Techniques For Leveraging Existing Components Of A Device For Wireless Power Transfer Functionality

Abstract

Techniques are described herein for leveraging these existing components of electronic devices with wireless or internet connectivity to reduce cost, size and complexity of electronic devices while enabling wireless power transfer. The techniques described herein can also be utilized to new low cost dual-function devices that utilize one or more of the same components for both wireless connectively and wireless power transfer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an electronic device to leverage existing components for wireless power reception in a wireless power delivery environment, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a radio frequency (RF) communication interface component of the electronic device, wireless power delivery parameters from a retrodirective wireless power transmission system in the wireless power delivery environment,
 wherein the RF communication interface is configured to communicate via a data communications protocol; 
   providing, by the RF communication interface component, the wireless power delivery parameters to an RF power interface component of the electronic device;   responsive to receiving the wireless power delivery parameters, configuring, by the RF power interface component, a timing interface component according to at least one of the wireless power delivery parameters;   receiving, by the RF communication interface component, directed wireless power; and   processing, by the RF power interface, the directed wireless power.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , responsive to a beacon notification, directing, by the RF power interface component, one or more antennas of the electronic device to transmit a beacon signal to the retrodirective wireless power transmission system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the beacon notification is generated by the timing interface component. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to a power reception notification, directing, by the RF communication interface component, one or more antennas of the electronic device to anticipate reception of wireless power from the retrodirective wireless power transmission system during an upcoming time cycle.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the power reception notification is generated by the timing interface component. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless power delivery parameters include receiving power information, code information and beacon timing information. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data communications protocol is a low power communications protocol. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the directed power is used to operate the electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the directed power is used to charge a battery of the electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . An electronic device configured to leverage existing components for wireless power reception in a wireless power delivery environment, the electronic device comprising:
 one or more antennas;   a radio frequency (RF) communication interface component configured to transmit and receive communications over the one or more antennas via a data communications protocol,
 wherein the communications include wireless power delivery parameters received from a retrodirective wireless power transmission system in the wireless power delivery environment; 
   a RF power interface component coupled to the RF communication interface, the RF power interface configured to receive and process the wireless power delivery parameters and transmit beacon signals responsive to beacon notifications;   a timing interface component coupled to the RF power interface, the timing interface configured to generate and send the beacon notifications to the RF power interface component,   wherein the RF communication interface component is further leveraged to receive directed wireless power from the retrodirective wireless power transmission system and provide the received power to the RF power interface component.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the RF communication interface component is further configured to provide the wireless power delivery parameters to the RF power interface component. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the RF power interface component is configured to, responsive to receiving the wireless power delivery parameters, configure the timing interface component according to at least one of the wireless power delivery parameters. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless power delivery parameters include receiving power information, code information and beacon timing information. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the data communications protocol is a low power communications protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising a battery, wherein the RF power interface component is configured to charge the battery with the directed power. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the RF power interface component is configured to process the directed power and provide the power to operate the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . A wireless receiver component for an electronic device, the receiver component comprising:
 a power interface component, the power interface component configured to receive and process wireless power delivery parameters and transmit beacons responsive to beacon notifications;   a timing interface component coupled to the power interface, the timing interface configured to generate and send the beacon notifications to the power interface component,   wherein the power interface component is further configured to process directed wireless power received by a leveraged communication interface component of the electronic device.   
     
     
         18 . The wireless receiver component of  claim 17 , wherein responsive to a beacon notification, the power interface component is configured to direct one or more antennas of the electronic device to transmit a beacon signal to the retrodirective wireless power transmission system. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless receiver component of  claim 17 , wherein the directed power is used to operate the electronic device or to charge a battery of the electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless receiver component of  claim 17 , wherein the power interface component is further configured to, responsive to receiving the wireless power delivery parameters, configure the timing interface component according to at least one of the wireless power delivery parameters.