Adaptive roaming and articulating generating unit for wireless power transfer

Abstract

A wireless power delivery system includes, in part, a roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device. The roaming and articulating wireless power device includes, in part, a wireless power generation unit, an energy storage unit, a controller, and an electrically driven moving platform. The device further includes, in part, at least one RF transmitter or an array of RF transmitters adapted to radiate RF signals at the same frequency. The controller is adapted to control the phase of each RF transmitter independently. The array of RF transmitters may be foldable and expandable. The moving platform may include an inertia measurement, a GPS, bump sensors and proximity sensors. The device may further include a camera, and a wireless communication link via which the device establishes a two-way communication with a recovery unit being wirelessly powered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless power delivery system comprises a first roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device, said first roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device comprising:
 a wireless power generation unit comprising at least one source of electromagnetic power;   an energy storage unit;   a controller; and   an electrically driven moving platform.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wireless power generation unit further comprises at least one RF transmitter. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wireless power generation unit further comprises an array of RF transmitters adapted to radiate RF signals at the same frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the controller is adapted to control the phase of each RF transmitter independently. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device further comprises one or sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the moving platform comprises an inertia measurement unit to facilitate navigation. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the moving platform comprises a GPS to facilitate navigation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the moving platform comprises bump sensors to change direction of movement upon hitting an obstacle. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the moving platform comprises proximity sensors to avoid hitting obstacles. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the proximity sensors use ultrasound. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  where the proximity sensors comprise IR sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device further comprises a camera. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the device is adapted to locate a power recovery unit by using the camera to identify patterns printed or disposed on the recovery unit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device further comprises a wireless communication link. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the device establishes a two-way communication with a recovery unit via the communication link. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the energy storage unit is a battery. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the battery is rechargeable. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the battery is charged via a docking station. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the device further comprises an inductive charging coil. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the docking station is adapted to charge the device inductively using the inductive charging coil. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  where the device is further adapted to locate the docking station via beacons transmitted by the docking station. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the energy storage unit is a fuel cell. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the power generation unit transmits electromagnetic waves in the visible or infrared spectrum to wirelessly transfer power. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one motor adapted to change an elevation angle of the wireless power generation unit. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising a scissor lift structure adapted to change the elevation angle in response to the motor. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising a telescopic boom lift structure adapted to change the elevation angle in response to the motor. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one motor adapted to change an azimuth angle of the wireless power generation unit. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one motor adapted to change an elevation height of the wireless power generation unit. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising a scissor lift structure adapted to change the elevation height in response to the motor. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising a telescopic boom lift structure adapted to change the elevation height in response to the motor. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a lift adapted to lift the system. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a lift adapted to lift at least a portion of the wireless power generation unit. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the moving platform is adapted to navigate to a location from which the wireless power generation unit delivers maximum power to a recovery unit. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is adapted to navigate and select an azimuth angle, elevation height and elevation angle of the wireless power generation unit so as to deliver maximum power to a recovery unit. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 4  where the system is adapted to navigate and select an azimuth angle and phases of each RF transmitter of the wireless power generation unit so as to deliver maximum power to a recovery unit. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 1  where the controller includes a memory to store a list of recovery units to be wirelessly powered. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  where the list includes a priority associated with each of the recovery units. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  where the priority for each recovery unit is established in accordance with a charge level of the recovery unit. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37  where the priority for each recovery unit is established based on a distance of the recovery unit from the device. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a second roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device, said second roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device comprising:
 a wireless power generation unit comprising at least one source of electromagnetic power; 
 an energy storage unit; 
 a controller; and 
 an electrically driven moving platform, wherein said first and second devices are configured to operate in concert so as to form a combined power generation unit larger than the first or the second power generation units. 
 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the first and second devices share a reference clock frequency wirelessly received by the first and second devices. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the array of RF transmitters is foldable and expandable. 
     
     
         43 . A wireless power transfer system comprising:
 a moving platform; and   a reflector.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43  further comprising at least one motor adapted to change an elevation angle of the reflector. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43  further comprising at least one motor adapted to change an azimuth angle of the reflector. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 43  wherein the reflector is an RF reflector. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the RF reflector is curved. 
     
     
         48 . A wireless power transfer system comprising:
 a wireless power generation unit comprising a plurality of RF transmitters; and   a wireless power recovery unit adapted to be wireless charged, said wireless power recovery unit comprising at least one receive antennas having a variable orientation.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the wireless power recovery unit comprises at least one RF receiver operating at a substantially same RF frequency as the RF frequency of the plurality of transmitters. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49  wherein said RF transmitters and the RF receiver form a radar. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50  further comprising:
 an electrically driven moving platform adapted to move the system to form a synthetic aperture radar. 
 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the radar senses doppler shifts to detect biological signals. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the biological signals are defined by breathing. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the biological signals are defined by heartbeats. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the system is operated remotely by receiving commands transmitted from a remote control unit. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55  wherein the remote control unit is a smartphone. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the array of RF transmitters includes a plurality of fan-shaped subarrays. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the array of RF transmitters includes a plurality of subarrays mechanically coupled to one another via a plurality of spring loaded hinges, said system further comprising a motor and a string configured to retract the plurality of subarrays. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the array of RF transmitters includes a plurality of telescopic subarrays adapted to fold and unfold using gears. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the array of RF transmitters includes a plurality of subarrays adapted to fold and unfold according to an origami pattern. 
     
     
         61 . A wireless power transfer system comprising:
 a wireless power generation unit comprising a plurality of RF transmitters;   a base;   at least one arm mechanically coupling the wireless power generation unit to the base;   a first actuator enabling the wireless power generation unit to swivel about the at least one arm; and   a second actuator enabling the at least one arm to swivel about the base.   
     
     
         62 . The wireless power transfer system of  claim 61  wherein said base comprises wheels. 
     
     
         63 . The wireless power transfer system of  claim 62  wherein said wheels are adapted to move on tracks.