(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Landis
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,967,462 B1
`Nov. 22, 2005
`
`US006967462B1
`
`(54) CHARGING OF DEVICES BY MICROWAVE
`POWER BEAMING
`
`6,498,455 B2 12/2002 Zink et a1.
`2002/0027390 A1
`3/2002 Ichiki et a1.
`
`(75) Inventor: Geo?'rey A. Landis, Berea, OH (US)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`-
`_
`(73) Asslgnee' lgfzvsgagielgnlilieég‘rch Center’
`
`Prado, Mark “Environmental Effects—The PoWerSat Beam
`and the Environment” 1983 P.E.R.M.A.N.E.N.T.
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 149 days.
`
`(21) APPL NO; 10/455,139
`_
`Jull- 5, 2003
`(22) Flledi
`(51) nn. C17 ............................................. .. H01M 10/46
`(52) U..S. Cl. ...................... .. 320/101; 320/109; 322/2 R
`Fleld Of Search ............................... ..
`320/110’ 108’ 109’ 322/2 R
`,
`References Clted
`U5, PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`7/1976 Waterbury
`3’971’454 A
`EIIIE‘HHS Sr
`2
`5/1993 schngd’ '
`5:210j804 A
`5,260,639 A 11/1993 De Young et aL
`5,396,538 A
`3/1995 Hong
`5,503,350 A
`4/1996 Foote
`5,733,313 A
`3/1998 Barreras, Sr. et a1.
`5,982,139 A 11/1999 Pause
`671147834 A
`9/2000 paflse
`6’127’799 A 122/2000 Knshnan
`1
`gggski et al
`11/2002 Hunter et 211.
`12/2002 Koreis
`
`6,474,341 B1
`6,489,745 B1
`
`Primary Examiner—EdWard H‘ T50
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system for providing Wireless, charging poWer and/or
`primary power to electronic/electrical devices is described
`Whereby m1croWave energy is employed. Microwave energy
`is focused by a poWer transmitter comprising one or more
`gjaggfglgéphgijerggffggijfrfé“Egg: 03“; ‘135223
`receive and rectify the microwave energy and use it for
`battery Charging and/OI. for primary power‘ A locator Signal
`generated by the device to be charged is analyzed by the
`system to determine the location of the device to be charged
`relative to the microWave array emitters, permitting the
`microWave energy to be directly speci?cally toWards the
`device to be charged. Backscatter detectors respond to
`backscatter energy re?ected off of any obstacle betWeen the
`device to be charged and the microWave array emitters.
`Povyer to any obstructed microWave array emitter is reduced
`until the obstruction is removed. Optionally, data can be
`modulated onto m1croWave energy beams produced by the
`array emitters and demodulated by the device, thereby
`providing means of data communication from the poWer
`transmitter to the device. Similarly, data can be modulated
`onto the locator signal and demodulated in the poWer
`transmitter, thereby providing means of data communication
`from the device to the poWer transmitter.
`
`20 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`0001
`
`Ossia, Inc.
`Exhibit 1005
`PGR2016-00023
`U.S. Patent No. 9,124,125
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 22,2005
`
`Sheet 1 0f 4
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`US 6,967,462 B1
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`104a
`
`Figure 1A
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`0002
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 22,2005
`
`Sheet 2 0f 4
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`US 6,967,462 B1
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`Fi ure 1B
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`0003
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 22,2005
`
`Sheet 3 0f 4
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`US 6,967,462 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 22,2005
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`Sheet 4 of 4
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`US 6,967,462 B1
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`Data Out
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`200b
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`US 6,967,462 B1
`
`1
`CHARGING OF DEVICES BY MICROWAVE
`POWER BEAMING
`
`ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention described herein Was made by an employee
`of the United States Government and may be manufactured
`and used by or for the Government for Government pur
`poses Without the payment of any royalties thereon or
`therefore.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates generally to Wireless charg
`ing and poWering of battery-poWered electrical/electronic
`devices, including consumer devices.
`
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`apparatus. A second coil (or antenna) is disposed Within the
`device to be charged. A“transmitting” circuit drives the ?rst
`coil With an AC Waveform. The device to be charged is
`placed in close proximity to the charging apparatus such that
`an electro-magnetic ?eld produced by the ?rst coil induces
`a corresponding AC electrical signal in the second coil. By
`rectifying the electrical signal in the second coil, a source of
`charging energy for the device to be charged is realiZed. In
`effect, the tWo coils (or antennae) form a transformer by
`Which electrical poWer and/or signals can be communicated
`betWeen the charging apparatus and the device to be
`charged. Such non-contacting charging systems have also
`been adapted to provided data communication over the same
`electro-magnetic coupling that provides the charging energy
`by modulating the charging signal and/or load impedance.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A recent trend in consumer electronic devices is small,
`battery operated devices With on-board rechargeable batter
`ies that are recharged by using a small, external charging
`adapter. These consumer devices can be, e.g., cell phones,
`personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal stereo devices
`(e.g., “Walkman”, or MP3 Player), laptop computers,
`calculators, pagers, etc. Typically, the charging adapters for
`these devices are Wall-plug AC adapters that provide bulk,
`loW-voltage AC or DC charging poWer to the consumer
`device for operating the device and/or charging the device’s
`on-board battery. Often, cigarette lighter adapters and simi
`lar charging adapters are provided for charging the consumer
`devices from a car’s electrical system.
`A typical consumer device charging system comprises a
`source of charging poWer, a charging circuit and a recharge
`able battery. The charging circuit typically controls the
`amount of charging current delivered to the consumer
`device’s battery, sensing and adjusting the current according
`to the battery’s state of charge. Often, such charging circuits
`provide additional poWer for operating the consumer device
`While it is connected to charging adapter, dividing available
`poWer betWeen battery charging and device operation as
`required.
`Sometimes the charging circuit resides Within the con
`sumer device; other times the charging circuit is built into
`the charging adapter. The practice of putting the charging
`circuit into the charging adapter can be particularly advan
`tageous for very small consumer devices, as it eliminates
`circuitry from the consumer device itself. Although such
`charging circuits are typically very small themselves, they
`can be large in comparison to other circuitry in consumer
`devices and the space saved by eliminating them can have a
`signi?cant effect on the siZe, complexity and cost of the
`consumer device.
`Usually, the charging adapter plugs into the consumer
`device by means of a Wired connection. Sometimes, a
`connector or a set of contacts on the exterior of the consumer
`device is arranged so that the act of placing it into a charging
`“cradle” establishes a physical/electrical connection for
`charging the device. In this case, the “cradle” is a part of the
`charging adapter. Most charging systems for consumer
`devices require a direct electrical connection of this type
`betWeen the device to be charged and the charging adapter.
`Over time, these contacts can become Worn, loose or dirty,
`compromising their physical and/or electrical integrity and
`making them unreliable.
`One scheme for poWering and/or charging electrical/
`electronic devices involves electromagnetically coupled
`coils. A ?rst coil (or antenna) is disposed Within a charging
`
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`The present inventive technique provides for Wireless,
`charging poWer and/or primary poWer to electronic/
`electrical devices Whereby microWave energy is employed.
`The microWave energy is focused by one or more
`adaptively-phased microWave array emitters in a poWer
`transmitter portion of the system onto a device to be charged.
`Rectennas Within the device to be charged receive and
`rectify the microWave energy and use it for battery charging
`and/or for primary poWer. A locator signal generated by the
`device to be charged is analyZed by the system to determine
`the location of the device to be charged relative to the
`microWave array emitters, permitting the microWave energy
`to be directly speci?cally toWards the device to be charged.
`Backscatter detectors respond to backscatter energy
`re?ected off of any obstacle betWeen the device to be
`charged and the microWave array emitters. PoWer to any
`obstructed microWave array emitter is reduced until the
`obstruction is removed. Optionally, data can be modulated
`onto microWave energy beams produced by the array emit
`ters and demodulated by the device, thereby providing
`means of data communication from the poWer transmitter to
`the device. Similarly, data can be modulated onto the locator
`signal and demodulated in the poWer transmitter, thereby
`providing means of data communication from the device to
`the poWer transmitter.
`The poWer transmitter portion of the system includes one
`or more (preferably planar) adaptively-phased microWave
`array emitters, and location detection means responsive to
`the location signal generated by the device to be charged.
`Typically, the array emitters Would be mounted to Walls and
`or ?oors of a room in Which the device to be charged resides.
`The phase of microWave energy produced by the array
`emitters is continuously varied across the face(s) of the array
`emitter(s) to produce the effect of a focused beam of
`microWave energy, converging at the device. One or more
`rectennas Within the device receive the transmitted micro
`Wave energy, converting and rectifying it into DC electrical
`energy useful for battery charging and/or device poWer.
`According to an aspect of the invention, device location
`is determined by producing “pilot beams” (locator signal) at
`the location of the device to be charged to be received by the
`poWer transmitter. By analyZing timing characteristics of the
`received signal (e. g., by triangulation) the poWer transmitter
`determines the exact location of the device to be charged
`relative to its array emitters and adjusts phase of the micro
`Wave energy across the surface of the array emitters to focus
`the energy on the device.
`According to another aspect of the invention, the array
`emitters produce continuous-Wave microWave energy in the
`
`0006
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`

`
`US 6,967,462 B1
`
`3
`frequency range between 2 GHZ and 10 GHZ inclusive.
`Frequencies higher than 10 GHZ can be employed (e.g.,
`millimeter Wave), but using current rectenna technology,
`there Would be a loss of efficiency.
`According to another aspect of the invention, each indi
`vidual microWave array emitter produces energy at a fre
`quency close to, but different from that produced by any
`other microWave array emitter in the system. This reduces
`loss of energy in sidelobes, and minimizes interference
`issues.
`According to another aspect of the invention, the poWer
`transmitter includes backscatter detectors for detecting
`backscatter energy re?ected off of any obstruction betWeen
`the microWave array emitters and the device to be charged.
`When an obstruction is detected, the obstructed, the poWer
`output of the obstructed microWave array emitter is reduced
`to a loW level until the obstruction is removed, thereby
`reducing lost poWer and preventing injury to humans or
`damage to objects that obstruct the poWer transmission path
`betWeen the arrays and the device.
`According to another aspect of the invention, conven
`tional electrical/electronic devices (i.e., those not speci?
`cally adapted to microWave charging) can be accommodated
`by means of a microWave charging adapter/cradle that
`embodies the inventive technique for receiving and convert
`ing microWave energy. In this case, the charging cradle/
`adapter Would generate the locator signal and receive the
`microWave energy.
`According to another aspect of the invention, data can be
`modulated onto the microWave energy produced by the
`adaptively phased microWave array emitters by means of a
`modulator function, thereby producing microwave energy
`beams having a (DC) poWer component and a (AC) data
`component. Ademodulator function in the device (or charg
`ing adapter/cradle) demodulates the data component of the
`microWave energy beam as received by the rectennas. This
`provides means of communicating data from the poWer
`transmitter to the device.
`According to another aspect of the invention, data can be
`modulated onto the locator signal produced by the device to
`be charged (or by the charging cradle/adapter) by means of
`a modulator function. A corresponding demodulator func
`tion in the poWer transmitter demodulates the data modu
`lated onto the locator signal, thereby providing means of
`communicating data from the device to the poWer transmit
`ter.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`These and further features of the present invention Will be
`apparent With reference to the folloWing description and
`draWing, Wherein:
`FIG. 1A is a vieW of a system for direct microWave
`charging of an electrical/electronic device, in accordance
`With the invention.
`FIG. 1B is a vieW of a system for microWave charging of
`an electrical/electronic device in a charging cradle, in accor
`dance With the invention.
`FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a system for microWave
`charging, in accordance With the invention.
`FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a system for microWave
`charging, including means for data exchange, in accordance
`With the invention.
`
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`The present inventive technique provides for charging
`and/or poWering of an electrical/electronic device using
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`microWave energy. One or more adaptive-phased arrays are
`used to focus one or more “rectennas” (rectifying antennas)
`disposed Within the consumer device. MicroWave energy
`reaching the rectenna(s) is converted into DC electrical
`energy that is used to charge a battery or other energy
`storage device Within the consumer device. The DC electri
`cal energy can also be used to provide primary poWer for the
`consumer device While the battery or storage device is being
`charged.
`FIG. 1A is a vieW of a system 100a for direct microWave
`charging of an electrical/electronic device 102, Wherein a
`plurality of adaptive-phased array microWave emitters 106a,
`106b and 1066 are disposed on Walls 104a, 104b and ceiling
`104c, respectively of a room in Which the electrical/
`electronic device 102 resides. Pilot beams 100a, 100b, 110c
`from the electrical/electronic device 102 permit the system
`100 to determine the eXact location of the electrical/
`electronic device 102 Within the room. Each of the adaptive
`phased arrays 106a, 106b and 1066 is then driven to emit
`continuous-Wave microWave energy With varying phase
`across the array surface in order to effectively focus a
`respective beam 108a, 108b, 1086 of microWave energy
`directly at the electrical/electronic device 102. One or more
`rectennas (described in greater detail hereinbeloW) Within
`the electrical/electronic device 102 receive the microWave
`energy focused thereupon and convert it into a source of
`charging and/or operating poWer therefor. Backscatter detec
`tors 112a, 112b and 112C, mounted in close proximity to
`adaptive-phased arrays 106a, 106b and 1066, respectively,
`detect “backscatter”, i.e., microWave energy re?ected off of
`any obstacle (e.g., a human) that might enter the beam path.
`When signi?cant backscatter is detected by one of the
`backscatter detectors 1120!, 112b or 112C, its respective
`adaptive-phased array 112a is either turned off completely or
`reduced to a loW level of poWer emission until the beam is
`clear of the obstruction. This prevents transmission of
`Wasted microWave poWer that Will not reach the electrical/
`electronic device 102, and also guards against injury or
`damage to a human (or other obstacle) that enters a beam
`path. If any beam is obstructed (108a, 101% or 1086), the
`remaining beams can still poWer the electrical/electronic
`device 102.
`Preferably, the adaptive-phased arrays operate in the
`range of 2 to 10 GHZ (2><109 HZ to 10><109 HZ). Higher
`frequencies, e.g., “millimeter Wave” frequencies can be
`employed, but current millimeter Wave rectenna technology
`is loWer in efficiency than rectenna technology designed for
`the 2 to 10 GHZ range. It is also preferable that the adaptive
`phase arrays (106a, 106b and 106C) operate at slightly
`different frequencies, i.e., it is preferable that the adaptive
`phased arrays 106a, 106b, 1066 transmit mutually incoher
`ent microWave signals. While having all of the adaptive
`phased arrays operate on the same frequency Would result in
`a smaller beam “spot” (focal point) on the electrical/
`electronic device to be charged/poWered, it Would also result
`in more of the beam poWer being scattered into sidelobes,
`yielding loWer ef?ciency (Wasted poWer in the sidelobes)
`and greater interference betWeen arrays.
`The “pilot beams” 110a, 110b and 110c are essentially a
`locator signal, and can be provided by any suitable means of
`identifying the location of the electrical/electronic device
`102 relative to the adaptive-phased arrays 106a, 106b and
`106C. This can be an RF signal, a microWave signal, or any
`other suitable locator signal from Which the location of the
`electrical/electronic device 102 can be determined by the
`system 100a.
`Data transfer betWeen the charging system 100a and the
`electrical/electronic device 102 is readily accomplished by
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`US 6,967,462 B1
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`5
`modulating data onto one or more of the charging beams
`108a, 108b, 108c, and demodulating the modulated compo
`nent in the electrical/electronic device. Similarly, the
`electrical/electronic device 102 can modulate either one or
`more of its pilot beams 110a, 110b or 110c (or Whatever
`“locator” signal it employs) With data to be transferred to the
`system 100a. This data transfer mechanism is described in
`greater detail hereinbeloW With respect to FIG. 2B.
`FIG. 1B is a vieW of a similar system 100b for microWave
`charging of an electrical/electronic device 122 in a charging
`cradle/adpater 120. This embodiment is essentially identical
`to that of FIG. 1A, except that the electrical/electronic
`device 102 of FIG. 1A had the beam-receiving rectennas and
`pilot beam generation built-in, While the implementation of
`FIG. 1B separates the beam-receiving rectennas and pilot
`beam generation into a separate charging cradle/adapter 120.
`In effect, the combination of electrical/electronic device 122
`and charging cradle/ adapter 120 in FIG. 1B is comparable to
`the electrical/electronic device 102 of FIG. 1A. Pilot beams
`110a, 110b, and 110c can be “gated” such that they are only
`generated When the electrical/electronic device 122 is
`“docked” in its charging cradle/adapter 120, thereby signal
`ing to the system 100b that the adaptive-phased arrays can
`be poWered doWn, since there is no need for poWering/
`charging otherWise.
`One advantage of the system 100a of FIG. 1A over the
`system 100b of FIG. 1B is that the fully-integrated electrical/
`electronic device 102 required no charging adapter, and can
`be charged or poWered simply by being placed in the vicinity
`of a suitable charging system. The system 100b of FIG. 1B
`has the advantage that it readily adapted to accept existing
`electrical/electronic devices such as cell phones and PDAs
`Without modi?cation.
`FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a system 200a for micro
`Wave charging an electrical/electronic device 230 by means
`of focused, microWave beams 240. A poWer transmitter
`portion 220 of the system comprises a poWer source 202 that
`poWers one or more adaptively-phased arrays 204 to pro
`duce one or more directed (“focused”) beams 240 of micro
`Wave energy aimed at the electrical/electronic device 230.
`Pilot beam detection 206, detects a locator signal emitted by
`a pilot beam emitter 238 in the electrical/electronic device.
`A location detection function 208 analyZes the timing of the
`locator signal to determine the location of the electrical/
`electronic device 230 relative to the one or more adaptively
`phased arrays 204. The phase of transmitted microWave
`energy is varied continuously across the face of the
`adaptively-phased arrays 204 to produce beam(s) 240 that
`converge on one or more rectenna elements 232 in the
`electrical/electronic device. MicroWave energy received by
`the rectennas 232 is recti?ed and converted thereby into DC
`electrical energy Which is in turn presented to a charging and
`poWer control function block 234 for charging a battery 236
`and/or for providing primary poWer to the electrical/
`electronic device 230.
`Backscatter sensors 212 in the poWer transmitter portion
`220 detect re?ected microWave energy indicative of an
`obstacle in the microWave beams. Control logic responds to
`signal from the backscatter detector and reduces (or cuts off)
`the poWer transmitted by any adaptively-phased array 204
`Whose beam path is obstructed. Preferably, the poWer of the
`obstructed beam is loWered to a “safe” level and the back
`scatter detectors are continually monitored to determine
`When the beam is clear, at Which time full poWer to the
`affected beam can once again be restored. Additionally, the
`location detection function 208 can provide an indication of
`presence or absence of an electrical/electronic device 230 to
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`be charged, enabling poWer transmission by the adaptively
`phased arrays 204 only When an appropriately adapted
`electrical/electronic device 230 is present.
`FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a similar system 200b for
`microWave charging of an electrical/electronic device 230a
`(compare 230) by a poWer transmitter portion 220a
`(compare 220) of the system, but adding means for data
`exchange betWeen the electrical/electronic device 230a and
`the poWer transmitter portion 220a As in the system 200 of
`FIG. 2A, the poWer transmitter portion 220a of the system
`comprises a poWer source 202 that poWers one or more
`adaptively-phased arrays 204 to produce one or more
`directed (“focused”) beams 240 of microWave energy aimed
`at the electrical/electronic device 230a. In addition,
`hoWever, a Modulator function 250 modulates the micro
`Wave energy generated by the adaptively phased arrays 204
`such that the focused poWer beams 240 carry both poWer (a
`“DC” or continuous beam component) and data (an “AC” or
`varying beam component). A demodulator function 252 in
`the electrical/electronic device 230a demodulates or
`“decodes” the varying beam component as received by the
`rectennas 232, and reproduces the data used to produce the
`modulation.
`Pilot beam detection 206, detects a locator signal emitted
`by a pilot beam emitter 238 in the electrical/electronic
`device 230a In this case, hoWever, a modulator function 254
`modulates data onto the locator signal produced by the pilot
`beam emitter. A demodulator function 256 in the poWer
`transmitter portion 220a decodes (demodulates) the data
`modulated onto the locator signal. A location detection
`function 208 analyZes the overall timing of the locator signal
`to determine the location of the electrical/electronic device
`230a relative to the one or more adaptively-phased arrays
`204. The phase of transmitted microWave energy is varied
`continuously across the face of the adaptively-phased arrays
`204 to produce beam(s) 240 that converge on one or more
`rectenna elements 232 in the electrical/electronic device.
`MicroWave energy received by the rectennas 232 is recti?ed
`and converted thereby into DC electrical energy Which is in
`turn presented to a charging and poWer control function
`block 234 for charging a battery 236 and/or for providing
`primary poWer to the electrical/electronic device 230a.
`As in the system 200 of FIG. 2A, backscatter sensors 212
`in the poWer transmitter portion 220a detect re?ected micro
`Wave energy indicative of an obstacle in the microWave
`beams. Control logic responds to signal from the backscatter
`detector and reduces (or cuts off) the poWer transmitted by
`any adaptively-phased array 204 Whose beam path is
`obstructed. Preferably, the poWer of the obstructed beam is
`loWered to a “safe” level and the backscatter detectors are
`continually monitored to determine When the beam is clear,
`at Which time full poWer to the affected beam can once again
`be restored. Additionally, the location detection function 208
`can provide an indication of presence or absence of an
`electrical/electronic device 230a to be charged, enabling
`poWer transmission by the adaptively-phased arrays 204
`only When an appropriately adapted electrical/electronic
`device 230a is present.
`Those of ordinary skill in the art Will immediately under
`stand that the electronic/electronic device 230 of FIG. 2A
`could be charged by the poWer transmitter portion 220a of
`FIG. 2B, but that there Would be no data exchange capability
`due to the lack of compatible data exchange circuitry in the
`electrical/electronic device 230. Similarly, the electrical/
`electronic device 230a of FIG. 2B could be charged by the
`poWer transmitter 220 of FIG. 2A, but there Would be no
`data exchange capability due to the lack of compatible data
`exchange circuitry in the poWer transmitter 220.
`
`0008
`
`

`
`US 6,967,462 B1
`
`7
`Those of ordinary skill in the art Will immediately under
`stand that the systems 200 and 200a of FIGS. 2A and 2B,
`respectively, can be applied either to fully-integrated,
`microWave-chargeable electrical/electronics devices (e.g.,
`102, FIG. 1A) or to microwave charging stations for con
`ventional electrical/electronic devices (e.g., 122, 120, FIG.
`1B) by making the appropriate functional divisions.
`Speci?cally, only the battery (e.g., 236, FIG. 2B) need reside
`Within a conventional electrical/electronic device (e.g., 122,
`FIG. 1B). All other components of the microWave
`chargeable electrical electronic device (see 230, 230a, FIGS.
`2A, 2B) can be integrated into a charging station (e.g., 120
`FIG. 1B).
`Although the invention has been shoWn and described
`With respect to a certain preferred embodiment or
`embodiments, certain equivalent alterations and modi?ca
`tions Will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading
`and understanding of this speci?cation and the annexed
`draWings. In particular regard to the various functions per
`formed by the above described components (assemblies,
`devices, circuits, etc.) the terms (including a reference to a
`“means”) used to describe such components are intended to
`correspond, unless otherWise indicated, to any component
`Which performs the speci?ed function of the described
`component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even
`though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure
`Which performs the function in the herein illustrated exem
`plary embodiments of the invention. In addition, While a
`particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed
`With respect to only one of several embodiments, such
`feature may be combined With one or more features of the
`other embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for
`any given or particular application.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A system for charging of devices, comprising:
`a poWer transmitter having a plurality of adaptively
`phased microWave array emitters;
`a device to be charged having one or more rectennas
`associated thereWith; and
`location determining means for determining a location of
`the device to be charged relative to the adaptively
`phased array emitters;
`Wherein each individual microWave array emitter pro
`duces energy at a frequency close to, but different from
`that produced by any other microWave array emitter in
`the system.
`2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:
`means for exchanging data betWeen the poWer transmitter
`and the device to be charged.
`3. A system according to claim 2, further comprising:
`modulating means for modulating a data signal onto a
`locator signal produced by the device to be charged;
`and
`demodulating means Within the poWer transmitter for
`demodulating the data modulated onto the locator sig
`nal.
`4. A system for charging of devices, comprising:
`a poWer transmitter having one or more adaptively-phased
`microWave array emitters;
`a device to be charged having one or more rectennas
`associated thereWith;
`location determining means for determining a location of
`the device to be charged relative to the adaptively
`phased array emitters; and
`one or more backscatter detectors associated With the
`adaptively-phased microWave array emitters for detect
`
`15
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`25
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`55
`
`65
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`8
`ing microWave backscatter energy re?ected off of any
`obstruction betWeen the adaptively-phased microWave
`array emitters and the device to be charged.
`5. A system according to claim 4, Wherein:
`the location determining means are employed to focus
`energy produced by the adaptively-phased microWave
`array emitters onto the device to be charged.
`6. A system according to claim 4, Wherein:
`the location determining means further comprise:
`a pilot beam emitter in the device to be charged for
`producing a locator signal;
`a pilot beam detector in the poWer transmitter for detect
`ing the locator signal; and
`location detection means for analyZing the locator signal
`to determine the location of the device to be charged.
`7. A system according to claim 4, Wherein:
`the adaptively-phased microWave array emitters produce
`continuous-Wave microWave energy in the frequency
`range betWeen 2 GHZ and 10 GHZ inclusive.
`8. A system according to claim 4, Wherein:
`each separate adaptively-phased microWave array emitter
`produces microWave energy at a unique frequency
`close to but different from the frequency produced by
`any other adaptively-phased microWave array emitter
`in the system.
`9. A system according to claim 4, further comprising:
`means for reducing poWer transmitted by any adaptively
`phased microWave array emitter for Which an obstruc
`tion exists betWeen it and the device to be charged.
`10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising:
`means for restoring full poWer to the obstructed
`adaptively-phased microwave array emitter upon
`removal of the obstruction.
`11. A system according to claim 4, Wherein:
`the device to be charged is connected to a charging
`cradle/adapter Within Which the rectennas are disposed
`that receives microWave energy transmitted by the one
`or more adaptively-phased microWave array emitters
`and transfers it to the device to be charged.
`12. A system according to claim 4, further comprising:
`means for exchanging data betWeen the poWer transmitter
`and the device to be charged.
`13. A system according to claim 12, Wherein:
`the location determining means are employed to focus
`energy produced by the adaptively-phased microWave
`array emitters onto the device to be charged.
`14. A system according to claim 12, Wherein:
`the location determining means further comprise:
`a pilot beam emitter in the device to be charged for
`producing a locator signal;
`a pilot beam detector in the poWer transmitter for detect
`ing the locator signal; and
`location detection means for analyZing the locator signal
`to determine the location of the device to be charged.
`15. A system according to claim 12, further comprising:
`means for reducing poWer transmitted by any adaptively
`phased microWave array emitter for Which an obstruc
`tion exists betWeen it and the device to be charged.
`16. A system according to claim 15, further comprising:
`means for restoring full poWer to the obstructed
`adaptively-phased microWave array emitter upon
`removal of the obstruction.