U.S. patent application number 16/111577 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for frequency changing encoded resonant power transfer.
The applicant listed for this patent is Empire Technology Development LLC. Invention is credited to Kevin S. Fine.
Application Number | 20180366988 16/111577 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54836982 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180366988 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fine; Kevin S. |
December 20, 2018 |
FREQUENCY CHANGING ENCODED RESONANT POWER TRANSFER
Abstract
Systems and methods to for wireless power transfer are provided.
A transmit control module generates a sequence of resonant drive
frequencies for a transmit coil. The transmit control module
adjusts the resonant frequency of the transmit coil according to
the sequence of resonant drive frequencies. A receive control
module provides payment verification to the transmit control module
and receives the sequence of resonant drive frequencies from the
transmit control module in return. The receive control module
adjusts a resonant frequency of a receive coil according to the
sequence of resonant drive frequencies to match the resonant
frequency of the transmit coil. The resonant frequencies of the
transmit and receive coils change at the same time to maintain
coupling and efficient power transfer.
Inventors: |
Fine; Kevin S.;
(Yverdon-les-Bains, CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Empire Technology Development LLC |
Wilmington |
DE |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54836982 |
Appl. No.: |
16/111577 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14304653 |
Jun 13, 2014 |
10084343 |
|
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16111577 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 50/12 20160201;
Y10T 307/406 20150401 |
International
Class: |
H02J 50/12 20060101
H02J050/12 |
Claims
1. A system to provide wireless power transfer to one or more
mobile devices, the system comprising: a transmit coil that is
configured to generate an electromagnetic signal that induces a
current in one or more receive coils of the one or more mobile
devices effective to provide power to the one or more mobile
devices; and a control module that is communicatively coupled to
the transmit coil and to the one or more mobile devices, the
control module configured to generate a sequence of resonant drive
frequencies and to adjust a resonant drive frequency of the
transmit coil in accordance with the generated sequence of resonant
drive frequencies, the control module further configured to provide
the sequence of resonant drive frequencies to the one or more
mobile devices effective to allow the one or more receive coils of
the one or more mobile devices to be driven by substantially the
same resonant drive frequency as the transmit coil.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority
to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/304,653, filed Jun. 13,
2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
[0002] Example embodiments disclosed herein are related to wireless
power transfer, for example for charging electronic devices, such
as mobile devices.
2. The Relevant Technology
[0003] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described
in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application
and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this
section.
[0004] In an increasingly mobile world, it now common for a user to
have one or more mobile devices such as phones or laptop computers
that he or she uses regularly while away from home or the office.
Such mobile use of the devices often requires use of a charged
battery to power the devices. Prolonged use of the batteries
depletes the batteries, which then need to be recharged in order to
continue providing power to the devices.
[0005] In order to recharge the batteries, it is often necessary to
find an electrical outlet or other suitable charging mechanism that
is convenient to the user of a device. However, even if a
convenient electrical outlet can be found, this requires that the
user have a wired charger that is compatible with the device and is
also compatible with the electrical outlet. In many instances, the
user will not have the wired charger with him or her because wired
chargers can be bulky and thus not easy to carry around. In those
instances where the user does have a wired charger, there may not
be a compatible electrical outlet available for use, especially if
the user is traveling in a foreign country.
[0006] Wireless power transfer is a technology that can wirelessly
transfer power to the device without the need for the wired charger
and regardless of location. This technology can be used to charge
the device batteries using a signal that is delivered to the device
wirelessly.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a system
configured to provide wireless power transfer to one or more mobile
devices. An example system includes a transmit coil that
electromagnetically couples with receive coils of the mobile
devices. The transmit coil generates an electromagnetic signal that
induces a current in the receive coils so as to provide power to
the mobile devices. The system may also include a control module
that is communicatively coupled to the transmit coil and to the
mobile devices. The control module generates a sequence of resonant
drive frequencies that adjusts the resonant drive frequency of the
transmit coil according to the generated sequence of resonant drive
frequencies. The control module also provides the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies to the mobile devices to allow the
receive coils of the mobile devices to be driven by substantially
the same resonant drive frequency as the transmit coil.
[0008] Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to system for a
mobile device to receive wireless power transfer. An example system
includes a receive coil of a mobile device that electromagnetically
couples with a transmit coil. An electromagnetic signal generated
by the transmit coil induces a current in the receive coil. The
satellite system also includes a control module that is
communicatively coupled to the receive coil and to a transmit
module that controls the transmit coil. The control module receives
from the transmit module a sequence of resonant drive frequencies
for the transmit coil. The control module adjusts a resonant
receive frequency of the receive coil according to the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies so that the resonant receive frequency
of the receive coil matches the resonant drive frequency of the
transmit coil.
[0009] Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method to
provide wireless power transfer to a device, such as a mobile
electronic device, which may also be termed a mobile device. A
sequence of resonant drive frequencies for a transmit coil is
generated. An electromagnetic signal at a first resonant drive
frequency may be transmitted to receive coils of the mobile
devices. The first resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil
may be adjusted to a second resonant drive frequency according to
the generated sequence of resonant drive frequencies. The generated
sequence of resonant drive frequencies may be provided to the
mobile devices so that the resonant frequency of the receive coils
may be adjusted to match the resonant drive frequency of the
transmit coil at the same time the transmit coil resonant drive
frequency is adjusted.
[0010] Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for a
mobile device to receive wireless power transfer. A sequence of
resonant drive frequencies for a transmit coil may be received from
a transmit module that controls the transmit coil. A first
electromagnetic signal from the transmit coil transmitted at a
first resonant drive frequency may be received by the receive coil
of the mobile device. A first resonant receive frequency of the
receive coil may be adjusted to a second resonant receive frequency
according to the received sequence of resonant drive
frequencies.
[0011] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not
intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative
aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further
aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by
reference to the drawings and the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0012] The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will
become more fully apparent from the following description and
appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several
embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore,
not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be
described with additional specificity and detail through use of the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1A is a schematic of an illustrative environment for a
system to provide wireless power to a mobile device.
[0014] FIG. 1B is a schematic of an illustrative alternative
environment for a system to provide wireless power to a mobile
device.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an illustration of an illustrative alternative
environment for a system to provide wireless power to a mobile
device.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic of an illustrative embodiment of an
equivalent circuit of a transmit coil and a receive coil.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates an illustrative embodiment of a sequence
of resonant drive frequencies.
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a view of how a sequence of resonant
drive frequencies changes with time and changes on the zero
crossings.
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of an illustrative embodiment
of an adjustable inductor.
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of how a pseudorandom number
between 0 is used to choose one of different resonant drive
frequencies
[0021] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a
method to provide wireless power transfer to one or more mobile
devices.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a
method for a mobile device to receive wireless power transfer.
[0023] FIG. 10 shows an example computing device that is arranged
for adjusting the resonant frequency of a transmit coil or receive
coil in accordance with the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof In the
drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components,
unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments
described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not
meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other
changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of
the subject matter presented herein. The aspects of the present
disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the
figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and
designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of
which are explicitly contemplated herein.
[0025] Embodiments disclosed herein relate systems and methods for
providing wireless power transfer to mobile devices that provide
payment while blocking the power transfer from mobile devices that
do not provide the payment. According to an embodiment, a transmit
coil may be implemented in a public location. The transmit coil may
electrically couple with receive coils of mobile devices that are
brought into the public location. The electric coupling allows an
electromagnetic signal generated by the transmit coil to induce a
current in the receive coil to thereby provide power to charge the
batteries of the mobile devices.
[0026] In one embodiment, a transmit control module communicatively
coupled to the transmit coil generates a sequence of resonant drive
frequencies for the transmit coil. The transmit control module
adjusts the resonant drive frequencies of the transmit coil during
different time intervals according to the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies to ensure that only those receive coils that are
able to follow the changes in the resonant drive frequencies are
able to maintain efficient coupling and power transfer with the
transmit coil.
[0027] In one embodiment, the transmit control module adjusts, or
causes to be adjusted, the resonant drive frequency by adjusting a
reactive element associated with the transmit coil. In one
embodiment the reactive element may be an adjustable inductance or
an adjustable capacitance.
[0028] In one embodiment, a receive control module of a mobile
device may be communicatively coupled to the transmit control
module. The receive control module may provide verification to the
transmit control module that a form of payment has been provided
for the wireless power transfer. In response, the transmit control
module may provide the sequence of resonant drive frequencies to
the receive control module.
[0029] In one embodiment, the receive control module is
communicatively coupled to the receive coil and may adjust a
resonant receive frequency that is equivalent to the resonant drive
frequency of the transmit coil according to the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies.
[0030] In one embodiment, the receive control module adjusts, or
causes to be adjusted, the resonant receive frequency by adjusting
a reactive element associated with the receive coil. In one
embodiment the reactive element may be an adjustable inductance or
an adjustable capacitance. In one embodiment, the resonant receive
frequency adjusts or changes at substantially the same time that
the resonant drive frequency adjusts. Accordingly, efficient
electrical coupling and power transfer between the transmit and
receive coils are able to be maintained during the time
intervals.
[0031] FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an
environment 100 for a system to provide wireless power to one or
more mobile devices. As illustrated, the environment 100 may be
implemented in a location 105. In one embodiment, the location 105
may be a public commercial establishment such as a restaurant,
airport, store, or the like that is frequented by many different
people with mobile devices.
[0032] The environment 100 may include a transmit coil 110. As will
be explained in more detail to follow the transmit coil 110 is able
to provide an electromagnetic signal 170 at various resonant
frequencies to provide power to one or more mobile devices 140. In
some embodiments, the transmit coil 110 may be implemented in the
ceiling or floor of the location 105 or in furniture such as
tables, counters, or chairs of the location 105 so that transmit
coil may more easily couple with multiple mobile devices 140 and
associated receive coils 150 that have been brought into the
location 105. In such embodiments, the transmit coil 110 may be
implemented as a round or square shape that provides the
electromagnetic signal 170 strongly in all directions. In other
embodiments, the transmit coil 110 may be implemented as a
non-planar coil that may be able to control the directionality of
the electromagnetic signal in one or more directions where the
mobile devices 140 are more likely to be.
[0033] A transmit control module 120 may be communicatively coupled
to the transmit coil 110 as indicated by line 121. Two elements may
be communicatively coupled if they are able to communicate with
each other via a wired, wireless, or other communication interface.
As will be explained in more detail to follow, the transmit control
module may generate a sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101
for the transmit coil 110. The transmit control module 120 may also
adjust or cause the adjustment of the resonant drive frequency at
which the transmit coil 110 transmits the electromagnetic signal
170 according to the generated sequence of resonant frequencies
101. In some embodiments, the transmit coil 110 and the transmit
control module 120 may be part of a transmitter device.
[0034] The environment 100 may also include the mobile device 140.
The ellipses 145 represent that there may be any number of
additional mobile devices. Accordingly, the description of the
mobile device 140 will also apply to the additional mobile devices
145. The mobile device 140 may be any type of mobile device such as
a mobile phone, tablet, laptop computer, or other mobile computing
device. Although the term "mobile" is used, the mobile device 140
may also be any computing device, even those that may not typically
be considered as mobile device. In some embodiments, the mobile
device may also include an external charging device that is used to
charge a separate mobile device.
[0035] The mobile device 140 may be electrically coupled to the
receive coil 150. In some embodiments, the receive coil 150 may be
implemented as an internal component of the mobile device 140. In
other embodiments, the receive coil 150 may be externally coupled
to the mobile device or may be an externally coupled device such as
a USB dongle. As will be explained in more detail to follow, the
receive coil 150 may be electromagnetically coupled to the transmit
coil 110 and receive the electromagnetic signal 170 from the
transmit coil 110. The electromagnetic signal 170 may induce a
current in the receive coil 150 effective to provide power to the
mobile device 140. For example, the current may charge the
batteries or other power source of the mobile device 140.
[0036] The environment 100 may further include a receive control
module 160. The receive control module 160 is communicatively
coupled to the transmit control module 120 via a network 130 as
indicated by lines 125 and 165. The network 130 may be the
internet, a local area network of the location 105, a wireless
network, a wired network, or any other type of communication
network. As will be explained in more detail to follow, the receive
control module 160 may receive the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies 101 from the transmit control module 120 over the
network 130.
[0037] The receive control module 160 is also communicatively
coupled to the mobile device 140 and the receive coil 150 as
indicated by line 161. As will be described in more detail to
follow, the receive control module 160 may adjust or cause the
adjustment of the resonant drive frequency at which the receive
coil 150 receives the electromagnetic signal 170 according to the
received sequence of resonant frequencies 101 so that the receive
coil 150 is able to remain electromagnetically coupled to the
transmit coil 110 by operating at the same resonant frequency as
the transmit coil 110. Since the receive control module 160 is
communicatively coupled to the transmit control module 120, the
mobile device 140, and the receive coil 150, the transmit control
module 120 is also communicatively coupled to the mobile device 140
and the receive coil 150, at least indirectly.
[0038] FIG. 1B is schematic illustration of an alternate embodiment
of an environment 100 for a system to provide wireless power to one
or more mobile devices. As illustrated, the transmit coil 110 and
the mobile device 140 and receive coil 150 may be located in the
location 105 as in the environment of FIG. 1A.
[0039] However, in the environment of FIG. 1B, a control module 180
may be located separate from the location 105. The control module
180 may be communicatively coupled to the transmit coil 110 and to
the mobile device 140 and receive coil 150 over the network 130 as
indicated by lines 181, 182, and 183. In the embodiment, the
control module may generate the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies 101 for both the transmit coil 110 and the receive coil
150. Thus, the embodiments disclosed herein contemplate a remote
control module for generating and providing the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies 101 and for adjusting the resonant
frequencies.
[0040] Although not illustrated in FIG. 1B, the environment 100 is
not limited to a single remote control module 180. Accordingly,
there may be one or more additional remote control modules 180, for
example a remote control module associated with the transmit coil
110 and a remote control module 180 associated with the receive
coil 150, that may be used to generate and provide the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies 101 and for adjusting the resonant
frequencies.
[0041] An example electromagnetic interaction of the transmit coil
110 and the receive coil 150 will now be explained. The transmit
coil 110 is an example of a transmit device that can generate a
signal, more specifically electromagnetic signal 170, that may
electromagnetically couple with the receive coil 150. An alternate
way to describe this coupling is the transmit coil 110 creates an
oscillating magnetic field which induces a current in the receive
coil 150. In one embodiment, when the transmit coil 110 includes a
loop wire or one or more turns, an alternating current flowing
through the transmit coil 110 can generate a magnetic field that is
received by the receive coil 150. In some examples, the receive
coil 150 may be magnetically coupled with the transmit coil 110. In
some examples, the transmit coil generates an electromagnetic field
at the receive coil, and the electromagnetic field induces a signal
in the receive coil. Specifically, the transmit coil 110 is coupled
with the receive coil 150 when a current flowing in the transmit
coil 110 induces a current or a voltage in the receive coil 150
through electromagnetic induction. A strength of the coupling
between the transmit coil 110 and the receive coil 150 may depend
on a distance between them, their relative shapes, and a
relationship to a common axis. Accordingly, the transmit coil 110
creates an oscillating magnetic field that transfers energy to the
receive coil 150. In some examples, very little electric field is
created, any interaction with human tissue or other animal tissue
should be negligible, and therefore there should be no adverse
health effects by the coupling of transmit coil 110 and receive
coil 150.
[0042] In some embodiments, the transmit coil 110 may have an area
several times the area of the receive coil 150. In some examples,
the transmit coil diameter may be a multiple of the receive coil
diameter, where the multiple is greater than 1 and may be at least
2. This advantageously allows the transmit coil to induce a current
in multiple receive coils 150 of the mobile devices 140 and 145. In
some embodiments, the transmit coil 110 may transmit between 1 W
and 100 W of transmit power to the receive coil 150, more
specifically the transmit coil may transmit between 60 W and 100 W
of transmit power. Other transmit power sub-ranges between 1 W and
100 W may also be implemented. Further, transmit power ranges
higher than 100 W may also be implemented as needed.
[0043] In one embodiment, the transmit coil 110 and the receive
coil 150 may operate in a frequency range between 1 MHz and 50 MHZ,
although other frequency ranges are also contemplated.
Specifically, the transmit coil 110 and the receive coil 150 may
transmit or receive the electromagnetic signal 170 in a range
between 1 MHz and 50 MHz. As will be described in more detail to
follow, the frequency range of the transmit coil 110 and the
receive coil 150 may be adjusted according the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies 101.
[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic of an equivalent circuit of a
transmit coil and a receive coil, and more specifically, is a
schematic of an equivalent circuit of a transmit coil 310
corresponding to transmit coil 110 and to a receive coil 320
corresponding to receive coil 150. The transmit coil 310 may be
driven by a drive source 305 at a drive frequency, which may be any
reasonable drive source such as those discussed further herein in
relation to FIG. 3. Although not illustrated, the drive source 305
may include impendence matching circuitry as needed to ensure
proper impendence matching with the transmit coil 310. The transmit
coil 310 may include an inductance 312 (L.sub.T), a capacitance 313
(C.sub.T), and a resistance 314 (R.sub.T).
[0045] The receive coil 320 may be coupled with a load 330, which
may be a battery of the mobile device 140. Although not
illustrated, the load 330 may include impedance matching circuitry
as needed to ensure proper impedance matching with the receive coil
320. The load may include a charging circuit configured to charge a
charge storage device, such as a battery, capacitor,
supercapacitor, fuel cell, and the like. The charging circuit may
include a rectifier, voltage adjuster, voltage limiter, and any
other electronic circuit components appropriate to charging the
charge storage device. The receive coil 320 may include an
inductance 322 (L.sub.R), a capacitance 323 (C.sub.R), and a
resistance 324 (R.sub.R). The resistance 324 may not be a separate
element but may instead be the formed from the resistance of the
other circuit elements and wires themselves.
[0046] The drive source 305 pumps up the transmit coil 310 to high
levels of stored energy. In some examples, the transmit coil 310
transmits at MHz frequencies, such as between 1 MHz and 50 MHZ. by
transforming energy back and forth between the magnetic field of
the inductance 312 and the electric field of the capacitance 313.
In some examples, the Q (quality factor) of the transmit coil may
be approximately 1000, or other high Q value, and the resistance
loss caused by the resistance 313 may be low. In other words, the Q
value is high when the resistance is low. Accordingly, in some
embodiments wire resistance may be an important parameter. The Q of
the transmit coil 310 and the receive coil 320 may be set at a high
level to facilitate efficient power transfer when the resonance
frequencies are matched.
[0047] The receive coil receives at least a portion of the signal,
such as electromagnetic signal 170, generated by the transmit coil
310. When the resonant frequency of the receive coil 320 is
substantially the same as the transmit coil 310, the received
signal pumps up the receive coil to an energy level similar to the
transmit coil by transforming energy back and forth between the
magnetic field of the inductance 322 and the electric field of the
capacitance 323. The Q of the receive coil may also be high, such
as a Q of approximately 1000, and the resistance loss caused by the
resistance 323 may be low. The receive coil may then provide energy
to the load 330.
[0048] As discussed above, in some examples the transmit coil 310
and the receive coil 320 may operate at substantially the same
resonant frequencies. If the Q factor of the transmit and receive
coils remains high, efficient coupling can be achieved. In order
for the resonant frequencies of the transmit coil 310 and the
receive coil 320 to be substantially equal, the following equation
should be satisfied:
f T = 1 2 .pi. L T C T = 1 2 .pi. L R C R = f R ( 1 )
##EQU00001##
where f.sub.T and f.sub.R are the resonant frequencies of transmit
coil 310 and receive coil 320 respectively.
[0049] The coupling coefficients k.sub.TR of the transmit coil 310
and the receive coil 320
k TR = M TR L T L R ( 2 ) ##EQU00002##
where M.sub.TR is the mutual inductance of the transmit coil 310
and the receive coil 320.
[0050] As discussed previously in relation to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the
transmit coil 110 and the transmit control module 120 may be
implemented at the location 105 and the mobile device 140 and
receive coil 150 may be brought into the location 105. The transmit
coil 110 and the receive coil 150 may electromagnetically couple as
previously described, which may result in the receive coil 150
charging the batteries or other power source of the mobile device
140.
[0051] In many instances the owner of the location 105 may have
incurred significant costs to install the transmit coil 110 and
transmit control module 120 and may incur costs to continually
operate and maintain the transmit coil 110 and transmit control
module 120. Accordingly, the owner of the location 105 may desire
to charge users of the mobile devices 140 a fee for using the
transmit coil 110 to charge the mobile device 140. In order for
such a fee system to work, however, there may need to be a
mechanism that only allows a receive coil 150 of a mobile device
140 that has provided a form of payment to fully couple with the
transmit coil 110 to thereby fully receive the electromagnetic
signal 170 while blocking non-paying mobile devices 140.
Advantageously, the embodiments disclosed herein provide for such
mechanism as will be described in further detail.
[0052] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an
environment for a system to provide wireless power to one or more
mobile devices, and more specifically is a schematic illustration
of an alternative view of the environment 100 previously discussed
in relation to FIGS. 1A and 1B. For clarity some elements shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B such as network 130 are not shown in FIG. 2,
although such elements may be assumed to be part of the environment
of FIG. 2. The environment 100 of FIG. 2 may be implemented at the
location 105, although this is not required.
[0053] FIG. 2 illustrates an illustrative embodiment of the
transmit control module 120. In the illustrative embodiment, the
transmit control module 120 may be a computing device such as the
computing device discussed in relation to FIG. 10 that is coupled
to the transmit coil 110, may be part of a single transmitter
device that includes the transmit coil 110, or it may be part of a
software application that is resident on a computing system coupled
to the transmit coil. As discussed in relation to FIGS. 1A and 1B,
the transmit control module 120 may be local to the transmit coil
110 or may be remote from the transmit coil 110. Accordingly, the
actual implementation of the transmit control module 120 is not
limiting to the embodiments disclosed herein.
[0054] As illustrated, the transmit control module 120 may include
a frequency sequence generator 221, a payment module 222, and
control logic 223. The frequency sequence generator 221, the
payment module 222, and the control logic 223 may be implemented as
hardware modules, software modules, or any combination of hardware
and software and will be discussed in more detail to follow.
[0055] As illustrated by line 225, the transmit control module 120
may be communicatively coupled to the transmit coil 110 through a
frequency generator 216, which may be any reasonable frequency
generator. Alternatively, the control module 120 may be directly
communicatively coupled to the transmit coil 110. The frequency
generator 216 may provide a resonant drive frequency in accordance
with the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 to the transmit
coil 110 to cause the transmit coil to operate at the resonant
drive frequency. Although illustrated as being separate from the
transmit control module 120, in some embodiments the frequency
generator 216 may be part of or associated with the transmit
control module 120. A power source 212, which may be any reasonable
power source, provides electrical power to the frequency generator
216 and to the transmit coil 110.
[0056] A reactive element 215 may be associated with or
electrically coupled to the transmit coil 110. More specifically,
the reactive element 215 may correspond to the inductance 312
(L.sub.T) or the capacitance 313 (C.sub.T) previously discussed in
relation to FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the reactive element 215 may
be one of an adjustable inductance or an adjustable capacitance. As
will be described in more detail to follow, the reactive element
215 may be adjusted to thereby adjust the resonant frequency or the
resonance of the transmit coil 110. Although illustrated as being
separate from the transmit control module 120, in some embodiments
the reactive element 215 may be part of or associated with the
transmit control module 120.
[0057] FIG. 2 also illustrates an illustrative embodiment of the
receive control module 160. In the illustrative embodiment, the
receive control module 160 may be an application running on a
processor of the mobile device 140, may be a processing unit of the
mobile device 140, may be a combination of an application and a
processing unit, or may be a computing device such as the computing
device discussed in relation to FIG. 10 that is coupled to the
mobile device 140. As discussed in relation to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the
receive control module 160 may be local to or part of the mobile
device 140 or may be remote from the mobile device 140.
Accordingly, the actual implementation of the receive control
module 160 is not limiting to the embodiments disclosed herein.
[0058] As illustrated, the receive control module 160 may include a
frequency sequence generator 261, a payment module 262, and control
logic 263. The frequency sequence generator 261, the payment module
262, and the control logic 263 may be implemented as hardware
modules, software modules, or any combination of hardware and
software and will be discussed in more detail to follow.
[0059] As illustrated by line 265, the receive control module 160
may be communicatively coupled to the receive coil 150 through a
frequency generator 256, which may be any reasonable frequency
generator. Alternatively, the receive control module may be
directly communicatively coupled to the receive coil 150. The
frequency generator 256 may provide a resonant receive frequency to
the receive coil 150 in accordance with the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies 101 to cause the receive coil 150 to operate at a
resonant receive frequency that is substantially the same as the
resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil 110. Although
illustrated as being separate from the receive control module 160,
in some embodiments the frequency generator 256 may be part of or
associated with the receive control module 160. It will be
understood that the resonant receive frequency is the frequency
that drives the receive coil 150 and may be identified herein as
"resonant receive frequency" simply to distinguish from the
resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil 110.
[0060] The receive control module 160 may also include batteries or
other power source 254. The batteries 254 may be any reasonable
batteries and may provide power to the various elements of the
mobile device 140. In some embodiments, a rectifier 257 may be
implemented to convert the current induced in the receive coil 150
into suitable form that may charge the batteries 254, such as a
direct current.
[0061] A reactive element 253 may be associated with or
electrically coupled to the receive coil 150. More specifically,
the reactive element 253 may correspond to the inductance 322
(L.sub.R) or the capacitance 323 (C.sub.R) previously discussed in
relation to FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the reactive element 253 may
be one of an adjustable inductance or an adjustable capacitance. As
will be described in more detail to follow, the reactive element
253 may be adjusted to thereby adjust the resonant receive
frequency or the resonance of the receive coil 150. Although
illustrated as being separate from the receive control module 160,
in some embodiments the reactive element 253 may be part of or
associated with the receive control module 160.
[0062] The operation of the various elements or systems of
environment 100 to only allow a receive coil 150 of a mobile device
140 that has provided a form of payment to fully couple with the
transmit coil 110 to thereby fully receive the electromagnetic
signal 170 will now be explained. The frequency sequence generator
221 may generate the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101.
The sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 may be a random or
otherwise unpredictable sequence of frequencies within the
operating range of the transmit coil 110 (and the receive coil
150). In other words, the sequence of resonant drive frequencies
101 will typically not be in any order that is easily knowable or
ascertainable by a user of the device 140.
[0063] In addition, the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101
may vary in phase or time and may vary in the number of cycles for
which each of the frequencies is implemented. For example, FIG. 4
illustrates an illustrative embodiment of the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies 101. Specifically, the figure illustrates a
sequence of four resonant drive frequencies 410, 420, 430, and 440
(also referred to as f.sub.1, f.sub.2, f.sub.3, and f.sub.4)
plotted on a graph of current/voltage versus time or phase. As
illustrated, frequency 410 has a first phase, frequency 420 has a
second phase, frequency 430 has a third phase, and frequency 440
has a fourth phase. It will be noted that the various phases of the
frequencies are different.
[0064] Although FIG. 4 only shows one cycle for each of the
frequencies 410, 420, 430, and 440, the embodiments disclosed
herein are not limited to one cycle. In some embodiments, the
number of cycles for each of the frequencies may be varied. For
example, the frequency 410 may be 10 cycles in duration, the
frequency 420 may be one cycle in duration, the frequency 430 may
be four cycles in duration, and the frequency 440 may be 20 cycles
in duration. In other embodiments, there may 100 cycles or more for
each frequency.
[0065] FIG. 4 also illustrates that the frequency shifts from one
frequency to another at a current or a voltage zero crossing 415,
425, 435, and 445. A current zero crossing occurs when the energy
in the inductance of the transmit coil or the receive coil is at
zero and all the energy in the coil is in the capacitance of the
coil. Likewise, a voltage zero crossing occurs when the energy in
the capacitance of the transmit coil or the receive coil is at zero
and all the energy in the coil is in the inductance of the coil.
Accordingly, for transmit coil or receive coils with an adjustable
inductance, the frequencies may change at current zero crossings
and for transmit coil or receive coils with an adjustable
capacitance; the frequencies may change at voltage zero
crossings.
[0066] Since the receiver coil has a large Q factor, its resonant
frequency must stay closely matched the transmitter frequency to
efficiently receive power. Accordingly, a mobile device 140 that
cannot follow the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 will
receive much reduced power from the transmit coil 110. In addition,
if the receiver cannot follow the resonant drive frequencies 101 it
will also be out of phase with the transmitted signal which will
reduce received power even more. Thus, even if a device 140 is able
to couple with the transmit coil by random chance, the mobile
device would only remain efficiently coupled for a very short
amount of cycles before getting out of phase.
[0067] The separation of the various frequencies may also be a
consideration when generating the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies 101. Frequency separation may be determined by the Q
factor of the transmit and receive coils
.DELTA. f = f Q ##EQU00003##
is the frequency change where the resonance of a coil produces half
the power at the peak. At a frequency of several .DELTA.f from the
resonance, there is almost no power transfer; at 5 Q there is only
about 3% power transfer. Accordingly, if the frequencies are
separated by several f/Q, then a device 140 that cannot follow the
sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 will receive almost no
power from the transmit coil 110 after a frequency change even if
some coupling between the transmit coil and the receive coil is
maintained.
[0068] For example, suppose a coil has a Q factor of 1000 and a
center frequency fc=10 MHz. Using the equation
.DELTA. f = 5 fc Q = 50 kHz ##EQU00004##
and assuming N=11 different frequencies the resulting sequence of
resonant drive frequencies 101 would be 9.75 MHz, 9.80 MHz,
9.85MHz, . . . , 10.20 MHz, 10.25 MHz.
[0069] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative view of how the sequence
of resonant drive frequencies 101 changes with time and changes on
the zero crossings. It will be noted that for efficient power
transfer, the resonant frequencies of transmit coil 110 and receive
coil 150 should change at substantially the same time. Accordingly,
the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 may specify the
actual set of frequencies in the sequence and may also specify
operational information about the set of frequencies such as how
long each individual frequency will be implemented before a change
occurs, the time of the change, or the number of cycles for each
individual frequency.
[0070] Returning to FIG. 2, the transmit control module 120 may
cause the frequency generator 216 to drive the transmit coil 110
with a resonant drive frequency. The transmit control module 120
may then cause the frequency generator to adjust or change the
resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil 110 according to a
first resonant drive frequency of the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies 101. To ensure that the transmit coil remains at
resonance, the transmit control module 120 may adjust, or cause to
be adjusted, the reactive element 215 to ensure that the transmit
coil operates at the first resonant drive frequency of the sequence
of resonant drive frequencies 101. More specifically, in one
embodiment the control logic 223 may adjust, or cause to be
adjusted, the reactive element 215.
[0071] For example, since the resonant frequency of the transmit
coil 110 is equal to
1 2 .pi. L T C T ##EQU00005##
as discussed previously, in one embodiment either the inductance or
the capacitance of the transmit coil 110, which are examples of the
reactive element 215, may be adjusted to ensure that the transmit
coil operates at the first resonant drive frequency of the sequence
of resonant drive frequencies 101. The configuration of the
transmit coil 110 may determine which of the inductance or
capacitance is adjusted. That is, some embodiments of transmit coil
110 may include an adjustable inductance, some embodiment of
transmit coil 110 may include an adjustable capacitance, and some
embodiments of transmit coil 110 may include both an adjustable
inductance and an adjustable capacitance.
[0072] In one embodiment, the reactive element 215 may be an
adjustable inductance that may adjust in accordance with the change
in the resonant drive frequency. FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of
an illustrative embodiment of an adjustable inductor 600. As
illustrated, the adjustable inductor 600 includes an inductor 605
that has a number of different turns and a capacitor 640. A switch
615 may switch the inductor between a number of the turns of the
inductor 605 to change the inductance of the inductor 605 by
changing the total number of turns. For example, when the switch
615 switches to turn 610, an inductance L.sub.1 is provided by the
inductor 605. Likewise, when the switch 615 switches to turn 620,
an inductance L.sub.2 is provided by the inductor 605. Similarly,
when the switch 615 switches to turn 630, an inductance L.sub.3 is
provided by the inductor 605. As discussed previously, switch 615
should switch between the turns at a zero crossing of current when
all the energy of the adjustable inductor 600 is stored in the
capacitor 640.
[0073] In another embodiment, the reactive element 215 may be an
adjustable capacitance. The adjustable capacitance may include an
adjustable capacitor, such as a varactor capacitor that is
controlled by voltage. The adjustable capacitance may also be a
MOSFET switching network or a MEMs variable capacitor array.
[0074] Returning to FIG. 2, after the amount of time or the number
of cycles specified for the first resonant drive frequency in the
sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 has occurred, the
transmit control module 120 may cause the frequency generator 216
to drive the transmit coil 110 at a second resonant drive frequency
of the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101. In addition, the
transmit control module 120 may adjust the reactive element 215 to
ensure that the resonant frequency of the transmit coil 110 matches
the second resonant drive frequency. The transmit control module
120 may continually adjust the drive frequencies and the resonance
of the transmit coil in accordance with the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies 101.
[0075] As discussed previously, the owner of the location 105 may
desire to receive payment from a mobile device 140 that is powered
by the transmit coil 110 and to block non-paying mobile devices
140. Accordingly, in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2, the
receive control module 260 may include the payment module 262. The
payment module 262 may allow a user of the mobile device 240 to
provide a form of payment for use of the transmit coil 110 to
charge the batteries 254. In some embodiments, the payment module
262 may allow the user to access a payment website over the network
130 where a credit card may be entered as a form of payment. In
other embodiments, the payment module 262 may access an online
payment service such as PayPal over the network 262, where a form
of payment may be entered. In still other embodiments, the payment
module 262 may allow for the exchange of electronic funds or other
goods or services that may be considered as a form of payment.
Accordingly, a form of payment may be anything that may be
exchanged by the user of the mobile device 140 and accepted by the
owner of the location 105 to allow access to the transmit coil
110.
[0076] In one embodiment, the payment module 262 may be part of an
application that automatically launches when the user of the device
140 enters the location 105 or that may be manually started at the
location 105 or remotely from the location 105. The application may
receive information from the payment module 222 of the transmit
control module 120 about the cost of using the transmit coil 110
and the length of service. This information may then be provided to
the user of the device 140, who may then use the application to
enter a form of payment. The application may also store unused
credits that allow the user of the mobile device 140 to purchase
use of the transmit coil 110 and then use the transmit coil 110 to
provide the electromagnetic signal 170 to the mobile device 140 at
a future date.
[0077] The payment module 262 may provide payment verification
information 236 to the payment module 222. The payment verification
information 236 verifies that an acceptable form of payment has
been made by the mobile device 140 and that the mobile device
should receive the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 in
response.
[0078] In one embodiment, the payment module 222 may include an
advertisement module 222A. The advertisement module 222A may be
operable to receive or generate various advertisements that may be
of interest to the user of the mobile device 140. The
advertisements may be provided to the payment module 262 over the
network 130. The user of the mobile device 140 may then view the
advertisement as a form of payment for the use of the transmit coil
110. The payment module may then provide the payment verification
information 236 to the payment module 222. In this embodiment, the
payment verification information 236 may indicate or verify that
the mobile device 140 has played the advertisement so that the user
may view the advertisement.
[0079] Upon receipt of the payment verification information 236 by
the payment module 222, the frequency sequence generator 221 may
provide the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 to the
frequency sequence generator 261. In one embodiment, the sequence
of resonant drive frequencies 101 may be a list of the actual
resonant frequencies such as those discussed in relation to FIGS. 4
and 5. In addition, in some embodiments the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies 101 may include the additional information about
the frequencies such as the number of cycles and the length of time
or phase of each of the frequencies so that the receive control
module may know when to change the resonant frequency of the
receive coil 150 so that the change occurs substantially at the
same time that the resonant frequency of the transmit coil 110
moves.
[0080] In another embodiment, the frequency sequence generator 221
may include a counter and an encryption key 201 that are used to
help generate the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101. In
one embodiment, a Cryptographic Secure Pseudorandom Number
Generator (CSPRNG) algorithm may be used to implement the counter
and encryption key 201, although other algorithms and systems may
also be implemented. In the embodiment, the CSPRNG may be operated
in "counter mode". In this mode, the frequency sequence generator
221 may send the frequency sequence generator 262 the counter and
encryption key 201. The encryption key may be used to encrypt a
counter value which may continuously increase as 0, 1, 2, and so
on. Each encryption may create a pseudorandom number between 0 and
1 and this pseudorandom number may be used to choose the resonant
drive frequency of the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101.
Since both the frequency sequence generator 221 and the frequency
sequence generator 262 have the same counter and encryption key
201, the frequency values of the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies 101 for both will change identically
[0081] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of how a pseudorandom number
between 0 and 1 is used to choose one of 11 different resonant
drive frequencies. As illustrated, a frequency index includes the
11 different resonant drive frequencies. A pseudorandom number is
generated that is a little more than 0.4 as indicated by the arrow
in FIG. 7. The pseudorandom number falls within the frequency index
5. Accordingly, a resonant drive frequency corresponding to the
frequency index 5 is selected as the resonant drive frequency.
Since the frequency sequence generator 221 and frequency sequence
generator 262 have the same counter and encryption key 201, they
will both generate the same sequence of frequency indices.
Advantageously, a mobile device 140 that does not receive the
counter and encryption key 201 will not be able to follow the
changing frequency indices because the pseudorandom generator is
cryptographically strong.
[0082] In addition, the use of the counter and encryption key 210
may easily be adapted to selling packets of time for the mobile
device 140 to use the transmit coil 110 for charging. For example,
the encryption key may be changed at regular time intervals, such
as a minute, with the counter reset to zero. Users of the mobile
device 140 may buy a desired multiple of time intervals and receive
as may encryption keys as the time intervals they have
purchased.
[0083] Returning to FIG. 2, the receive control module 260 may
cause the frequency generator 256 to drive the receive coil 150
with a resonant receive frequency that is substantially the same as
the resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil 110 to ensure
optimized or efficient electrical coupling between the two coils.
In one embodiment, the transmit coil 110 and the receive coil 150
may be electromagnetically coupled by being driven by substantially
similar resonant frequencies prior to the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies 101 being received by the mobile device 140.
[0084] The receive control module 160 may then cause the frequency
generator 256 to adjust or change the resonant receive frequency of
the transmit coil 110 according to the first resonant drive
frequency of the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101. To
ensure that the receive coil 150 remains at resonance, the receive
control module 160 may adjust, or cause to be adjusted, the
reactive element 253 to ensure that the receive coil 150 operates
at a resonant receive frequency that is equivalent to the first
resonant drive frequency of the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies 101. More specifically, in one embodiment the control
logic 263 may adjust, or cause to be adjusted, the reactive element
253.
[0085] For example, since the resonant receive frequency of the
receive coil 150 is equal to
1 2 .pi. L R C R ##EQU00006##
as discussed previously, in one embodiment either the inductance or
the capacitance of the receive coil 150, which are examples of the
reactive element 253, may be adjusted to ensure that the receive
coil 150 operates at the resonant receive frequency that is
equivalent to the first resonant drive frequency of the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies 101. The configuration of the receive
coil 150 may determine which of the inductance or capacitance is
adjusted. That is, some embodiments of receive coil 150 may include
an adjustable inductance, some embodiments of receive coil 150 may
include an adjustable capacitance, and some embodiments of receive
coil 150 may include both an adjustable inductance and an
adjustable capacitance.
[0086] In one embodiment, the reactive element 253 may be an
adjustable inductance that may adjust in accordance with the change
in the resonant receive frequency. The adjustable inductance may
correspond to the adjustable inductor discussed previously in
relation to FIG. 6. In another embodiment, the reactive element 253
may be an adjustable capacitance. The adjustable capacitance may
include an adjustable capacitor, such as a varactor capacitor that
is controlled by voltage. The adjustable capacitance may also be a
MOSFET switching network or a MEMs variable capacitor array.
[0087] After the amount of time or the number of cycles specified
for the first resonant drive frequency in the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies 101 has occurred, the receive control module 160
may cause the frequency generator 256 to drive the receive coil 150
at a second resonant receive frequency that is equivalent to the
second resonant drive frequency of the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies 101. In addition, the receive control module 160 may
adjust the reactive element 253 to ensure that the resonant receive
frequency of the receive coil 150 matches the second resonant drive
frequency. The receive control module 160 may continually adjust
the resonant receive frequencies and the resonance of the receive
coil 150 in accordance with the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies 101.
[0088] Since the receive control module 160 and the transmit
control module 120 adjust their respective associated reactive
elements on a zero crossing of current or voltage, in one
embodiment the receive control module 160 and the transmit control
module 120 may both adjust the inductances or both adjust the
capacitances of their respective associated reactive elements to
ensure that the coils remain in phase.
[0089] In some embodiment, the mobile device 140 may need to wait
to synchronize with the transmit coil 110 before the receive coil
150 can couple with the transmit coil, especially in those
situations where the receive coil 150 attempts to couple during an
ongoing transmission cycle of the transmit coil 110. In such
embodiments, the receive control module 160 may study the received
sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 to determine the next
time interval that a frequency change occurs. The receive control
module 160 may then adjust the reactive element 253 so that the
receive coil 150 is ready to couple at the correct resonant
frequency at the time of the next frequency change. At that time
the coupling may occur. In some embodiments, an extra magnetic
spike in the electromagnetic signal 170 may be used to denote the
start of a frequency change to help with the synchronization.
[0090] Accordingly, the transmit coil 110 and the receive coils 150
that have received the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101
will operate at substantially the same resonant frequency and will
also change resonant frequencies at substantially the same time.
This will allow the receive coils 150 to maintain efficient
electric coupling with the transmit coil 110 and thereby continue
to have current induced by the electromagnetic signal 170 that may
be used to charge the batteries 254. Since only the devices 140
that have provided an acceptable form of payment to the transmit
control module 120 will receive the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies 101, all other devices 140 will not be able to maintain
efficient coupling with the transmit coil 110 and will not be able
to be powered by the transmit coil 110.
[0091] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a
method 800 to provide wireless power transfer to one or more mobile
devices. The method 800, and other methods and processes described
herein, set forth various blocks or actions that may be described
as processes, functional operations, events and/or acts, etc.,
which may be performed by hardware, software, firmware, and/or
combination thereof. The method 800 may include one or more
operations as illustrated by blocks 810, 820, 830, and 840.
[0092] In block 810 ("Generating A Sequence of Resonant Drive
Frequencies For A Transmit Coil"), a sequence of resonant drive
frequencies for a transmit coil may be generated. For example, in
one illustrative embodiment, the frequency sequence generator 221
of the transmit control module 120 may generate the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies 101 in the manner previously described.
The sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 may be a random or
otherwise unpredictable sequence of frequencies within the
operating range of the transmit coil 110. The sequence of resonant
drive frequencies 101 may also specify operational information
about the set of frequencies such as how long each individual
frequency will be implemented before a change occurs, the time of
the change, or the number of cycles for each individual
frequency.
[0093] In block 820 ("Transmitting An Electromagnetic Signal At A
First Resonant Drive Frequency to One Or More Receive Coils OF One
Or More Mobile Devices"), an electromagnetic signal at a first
resonant drive frequency may be transmitted to one or more receive
coils of one or more mobile devices. For example, in one
illustrative embodiment, the electromagnetic signal 170 may be
transmitted by the transmit coil 110 to the receive coil 150 of the
mobile devices 140. The electromagnetic signal may be transmitted
by transmit coil 110 at a first resonant drive frequency and
received by the receive coil at a first resonant receive frequency
that is equivalent to the first resonant drive frequency. This
causes electrical coupling between the transmit coil 110 and the
receive coil 150 in the manner previously described. The coupling
allows the electromagnetic signal 170 to induce a current in the
receive coil 150 to thereby provide power to the one or more mobile
devices as previously described.
[0094] In block 830 ("Adjusting The First Resonant Drive Frequency
Of The Transmit Coil To A Second Resonant Drive Frequency In
Accordance With The Generated Sequence Of Resonant Drive
Frequencies"), the first resonant drive frequency of the transmit
coil may be adjusted to a second resonant drive frequency in
accordance with the generated sequence of resonant drive
frequencies. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, as
previously described the transmit control module 120 may adjust, or
caused to be adjusted, the first resonant drive frequency of the
transmit coil 110 to the second resonant drive frequency in
accordance with the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101. In
one embodiment, the transmit control module adjusts, or causes to
be adjusted, the reactive element 215 associated with the transmit
coil 110 to maintain resonance of the transmit coil. As previously
described, the reactive element 215 may be an adjustable inductance
or capacitance.
[0095] In block 840 ("Providing The Generated Sequence Of Resonant
Drive Frequencies To The One Or More Mobile Devices"), the
generated sequence of resonant drive frequencies may be provided to
the one or more mobile devices. For example, in one illustrative
embodiment, the transmit control module 120 may provide the
sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101 to the receive control
module 160 over the network 130. This allows a resonant receive
frequency of the coil 150 of the mobile device 140 to adjust from a
first resonant receive frequency to a second resonant receive
frequency that is equivalent to the second resonant drive frequency
at substantially the same time the transmit coil adjusts from the
first to the second resonant drive frequencies in the manner
previously described.
[0096] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a
method 900 for a mobile device to receive wireless power transfer.
The method 900 may include one or more operations as illustrated by
blocks 910, 920, and 930.
[0097] In block 910 ("Receiving A Sequence Of Resonant Drive
Frequencies For A Transmit Coil From A Transmit Module That
Controls The Transmit Coil"), a sequence of resonant drive
frequencies for a transmit coil may be received from a transmit
module that controls the transmit coil. For example, in one
illustrative embodiment, the frequency sequence generator 261 of
the receive control module 260 may receive the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies 101 from the transmit control module 120. As
previously discussed, the sequence of resonant drive frequencies
101 may be a random or otherwise unpredictable sequence of
frequencies within the operating range of the transmit coil 110 and
the receive coil 150. The sequence of resonant drive frequencies
101 may also specify operational information about the set of
frequencies such as how long each individual frequency will be
implemented before a change occurs, the time of the change, or the
number of cycles for each individual frequency.
[0098] In block 920 ("Receiving A First Electromagnetic Signal From
The Transmit Coil Transmitted At The First Resonant Drive
Frequency"), a first electromagnetic signal from the transmit coil
transmitted at the first resonant drive frequency may be received
by the receive coil. For example, in one illustrative embodiment,
the receive coil 150 may be operating at a first resonant receive
frequency that is equivalent to a first resonant drive frequency of
the transmit coil 110 to thereby couple with the transmit coil 150.
The receive coil 150 may receive the electromagnetic signal 170 as
that signal is transmitted by the transmit coil 110 at the first
resonant drive frequency. As previously described, the
electromagnetic signal 170 may induce a current in the receive coil
150 that is able to provide power to the mobile device 140.
[0099] In block 930 ("Adjusting The First Resonant Receive
Frequency Of The Receive Coil To A Second Resonant Receive
Frequency In Accordance With The Received Sequence Of Resonant
Drive Frequencies"), the first resonant receive frequency of the
receive coil may be adjusted to a second resonant receive frequency
in accordance with the received sequence of resonant drive
frequencies. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, as
previously described the receive control module 160 may adjust, or
caused to be adjusted, the first resonant receive frequency of the
receive coil 150 to the second resonant receive frequency in
accordance with the sequence of resonant drive frequencies 101. In
one embodiment, the receive control module 160 adjusts, or causes
to be adjusted, the reactive element 253 associated with the
receive coil 150. As previously described, the reactive element 253
may be an adjustable inductance or capacitance.
[0100] Adjusting the first resonant receive frequency to the second
resonant receive frequency allows the receive coil 150 to receive a
second electromagnetic signal 170 from the transmit coil 110
transmitted at a second resonant drive frequency of the transmit
coil 110. Since the second resonant receive frequency may be
equivalent to the second resonant drive frequency, the receive coil
is able to maintain coupling with the transmit coil 110 when the
frequencies change.
[0101] For this and other processes and methods disclosed herein,
the operations performed in the processes and methods may be
implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined
operations are only provided as examples, and some of the
operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and
operations, supplemented with further operations, or expanded into
additional operations without detracting from the essence of the
disclosed embodiments.
[0102] FIG. 10 shows an example computing device 1000 that is
arranged for adjusting the resonant frequency of a transmit coil or
receive coil and for receiving payment information in accordance
with the present disclosure. In a very basic configuration 1002,
computing device 1000 generally includes one or more processors
1004 and a system memory 1006. A memory bus 1008 may be used for
communicating between processor 1004 and system memory 1006.
[0103] Depending on the desired configuration, processor 1004 may
be of any type including but not limited to a microprocessor
(.mu.P), a microcontroller (.mu.C), a digital signal processor
(DSP), or any combination thereof. Processor 1004 may include one
more levels of caching, such as a level one cache 1010 and a level
two cache 1012, a processor core 1014, and registers 1016. An
example processor core 1014 may include an arithmetic logic unit
(ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), a digital signal processing
core (DSP Core), or any combination thereof. An example memory
controller 1018 may also be used with processor 1004, or in some
implementations memory controller 1018 may be an internal part of
processor 1004.
[0104] Depending on the desired configuration, system memory 1006
may be of any type including but not limited to volatile memory
(such as RAM), non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory,
etc.) or any combination thereof. System memory 1006 may include an
operating system 1020, one or more applications 1022, and program
data 1024. Application 1022 may include frequency adjustment
application 1026 that is arranged to perform at least some of the
operations as described herein including at least some of those
described with respect to methods 800-900 of FIGS. 8 and 9. Program
data 1024 may include configuration information 1028 that may be
useful to adjust a resonant frequency of a transmit or receive
coil, and/or may include other information usable and/or generated
by the various other modules/components described herein. The
configuration information 1028 may include capacitance values,
reactance values, inductance values, drive frequencies, coil areas,
or the like. In some embodiments, application 1022 may be arranged
to operate with program data 1024 on operating system 1020 such
that optical components are formed and reconfigured as described
herein. This described basic configuration 1002 is illustrated in
FIG. 10 by those components within the inner dashed line.
[0105] Computing device 1000 may have additional features or
functionality, and additional interfaces to facilitate
communications between basic configuration 1002 and any required
devices and interfaces. For example, a bus/interface controller
1030 may be used to facilitate communications between basic
configuration 1002 and one or more data storage devices 1032 via a
storage interface bus 1034. Data storage devices 1032 may be
removable storage devices 1036, non-removable storage devices 1038,
or a combination thereof. Examples of removable storage and
non-removable storage devices include magnetic disk devices such as
flexible disk drives and hard-disk drives (HDDs), optical disk
drives such as compact disk (CD) drives or digital versatile disk
(DVD) drives, solid state drives (SSDs), and tape drives to name a
few. Example computer storage media may include volatile and
nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any
method or technology for storage of information, such as computer
readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other
data
[0106] System memory 1006, removable storage devices 1036 and
non-removable storage devices 1038 are examples of computer storage
media. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM,
ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM,
digital versatile disks (DVDs) or other optical storage, magnetic
cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic
storage devices, or any other medium which may be used to store the
desired information and which may be accessed by computing device
1000. Any such computer storage media may be part of computing
device 1000.
[0107] Computing device 1000 may also include an interface bus 1040
for facilitating communication from various interface devices
(e.g., output devices 1042, peripheral interfaces 1044, and
communication devices 1046) to basic configuration 1002 via
bus/interface controller 1030. Example output devices 1042 include
a graphics processing unit 1048 and an audio processing unit 1050,
which may be configured to communicate to various external devices
such as a display or speakers via one or more A/V ports 1052.
Example peripheral interfaces 1044 include a serial interface
controller 1054 or a parallel interface controller 1056, which may
be configured to communicate with external devices such as input
devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch
input device, etc.) or other peripheral devices (e.g., printer,
scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 1058. An example
communication device 1046 includes a network controller 1060, which
may be arranged to facilitate communications with one or more other
computing devices 1062 over a network communication link via one or
more communication ports 1064.
[0108] The network communication link may be one example of a
communication media. Communication media may generally be embodied
by computer readable instructions, data structures, program
modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a
carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any
information delivery media. A "modulated data signal" may be a
signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed
in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of
example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired
media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and
wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), microwave,
infrared (IR) and other wireless media. The term computer readable
media as used herein may include both storage media and
communication media.
[0109] Computing device 1000 may be implemented as a portion of a
small-form factor portable (or mobile) electronic device such as a
cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a personal media
player device, a wireless web-watch device, a personal headset
device, an application specific device, or a hybrid device that
include any of the above functions. Computing device 1000 may also
be implemented as a personal computer including both laptop
computer and non-laptop computer configurations.
[0110] Example wireless power transfer systems may be deployed in a
public location, such a retail environment (such as a restaurant,
specialist purveyor of beverages, mall, and the like),
transportation based environment (such as an airport, bus station,
rail station, vehicle parking area, and the like), within a
mass-transit vehicle environment (such as an airplane, boat, bus,
train, and the like), and the like. However, deploying such systems
may be expensive to the owner of a public location. The owner
and/or operator associated with the environment may thus desire to
selectively provide wireless power transfer only to users who pay
the owner a fee, while blocking power transfer to users who do not
pay the fee. Some embodiments allow the owner to recover the cost
of installing a wireless power system, for example by charging a
fee to a user, the user then receiving a sequence of resonant drive
frequencies (including associated time data, if applicable), or
other data allowing wireless power transfer to be received by a
device associated with the user, or by displaying advertisements to
the user.
[0111] In some embodiments, a system configured to provide wireless
power transfer to a device comprises a transmit coil configured to
generate an electromagnetic signal, a receive coil associated with
the device, and a control module that is communicatively coupled to
the transmit coil and to the device. The electromagnetic signal
induces a current in the receive coil effective to provide power to
the device. The control module may be configured to generate a
sequence of drive frequencies, such as resonant drive frequencies,
and to adjust a transmission frequency of the transmit coil in
accordance with the generated sequence of drive frequencies and
hence the frequencies of the electromagnetic radiation. The control
module may further be configured to provide the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies to the device. The device may then be
configured to adjust the resonance of the receive coil of the
device to match the transmission frequency, in both frequency and
time, during a charging process. In some examples, the control
module may be coupled to one or more mobile devices over a network,
and may provide the sequence of resonant drive frequencies to the
one or more mobile devices over the network.
[0112] In some example, the receive coil may be located in a
charging device that is external to the mobile device that is to be
charged. The external charging device, which may be considered as
an example of a mobile device in the description and in the claims,
may also include the control module or be communicatively coupled
to the control module. The external charging device may receive the
electromagnetic signal from the transmit coil and may also receive
the sequence of drive frequencies in the manner previously
described. The external charging device may then be configured to
adjust the resonance of the receive coil of the device to match the
transmission frequency, in both frequency and time, during a
charging process. The external charging device may include a plug
or other electrical connector for connecting to the mobile device
to provide the charge to the mobile device. In this way, any type
of mobile device may be charged by the embodiments disclosed herein
without having to be configured to include the receive coil.
[0113] In some examples, the control module may be further
configured to receive payment verification information from a
mobile device, indicating that a form of payment has been received
from the mobile devices. The form of payment may be a single
payment, purchase of an item at the location (for example with an
access code provided on a receipt), subscription, non-monetary
(such as provision of personal information or membership in a
club), and the like. Provision of the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies to the mobile device may be conditioned on the payment
verification information.
[0114] In some examples, a similar approach may be used for
charging a charge used for higher power applications (e.g. compared
to a mobile electronics device). For example, a similar approach
may be used for charging a charge storage device of a vehicle, such
as an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle.
[0115] In some examples, the duration of the sequence may be used
to determine a charging time. In some examples, a sequence may be
purchased corresponding to a predetermined charging duration.
[0116] One embodiment disclosed herein provides a system to provide
wireless power transfer to one or more mobile devices. The system
includes a transmit coil that is configured to generate an
electromagnetic signal that induces a current in one or more
receive coils of the one or more mobile devices effective to
provide power to the one or more mobile devices; and a control
module that is communicatively coupled to the transmit coil and to
the one or more mobile devices, the control module configured to
generate a sequence of resonant drive frequencies and to adjust a
resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil in accordance with
the generated sequence of resonant drive frequencies. The control
module is further configured to provide the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies to the one or more mobile devices effective to
allow the one or more receive coils of the one or more mobile
devices to be driven by substantially the same resonant drive
frequency as the transmit coil. The generated sequence of resonant
drive frequencies is a random sequence.
[0117] The control module is coupled to the one or more mobile
devices over a network and provides the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies to the one or more mobile devices over the network. The
control module is further configured to receive payment
verification information that indicates that a form of payment has
been received from at least one of the one or more mobile devices
and wherein the control module provides the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies to the at least one mobile device that provided
the payment verification information. The control module is
configured to provide an advertisement to the one or more mobile
devices and to provide the sequence of resonant drive frequencies
to a mobile device of the one or more mobile devices upon receipt
of information that indicates that the mobile device has viewed the
advertisement.
[0118] The transmit coil is located in a public location and is
configured to induce current in the one or more mobile devices that
are located in the public location. The transmit coil is configured
to operate in a frequency range between 1 to 50 MHz. The transmit
coil is configured to transmit between 0 W and 100 W of transmit
power.
[0119] The system further includes a reactive element that is
electrically coupled to the transmit coil and a frequency
generator. The reactive element is configured to be adjusted by the
control module in accordance with the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies effective to change the resonant drive frequency at
which the transmit coil transmits, and the frequency generator
drives the transmit coil with the resonant drive frequency.
[0120] The control module includes a reactive element that is
electrically coupled to the transmit coil, a frequency generator,
and control logic that is configured to adjust the reactive element
in accordance with the sequence of resonant drive frequencies
effective to change the resonant drive frequency at which the
transmit coil transmits. The control logic is further configured to
adjust the frequency at which the frequency generator drives the
transmit coil to be the resonant frequency.
[0121] In the system, the reactive element is one of an adjustable
capacitance or an adjustable inductance. The reactive element
includes a MOSFET switching network. The reactive element is
adjusted by switching between a different number of turns of the
reactive element. The reactive element is varactor capacitor that
is controlled by a voltage.
[0122] In the system the control module adjusts the resonant drive
frequency of the transmit coil at a zero crossing of current or at
a zero crossing of voltage. The control module adjusts the resonant
drive frequency of the transmit coil after a random number of
cycles. The control module adjusts the resonant drive frequency of
the transmit coil after a random amount of time.
[0123] In the system, the sequence of resonant drive frequencies is
sent to the one or more mobile devices as a list of frequencies and
times to change the frequencies. Alternatively, a counter and an
encryption key are used to generate the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies, the counter and encryption key being associated with a
frequency index that specifies each of the resonant drive
frequencies in the sequence that are to be used during a specific
time period, and the counter and the encryption key are provided to
the one or more mobile devices so that the one or more mobile
devices can use the frequency index to determine which specific
resonant drive frequency of the sequence to use at the specific
time period.
[0124] One embodiment disclosed herein provides a method to provide
wireless power transfer to one or more mobile devices. The method
includes generating a sequence of resonant drive frequencies for a
transmit coil, transmitting, by the transmit coil, an
electromagnetic signal at a first resonant drive frequency to one
or more receive coils of one or more mobile devices, the
electromagnetic signal inducing a current in the one or more
receive coils effective to provide power to the one or more mobile
devices, the one or more receive coils operating at a first
resonant receive frequency that is equivalent to the first resonant
drive frequency, adjusting the first resonant drive frequency of
the transmit coil to a second resonant drive frequency in
accordance with the generated sequence of resonant drive
frequencies, and providing the generated sequence of resonant drive
frequencies to the one or more mobile devices effective to allow a
resonant receive frequency of the one or more receive coils of the
one or more mobile devices to adjust from the first resonant
receive frequency to a second resonant receive frequency that is
equivalent to the second resonant drive frequency at substantially
the same time the transmit coil adjusts from the first to the
second resonant drive frequencies. In the method, the generated
sequence of resonant drive frequencies is a random sequence.
[0125] The method includes providing the generated sequence of
resonant drive frequencies to the one or more mobile devices from a
control module of the transmit coil over a network. The method
includes receiving payment verification information that indicates
that a form of payment has been received from at least one of the
one or more mobile devices, and providing the generated sequence of
resonant drive frequencies to the at least one mobile device that
provided the payment verification information. The method includes
providing an advertisement to the one or more mobile devices and
providing the generated sequence of resonant drive frequencies to a
mobile device of the one or more mobile devices upon receipt of
information that indicates that the mobile device has viewed the
advertisement.
[0126] In the method, adjusting the first resonant drive frequency
of the transmit coil to a second resonant drive frequency in
accordance with the generated sequence of resonant drive
frequencies comprises one or more of adjusting a reactive element
that is electrically coupled to the transmit coil, adjusting the
frequency at which a frequency generator drives the transmit coil,
adjusting the resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil at a
zero crossing of current or at a zero crossing of voltage,
adjusting the resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil after a
random number of cycles, or adjusting the resonant drive frequency
of the transmit coil after a random amount of time.
[0127] One embodiment disclosed herein provides a system for a
mobile device to receive wireless power transfer. The system
includes a receive coil that is configured to receive an
electromagnetic signal from a transmit coil, the electromagnetic
signal generated by the transmit coil being configured to induce a
current in the receive coil, and a control module that is
communicatively coupled to the receive coil and to a transmit
module that controls the transmit coil, the control module
configured to receive from the transmit module a sequence of
resonant drive frequencies for the transmit coil. The control
module is configured to adjust a resonant receive frequency of the
receive coil in accordance with the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies so that the resonant receive frequency of the receive
coil matches the resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil. In
the system, the sequence of resonant drive frequencies is a random
sequence. The receive coil receives the electromagnetic signal from
the transmit coil in a public location where the transmit coil has
been installed.
[0128] The control module is coupled to the transmit module over a
network and receives the sequence of resonant drive frequencies
from the transmit module over the network. The control module is
configured to provide payment verification information to the
transmit module prior to receiving the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies and wherein the sequence of resonant drive frequencies
are received in response to providing the payment verification
information. The control module is configured to receive an
advertisement from the transmit module and to provide verification
that the advertisement has been viewed, wherein the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies is received in response to verifying the
advertisement has been viewed.
[0129] The system further includes a reactive element that is
electrically coupled to the receive coil and a frequency generator.
The reactive element is configured to be adjusted by the control
module in accordance with the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies effective to change the resonant receive frequency at
which the receive coil receives the electrometric signal. The
frequency generator drives the receive coil with the resonant
receive frequency. The system further includes a rectifier that is
configured to deliver direct current to a rechargeable battery of
the mobile device.
[0130] In the system, the control module includes a reactive
element that is electrically coupled to the transmit coil, a
frequency generator, and control logic that is configured to adjust
the reactive element in accordance with the sequence of resonant
drive frequencies effective to change the resonant receive
frequency at which the receive coil transmits. The control logic is
further configured to adjust the frequency at which the frequency
generator drives the receive coil to be the resonant receive
frequency.
[0131] In the system, the reactive element includes a MOSFET
switching network. In the system, the reactive element is one of an
adjustable capacitance or an adjustable inductance
[0132] In the system the control module adjusts the resonant drive
frequency of the receive coil at a zero crossing of current or at a
zero crossing of voltage. The control module adjusts the resonant
drive frequency of the receive coil after a random number of
cycles. The control module adjusts the resonant drive frequency of
the receive coil after a random amount of time.
[0133] In the system, the sequence of resonant drive frequencies is
received by the control module from the transmit module as a list
of frequencies and times to change the frequencies. Alternatively,
a counter and an encryption key are used to generate the sequence
of resonant drive frequencies, the counter and encryption key being
associated with a frequency index that specifies each of the
resonant drive frequencies in the sequence that are to be used
during a specific time period, and the counter and the encryption
key are received by the control module from the transmit module so
that the control module can use the frequency index to determine
which specific resonant drive frequency of the sequence to use at
the specific time period.
[0134] One embodiment disclosed herein provides a method for a
mobile device to receive wireless power transfer. The method
includes receiving a sequence of resonant drive frequencies for a
transmit coil from a transmit module that controls the transmit
coil, receiving, at a receive coil of the mobile device that is
operating at a first resonant receive frequency that is equivalent
to a first resonant drive frequency of the transmit coil, a first
electromagnetic signal from the transmit coil transmitted at the
first resonant drive frequency, the electromagnetic signal inducing
a current in the receive coil effective to provide power to the
mobile device, and adjusting the first resonant receive frequency
of the receive coil to a second resonant receive frequency in
accordance with the received sequence of resonant drive frequencies
so that the receive coil is able to receive a second
electromagnetic signal from the transmit coil transmitted at a
second resonant drive frequency, the second resonant receive
frequency being equivalent to the second resonant drive frequency.
In the method, the received sequence of resonant drive frequencies
is a random sequence.
[0135] The method includes receiving the sequence of resonant drive
frequencies from the transmit module over a network. The method
includes providing payment verification information to the transmit
module and receiving the sequence of resonant drive frequencies in
response to providing the payment verification information. The
method includes receiving an advertisement from the transmit
module, providing verification to the transmit module that the
advertisement has been viewed, and receiving the sequence of
resonant drive frequencies in response to verifying the
advertisement has been viewed.
[0136] In the method adjusting the first resonant receive frequency
of the receive coil to a second resonant receive frequency in
accordance with the received sequence of resonant drive frequencies
includes one or more of adjusting a reactive element that is
electrically coupled to the receive coil, adjusting the frequency
at which a frequency generator drives the receive coil, adjusting
the resonant receive frequency of the receive coil at a zero
crossing of current or at a zero crossing of voltage, adjusting the
resonant receive frequency of the receive coil after a random
number of cycles, or adjusting the resonant receive frequency of
the receive coil after a random amount of time.
[0137] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the
particular embodiments described in this application, which are
intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications
and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and
scope. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the
scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein,
are possible from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications
and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the
appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by
the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of
equivalents to which such claims are entitled. This disclosure is
not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds compositions
or biological systems, which can, of course, vary. The terminology
used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments
only, and is not intended to be limiting.
[0138] In an illustrative embodiment, any of the operations,
processes, etc. described herein can be implemented as
computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable
medium. The computer-readable instructions can be executed by a
processor of a mobile unit, a network element, and/or any other
computing device.
[0139] The use of hardware or software is generally (but not
always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and
software can become significant) a design choice representing cost
vs. efficiency tradeoffs. There are various vehicles by which
processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein
can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and
that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the
processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed.
For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy
are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or
firmware vehicle; if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may
opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again
alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of
hardware, software, and/or firmware.
[0140] The foregoing detailed description has set forth various
embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions
and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art
that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams,
flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or
collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or
virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several
portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented
via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field
Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs),
or other integrated formats. However, some aspects of the
embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be
equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more
computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or
more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or
more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or
more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware,
or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the
circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and/or firmware
are possible in light of this disclosure. In addition, the
mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of
being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and
that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described
herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing
medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a
signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the
following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard
disk drive, a CD, a DVD, a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.;
and a transmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analog
communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a
wired communications link, a wireless communication link,
etc.).
[0141] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common
within the art to describe devices and/or processes in the fashion
set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering practices to
integrate such described devices and/or processes into data
processing systems. That is, at least a portion of the devices
and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a data
processing system via a reasonable amount of experimentation. Those
having skill in the art will recognize that a typical data
processing system generally includes one or more of a system unit
housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatile and
non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digital
signal processors, computational entities such as operating
systems, drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications
programs, one or more interaction devices, such as a touch pad or
screen, and/or control systems including feedback loops and control
motors (e.g., feedback for sensing position and/or velocity;
control motors for moving and/or adjusting components and/or
quantities). A typical data processing system may be implemented
utilizing any suitable commercially available components, such as
those generally found in data computing/communication and/or
network computing/communication systems.
[0142] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates
different components contained within, or connected with, different
other components. Such depicted architectures are merely exemplary,
and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which
achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any
arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is
effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is
achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a
particular functionality can be seen as "associated with" each
other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective
of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two
components so associated can also be viewed as being "operably
connected", or "operably coupled", to each other to achieve the
desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so
associated can also be viewed as being "operably couplable", to
each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples
of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically
mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly
interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or
logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.
[0143] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or
singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate
from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the
plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The
various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth
herein for sake of clarity.
[0144] It will be understood by those within the art that, in
general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims
(e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as
"open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as
"including but not limited to," the term "having" should be
interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be
interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that if a specific
number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an
intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence
of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an
aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain
usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more"
to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases
should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim
recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any
particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to
embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same
claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least
one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or
"an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or
more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used
to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific
number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited,
those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should
be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare
recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at
least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in
those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A,
B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended
in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the
convention (e.g., " a system having at least one of A, B, and C"
would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B
alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C
together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances
where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc."
is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense
one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g.,
" a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not
be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B
together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C
together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the
art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting
two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims,
or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities
of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms.
For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the
possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
[0145] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are
described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will
recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of
any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush
group.
[0146] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and
all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description,
all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible
subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range
can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling
the same range being broken down into at least equal halves,
thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example,
each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower
third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be
understood by one skilled in the art all language such as "up to,"
"at least," and the like include the number recited and refer to
ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as
discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in
the art, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for
example, a group having 1-3 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, or
3 cells. Similarly, a group having 1-5 cells refers to groups
having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells, and so forth.
[0147] From the foregoing, various embodiments of the present
disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration,
and various modifications may be made without departing from the
scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the
various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be
limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the
following claims.
* * * * *