System and methods for using sound waves to wirelessly deliver power to electronic devices

Abstract

A method for wireless charging of a game controller includes connecting a pocket-forming transmitter to a power source; generating sound waves from a sound circuit embedded within the transmitter; controlling the generated sound waves with a digital signal processor in the transmitter; transmitting the sound waves through antenna elements connected to the transmitter to a receiver configured to capture the sound waves forming a pocket of energy in 3-D space at the receiver with antenna elements connected to the game controller; and converting, by a plurality of sensor elements included in the receiver, the pocket of energy into a DC voltage for charging or powering a battery of the gamer controller. A respective one of the plurality of sensor elements produces an electrical analog output signal proportional to the controlled sound waves captured.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for wireless charging of a game controller, comprising:
 connecting a pocket-forming transmitter to a power source;   generating sound waves from a sound circuit embedded within the transmitter;   
       controlling the generated sound waves with a digital signal processor in the transmitter;
 transmitting the sound waves through antenna elements connected to the transmitter to a receiver configured to capture the sound waves forming a pocket of energy in 3-D space at the receiver with antenna elements connected to the game controller; and 
 converting, by a plurality of sensor elements included in the receiver, the pocket of energy into a DC voltage for charging or powering a battery of the gamer controller, wherein a respective one of the plurality of sensor elements produces an electrical analog output signal proportional to the controlled sound waves captured, and wherein the controlled sound waves form constructive interference patterns that result in the pocket of energy at the receiver for the game controller. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 2 , wherein the receiver is integrated on a front side of the game controller. 
     
     
         4 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 communicating a power level of the battery and a location of the game controller within a gaming room.   
     
     
         5 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver each include communication circuitry for communicating information between the transmitter and the receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 2 , wherein the pocket-forming transmitter is mounted on a ceiling of a game room or mounted on a game console within the game room, and wherein the transmitter is connected to a power source. 
     
     
         7 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 2 , wherein the receiver and the antenna elements are mounted to the game controller or the receiver and the antenna elements are mounted on a case connected electrically to the game controller. 
     
     
         8 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 7 , wherein the case is made out of plastic, rubber or any other suitable material with the antenna elements are mounted on the backside of the case with the number and type of elements are predetermined according to the game controller design. 
     
     
         9 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 5 , wherein the communication circuitry is configured to use wireless communication protocols including at least one of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and FM radio-between the transmitter and receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna elements in the transmitter and the receiver operate in the frequency bands of about 10 KHz to about 50 KHz. 
     
     
         11 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 generating multiple pockets of energy from the pocket-forming transmitter to power or charge multiple game controllers within a predetermined distance from the transmitter.   
     
     
         12 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 2 , wherein the receiver is external to the game controller in the form of a case that is a camera case, phone case or other type of external case connected to the game controller through an universal serial bus. 
     
     
         13 . The method for wireless charging of a game controller of  claim 2 , wherein one or more communication signals sent by the receiver provide times and locations for transmitter pocket-forming and the convergence to form the pocket of energy in 3-D space to predetermined receivers of game controllers within a predetermined distance from the transmitter m a game room. 
     
     
         14 . A wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller, comprising:
 a pocket-forming transmitter for emitting power sound waves to form a pocket of energy to converge in 3-D space connected to a power source;   a receiver embedded or attached to the game controller for receiving and converting the pocket of energy to a DC voltage for charging or powering a battery of the game controller, the receiver comprises a plurality of sensor elements distributed based on a design of the game controller; and   a controller configured to control the sound waves to form constructive interference patterns that result in the pocket of energy at the receiver for the game controller.   
     
     
         15 . The wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller of  claim 14 , wherein the game controller does not have a preferred orientation during usage and/or an orientation of the game controller varies continuously during usage. 
     
     
         16 . The wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller of  claim 14 , wherein the pocket-forming transmitter is internally connected to a game console and the transmitter is connected to the game console power source to produce the power sound waves. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller of  claim 14 , wherein the receiver is embedded or attached to the game controller. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless device for transmission of power to a game controller of  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter is a separate device connected to a game console through a cable or USB cable for the power source. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for wireless power transmission to a game controller, comprising:
 a battery connected to the game controller;   a pocket-forming transmitter having at least two or more transducer elements, at least one sound integrated circuit, at least one digital signal processor or micro-controller and a communication circuit for generating controlled sound waves to form a pocket of energy consisting of constructive interference patterns of the generated sound waves to converge in 3-D space at predetermined locations; and   a receiver embedded or attached to the game controller having at least one antenna element, at least one rectifier, at least one power converter, a plurality of sensor elements, and a communication circuit for communicating with the transmitter a location and power requirements of the game controller for receiving the pocket of energy converging in the 3-D space at the receiver to charge or power the game controller, wherein a respective one of the plurality of sensor elements produces an electrical analog output signal proportional to sound waves in the pocket of energy.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for wireless power transmission to a game controller of  claim 19 , wherein the transmitter further includes a piezoelectric crystal capable of producing power sound waves for wireless transmission of power to charge the game controller. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus for wireless power transmission to a game controller of  claim 19 , wherein the transducer elements of the transmitter include different arrangements of the transducers to maximize the transmission of the pocket of energy to predetermined game controllers at optimum times and locations within a gaming room.