Method and apparatus for wireless transmission and reception of power

Abstract

Method and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting and receiving power between devices are provided. A first device may convert power into RF energy and transmit the RF energy to a second device. In some implementations, the first device may steer the RF energy using beamforming techniques to the second device. The second device may receive and convert the RF energy into power for the second device. In some implementations, the second device may be powered solely or in part by power transmitted by the first device. In some implementations, the first device may include two or more RF energy harvesters and a power combiner. The power combiner may combine power from the two or more RF energy harvesters to power the second device and/or charge a battery.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A wireless device comprising:
 a first antenna;   a transceiver coupled to the first antenna and configured to decode a target identification (ID) value included in a received RF signal, the transceiver including a plurality of energy harvesting units configured to convert energy in the received RF signal into power for at least a portion of the wireless device; and   a controller configured to assert a signal in response to matching the target ID with a device ID that identifies the wireless device.   
     
     
         14 . The wireless device of  claim 13 , further comprising a power combiner configured to combine power converted by each of the plurality of energy harvesting units. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless device of  claim 14 , wherein the power combiner is further configured to store power converted by at least one of the plurality of energy harvesting units. 
     
     
         16 . The wireless device of  claim 14 , wherein the power combiner comprises a battery. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a second antenna coupled to at least one of the energy harvesting units and configured to receive a correlated version of the received RF signal.   
     
     
         18 . The wireless device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a first energy harvesting unit is configured to receive RF energy within a first range of power levels; and   a second energy harvesting unit is configured to receive RF energy within a second range of power levels different than the first range of power levels.   
     
     
         19 . The wireless device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a first energy harvesting unit is configured to receive RF energy within a first frequency band; and   a second energy harvesting unit is configured to receive RF energy within a second frequency band different than the first frequency band.   
     
     
         20 . The wireless device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an adaptive matching unit coupled to the first antenna and at least one of the energy harvesting units, the adaptive matching unit configured to increase a magnitude of the received RF signal.   
     
     
         21 . The wireless device of  claim 13 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit a request for a transmission of RF energy. 
     
     
         22 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of operating a wireless device, comprising:
 receiving a radio-frequency (RF) signal from another device;   converting energy in the received RF signal into harvested power using a number of energy harvesting units; and   operating at least a portion of the wireless device using the harvested power.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 combining the harvested power from each of the number of energy harvesting units.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 operating the wireless device without a battery.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 selectively increasing an amplitude of the received RF signal.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the RF signal comprises a paging signal including one or more RF pre-charging pulses and data fields. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein converting the energy comprises:
 receiving RF energy within a first frequency band using a first energy harvesting unit;   receiving RF energy within a second frequency band using a second energy harvesting unit, wherein the first frequency band is different than the second frequency band; and   combining the power harvested by the first and second energy harvesting units.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein converting the energy comprises:
 receiving RF energy within a first range of power levels using a first energy harvesting unit;   receiving RF energy within a second range of power levels using a second energy harvesting unit, wherein the first frequency band is different than the second frequency band; and   combining the power harvested by the first and second energy harvesting units.