Integrated wireless resonant power charging and communication channel

Abstract

A power delivery system wirelessly delivers electric power and a communication signal to a target device. The power delivery system includes a power transmitting unit having a power source operable to source alternating current power and a sending resonant coupling component operable to couple the alternating current power to a coil for wireless power transmission by a non-radiated magnetic field at a target resonant frequency. The power transmitting unit is capable of dynamically tuning the wireless power transmission to the target resonant frequency wherein the target resonant frequency is specified dynamically. A communication module couples to the power transmitting unit and is operable to couple the communication signal to the non-radiated magnetic field. Operations may include target device authentication, target resonant frequency information communication, billing, and device management.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for power from a target device, in which communication between a source device and the target device determines a resonant frequency to transfer power;   tuning a resonant coupling component of the source device to the resonant frequency;   generating a non-radiated magnetic field from the source device at the resonant frequency utilizing the resonant coupling component; and   coupling the non-radiated magnetic field to the target device to transfer power to the target device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tuning a resonant coupling component of the target device to the resonant frequency to receive the non-radiated magnetic field. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the source device and the target device utilizes a same channel as the non-radiated magnetic field, in which the non-radiated magnetic field transfers both power and communication between the source device and the target device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the source device and the target device utilizes a separate communication channel than the non-radiated magnetic field, in which the non-radiated magnetic field transfers power and the separate channel transfers the communication between the source device and the target device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the source device and the target device utilizes a separate Radio Frequency (RF) communication channel than the non-radiated magnetic field, in which the non-radiated magnetic field transfers power and the RF channel transfers the communication between the source device and the target device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising communicating using wireless local area network to communicate on the RF communication channel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising communicating using IEEE 802.11x communications to communicate on the RF communication channel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising communicating using Bluetooth communications to communicate on the RF communication channel. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising authenticating the target device prior to performing the transfer of power. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a power source to provide power;   a communication module to communicate with a target device that is to receive power, in which communication between the communication module and the target device determines a resonant frequency to be used to transfer power to the target device; and   a resonant coupling component coupled to the power source to receive power and coupled to receive information pertaining to the resonant frequency, wherein the resonant coupling component is tuned to the resonant frequency and to generate a non-radiated magnetic field at the resonant frequency to transfer power to the target device.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the resonant coupling component includes a coil to source the non-radiated magnetic field at the resonant frequency. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the non-radiated magnetic field is generated substantially in an omni-direction. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the communication module to utilize a same channel as the non-radiated magnetic field, in which the non-radiated magnetic field transfers both power and communication between the apparatus and the target device. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the communication module to utilize a separate communication channel than the non-radiated magnetic field, in which the non-radiated magnetic field transfers power and the separate channel transfers the communication between the apparatus and target device. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the communication module further includes a Radio Frequency (RF) interface to communicate with the target device in an RF spectrum. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the communication module receives resonant frequency information in the communication from the target device. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a communication module to communicate with a source device that provides a source of power, in which communication between the communication module and the source device determines a resonant frequency to be used to transfer power from the source device to the apparatus; and   a resonant coupling component coupled to receive power from the source device, wherein the resonant coupling component is tuned to the resonant frequency to receive a non-radiated magnetic field at the resonant frequency generated at the source device to transfer power to the apparatus.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the communication module to utilize a same channel as the non-radiated magnetic field, in which the non-radiated magnetic field transfers both power and communication between the source device and the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the communication module to utilize a separate communication channel than the non-radiated magnetic field, in which the non-radiated magnetic field transfers power and the separate channel transfers the communication between the source device and the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the communication module further includes a Radio Frequency (RF) interface to communicate with the target device in an RF spectrum.