Wireless charging and powering of electronic devices in a vehicle

Abstract

Configurations and methods of wireless power transmission for charging or powering one or more electronic devices inside a vehicle are disclosed. A transmitter capable of single or multiple pocket-forming may be connected to a car lighter, where this transmitter may include a circuitry module and an antenna array integrated within the transmitter, or operatively connected through a cable. This cable may allow the positioning of the antenna array in different locations inside the vehicle suitable for directing RF waves or pockets of energy towards one or more electronic devices. Transmitter's configuration can be accessed by one or more electronic devices through Bluetooth communication in order to set up charging or powering priorities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for wireless power transmission in a vehicle,
 comprising:
 receiving, by a communications component of a transmitter in the vehicle, control data information from a communications component of a receiver coupled to an electronic device in the vehicle; and 
 directing, by an antenna of the transmitter, a pocket of energy to accumulate at an antenna of the receiver based upon the control data information received by the communications component of the transmitter, wherein the receiver is configured to utilize the pocket of energy to power or charge the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is coupled to a power source in the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the power source is a vehicle lighter socket or a direct connection to a power wire within the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a laptop computer, a smartphone, a portable gaming device, a tablet, a cell phone, an iPod, or a portable device with a chargeable battery. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antenna of the transmitter transmits short radio frequency (RF) waves to the antenna of the receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communications component of the transmitter communicates with the communications component of the receiver using a wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the wireless communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Zigbee. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the communications component of the transmitter, battery level information of the device from the communications component of the receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 scanning, by the communications component of the transmitter, for any electronic devices available for wireless charging; and   prioritizing, by the transmitter, any electronic devices identified in the scanning.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising directing the pocket of energy to the electronic devices based upon the prioritizing. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising simultaneous transmitting a signal from the communications component of the transmitter and a pocket-forming wave from the antenna of the transmitter. 
     
     
         13 . A method of wireless power transmission to an electronic device within a vehicle, the method comprising:
 identifying, by a communications component of a transmitter, a first electronic device within the vehicle upon receiving a first signal from a first communications component of a first receiver coupled to the first electronic device;   identifying, by a communications component of a transmitter, a second electronic device within the vehicle upon receiving a second signal from a second communications component of a second receiver coupled to the second electronic device;   determining, by the transmitter, a prioritization for charging the first electronic device and the second electronic device;   directing, by at least one antenna element of an antenna of the transmitter, a pocket of energy to accumulate at the first electronic device or the second electronic device based upon the prioritization;   receiving, by the communications component of the transmitter, a signal from the first communications component that the first electronic device is fully charged or the second communications component that the second electronic device is fully charged; and   ending, by the at least one antenna element of the antenna of the transmitter, a transmission of the pocket of energy to accumulate at the first antenna upon receipt of the signal that the first electronic device is fully charged or at the second antenna upon receipt of the signal that the second electronic device is fully charged.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the signal comprises information regarding a battery of the first electronic device or the second electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the signal comprises a wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising uploading, by the transmitter, information regarding the battery to a cloud-based service. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the wireless communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Zigbee. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the transmitter comprises a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the transmitter is configured to be plugged into a vehicle lighter socket. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 directing, by a first antenna element of the antenna of the transmitter, a power wave to the first antenna of the first receiver; and   directing, by a second antenna element of the antenna of the transmitter, a power wave to the second antenna of the second receiver.