KR20230062577A - Methods and systems for wireless power transfer - Google Patents

Abstract

The method for wireless power transfer preferably includes the following steps: determining transmitter-receiver proximity, evaluating transmission parameters, and/or transmitting power based on a transmission plan. A system for wireless power transfer preferably includes a plurality of receivers and one or more transmitters.

Description

Methods and systems for wireless power transfer

Cross-reference to related applications

This application claims priority to US Application Serial No. 17/006,242, filed on August 20, 2020, which is incorporated in its entirety by this reference.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/515,962, filed June 6, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/516,572, filed June 7, 2017, filed June 2018 Continuing Applicant of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725, filed on May 6, Serial Applicant in Part of U.S. Application Serial No. 16/415,664, filed on May 17, 2019, United States Filed on December 6, 2019 Application Serial No. 16/706,131, and also U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/640,269, filed March 8, 2018, U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/729,860, filed September 11, 2018, 2018 filed on March 7, 2019, claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/772,052, filed on November 27, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/772,425, filed on November 28, 2018; Serial Applicant in U.S. Application Serial No. 16/295,684 filed on August 13, 2019, Partial Serial Application in U.S. Application Serial No. 16/539,288 filed on August 13, 2019, and also U.S. Provisional Application Serial Number filed on November 30, 2018 62/773,935, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/888,817, filed on August 19, 2019, also filed on March 12, 2019, in U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/817,063; is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial No. 16/698,196, filed on November 27, 2019, claiming priority to, each of which is incorporated in its entirety by this reference.

The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless power transfer, and more specifically to new and useful methods and systems in the field of wireless power transfer.

Typical wireless power transfer systems limit them to beamforming configurations, which may not provide high-performance results. Accordingly, a need exists in the field of wireless power transfer to create new and useful methods and systems for wireless power transfer.

1A is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a method.
1B is a schematic diagram of elements of an embodiment of the method.
1C is a schematic diagram of an example of the elements shown in FIG. 1B.
2A is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a system.
2b-2c are schematic diagrams of example transmitters and receivers of the system, respectively.
2d is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the system.
3 is a schematic diagram of elements of an example of a method.

The following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the present invention to these preferred embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention.

1. Overview.

The method for wireless power transfer preferably includes: determining transmitter-receiver proximity (eg, as shown in FIG. 1A and/or FIG. 3) (S100), evaluating transmission parameters (S400). , and/or power transmission step based on the transmission plan (S700). A system for wireless power transfer preferably includes a plurality of receivers and one or more transmitters (eg, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D ). In embodiments where the system includes multiple transmitters, the method may optionally be covered by a U.S. Patent entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery" filed on December 6, 2019, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference. may include one or more elements as described in application Ser. No. 16/706,131; For example, the method may be performed as described in US patent application Ser. No. 16/706,131, but elements described herein as 'transmission parameter value determination step (S200)' are instead 'transmission parameter evaluation step (S400)'. )' (and/or may include one or more elements described herein while also retaining one or more elements as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/706,131). has exist). However, the systems and/or methods may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements. The method is preferably performed using the system described above, but may additionally or alternatively be performed using any other suitable system(s).

Determining power transmission settings for efficient wireless power transfer using typical methods and systems can be difficult and/or time-intensive. Evaluation of candidate power transmission settings can be a slow process (eg, requiring 1-100 ms or more). Moreover, power transmission settings typically involve a large number of parameters, and thus the search space can be very large, making a full search of it impossible. Additionally, elements of the system and surrounding elements can move frequently, potentially invalidating previous solutions and requiring new searches. In view of this problem, the inventors propose a globally-optimal solution in which a rapidly-determined solution (e.g., one that results in power transmission within a limit or critical range of an optimal result) is found only after too long a search. We found that it could be better.

2. Benefits.

The method can significantly reduce the time required to determine acceptable and/or desirable power transmission settings. First, the method may include performing a local search or a stochastic global search, which can typically find a sufficient solution in much less time than a deterministic global search. . Additionally, the method may include performing a multi-variate and/or multi-objective search based only on objective functions for a subset of receivers (eg, a group of receivers such as a pair of receivers). , which typically includes a number of receivers (e.g. greater than 30, greater than a threshold number of receivers such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 5-10, 10-30). etc.), can find a sufficient solution in much less time than a multivariate or multipurpose search based on the objective function for all such receivers (e.g., where multiple optimal configurations for different groups of receivers are then can be used to achieve satisfactory power delivery for many receivers). This search time reduction will often produce very good energy transfer results (eg, in systems with changing element orientations).

Second, evaluation of power transmission settings (e.g., during local and/or global searches), e.g., configuring the transmitter according to the settings and/or using the settings to determine the result of the power transmission ( It can be time-consuming, eg, due to the need to measure (eg at a receiver or receivers) and/or communicate results between different entities (eg, transmit results from a receiver to a transmitter). To reduce such time consumption, the method can optionally be used (e.g., a system such as the receiver or receivers currently under consideration, such as the one on which the optimization search is currently being performed, and any other receiver having a wireless communication link to the transmitter). estimating and/or caching the evaluation (e.g., result) and/or associated information for all other suitable receivers of , whereby the estimated and/or cached value instead of the entire evaluation allows fast lookup of

Third, using power transmission optimization techniques (e.g., real-time optimization techniques, such as optimization of transmission parameters based on measured results associated with the parameters), despite potential changes in the environment and/or system configuration, the receiver and/or enable excitation and/or maintenance of supergaining behavior in the transmitter antenna. Further, the use of pure-tone (and/or substantially pure-tone) signals for power transmission (e.g., arising from high-energy attenuating fields typically created around such antennas and/or around them) Despite the narrow bandwidth (eg, fractional impedance bandwidth) typically associated with such antennas, it may make the use of such supergaining antennas feasible. A supergaining antenna may exhibit much higher gain than a typical antenna, thereby enabling, for example, increased power transmission rate and/or reduced receiver and/or transmitter size. However, the methods and systems may additionally or alternatively confer any other suitable benefit.

3. System.

The transmitter(s) of the system preferably include one or more transmitting elements (eg, elements configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation, such as RF and/or microwave power), such as transmit antennas. The antenna and/or other transmit element may be a narrowband element (e.g., a critical value greater than, or quality factor greater than 1000, etc.), broadband factor (e.g., 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 1-5, 5-15, 15 quality factor below a threshold such as -30, 30-50, 50-100, 100-150, 150-300, 300-1000, or less than 1) and/or any other suitable bandwidth. The transmit element may optionally include one or more frequency adaptation elements (eg, configured to control the transmit and/or resonant frequency of the transmit element). In some embodiments, the transmitter is described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725, filed on June 6, 2018, entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery" (e.g., with respect to the transmitter of the system). ) includes one or more elements as described, which are entirely incorporated herein by this reference.

The transmit element preferably includes a plurality of controllable (eg adaptive) transmit elements (eg loop, monopole, dipole, etc.), such as phase- and/or amplitude-controllable elements. For example, a transmit element may define one or more controllable (eg, adaptive) antenna arrays (eg, linear arrays, planar arrays, 3-D arrays, etc.; phased arrays, electronically controllable arrays, etc.) can

The transmitting element is preferably a plurality of active elements (eg, antenna-like elements configured to be actively driven by a feed), more preferably independently controllable active antennas (eg, where each Active antennas may be individually controllable independently of all other antennas in the system; where groups of active antennas may be controlled together, where each group may be independently controllable from all other groups, etc. In a first variant, the amplitude and/or phase at which each active antenna is driven can be independently controlled (eg, via a separate IQ modulator or phase shifter for each active antenna). In a second variant, the active antennas are separated into one or more antenna groups, where the antennas of the groups are controlled together (eg, via a single IQ modulator or phase shifter for each group). For example, the antennas in a group have a fixed phase offset (e.g., zero offset such that all antennas in the group are in phase with each other; non-zero offset; etc.) with respect to each other (e.g., fixed here Phase offset is defined by the difference in trace length between the IQ modulator or phase shifter and each antenna). However, an active antenna may additionally or alternatively be configured in any other suitable manner.

The transmit element may additionally or alternatively include one or more passive antennas (e.g., configured to be electrically and/or resonantly coupled to one or more of the active antennas, thereby changing transmission characteristics of the transmitter). can In one example, a system may include a passive antenna for one or more electrical components (eg, passive components such as resistors, capacitors, and/or inductors; antennas such as one or more of active antennas and/or other passive antennas; etc.) electrical coupling (eg, coupling, resonant coupling, etc.) and/or decoupling (eg, via a switch such as a software-controlled switch; an element with variable electrical properties, such as a variable capacitor, etc.) through) is configured to control. In a first example, the plurality of passive antennas may be electrically connected and/or disconnected from each other (eg, via a switch operable to electrically connect two or more such antennas). In a second example, a variable capacitor (eg, varactor) and/or other variable (eg, continuously-varying) element is electrically coupled (eg, electrically connected) to one or more passive antennas to , enabling control of the loading of passive antennas and/or their coupling to other antennas (e.g., other passive antennas, active antennas, etc.) Varying one or more attributes of the ringed mutable elements may serve to control the net pattern of the array). In certain examples of this second example, the adaptive antenna array includes a single active antenna and a plurality of passive antennas, wherein one or more of the passive antennas are electrically coupled to one or more variable components.

Although referred to herein as an antenna (eg, active antenna, passive antenna, etc.), one skilled in the art would understand that a transmit element may additionally or alternatively be any other suitable type of transmit element (eg, active transmit element, passive transmit element, etc.). ) will be appreciated. Although referred to herein as an antenna array, those skilled in the art will understand that a transmit element may additionally or alternatively be any other suitable array of transmit elements and/or any other suitable arrangement (eg, arrangement other than an array such as an aperiodic arrangement). It will be appreciated that it may include a transmit element.

The transmitter is preferably coupled to one or more power sources (eg, electrically coupled, such as connected by conductive wires; configured to receive power from a power source, etc.). The power source may include a remote power source (eg, a power grid, external power generator, external power storage device, etc.) and/or a power storage module (eg, where the power delivery device includes the power storage module(s)). included). The power storage module preferably includes a battery, more preferably a secondary battery but alternatively a primary battery, but additionally or alternatively includes a capacitor (e.g. in combination with a battery to promote rapid discharge), a fuel A fuel cell with a source (eg metal hydride), optionally a thermal energy converter (eg a thermionic converter, a thermoelectric converter, a mechanical heat engines, etc.), mechanical energy converters (eg, vibration energy harvesters), solar energy converters, and/or any other suitable power source. Secondary batteries are lithium phosphate chemistry, lithium ion polymer chemistry, lithium ion chemistry, nickel metal hydride chemistry, lead acid chemistry, nickel cadmium chemistry, metal hydride chemistry, nickel manganese cobalt chemistry, magnesium chemical nature, or any other suitable chemical nature. Primary batteries are lithium thionyl chloride chemistry, zinc-carbon chemistry, zinc chloride chemistry, alkaline chemistry, oxy-nickel hydroxide chemistry, lithium-iron disulfide chemistry, lithium-manganese oxide chemistry, zinc-air chemistry, silver oxide chemistry, or any other suitable chemistry.

However, the transmitter(s) may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements in any suitable arrangement.

A receiver of the system may include one or more antennas (eg, configured to receive electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the transmitter). The receiver optionally includes and/or is electrically coupled (eg, a battery and/or battery-containing device, such as a smartphone and/or other electrical and/or electronic user device) to one or more client devices eg, configured to deliver power thereto). The receiver is optionally electrically connected between one or more buffer energy stores (eg, batteries), such as battery antenna(s), and the client device (eg, between the antenna(s) and an electrical output configured to be coupled to the client device). a battery coupled to an antenna (which may provide power at a non-uniform rate and/or with a non-uniform characteristic) and a power supply (with a substantially constant rate and/or substantially constant characteristic). may serve as a buffer between client devices (which may require and/or benefit from, may be temporarily disconnected from the receiver, etc.). In some embodiments, the receiver is described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,628, entitled "System and Method for Wireless Power Reception," filed on June 6, 2018, and/or filed on June 6, 2018. Each of which includes one or more elements as described (e.g., with respect to a receiver of a system) in US Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725, entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery" are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.

The antenna preferably transmits power (e.g. electromagnetic radiation transmitted to the receiver, preferably propagating or "far field" radiation, but additionally or alternatively evanescent or "near field" radiation). It functions to receive and couple the received power to the receiver.

The antenna may include a directional antenna, an omnidirectional antenna, and/or any other suitable antenna. The antenna has a narrowband element (e.g. greater than a threshold, e.g. quality factor greater than 1000, etc.), broadband factor (e.g. threshold, e.g. 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 1-5, 5-15, 15-30 , 30-50, 50-100, 100-150, 150-300, 300-1000, or less than 1 quality factor) and/or may have any other suitable bandwidth. In some embodiments, some or all of the antennas of the transmitter (e.g., active antenna, passive antenna, etc.) and/or receiver include one or more tightly-coupled resonator arrays, but additionally or alternatively may include a loosely-coupled array, a sparse array, a single resonator, and/or any other suitable antenna element. Resonators may include resonant loops, cross-resonators, split-ring resonators, electrical-induction-capacitance resonators, other physically small resonators (e.g., small relative to their resonant wavelength), and/or any other suitable resonators. can However, the resonator may be configured otherwise.

The antenna(s) may optionally include multiple arrays (and/or other arrangements of resonators) arranged in different directions, which will serve to efficiently couple radiation of different polarizations (eg, orthogonal polarizations). can In a first embodiment, the antenna includes layers of parallel resonators (eg, arrays of parallel resonators), each layer having a different in-plane resonator orientation (eg, orthogonal orientation, orientation that is oriented squarely). etc.) have In a second embodiment, the antenna includes resonators on non-parallel planes (eg, orthogonal planes, quadrilaterally oriented planes, etc.). However, the antenna(s) may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable resonator and/or other antenna element, and may have any other suitable arrangement. The antenna(s) may be metamaterial or have any other suitable configuration.

Although referred to herein as an antenna (eg, active antenna, passive antenna, etc.), those skilled in the art will recognize that a receiver antenna may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable type of receiving element.

The transmitter and receiver may additionally or alternatively be configured to transmit and/or receive energy in any other suitable form (eg, sonic, optical, etc.) and/or perform any other suitable role(s). there is. In an embodiment, all or a portion of a transmitter may additionally function as a receiver and/or all or a portion of a receiver may additionally function as a transmitter. For example, a system can include a plurality of equivalent devices, each of which can wirelessly transmit power to and receive power from each of the other devices.

The transmitter and receiver preferably each include a wireless communication module, but may additionally or alternatively include a wired communication module or any other suitable communication module, or the communication module may be omitted. The wireless communication module preferably supports (eg, enables communication using) one or more wireless communication protocols (eg, WiFi, Bluetooth, BLE, NFC, RF, IR, Zigbee, Z-wave, etc.) make). However, the transmitter and receiver may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable element.

The transmitter and receiver preferably have random and/or dynamic arrangements relative to each other. In one example, a system includes a transmitter with a fixed position, and a plurality of receivers, each of which undergoes multiple changes in position and orientation over time (eg, relative to the transmitter, each other, etc.). The system may optionally be arranged in a setup where other nearby objects (eg, obstacles to wireless power transmission) may also have random and/or dynamic arrangements to the elements of the system. However, the system may define any other suitable arrangement.

For client devices having RF-sensitive components (eg, sensitive electronics), one or more dissipative elements (eg, dissipative elements dissipated in RF power transmitted by the power delivery device) optionally include It can be placed near RF-sensitive components (and/or any other element for which it may be desirable to minimize the incident RF intensity). Such placement of dissipative elements allows transmission optimization algorithms (e.g., as described below with respect to methods) to avoid transmission conditions that produce high RF strength near sensitive components and/or to avoid high RF strength near sensitive components. It is possible to implement a transmission condition that does not generate RF strength. Additionally or alternatively, the negative-feedback receiver (e.g., in addition to the receiver(s) described above) optionally includes an RF-sensitive component (and/or any other component in which it may be desirable to minimize incident RF strength). element) can be placed nearby. Such negative-feedback receiver preferably includes some or all of the elements described above with respect to the receiver (and/or shares some elements, such as a wireless communication module, with the receiver coupled to a client device). For example, a negative-feedback receiver (eg, excluding identifiers and/or configurations, such as programming, that indicate their proximity to and/or are associated with RF-sensitive components) is a receiver described above. may be substantially the same as

In some embodiments, the system is described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725, entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery," filed on June 6, 2018, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. includes one or more elements (and/or the entire system) as described. However, the system may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements in any suitable arrangement.

4. Method.

4.1 Determining transmitter-receiver proximity.

The transmitter-receiver proximity determination step S100 may serve to indicate opportunities for wireless power transfer (eg, from a transmitter to one or more receivers). S100 is preferably in range of one or more transmitters (e.g., in communication range with the transmitter, established communication with the transmitter, less than a threshold distance from the transmitter, and receiving power from the transmitter at a rate greater than the threshold rate). and determining a set of receivers (eg, expected to be able to receive). For example, S100 may include determining that one or more receivers are within transmission range of the transmitter (e.g., a range enabling efficient power transmission, substantial power transmission, any measurable power transmission, etc.) . Transmitter-receiver proximity is preferably determined using wireless communication (eg, using wireless communication modules of the transmitter and receiver). For example, one device may allow another device to establish a wireless communication between them, wireless communication signal strength (e.g., RSSI), information communicated over a wireless connection, and/or any other suitable indication. You may decide to be nearby.

Transmitter-receiver proximity determination step S100 may additionally or alternatively use optical recognition (e.g., detecting a nearby receiver in an image captured by the transmitter's camera), user input (e.g., a button press), receiving, detecting a change in wireless power transfer, and/or any other suitable element. For example, a transmitter wirelessly transmitting power to a first receiver may detect the arrival of a second receiver based on a decrease in power delivered to the first receiver.

S100 may additionally or alternatively include determining information about the receiver and/or transmitter(s). Information may include device type (eg, model, serial number, etc.), power requirements (eg, battery state of charge, current power draw, etc.), possibly (eg, typical, planned, predicted, etc.) ) time of stay in proximity, possibly stability of position while in proximity (e.g., stationary on table, movement in user's clothing pocket, etc.), device position (e.g., trilateration/triangulation, optical recognition, line-of-sight). of-sight) based on proximity sensors, device IMU readings, device GPS readings, etc.), and/or any other suitable information. However, S100 may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable element or otherwise be performed.

4.2 Assessing transmission parameters.

The transmission parameter evaluation step S400 preferably functions to determine one or more sets of transmission parameter values (transmission configurations) that can enable efficient power transmission (e.g., from transmitter to receiver). S400 is preferably performed in response to determining transmitter-receiver proximity (S100) and may additionally or alternatively be performed in response to determining a change in transmission performance and/or requirements. However, S400 may additionally or alternatively be performed at any other suitable time. Transmission parameters may include: transmit phase and/or transmit amplitude (eg, relative to a reference phase, such as that of a reference antenna) of one or more antennas, beamforming parameters such as beam direction (eg, angles describing the beam direction, such as azimuth and deflection), other spatial parameters (e.g., position and/or orientation of areas of high- and/or low-intensity excitation), supergaining excitation parameters such as supergaining receivers passive antenna parameters such as type, location, and/or orientation, resistance, capacitance, and/or inductance coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., electrical component coupling parameters), and/or any other suitable parameters. . In a first example, the transmission parameters are one or more active antennas and/or groups of antennas (eg, hardware-defined groups, software-defined groups, etc.), preferably transmitters (eg, antenna arrays, e.g., phased antenna arrays). or other adaptive antenna array) or transmit phase and/or amplitude for each active antenna of the transmitters. In a second example, the transmission parameters are defined by one or more beamforming networks (eg, groups of one or more antennas, such as software-defined antenna groups, each defining a separate beamforming network herein). For example, a Rotman lens, a Butler matrix, and the like) and related beamforming parameters. In a third example, the transmission parameters are the antennas of the transmitter (e.g., one or more groups of antennas, such as hardware- and/or software-defined antenna groups, each defining a separate supergaining structure herein) and/or the receiver. Includes supergaining excitation parameters associated with one or more supergaining structures (eg, antennas, arrays, etc.) defined by However, the transmission parameters may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable parameters.

Evaluating transmission parameters (S400) may optionally include determining one or more antenna groups (eg, software-defined antenna groups), which may include determining a transmission parameter space (eg, within a spatial domain such as a room). space defined by transmission parameters, separate from the physical space defined by object position and/or orientation). For example, rather than independently controlling the parameters associated with each active antenna (e.g., transmit phase and/or amplitude), the dimensions of the transmit parameter space are the parameters associated with each group of antennas (e.g., transmit phase and/or amplitude). transmission phase and/or amplitude, beamforming parameters, supergaining excitation parameters, etc.). In a first embodiment, the group is predetermined (e.g., based on attributes of the transmitters; e.g., for transmitters installed in fixed locations, based on attributes of fixed elements near the transmitters, etc.). In a second embodiment, the group may perform statistical analysis and/or machine analysis (eg, using data determined as described below, such as data associated with wireless power received at one or more receivers of the system). As based on running technique, it is determined dynamically. For example, principal component analysis and/or clustering techniques (e.g., k-means clustering, X-means clustering, spectral clustering, etc.) may be used to determine antenna groups (e.g., here highly correlated antennas and/or antenna parameters are grouped together, where antennas in a cluster are grouped together, etc.). However, the antenna group may additionally or alternatively be determined in any other suitable manner, or the antenna group may not be determined.

S400 preferably includes (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1B-1C), performing a preliminary evaluation step S410, determining a receiver group step S420, optimizing a transmission configuration step S430, and/or A transmission plan determination step (S440) is included. However, S400 additionally or alternatively includes a transmission parameter evaluation step in any other suitable manner.

4.2.1 Performing preliminary assessments.

Performing preliminary evaluation step S410 preferably functions to determine a set of mappings between points in a transmission parameter space and a target space (e.g., a space representing the power delivery for each receiver), more preferably the receiver function to include points proximate (in transmission parameter space) to one or more efficient transmission configurations for power transfer to one or more of S410 is preferably performed in response to the transmitter-receiver proximity determination step S100, but may additionally or alternatively be performed at any other suitable time.

S410 preferably includes evaluating one or more transmission configurations. Each transmission configuration is preferably incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference (e.g., as described with respect to transmission parameter value determination step S200, such as in particular with respect to candidate transmission parameter value evaluation step S220). U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725, filed on June 6, 2018, entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery", is evaluated as described, but additionally or alternatively, any other suitable method can be evaluated. For each transmission configuration being evaluated, S410 preferably provides a corresponding target spatial value (e.g., power received at each receiver, e.g., at each receiver within communication range of the transmitter; transmit power value, e.g., transmitted power). or a value proportional to such power, such as power transfer efficiency, which may be calculated as the power received at the receiver divided by the power consumed by the transmitter) and/or caching.

In some examples, S410 searches (e.g., single-valued objective function search) to determine, for each receiver (e.g., each receiver within communication range of the transmitter), an optimal transmitter configuration for that receiver. ). The search is preferably performed without considering the capabilities of any other receivers. However, information associated with the performance of the other receivers (and/or any negative-feedback receivers) during the search (e.g., power received by the other receivers) is preferably (e.g., performed as part of S410). determined and/or cached for use in a subsequent search, such as for use in a receiver group determination step (S420) and/or transmission configuration optimization step (S430), etc.). The search (e.g., as described with respect to the transmission parameter value determination step S200) is for an invention filed on June 6, 2018 entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery", US Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725 and/or in any other suitable manner.

Such a search is preferably performed (e.g., with respect to beamforming and/or beamlike patterns), such as a search over a beamforming parameter space (e.g., over a space defined by the azimuth and polarization angles of the beamlike pattern). As described, as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725 entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery" filed on June 6, 2018, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. as) limited to beam-like patterns. Accordingly, the search preferably results in determining each receiver's estimated angular position (e.g., represented by the azimuth and polarization of the optimal beamforming pattern for that receiver), and optionally associated with the optimal beamforming pattern. determining a metric (eg, power received by the receiver, power delivery efficiency, etc.) Due to the limited dimensionality of the search space (e.g., two dimensions corresponding to azimuth and declination, respectively), the search of beamlike patterns is preferably a global search (e.g., exhaustive global search, deterministic global search). , probabilistic global search, etc.), but may additionally or alternatively include local search and/or any other suitable search technique(s).

However, the search may additionally or alternatively include a search for transmission configurations that are not limited to beamlike patterns. In some such embodiments, such searches are limited to local best searches (eg, as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725 with respect to the performing local best search step S230), while other such implementations In an example, the search for some or all of the receivers may include a global best search (eg, as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725 with respect to performing a global best search step S240). . In such embodiments, the method optionally includes determining (eg, calculating based on transmission parameters) one or more regions of high RF field strength for an optimized transmission configuration, and such regions (or regions). ), determining location information for the receiver on which optimization has been performed (eg, determining that the receiver is likely to be located near the highest-intensity area).

Additionally or alternatively, the performance of one or more other receivers may be taken into account while performing this search. In an example, the objective function on which the search is based is a function of the performance of a number of receivers (e.g., a patent filed on June 6, 2018 entitled "Method and System for As described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725, "Wireless Power Delivery", the search may be a multivariate function of the power received at each receiver and/or any other suitable multivariable function), and/or the search may be It can be a multipurpose search (eg, where each objective function is associated with a different receiver or a different set of receivers). In variations where the system includes one or more negative-feedback receivers (e.g., arranged proximate to the RF-sensitive component), the power received at the one or more negative-feedback receivers may be taken into account while performing this search. there is. For example, the objective function(s) can include one or more penalty terms associated with power delivery to one or more of the negative-feedback receivers (e.g., where the objective function value is negative-feedback improved by reducing power delivery to the receiver).

However, S410 may include performing a preliminary evaluation in any other suitable manner.

4.2.2 Determining receiver groups.

The receiver group determination step S420 preferably functions to determine one or more receiver groups that can perform well (eg, are expected to perform) under the same transmission configuration. Preferably, it is contemplated that for each group of receivers, it will be possible to determine a transmission configuration in which rapid and/or efficient transmission of power is achieved to each receiver of each group (e.g., above a threshold). .

S420 is preferably performed in response to S410 (eg, upon completion of S410), but may additionally or alternatively be performed at any other suitable time.

S420 preferably includes determining a receiver group set. Each group preferably includes a small number of receivers (eg 2 or 3 receivers) but additionally or alternatively a larger number of receivers (eg 4, 5, 6-10 receivers). , 10 or more, etc.). The set of receiver groups preferably spans all receivers (eg each receiver is included in at least one receiver group). Receiver groups can be separate or overlapping. In some examples, the number of groups of receivers is greater than the number of receivers (eg, each receiver is included in multiple groups of receivers) (e.g., much greater than, for example, 2x or more, 10x or more, etc.) .

In a first embodiment, all possible combinations of desired group sizes or sizes are used as different receiver groups. For example, for a desired group size of 2-3 receivers, S420 may include selecting all possible receiver pairs and all possible receiver triplets as different receiver groups.

In a second embodiment, receivers are grouped based on spatial considerations (eg, receivers that are close to each other in physical space and/or oriented in a similar direction from the transmitter may be grouped together). In such an embodiment, determining a group of receivers preferably includes determining a subset of receivers (e.g., disjoint and/or overlapping subsets) based on spatial considerations, followed by such and selecting a group of receivers from the subset.

In this embodiment, the proximity of the receivers to each other is preferably determined based on the information determined in S410 (e.g., the direction from the transmitter to the receiver, as represented by the azimuth and declination angles; the power transmission efficiency). , a proxy for distance to the transmitter, etc.). Note that the angle of the beamlike pattern may not represent the actual position of the receiver, but rather the 'energy-transmission direction' from the transmitter to the receiver (e.g., where the beamlike pattern directs energy towards the reflective element and , which then redirects the energy to the receiver). Accordingly, grouping of receivers may not be based on actual spatial locations, but rather on locations in energy-transmitting space associated with these energy-transmitting directions.

However, in such an embodiment, the receiver proximity may additionally or alternatively include auxiliary information, such as a received signal strength indication (e.g., an RSSI determined at a receiver radio communication module based on a signal received from another receiver's radio communication module). ), spatial sensors (eg, receivers, transmitters, auxiliary devices, etc.), imaging data (eg, sampled by receivers, transmitters, auxiliary devices, etc.), and/or (eg, transmitter-receiver proximity). It may be determined based on any other suitable information (as described above with respect to determining step S100).

In one example of this embodiment, the subset of receivers may be determined based on the angular distance between the receivers. For example, the subsets are 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, 35°, 40°, 50°, 60°, 5-15°, 15-25°, 20-30°, 30°. Includes all receivers falling within the conical region (peaked at the transmitter) with a critical apex angle (twice the angle from the central axis of the cone to its surface) equal to the apex angle of -45°, 45-60°, etc. can do. In a variation of this example, the subset is additionally or alternatively based on a metric associated with the receiver (eg, power, power transfer efficiency, etc.) and/or (eg, determined based on auxiliary information) the receiver. may be limited based on the distance between them, eg, where only receivers within the conical area and a threshold distance (eg, spatial distance, difference in power transfer metric, etc.) are placed in the same subset. In some variations, a subset (and/or group of receivers) may include spatial information (e.g., angular information such as azimuth and/or polarization, distance information such as power transfer metrics, spatial information determined based on auxiliary information, etc.) and and/or determined using one or more statistical and/or machine learning techniques, such as classification algorithms (eg clustering algorithms), which are preferably performed based on their derivatives and/or based on any other suitable information. . Clustering may be performed using, for example, k-means clustering, X-means clustering, spectral clustering, and/or any other suitable clustering technique.

In this embodiment, all possible combinations of desired group sizes or sizes selected entirely from a single subset are preferably used as different receiver groups. For a desired group size of, e.g., 2-3 receivers, selecting a group of receivers from the subsets may include, for each subset, all possible receiver pairs in the subset and all possible receiver triplets in the subset. may include selecting as different receiver groups. However, the receiver group may additionally or alternatively be determined in any other suitable manner.

In a third embodiment, groups are randomly determined. In a sixth embodiment, all possible receiver groups of a particular size (eg, all pairs, all triple pairs, all groups of size 4, etc.) or sizes are used.

In the fourth embodiment (eg, where S410 preferably includes one or more optimization performing steps not limited to beam-like patterns, where S430 preferably includes a multipurpose optimization performing step, etc.), the group is ( For example, as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/539,288 with respect to 'Receiver Group Determination Step (S420)') filed on August 13, 2019, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, entitled As described in this "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery," US patent application Ser. No. 16/539,288. However, the receiver group may additionally or alternatively be determined in any other suitable manner.

S420 may optionally include removing one or more receivers from consideration (e.g., receivers where sufficiently high power delivery is difficult or impossible to achieve), such as not including the receiver in any receiver group. . For example, for each receiver (or subset thereof), a known transmission configuration may be a threshold value (e.g., a predetermined value; a value for the receiver's power consumption and/or state of charge; another objective function value; A receiver may be removed from consideration if it does not achieve an objective function value (for the objective function associated with the receiver under consideration) greater than, eg, the average or value for the lowest objective function maximum; etc. However, the receiver may additionally or alternatively be removed from consideration based on any other suitable determination.

In some embodiments, S400 optionally includes (e.g., based on one or more results of the optimization, such as based on an objective function value) during and/or after transmission configuration optimization step S430 and/or after receiver group determination step S420. ) may be included. For example, S420 is disclosed in its entirety by this reference (e.g., as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/539,288 with respect to determining a group of receivers during and/or after performing multipurpose optimization). One or more preliminary optimizations (e.g., For example, where S430 is performed using a lenient convergence criterion, performed for a short time or number of cycles, etc.), it may be repeated to modify the receiver group (and/or determine a new group) based on the result. can

However, S420 may additionally or alternatively include determining a group of receivers in any other suitable manner, at any other suitable time, and/or based on any other suitable information.

4.2.3 Optimizing transmission configurations.

The transmission configuration optimization step (S430) preferably selects transmission configurations that meet one or more performance criteria (eg, one configuration for each receiver group, a plurality of configurations close to one or more Pareto fronts, etc.) function to decide S430 preferably includes the following steps: determining a multi-beam configuration (eg, as shown in FIG. 1C) (S432), selecting a subset of the multi-beam configuration (S434), and/or optimizing the configuration. Perform step (S436).

The step of determining the multi-beam configuration (S432) preferably results in a multi-beam configuration (eg, several beam-like elements propagating in different directions) for each group of receivers (eg, each group determined in S420). (e.g. transmission parameter values that cause such a multi-beam transmission pattern), more preferably wherein each beamlike element of the multi-beam pattern, as shown by way of example in FIG. For example, if not in terms of real spatial location, in the 'energy-transmission space'), it is actually directed towards the different receivers of the group. However, S432 may additionally or alternatively include determining a multi-beam configuration for any suitable subset of receiver groups, and/or determining any other suitable multi-beam configuration.

The multi-beam configuration is preferably calculated (rather than partially or wholly determined based on iterative evaluation of the transmission configuration, eg, through transmission of power to and communication with the receiver). For example, the multi-beam configuration may be produced at the transmitter and/or at a control element that controls operation of and/or communication with the transmitter. One or more approaches to generating multi-beam configurations (e.g., as described in Balanis, Constantine A.. Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design. United Kingdom, Wiley, 2016, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference) ) can be used.

In a first example, the construct is (e.g. Booker, HG, & Clemmow, PC (1950), which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. The concept of an angular spectrum of plane waves, and its relation to that of The polar diagram and aperture distribution (as described in Proceedings of the IEE-Part III: Radio and Communication Engineering , 97 (45), 11-17) is calculated using a Fourier transform-based approach.

In a second example, the configuration is (eg, Woodward, PM (1946), each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. A method of calculating the field over a plane aperture required to produce a given polar diagram. Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers-Part IIIA: Radiolocation , 93 (10), 1554-1558 and/or Woodward, PM, & Lawson, JD (1948).The theoretical precision with which an arbitrary radiation-pattern may be obtained from a source of finite size (as described in Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers-Part III: Radio and Communication Engineering , 95 (37), 363-370)) is calculated using the Woodward-Lawson method.

In a third example, the configuration is calculated using an error optimization approach. For example, this approach may include the following steps: Determining a desired value (eg, field strength value) at a set of locations in space (eg, a desired pattern of space at each location in the set). determining a sample); determining a candidate configuration; Determining a value in the set of locations resulting from the candidate configuration (e.g., where the resulting value is preferably calculated based on the candidate configuration, but may additionally or alternatively be sampled based on an actual transmission based on the candidate configuration). has exist); determining an error (eg, minimum mean square error) associated with the candidate configuration (eg, based on a difference between the determined value and the desired value for the candidate configuration); and preferably iteratively selecting new candidate configurations (e.g. based on an optimization technique, e.g. according to an optimization algorithm) to minimize such errors (e.g. transmission configuration parameters such as performing an optimization technique (for a space defined by the amplitude and/or phase associated with each transmit element) and determining an associated error.

In a fourth example, configurations are computed using a superposition approach. For example, this approach may include the following steps: For each receiver in a group of receivers (e.g., based on the location of the receiver, such as based on both direction and distance from the transmitter to the receiver) , determining a phase offset for each transmit element of the transmitter (eg, based on a difference in distance between the receiver and each transmit element); and generating a superposition (eg, average, weighted average, etc.) of the phase offsets associated with each receiver.

In a fifth example, a configuration is calculated using a combination of one or more of the foregoing examples and/or any other suitable approach to calculating a multi-beam configuration. However, S432 may additionally or alternatively include determining the multi-beam configuration in any other suitable manner.

The step of selecting a subset of multi-beam configurations (S434) preferably functions to select a configuration that meets the performance criteria from the multi-beam configurations determined in S432. In an alternative embodiment, S434 is not performed (eg, where all multi-beam configurations determined at S432 are available for use at S436). S434 preferably includes, for each multi-beam configuration determined in S432, determining its performance and comparing such performance with a threshold performance value.

Determining the performance of the configuration is preferably performed entirely by this reference (e.g. as described with respect to determining transmission parameter values step S200, e.g., in particular with respect to evaluating candidate transmission parameter values step S220). Evaluating the configuration as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/001,725, entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery," filed on June 6, 2018, which is incorporated herein; Additionally or alternatively, it may be evaluated in any other suitable way. For each configuration, its performance is preferably evaluated in association with the receivers of the receiver group in which it was created (eg, the configuration's performance is based on a power delivery metric for each receiver in the receiver group); However, its performance relative to other receivers in the system may optionally also be determined (and/or cached).

The threshold performance value is preferably determined based on a group of associated receivers (e.g., based on an expected achievable power transfer metric for the receivers in the group). For example, the threshold value is, for each receiver in the group, a metric associated with power transmission to the receiver (eg, an optimized single-beam or optimized random-pattern single receiver power transfer metric). can be determined based on In a particular example, the threshold is a threshold percentage of the average of the single-beam metrics optimized for each receiver in the group (e.g., 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 100% , 20-50%, 50-75%, 75-90%, 90-100%, greater than 100%, etc.) (e.g., with single-beam power transfer efficiencies of 0.4, 0.6, and 0.7 respectively). In a receiver group with three receivers, the threshold performance value may equal 80% of the average power transfer efficiency, which is approximately 0.453).

However, the threshold performance value may additionally or alternatively be based on any other suitable receiver (e.g., a metric associated with power transmission to the receiver, e.g., optimized single-beam or optimized arbitrary-pattern single receiver). based on a power transfer metric), based on performance of another multi-beam configuration (and/or any other suitable configuration), based on a predetermined value, and/or based on any other suitable information.

All configurations with performance better than the threshold performance value are preferably included in the selected subset. However, the subset may additionally or alternatively be selected in any other suitable manner. For example, the subset is limited to only a threshold number of configurations (e.g., presumably excluding configurations better than a threshold performance value), and/or (e.g., possibly including configurations worse than a threshold performance value). ) may be required to contain at least a threshold number of configurations, and/or may be required to include configurations from a group of receivers spanning a set of receivers. However, S434 may additionally or alternatively include selecting any other suitable subset in any other suitable manner.

The configuration optimization step (S436) preferably functions to improve the multi-beam configuration (eg, some or all of the configurations selected in S434, the configuration determined in S432, etc.). S436 is preferably performed for each configuration of the subset selected in S434, but may additionally or alternatively be performed for that subset and/or any other suitable transmission configuration.

For each configuration to be optimized (e.g. multi-beam configuration), S436 is preferably filed on December 16, 2019 entitled "Method and System for Wireless and performing optimization as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/715,266, "Power Delivery". Optimization is preferably performed according to the US patent regarding 'determining transmission parameter value step (S200)' (eg, 'performing local optimal search step (S230)' and/or 'performing global optimal search step (S240)') It is performed as described in application Ser. No. 16/715,266, where the configuration to be optimized is preferably as an initial parameter value for an optimal search or searches (eg local search, global search such as probabilistic global search, etc.). used

The configuration is preferably optimized based on a multivariate objective function, eg, a function that depends on the performance of a plurality of receivers (eg, receivers in a group of receivers associated with the configuration to be optimized). In a first example, the objective function is the sum (or average, weighted average, etc.) of performance metrics (e.g., power, power transfer efficiency, etc.) for each receiver considered (e.g., each receiver in a group). may be the same as; Such an objective may serve to maximize the total power delivered to the receivers of the group. In a second example, the objective function is the sum (or average, weighted average, etc.) of non-linear (preferably sub-linear) functions of the performance metrics of the receiver under consideration, e.g., the sum of the logarithms of each metric and may be the same; Such an objective, even if it results in a greater reduction in power transmission to a receiver that meets the performance criteria (e.g., prioritizes equalizing performance between receivers), at least for the receiver that is receiving power. It can function to prioritize improving power transmission. In some variations, the objective function may be a weighted sum or average of values associated with the receivers under consideration. For example, S436 can be applied to a receiver that requires faster power delivery (e.g., a receiver that is associated with a low stored energy state, a receiver that provides more power to a device than the receiver is receiving, and that results in power loss). increasing weights associated with receivers that provide power to high devices, any other appropriate receiver prioritization, etc.), and/or receivers that do not require rapid power transfer (e.g., receiver high stored energy states and reducing weights associated with associated receivers, receivers that do not provide significant power to any devices, receivers that provide power only to devices that result in low power loss, any other suitable receiver prioritization, etc.) can; In certain instances, the weight for one or more receivers may be set to zero (eg, if the receiver is associated with an entire energy storage device and/or does not provide power to any other device). In some examples, receiver prioritization is described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/715,266, entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery," filed on December 16, 2019, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. It may be determined as described and/or may be determined based on a metric associated with the desired power delivery described below (and/or based on similar information as described below for determining such metric). However, S436 may additionally or alternatively include performing optimization based on any other suitable objective function(s).

In some embodiments, S436 is (eg, as described with respect to S430 in US Patent Application Serial No. 16/539,288 and/or US Patent Application Serial No. 16/899,473, each of which is entirely incorporated herein by this reference). U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/539,288, filed on August 13, 2019, entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery," and/or filed on June 11, 2020, entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery" as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/899,473, "Multi-Objective Optimization and/or Wireless Power Delivery"). For example, S436 specifies, for each configuration to be optimized, transmission configurations that fit each of the plurality of performance criteria (e.g., one or more Pareto fronts, e. determining a configuration close to the Pareto front).

However, S430 and/or S436 may additionally or alternatively include optimizing the transmission configuration in any other suitable manner.

4.2.4 Determining a transmission plan.

The transmission plan determination step S440 preferably functions to determine how power will be transmitted to the receiver. S440 is preferably performed in response to performing S430, but may additionally or alternatively be performed at any other suitable time. S440 preferably includes the following: determining desired power transfer (S441), selecting transmission configuration set (S442), and/or determining duration for transmission configuration (S443), but additionally or alternatively, any may include other suitable elements of

Determining the desired power delivery step S441 preferably includes: for each receiver, determining a metric associated with the desired power delivery for that receiver. The metric is preferably the total energy delivered, eg the energy required to charge a battery (eg a battery of a client device associated with the receiver) to a threshold value. The metric may alternatively be a power transfer metric, such as an average or minimum power delivered (eg, an average or minimum value equal to or greater than the expected average power consumption by the device powered by the receiver). However, the metric may alternatively be any other metric determined based on information such as device energy state and/or consumption, or may be any other suitable metric. The metric (and/or information for determining the metric) is preferably received from a receiver (eg, by a transmitter) (eg, via wireless communication), but additionally or alternatively in any other suitable manner. can be determined by S441 is preferably performed for each receiver (eg, within communication range of the transmitter), but may additionally or alternatively be performed for any suitable set of receivers.

In embodiments where the system includes one or more negative-feedback receivers, S441 returns, for one or more negative-feedback receivers (preferably for all such receivers), an associated metric (e.g., as described above). ) may optionally include a step of determining. For example, a metric associated with a negative-feedback receiver may be a maximum power (eg, average power as averaged over a heat dissipation timeframe, instantaneous power, etc.) and/or total energy transfer value. However, S441 may additionally or alternatively include describing the negative-feedback receiver in any other suitable manner.

S441 may optionally include removing one or more receivers from consideration (eg, receivers for which sufficiently high power delivery is difficult or impossible to achieve), such as by setting an associated metric for each receiver to zero. there is. For example, for each receiver (or subset thereof), a known transmission configuration may be applied to a threshold value (eg, a predetermined value; a value relating to the power consumption and/or state of charge of the receiver; to another objective function value). value, eg, the average objective function maximum value, the average objective function value for the transmission configuration determined in S430 (eg, S436) or the subset determined based on the objective function, eg, the lowest objective function maximum value , the lowest objective function value for the plurality of transmission configurations determined in S430 (eg, S436) or a subset thereof, e.g., the subset determined based on the objective function; etc. (associated with the receiver under consideration). If the objective function value (for the objective function) cannot be achieved, the receiver may be removed from consideration. However, S441 may additionally or alternatively include determining the metric in any other suitable way.

The transmission configuration set selection step S442 is preferably a step of selecting from transmission configurations determined in S430 (e.g., an optimized configuration generated in S436, a multi-beam configuration determined in S432 and/or selected in S434, etc.) includes In some examples where multipurpose optimization is performed, this may include selecting from a plurality of non-dominant transmission configurations determined at S430 (eg, each plurality associated with a different receiver group). S442 preferably includes selecting a subset of these configurations. For example, S442 may include selecting a threshold number of transmission configurations (eg, 1, 2, 3, 4-9, 10-30, 30-100, etc.) from each plurality. In a particular example, S442 includes selecting a single transmission configuration from each plurality.

Selecting a subset of such configurations (eg, the optimal subset) may include performing an optimization search (eg, to determine the optimal subset), where the optimal subset is preferred. Preferably a subset associated with an optimal transmission plan (eg, a subset of configurations in which the optimal transmission plan specifies a non-zero charge time and/or duty cycle). Performing the search preferably includes evaluating a subset of candidates (eg, evaluating an objective function based on the subset of candidates). To evaluate a candidate subset, a power transmission period for the candidate subset may be determined (e.g., as described below with respect to S443), where the candidate subset metric is such a period (e.g., period It can be determined based on the sum of). For example, an optimization goal of the search may be to minimize the total charging time (eg, the time required to achieve a desired energy delivery to all receivers). The search may be performed using one or more discrete optimization algorithms, such as a grid search (eg, adaptive grid search), a hill climbing algorithm, a discrete evolutionary algorithm, and/or any other suitable algorithm ( eg based on a candidate subset metric). In embodiments where the system includes one or more negative-feedback receivers, the search may optionally be limited based on negative-feedback receiver metrics (eg, where a maximum threshold power and/or energy is not exceeded). However, the optimal subset may additionally or alternatively be determined in any other suitable way (or any other suitable subset may be selected).

Alternatively, S442 may include selecting all transmission configurations determined in S430, such as all optimized configurations generated in S436 (eg, not excluding any such configuration from consideration). there is. For example, an embodiment in which S436 includes performing optimization based on a multivariate objective function rather than performing multipurpose optimization (e.g., resulting in a single optimized configuration for each group of receivers rather than multiple). , it may be desirable to select all transmission configurations generated in S436.

S442 may optionally include selecting one or more transmission configurations each associated with (eg, optimized for) a single receiver ('single-receiver configuration'). For example, S442, in addition to selecting the transmission configuration as described above (e.g., the configuration generated in S436), may include a single signal for each receiver (e.g., each receiver in close proximity to the transmitter). - may include selecting a receiver configuration. Each single-receiver configuration is preferably optimized only based on the performance of the single receiver with which it is associated (eg, optimized during S410 and/or any other suitable time) (eg, based on this reference). optimized as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/715,266 entitled "Method and System for Wireless Power Delivery" filed on December 16, 2019, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. However, the single-receiver configuration may additionally or alternatively include a configuration associated with the beamlike pattern determined in S410 and/or may include any other suitable configuration. The step of including such a single-receiver configuration may affect the multi-receiver configuration determined in S430, such as in cases where some or all of the multi-receiver configurations meet significantly less performance criteria than the single-receiver configurations that may be used in their place. In addition (and/or in lieu of) it may serve to enable the use of such configurations.

The determining period for transmission configuration step S443 preferably comprises a subset of transmission configurations (e.g., the optimal subset selected in S442, the candidate subset considered during the search for optimal subsets performed in S442, etc.) is performed for S443 preferably includes solving the linear programming problem.

For this problem, the constraint is preferably to deliver a desired amount of energy to each receiver (e.g., based on the desired power delivery determined in S441). For example, the constraints for each receiver can be expressed as

는 고려되는 서브세트의 송신 구성을 나타내고,

는 송신 구성

하에서 수신기 i에 전달되는 전력을 나타내고,

는 수신기 i에 전달될 최소 총 에너지를 나타내고

는 송신이 송신 구성

하에서 수행되어야만 하는 시간 기간(S443을 수행함으로써 해결되는 시간 기간)을 나타내고; 바람직하게는 여기서 합(sum)은 서브세트의 모든 구성에 대해 취해지지만, 대안적으로 여기서합은 연관된 수신기 세트가 수신기 i를 포함하는 (서브세트)의 송신 구성에 대해서만 취해지고/지거나, 임의의 다른 적절한 송신 구성에 대해 취해진다. 하나 이상의 수신기가 우선순위 상태(예를 들어, 우선순위 범주 예컨대 고, 중, 또는 저 충전 우선순위; 우선순위 랭킹; 수치 우선순위 스코어; 등)와 연관되는 실시예에서, 제약은 우선순위 상태에 기초하여 선택적으로 변경될 수 있다. 예를 들어, 제약은, 모든 수신기의 메트릭을 만족시키는 총 송신 시간이 증가되는(예를 들어, 여기서, 미변경 제약과 비교할 때, 높은-우선순위 수신기를 만족시키기 위해 요구되는 송신 시간이 감소되지만 낮은-우선순위 수신기를 만족시키기 위해 요구되는 송신 시간이 증가되는) 경우에도, 결과 송신 계획이 더 높은-우선순위 수신기로 전력 전달을 우선시하도록 변경될 수 있다. 시스템이 하나 이상의 네거티브-피드백 수신기를 포함하는 실시예에서, 선형 프로그래밍 문제는 추가적으로 또는 대안적으로 네거티브-피드백 수신기 메트릭에 기초하여 제약될 수 있다(예를 들어, 여기서 최대 임계 전력 및/또는 에너지는 초과되지 않음).here each

denotes the transmission configuration of the considered subset,

is the send configuration

Represents the power delivered to receiver i under

denotes the minimum total energy to be delivered to receiver i

is the send configuration

indicates a time period to be performed under (a time period resolved by performing S443); Preferably the sum here is taken over all configurations of the subset, but alternatively the sum here is taken only over transmission configurations of (subset) in which the associated set of receivers includes receiver i , and/or any Other suitable transmission configurations are taken. In embodiments where one or more receivers are associated with a priority state (e.g., a priority category such as high, medium, or low charging priority; a priority ranking; a numerical priority score; etc.), a constraint is placed on the priority state. can be selectively changed based on For example, a constraint may be such that the total transmission time satisfying the metric of all receivers is increased (e.g., where the transmission time required to satisfy a high-priority receiver is reduced when compared to the unchanged constraint, but Even if the transmission time required to satisfy a lower-priority receiver is increased), the resulting transmission plan can be changed to prioritize power delivery to a higher-priority receiver. In embodiments where the system includes one or more negative-feedback receivers, the linear programming problem may additionally or alternatively be constrained based on a negative-feedback receiver metric (e.g., where the maximum threshold power and/or energy is not exceeded).

)을 최소화하는 것이다. 선형 프로그래밍 문제는 하나 이상의 Simplex 알고리즘, 크리스-크로스(criss-cross) 알고리즘, 내부 포인트 방법(예를 들어, 경로 추종 방법, 타원체 방법, Karmarkar 알고리즘, Affine 스케일링 방법, Mehrotra 예측자-수정자 방법 등), 컬럼 생성 알고리즘, 및/또는 임의의 다른 적절한 선형 프로그래밍 접근법을 사용하여 해결될 수 있다.The objective of the linear programming problem is preferably the total transmission time required to satisfy the constraint (e.g., the sum of the individual periods,

) is to be minimized. A linear programming problem can be solved using one or more simplex algorithms, criss-cross algorithms, interior point methods (e.g., path-following methods, ellipsoid methods, Karmarkar algorithms, Affine scaling methods, Mehrotra predictor-corrector methods, etc.) , column generation algorithms, and/or any other suitable linear programming approach.

However, S443 may additionally or alternatively include determining the duration by optimizing a non-linear function of the duration (or subset thereof) and/or in any other suitable manner.

S440 preferably includes determining a transmission plan, wherein the plan preferably includes, for an optimal subset (e.g., selected in S442) and, for each transmission configuration of the optimal subset, (e.g., the associated transmission period (eg, determined at S443) and/or the duty cycle (eg, determined based on the transmission period, as equal to the transmission period for the associated transmission configuration divided by the sum of all transmission periods). indicates (eg, includes). However, S440 may additionally or alternatively include determining any other suitable transmission plan in any suitable way.

4.3 Transmitting power based on the transmission plan.

The power transmission step (S700) based on the transmission plan may serve to wirelessly transfer power to the receiver. Power is preferably transmitted (S700) in response to the transmission parameter evaluation step (S400) (e.g., in response to the transmission plan determination step (S440)), but may additionally or alternatively be performed at any other suitable time. can Power is preferably transmitted throughout the time of stay of the receiver within range of the transmitter (S700), but additionally or alternatively according to a schedule based on a receiver operating parameter (eg, state of charge), and/or any other It can be transmitted intermittently with appropriate timing.

S700 preferably includes cycling through the transmission configurations indicated by the plan (e.g., an optimal subset of configurations), more preferably wherein such cycling comprises (e.g., an associated period of time). and/or proportional to the duty cycle) are time-weighted as indicated by the plan. For example, the configuration can be cycled at a predetermined total cycle frequency, each period can be divided into (eg equally divided) a predetermined number of time slices, and/or the configuration can It may be cycled at any other suitable rate. Alternatively, a configuration can be cycled without time-weighting (and/or any other suitable time-weighting), eg, where a configuration is removed from circulation once a desired period of time has elapsed. However, S700 may additionally or alternatively include transmitting under any other suitable transmission configuration for any suitable period of time.

The power is preferably transmitted as one or more pure-tone (or substantially pure-tone, such as defining a bandwidth less than the threshold bandwidth) signal (e.g., this may be implemented using one or more supergaining structures and/or other narrow-bandwidth antennas). may be beneficial), or may additionally or alternatively be transmitted in any other suitable form (eg, embodiments using wider-bandwidth antennas, embodiments in which communication signals are transmitted with power, etc.). In a first specific example, the radiation has a GHz-scale frequency (eg, 5-10 GHz, such as 5.8 GHz and/or greater than 5.8 GHz). In a second specific example, the radiation is emitted at hundreds of MHz-scale frequencies (e.g., 100-500 MHz, such as 433 MHz and/or less than 433 MHz; 700-1100 MHz, such as 806-821 MHz, 851-870 MHz). , 896-902 MHz, 902-928 MHz, and/or 935-941 MHz; etc.). However, power may additionally or alternatively be received in any other suitable form.

S400 (or one or more elements thereof) may optionally be repeated during power transmission phase S700 (eg, where power transmission is temporarily suspended during transmission parameter re-evaluation). The iterative performance of S400 preferably uses the most recently determined transmission configuration as an initial value, but may additionally or alternatively use any other suitable value (e.g., as performed during the initial performance of S400, using other previously-determined values, etc.). S400 includes detecting a change (eg, greater than an absolute or relative threshold) in delivered power, detecting movement (eg, based on receiver and/or transmitter measurements, such as IMU measurements). , detecting additional receivers and/or transmitters proximate to the system (S100), detecting a change in desired power delivery (e.g., based on updated battery charging information) for one or more receivers (e.g., based on updated battery charging information). , repeating S440 in response to such a change), repeating in response to receiving user input, and/or (e.g., at a predetermined rate; preferably at a higher rate with lower stability). correspondingly, periodically, sporadically, randomly (at a dynamically-determined rate, etc.), as determined based on observed and/or expected temporal and/or spatial stability of the system and/or its performance; or may be repeated at any other suitable time. However, power may be transmitted in any other suitable manner (S700), and the method may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable element performed in any other suitable manner.

Although omitted for brevity, preferred embodiments include all combinations and permutations of the various system components and various method processes. Moreover, various processes of a preferred method may be embodied and/or implemented at least in part as a machine configured to receive a computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon. Instructions are preferably executed by computer-executable components that are integrated with the system. A computer-readable medium may be stored on any suitable computer-readable medium such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, an optical device (CD or DVD), hard drive, floppy drive, or any suitable device. The computer-executable component is preferably a generic or application-specific processing subsystem, although any suitable dedicated hardware device or hardware/firmware combination device may additionally or alternatively execute instructions.

The drawings illustrate the architecture, function, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to preferred embodiments, exemplary configurations, and variations thereof. In this regard, each block of a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, step, or portion of code, which includes one or more executable instructions for implementing a particular logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, functions referred to in blocks may occur out of the order in which they are referred to in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or depending on the function involved, the blocks may sometimes be executed in reverse order. In addition, each block in the block diagram and/or flow diagram examples, and the combination of blocks in the block diagram and/or flow diagram examples, is a special purpose hardware-based system, or special purpose hardware and computer that performs a particular function or act. It will be noted that it can be implemented by a combination of commands.

As those skilled in the art will recognize from the preceding detailed description and from the drawings and claims, modifications and variations can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (19)

As a method for wireless power transmission,

determining a first transmit direction for wireless power transmission from a transmitter to a first receiver, the first receiver being associated with a first power reception metric;

determining a second transmission direction different from the first transmission direction for wireless power transmission from the transmitter to a second receiver separate from the first receiver, the second receiver being associated with a second power reception metric;

Calculating a multi-beam configuration for the transmitter based on the first and second transmission directions, the multi-beam configuration being associated with a multi-beam transmission pattern, the multi-beam transmission pattern comprising:

a first beam substantially along the first transmission direction; and

comprising a second beam substantially along the second transmission direction;

Determining an optimized configuration for the transmitter based on the multi-beam configuration, wherein determining the optimized configuration comprises evaluating the first and second power reception metrics based on the optimized configuration. contains -; and

wirelessly transmitting, at the transmitter, power to the first and second receivers substantially based on the optimized configuration. According to claim 1,
Evaluating the first and second power reception metrics based on the optimized configuration comprises:

at the transmitter, transmitting power based on the optimized configuration over a time interval;

receiving, at the first receiver, power transmitted by the transmitter during the time interval;

determining a first amount of power received by the first receiver during the time interval;

evaluating the first power reception metric based on the first amount of power;

receiving, at the second receiver, power transmitted by the transmitter during the time interval;

determining a second amount of power received by the second receiver during the time interval; and

Evaluating the second power reception metric based on the second amount of power. According to claim 2,

the first power reception metric is substantially proportional to an efficiency of power transfer to the first receiver during the time interval;

wherein the second power reception metric is substantially proportional to an efficiency of power transfer to the second receiver during the time interval. According to claim 1,
The determining of the optimized configuration may include performing an optimal search including evaluating the objective function for the transmitter configuration for each of a plurality of transmitter configurations based on an objective function and the multi-beam configuration. includes; For each transmitter configuration of the plurality, evaluating the objective function for the transmitter configuration:

at the transmitter, transmitting power over each time interval based on the transmitter configuration;

receiving, at the first receiver, power transmitted by the transmitter during each time interval;

determining each first amount of power received at the first receiver during each time interval;

evaluating the first power reception metric based on the respective first amount of power;

receiving, at the second receiver, power transmitted by the transmitter during each time interval;

determining each second amount of power received at the second receiver during each time interval;

evaluating the second power reception metric based on the respective second amount of power; and

calculating each value of the objective function based on the first and second power reception metrics. According to claim 4,
Wherein the plurality of transmitter configurations include the multi-beam configuration. According to claim 4,
wherein the best search is a local best search, and wherein performing the best search comprises implementing a gradient-free local search algorithm. According to claim 4,
wherein the best search comprises a probabilistic global best search. According to claim 1,
Based on the multi-beam configuration, further comprising determining a plurality of optimized configurations, wherein the plurality includes the optimized configuration, and the determining of the plurality comprises the first and second power reception metrics. and performing a multi-purpose optimal search based on the multi-beam configuration. According to claim 8,

Determining a charging plan based on the first and second power reception metrics, the charging plan comprising:

the plurality of first optimized configurations;

a first duty cycle associated with the first transmitter configuration;

the plurality of second optimized configurations; and

determining the charging plan comprising a second duty cycle associated with the second transmitter configuration; and

at the transmitter, wirelessly transmitting power to the first and second receivers based on the charging plan. According to claim 1,

The method includes determining a third transmission direction different from the first and second transmission directions for wireless power transmission from the transmitter to a third receiver separate from the first and second receivers, the third receiver comprising a second transmission direction. 3 associated with a power reception metric;

the multi-beam configuration is determined further based on the third transmission direction, the multi-beam transmission pattern further including a third beam substantially along the third transmission direction;

Wherein determining the optimized configuration further comprises evaluating the third power reception metric based on the optimized configuration. A method for wireless power transmission from a transmitter to a plurality of receivers, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of transmission directions, each transmission direction of the plurality of transmission directions being associated with wireless power transmission from the transmitter to a different receiver of the plurality of receivers;

selecting a subset of the plurality of receivers, wherein each receiver in the subset:

each transmission direction of the subset of the plurality of transmission directions; and

associated with each power reception metric of the plurality of metrics;

calculating a multi-beam configuration for the transmitter based on the subset of transmission directions, the multi-beam configuration being associated with a multi-beam transmission pattern, the multi-beam transmission pattern comprising a plurality of beams, each beam of is directed along a substantially different transmit direction of the subset;

performing an optimal search to determine an optimized configuration for the transmitter based on an objective function and the multi-beam configuration, wherein performing the optimal search comprises, for each of a plurality of transmitter configurations, the transmitter configuration evaluating the objective function for , wherein the objective function is determined based on the plurality of metrics; and

wirelessly transmitting, at the transmitter, power to a subset of the receivers substantially based on the optimized configuration. According to claim 11,
For each transmitter configuration of the plurality, evaluating the objective function for the transmitter configuration:

at the transmitter, transmitting power over each time interval based on the transmitter configuration;

For each receiver in the subset of receivers:

receiving, at the receiver, power transmitted by the transmitter during each of the time intervals;

determining each amount of power received at the receiver during each time interval; and

based on the respective amount of power, evaluating each power reception metric associated with the receiver; and

calculating each value of the objective function based on the plurality of metrics. According to claim 11,
The step of determining the plurality of transmission directions includes:

generating, at the transmitter, a series of beamlike transmission patterns, each beamlike transmission pattern in the series defining a respective beam directed along a respective transmission direction;

determining, at each receiver in the subset, an amount of power received at each receiver while the transmitter generates the series of beamlike transmission patterns; and

For each receiver in the subset, determining a transmission direction for wireless power transmission to the receiver based on the series of beamlike transmission patterns and the respective amount of power received at the receiver. . According to claim 13,
wherein the transmitter generates the series of beamlike transmission patterns based on the amount of power received at the receivers in the subset. According to claim 13,
For each receiver in the subset, determining the transmission direction for wireless power transmission to the receiver includes selecting the series of optimal beamlike transmission patterns in which efficiency of power transmission to the receiver is maximized. and wherein the optimal beamlike transmission pattern is arranged substantially along the transmission direction. According to claim 11,
Wherein the step of calculating the multi-beam configuration is performed using at least one of: a Fourier transform-based approach, a Woodward-Lawson method-based approach, an error optimization approach, or a superposition approach. According to claim 11,
wherein the plurality of receivers is comprised of a subset of the receivers. According to claim 11,
Wherein the best search comprises a local best search. According to claim 11,
For any configuration for the transmitter, each respective power reception metric is substantially proportional to a power transmission efficiency for the receiver associated with the respective power reception metric using the configuration.

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