO., LTD.)
To: FEC IP LLC
Reel/Frame 073121/0883 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2023
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064093/0487 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 063815 FRAME: 0716. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jun 2, 2023
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063843/0907 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2023
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063815/0716 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2022
From: TANAKA, YOSHIKI; KODAMA, SHINICHI; SHIHARA, TETSUYA
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060698/0211 →