Wireless Power Delivery Systems And Methods For Operating Internet Of Things Devices

Abstract

A method for operating an Internet of Things (IoT) device may be implemented in a wireless power receiver (WPR) and may include the steps of: transmitting a beacon signal (BS) to a wireless power transmitter (WPT), responsively receiving a wireless power signal (WPS) from the WPT, transducing the WPS to an electric current for charging an energy storage device, receiving data representative of IoT information from the IoT device, and transmitting the data representative of IoT information to the WPT. The method may be further implemented in the WPT and may include the steps-performed by the WPT-of: receiving the BS from the WPR, responsively transmitting the WPS to the WPR, receiving the data representative of IoT information, and at least one of: causing the IoT information to be stored in a memory storage device, and relaying the IoT information to a subsystem in communication with the WPT.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless power receiver for use with an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the wireless power receiver comprising circuitry operably couplable to: the IoT device, an antenna, and an energy storage device, wherein the circuitry includes a transceiver and is configured to:
 generate a beacon signal for transmission using the transceiver via the antenna to a wireless power transmitter (WPT);   in response to the beacon signal being transmitted, receive a wireless power signal from the WPT via the antenna;   transduce the wireless power signal to an electric current for charging the energy storage device;   receive data representative of IoT information from the IoT device; and   generate a communication signal encoding the data representative of IoT information for transmission using the transceiver via the antenna to the WPT.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless power receiver of  claim 1  further comprising the antenna operably coupled to the circuitry. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless power receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the IoT device includes the antenna operably couplable to the circuitry. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless power receiver of  claim 1  further comprising the energy storage device operably coupled to the circuitry. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless power receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the IoT device includes the energy storage device operably couplable to the circuitry. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless power receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry further includes means for establishing at least one of a wired and a wireless data connection with the IoT device to enable receipt of the data representative of IoT information from the IoT device. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless power receiver of  claim 1  further comprising a sensor configured to determine the IoT information to facilitate the communication signal encoding the data representative of IoT information being generated by the circuitry. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless power receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to: 
 receive the wireless power signal from the WPT using a first frequency; and   transmit the communication signal encoding data representative of IoT information to the WPT using a second frequency different from the first frequency.   
     
     
         9 . The wireless power receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the IoT information includes at least one of:
 information about the capabilities of the IoT device;   usage information of the IoT device;   a power level of an energy storage device of the IoT device;   information obtained or inferred by the IoT device; and   operational information about the wireless power receiver.   
     
     
         10 . A wireless power transmitter (WPT) for use with an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the WPT comprising:
 at least one antenna; and   circuitry operably coupled to the antenna, wherein the circuitry includes a transceiver and is configured to:
 receive, using the transceiver and via the at least one antenna, a beacon signal from a wireless power receiver of or associated with the IoT device; 
 in response to the beacon signal being received, transmit, via the at least one antenna, a wireless power signal to the wireless power receiver for use thereby to charge an energy storage device; 
 receive, using the transceiver and via the at least one antenna, a communication signal encoding data representative of IoT information originating at the IoT device from the wireless power receiver; and 
 at least one of:
 cause the IoT information to be stored in a memory storage device; and 
 relay the IoT information to a subsystem in communication with the WPT. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The WPT of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one antenna includes:
 a first antenna for receipt of the communication signal encoding data representative of IoT information; and   and at least a second antenna for transmission of the wireless power signal.   
     
     
         12 . The WPT of  claim 11 , wherein the at least a second antenna includes an antenna array. 
     
     
         13 . The WPT of  claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 transmit the wireless power signal using a first frequency; and   receive the communication signal encoding data representative of IoT information using a second frequency different from the first frequency.   
     
     
         14 . The WPT of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless power receiver is operably couplable to a mobile IoT device, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit the wireless power signal to a moving wireless power receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The WPT of  claim 14 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to generate a plurality of wireless power signals for transmission to the moving wireless power receiver at a plurality of different locations. 
     
     
         16 . The WPT of  claim 15 , wherein to generate the plurality wireless power signals, the circuitry is configured to compute, based on measured phases of a first, and at least a second, beacon signal transmitted by the wireless power receiver from a first location, and from at least a second location, respectively, a predicted phase of a next beacon signal to be transmitted by the wireless power receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The WPT of  claim 10  further comprising the wireless power receiver of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A method for operating an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the method implemented in a wireless power receiver of or associated with the IoT device, the method comprising:
 transmitting a beacon signal to a wireless power transmitter (WPT);   receiving a wireless power signal from the WPT in response to transmitting the beacon signal;   transducing the wireless power signal to an electric current for charging an energy storage device;   receiving data representative of IoT information from the IoT device; and   transmitting a communication signal encoding the data representative of IoT information to the WPT.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further implemented in the WPT, wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, by the WPT, the beacon signal from the wireless power receiver; 
 in response to receiving the beacon signal, transmitting, by the WPT, the wireless power signal to the wireless power receiver for use thereby to charge the energy storage device; 
 receiving, by the WPT, the communication signal encoding data representative of IoT information; and 
 at least one of:
 causing the IoT information to be stored in a memory storage device; and 
 relaying the IoT information to a subsystem in communication with the WPT. 
 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 transmitting the wireless power signal comprises transmitting the wireless signal power signal using a first frequency; and   transmitting the communication signal encoding data representative of IoT information comprises transmitting the communication signal encoding data representative of IoT information to the WPT using a second frequency different from the first frequency.