Multi-directional wireless charging of vehicles and robots

Abstract

The present invention comprises a wireless charging station, configured to charge remote controlled and autonomous vehicles and robots, including one or more charging pods, wherein each pod has at least two panels and at least two wireless power transmitters (WPTs) affixed to at least two of the panels, wherein the WPTs are configured to deliver power wirelessly to at least two wireless power receivers (WPRs), associated with a remote controlled vehicle, an autonomous unmanned vehicle or a robot. The present invention further comprises a method to charge a robot or vehicle at a distance from a wireless power transmitter (WPT), the method comprising: detecting a first WPR located a first distance from a first WPT and a second WPR located a second distance from a second WPT, and transmitting power from the WPTs to the WPRs to charge the robot or vehicle.

Claims

1. A multi-directional wireless charging station, configured to deliver wireless power to remote controlled and autonomous unmanned vehicles and robots, comprising: one or more charging pods, wherein each pod includes: at least two panels, each panel having a first surface facing, at least in part, one or more of an opening and a surface of another panel, and a floor, the at least two panels connect to the floor along a bottom edge of the panels; and at least two wireless power transmitters (WPTs) affixed to at least two of the panels, wherein the WPTs are configured to wirelessly deliver power to at least two wireless power receivers (WPRs) associated with one of a remote-controlled vehicle, an autonomous unmanned vehicle and a robot.

2. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein adjacent panels do not contact each other.

3. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein adjacent panels are connected to each other along a portion of mutual contact.

4. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein each pod has at least three panels, wherein the panels form one or more of a U-shape and a triangular shape.

5. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein each pod has a floor and at least four panels, wherein the panels form one or more of a square, a rectangle, a trapezoidal and a rhombohedral shape and the panels connect to the floor along a bottom edge of the panels.

6. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein the at least two WPTs are each mounted to or embedded within one of the at least two panels.

7. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein: the at least two panels comprise a pod having a shape selected from one of the following group: a square shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a rhombohedral shape, a triangular shape, and a circular shape.

8. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein the at least two WPTs further comprise strongly coupled asynchronous magnetic resonance WPT systems, having a transmitter coil formed by one of a single-turn and a multi-turn coil, a driver coil formed by one of a single-turn and a multi-turn coil, and the transmitter and driver coils resonate asynchronously and are arranged concentrically, wherein the WPTs are configured to deliver wireless power to at least two WPRs at a distance via asynchronous strong magnetic coupling between the WPTs and WPRs, and wherein the WPRs further comprise strongly coupled asynchronous magnetic resonance WPR systems, having a receiver coil formed by one of a single-turn and a multi-turn coil, a load coil formed by one of a single-turn and a multi-turn coil, and the receiver and load coils resonate asynchronously and are arranged concentrically.

9. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 8, wherein at least one of the transmitter, driver, receiver, and load coils comprise a capacitor-loaded multiturn spiral coil.

10. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 9, wherein each capacitor-loaded multiturn spiral coil has a width of approximately 3 mm and a separation distance of approximately 1 mm.

11. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 8, wherein a distance between the each of at least two WPRs and a corresponding one of the at least two WPTs is in a range of approximately 2 cm to approximately 1 m.

12. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein the at least two receivers each have a diameter in a range of approximately 5 cm to 20 cm.

13. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein the at least two panels comprise: a flexible planar surface, a flexible curved surface, a flexible doubly curved surface, and combinations thereof, made from a plastic material, a fiber glass material, a composite material, and combinations thereof.

14. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein the at least two WPTs further comprise: at least two wireless transmitters located on one or more of the at least two panels, wherein the at least two WPTs comprise one or more light sources configured to transmit wireless power to the at least two WPRs over a distance; and the at least two WPRs comprise: a photo-detector configured to receive emitted light from the one or more light sources; and a power converter configured to convert, the light received from the one or more light sources into an electrical current to charge or power one of a remote controlled vehicle, an autonomous unmanned vehicle and a robot.

15. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein the at least two WPTs further comprise: at least two wireless transmitters located on one or more of the at least two panels, wherein the at least two wireless transmitters comprise a plurality of adaptively-phased microwave array emitters configured to transmit wireless power to the WPRs over a distance; and the at least two WPRs each comprise: an antenna configured to receive the wireless power from the WPTs; and a power converter configured to convert the wireless power received from the plurality of adaptively-phased microwave array emitters into an electrical current to charge or power one of a vehicle and a robot.

16. The multi-directional wireless charging station of claim 1, wherein the robot or vehicle is temporarily situated in, on, or in proximity to the multi-directional wireless charging station during recharge.

17. A method to charge a robot or vehicle at a distance from a wireless power transmitter (WPT), the method comprising: detecting, on the robot or vehicle, one of a first wireless power receiver (WPR) located a first distance from a first WPT and a second WPR located a second distance from a second WPT; and transmitting power from the WPTs to the WPRs to charge the robot or vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: implementing an auto-tuning process to increase a power transfer efficiency between the WPT and the WPR.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: in response to detecting a distance between a WPT and an WPR determining and implementing an optimal tuning frequency to achieve maximal power transmission efficiency.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: moving or rotating the WPT to align the WPR with the WPT to achieve a maximal power transmission efficiency.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Non-limiting and non-exhaustive features will be described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures. The figures below were not intended to be drawn to any precise scale with respect to size, angular relationship, or relative position.

(2) FIG. 1. depicts a drone or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with conformal wireless power receivers structurally integrated into the fuselage of the UAV.

(3) FIG. 2. depicts a charging station pod with wireless power transmitters (WPTs) connected to the pod walls or panels. 2A depicts a pod with three walls or panels and 2 B depicts a pod with two walls or panels.

(4) FIG. 3. depicts a charging station pod with wireless power transmitters (WPTs) connected to the pod walls or panels. 3A depicts a drone or UAV coming in for a landing in a pod with three walls or panels and 3B depicts a drone or UAV landed within a pod having four walls or panels.

(5) FIG. 4. depicts a pod with four walls or panels, having WPTs connected to two of the walls or panels. 4A shows the WPTs connected to the back walls or panels and 4B shows the WPTs connected to the front walls or panels.

(6) FIG. 5. depicts a pod with four walls or panels, having WPTs connected to two of the side walls or panels.

(7) FIG. 6. depicts a pod with four walls or panels, having WPTs connected to two walls or panels, the front and back walls/panels.

(8) FIG. 7. depicts a pod with four walls or panels, having WPTs connected to four walls or panels, the two side walls/panels as well as the front and back walls/panels.

(9) FIG. 8. depicts a drone or UAV landed within a pod having four walls or panels, with WPTs connected to the two side walls/panels.

(10) FIG. 9. depicts a top down view of a two-dimensional, single level triangular pod array, with each pod having three walls or panels.

(11) FIG. 10. depicts a side perspective view of a three-dimensional, multi-level cubic pod array, with each pod having three walls or panels and an opening to the outside.

(12) FIG. 11. depicts a top down view of a two-dimensional, single level offset-square pod array, with each pod having two or more walls/panels.

(13) FIG. 12. depicts a graph showing an efficiency comparison to competitor technologies, including standard magnetic resonance as well as the Wibotic drone charging pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) These, and other, aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof and the invention includes all such modifications, such as, but not limited to, the use of this invention to charge robots and vehicles using wireless power transfer.

(15) The present invention comprises a modular charging station configuration operable to enable multi-directional charging of one or more robots or vehicles (e.g., drones, remote controlled, unmanned, autonomous and automatically guided vehicles) having multiple wireless power receivers integrated or attached thereto. Specifically, the present invention comprises a modular charging station configuration operable to enable multi-directional charging of one or more robots and vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned land and water vehicles, remote controlled vehicles).

(16) The present application leverages our previous advancements, specifically including our patent pending invention, USPTO patent application Ser. No. 15/701,112 entitled “Wireless Power Transfer Systems and Components Thereof” (which is herein incorporated by reference in entirety) to enhance the wireless charging capabilities for robots and vehicles.

(17) The present invention comprises a multi-directional wireless charging station, configured to deliver wireless power to remote controlled and autonomous unmanned vehicles and robots, composed of 1) one or more charging pods, wherein each pod has at least two panels, each panel having a first surface facing, at least in part, one or more of an opening and a surface of another panel, and 2) at least two wireless power transmitters (WPTs) affixed to at least two of the panels, wherein the WPTs are configured to wirelessly deliver power to at least two wireless power receivers (WPRs) associated with one of a remote controlled vehicle, an autonomous unmanned vehicle and a robot.

(18) Further, each pod may have a floor and at least three panels, wherein the panels form one or more of a U-shape and a triangular shape and the panels connect to the floor along a bottom side. And furthermore, each pod may have a floor and at least four panels, wherein the panels form one or more of a square, a rectangle, a trapezoidal and a rhombohedral shape and the panels connect to the floor along a bottom side.

(19) The at least two WPTs may each be mounted to or embedded within one of the at least two panels. Moreover, the at least two panels comprise a pod having a shape selected from one of the following group: a square shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a rhombohedral shape, a triangular shape, and a circular shape.

(20) The at least two WPTs may further comprise strongly coupled asynchronous magnetic resonance WPT systems, having a transmitter coil formed by one of a single-turn and a multi-turn coil, a driver coil formed by one of a single-turn and a multi-turn coil, and the transmitter and driver coils resonate asynchronously and are arranged concentrically, wherein the WPTs are configured to deliver wireless power to at least two WPRs at a distance via asynchronous strong magnetic coupling between the WPTs and WPRs, and wherein the WPRs further comprise strongly coupled asynchronous magnetic resonance WPR systems, having a receiver coil formed by one of a single-turn and a multi-turn coil, a load coil formed by one of a single-turn and a multi-turn coil, and the receiver and load coils resonate asynchronously and are arranged concentrically.

(21) Further, at least one of the transmitter, driver, receiver, and load coils may comprise a capacitor-loaded multi-turn spiral coil. And, each capacitor-loaded multi-turn spiral coil has a width of approximately 3 mm and a separation distance of approximately 1 mm. And also, a distance between the each of at least two WPRs and a corresponding one of the at least two WPTs is in a range of approximately 2 cm to approximately 1 m.

(22) Furthermore, the at least two receivers may each have a diameter in a range of approximately 5 cm to 20 cm. And, the at least two panels may comprise a flexible planar surface, a flexible curved surface, a flexible doubly curved surface, and combinations thereof and the at least two panels may also comprise a plastic material, a fiber glass material, a composite material, and combinations thereof.

(23) Moreover, the at least two WPTs may further comprise at least two wireless transmitters located on one or more of the at least two panels, wherein the at least two WPTs comprise one or more light sources configured to transmit wireless power to the at least two WPRs over a distance; and the at least two WPRs may comprise a photo-detector, configured to receive emitted light from the one or more light sources, and a power converter, configured to convert, the light received from the one or more light sources into an electrical current to charge or power one of a remote controlled vehicle, an autonomous unmanned vehicle and a robot.

(24) Even further still, the at least two WPTs may further comprise at least two wireless transmitters located on one or more of the at least two panels, wherein the at least two wireless transmitters comprise a plurality of adaptively-phased microwave array emitters configured to transmit wireless power to the WPRs over a distance, and the at least two WPRs may each comprise an antenna, configured to receive the wireless power from the WPTs, and a power converter, configured to convert the wireless power received from the plurality of adaptively-phased microwave array emitters into an electrical current to charge or power one of a vehicle and a robot.

(25) And, the robot or vehicle may be temporarily situated in, on, or in proximity to the multi-directional wireless charging station during recharge.

(26) The present invention further comprises a method to charge a robot or vehicle at a distance from a wireless power transmitter (WPT), the method comprising: 1) detecting, on the robot or vehicle, one of a first wireless power receiver (WPR) located a first distance from a first WPT and a second WPR located a second distance from a second WPT, and 2) transmitting power from the WPTs to the WPRs to charge the robot or vehicle.

(27) The method of the present invention may further comprise implementing an auto-tuning process to increase a power transfer efficiency between the WPT and the WPR. The method of the present invention may also further comprise determining and implementing an optimal tuning frequency to achieve maximal power transmission efficiency in response to detecting a distance between a WPT and a WPR. The method of the present invention may also comprise moving or rotating the WPT to align the WPR with the WPT to achieve a maximal power transmission efficiency.

(28) Some of the salient features of the innovation are 1) simultaneous charging on all sides of a robot or other vehicle, utilizing multiple transmitters and receivers to reduce charging time, 2) receivers for planar, singly and doubly curved fuselage of the receiver device (vehicle, robots, etc), saving on precious real estate, 3) reduction in weight of the receiver unit using structural integration, 4) reduction in aero dynamic drag in the case of air vehicles, improving mission time/capability, 5) long distance near-field and far-field charging, and 6) high power charging using arrays of transmitters.

(29) For example, the innovative wireless power charging system can be configured to retrofit as an applique or structurally integrate with the fuselage of the electric vehicles such as drones, cars, motor bikes, and industrial robots. FIG. 1 shows possible structurally integrated conformal mounting of wireless charger receivers on an unmanned aerial vehicle (e.g., a commercial drone or a military).

(30) The components that make up the innovation are the wireless transmitter, the receiver operating at KHz, MHz, GHz and/or higher frequencies, a power driver for the transmitter and an AC-to-DC power converter at the receiver unit, such as a rectifier to charge the battery.

(31) For simultaneous charging of multiple drones, a pod-based matrix design is proposed with the following diagrams showing the 4 walled main pod and configurations for different add-on pods depending on the desired final shape of the charging station pod matrix:

(32) The instant a drone is nearby, the transmitter circuit induces a resonating magnetic field between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil, electricity is transferred through the air from transmitter to receiver, and the drone's battery is charged.

(33) Smart battery technology recognizes when the drone reaches full charge and idles the system to conserve energy.

(34) The present invention is useful in many sectors, including without limitation: Electric vehicles Autonomous land, air, and sea vehicles Non-autonomous (remote controlled or remote piloted) land, air, and sea vehicles Commercial and military air vehicles, drones, micro air vehicles Cars, minivans, SUVs, trucks, and similar vehicles Motor bikes Industrial robots Domestic robots Humanoid and non-humanoid robots Sensors and Devices related to the Industrial Internet of Things.

(35) The advantages of the current innovation are manifold:

(36) 1) Reduction in Charging Time: The current innovation enables charging a receiver device from all sides simultaneously and thereby reduce charging time. The charging time is also reduced by using near field and far field beam forming techniques described in Advantage 6.

(37) 2) Saves Real Estate on the application Device: The wireless receiver is configured to be placed or structurally integrated with the fuselage of the receiver device which allows for utilizing the otherwise unused space. The fuselage is mostly made of plastic, fiber glass and/or composite material.

(38) 3) Reduction in Weight: Structural integration of the receiver coils with these materials enables reduction in weight of the wireless charger in comparison to a stand-alone receiver, as additional substrate or supporting material is not required for the receiver. Especially, in the case of drones, reducing the weight has significant advantages as every ounce of weight has adverse impact on the mission time.

(39) 4) Improves Mission Time: Structurally integrated chargers reduce the overall drone weight and thereby improve mission time.

(40) 5) Reduction in aerodynamic Drag: Structurally integrated chargers reduce the aerodynamic drag and improve mission time, as well as save fuel. Drone external geometry and surface are designed to take advantage of the air pressure. A stand-alone external charger would compromise the aerodynamic capability air vehicle.

(41) 6) Improves Mission Capability: In the case of drones, state of the art wireless charger receiver components are mounted at the bottom of the drone, which limits or prevents the bottom parts of the drone to be used for any other functioning. Since cameras are usually fitted at the bottom for imaging and direction finding, keeping a wireless receiver at the bottom could limit functioning of the camera. Our innovation improves the mission capability as the wireless charging is carried out on the sides of the drones and such electric vehicles.

(42) 7) Long Distance Charging: Due to efficient transmitter and receiver designs described in the attached manuscript, by using large transmitters and receivers, the receiver is charged more efficiently. Reported efficiency is higher than existing devices.

(43) 8) Long Distance Charging using Near Field or Far Field Beam Forming: By using an array of transmitters, a narrow beam of radiation is created which produces a focused energy at the receivers. Note that such charging method could be achieved with near field magnetic resonance coils or far field AC (KHz, VHF, UHF to GHz) power transmission.

(44) 9) High Power Charging using Array of Transmitters: Using such beams, high is power is transferred in a short time.

(45) FIG. 1 depicts a drone or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with conformal wireless power receivers 20 structurally integrated into the fuselage of the UAV 10.

(46) FIG. 2 depicts a charging station pod 30 with wireless power transmitters (WPTs) 34 connected to the pod walls or panels 32, which are also in contact with a pod floor 36. FIG. 2A depicts a pod 30 with three walls or panels 32 and FIG. 2B depicts a pod 30 with two walls or panels 32.

(47) FIG. 3 depicts a charging station pod 30 with WPTs 34 connected to the pod walls or panels 32, which are also in contact with a pod floor 36. FIG. 3A depicts a drone or UAV 10 coming in for a landing in a pod with three walls or panels 32 and FIG. 3B depicts a drone or UAV 10 landed within a pod having four walls or panels 32. The drone or UAV could just as easily be any of the systems described herein (robots, vehicles, etc.)

(48) FIG. 4 depicts a pod 30 with four walls or panels 32, having WPTs 34 connected to two of the walls or panels 32, which are also in contact with a pod floor 36. FIG. 4A shows the WPTs 34 connected to the back walls or panels 32 and FIG. 4B shows the WPTs 34 connected to the front walls or panels 32.

(49) FIG. 5 depicts a pod 30 with four walls or panels 32, having WPTs 34 connected to two of the side walls or panels 32, which are also in contact with a pod floor 36.

(50) FIG. 6 depicts a pod 30 with four walls or panels 32, which are also in contact with a pod floor 36, having WPTs 34 connected to two walls or panels 32, the front and back walls/panels.

(51) FIG. 7 depicts a pod 30 with four walls or panels 32, which are also in contact with a pod floor 36, having WPTs 34 connected to four walls or panels 32, the two side walls/panels as well as the front and back walls/panels.

(52) FIG. 8 depicts a drone or UAV 10 landed within a pod 30 having four walls or panels 32, which are also in contact with a pod floor 36, with WPTs 34 connected to the two side walls/panels 32.

(53) FIG. 9 depicts a top down view of a two-dimensional, single level triangular pod array, with each pod 30 having three walls or panels 32, a floor 36 and a top opening to the outside.

(54) FIG. 10 depicts a side perspective view of a three-dimensional, multi-level cubic pod array, with each pod 30 having three walls or panels 32, a floor 36 and an opening (top or side) to the outside.

(55) FIG. 11 depicts a top down view of a two-dimensional, single level offset-square pod array, with each pod 30 having two or more walls/panels 32, a floor 36 and a top opening to the outside.

(56) FIG. 12 depicts a graph showing an efficiency comparison to competitor technologies, including standard magnetic resonance as well as the Wibotic drone charging pad.

(57) It should be understood that, although specific embodiments have just been described, the claimed subject matter is not intended to be limited in scope to any particular embodiment or implementation. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, systems, or configurations may have been set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. However, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that claimed subject matter may be practiced without those specific details. In other instances, features that would be understood by one of ordinary skill were omitted or simplified so as not to obscure claimed subject matter.

(58) While certain features have been illustrated or described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, or equivalents may not occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications or changes as fall within the true spirit of the claimed subject matter.