Circuit for managing wireless power transmitting devices
An example integrated circuit includes: (i) a processing subsystem configured to control operation of the integrated circuit, (ii) a waveform generator, operatively coupled to the processing subsystem, configured to generate radio frequency (RF) power transmission signals using an input current, (iii) a first digital interface that couples the integrated circuit with a plurality of power amplifiers that are external to the integrated circuit, and (iv) a second digital interface, distinct from the first digital interface, that couples the integrated circuit with a wireless communication component that is external to the integrated circuit. The processing subsystem is configured to: receive, via the second digital interface, an indication that a receiver is within transmission range of a transmitting device controlled by the circuit, and in response to receiving the indication: provide, via the first digital interface, the RF power transmission signals to at least one of the plurality of power amplifiers.
1. An integrated circuit for managing operations of a radio frequency (RF) power transmitter, the integrated circuit comprising:
an RF subsection for DC to RF power conversion, the RF subsection configured to convert an input current provided to the integrated circuit into one or more RF power transmission signals;
an encryption module configured to ensure that only authorized wireless power receivers are able to receive wirelessly delivered power from the RF power transmitter;
a first interface configured to couple the integrated circuit with at least one power amplifier that is external to the integrated circuit;
a second interface, distinct from the first interface, configured to couple the integrated circuit with a wireless communication component that is external to the integrated circuit; and
wherein the integrated circuit is configured to:
receive, via the second interface, an indication that a wireless power receiver is within transmission range of the RF power transmitter controlled by the integrated circuit, and
in response to receiving the indication, and after determining using the encryption module that the wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power from the RF power transmitter, provide, via the first interface, the one or more RF power transmission signals to the at least one power amplifier.
2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit further includes a CPU subsystem that is in communication with a temperature monitoring circuit, the CPU subsystem configured to determine, based on temperature data from the temperature monitoring circuit, whether the radio frequency power transmitter is operating at a temperature below a threshold temperature.
3. The integrated circuit of claim 2 , wherein the CPU subsystem is further configured to suspend operation of the RF power transmitter until temperature data from the temperature monitoring circuit indicates that the RF power transmitter is operating at a temperature below the threshold temperature.
4. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit is configured to provide the one or more RF power transmission signals directly to the at least one power amplifier without first providing the one or more RF power transmission signals to a beamforming integrated circuit.
5. The integrated circuit of claim 4 , wherein:
the at least one power amplifier is coupled to at least one antenna, and the at least one antenna is configured to receive the one or more RF power transmission signals from the at least one power amplifier and radiate RF energy to the wireless power receiver, wherein the RF energy is converted to usable power at the wireless power receiver.
6. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the RF subsection includes an RF local oscillator.
7. The integrated circuit of claim 6 , wherein the RF local oscillator is configured to generate the one or more RF power transmission signals at a desired frequency based on instructions from a CPU subsystem of the integrated circuit.
8. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more RF power transmission signals include a plurality of RF power transmission signals; and
the integrated circuit is configured to provide the plurality of RF power transmission signals to a beamforming integrated circuit, the beamforming integrated circuit configured to phase-shift the plurality of RF power transmission signals.
9. The integrated circuit of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of RF power transmission signals are provided to the at least one power amplifier after having been phase-shifted by the beamforming integrated circuit.
10. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein:
the at least one power amplifier is coupled to a plurality of antennas, and
the phase-shifting by the beamforming integrated circuit is used to ensure that RF power transmission signals sent by the plurality of antennas arrive in phase at the wireless power receiver.
11. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the encryption module is further configured to secure communication exchanges with devices external to the RF power transmitter.
12. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a power detector configured to determine an amount of reflected power at the RF power transmitter.
13. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication component is a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi radio that is configured to receive communication signals from wireless power receivers.
14. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second interfaces are digital interfaces.
15. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit further includes a DC-DC power converter.
16. A radio-frequency (RF) power transmitter comprising:
an antenna;
at least one power amplifier coupled to the antenna; and
an integrated circuit for managing operations of the RF power transmitter, the integrated circuit comprising:
an RF subsection for DC to RF power conversion, the RF subsection configured to convert an input current provided to the integrated circuit into one or more RF power transmission signals;
an encryption module configured to ensure that only authorized wireless power receivers are able to receive wirelessly delivered power from the RF power transmitter;
a first interface configured to couple the integrated circuit with the at least one power amplifier that is external to the integrated circuit;
a second interface, distinct from the first interface, configured to couple the integrated circuit with a wireless communication component that is external to the integrated circuit; and
wherein the integrated circuit is configured to:
receive, via the second interface, an indication that a wireless power receiver is within transmission range of the RF power transmitter controlled by the integrated circuit, and
in response to receiving the indication, and after determining using the encryption module that the wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power from the RF power transmitter, provide, via the first interface, the one or more RF power transmission signals to the at least one power amplifier coupled to the antenna.
17. A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit for managing operations of a radio frequency (RF) power transmitter:
integrating an RF subsection for DC to RF power conversion with an integrated circuit, wherein the RF subsection is configured to convert an input current provided to the integrated circuit into one or more RF power transmission signals;
integrating an encryption module with the integrated circuit, wherein the encryption module is configured to ensure that only authorized wireless power receivers are able to receive wirelessly delivered power from the RF power transmitter;
integrating a first interface with the integrated circuit, wherein the first interface is configured to couple the integrated circuit with at least one power amplifier that is external to the integrated circuit;
integrating a second interface with the integrated circuit, distinct from the first interface, wherein the second interface is configured to couple the integrated circuit with a wireless communication component that is external to the integrated circuit; and
wherein the integrated circuit, upon completion of manufacture, is configured to
receive, via the second interface, an indication that a wireless power receiver is within transmission range of the RF power transmitter controlled by the integrated circuit, and
in response to receiving the indication, and after determining using the encryption module that the wireless power receiver is authorized to receive wirelessly delivered power from the RF power transmitter, provide, via the first interface, the one or more RF power transmission signals to the at least one power amplifier.