# US 2017/0256994 A1 · Beamforming for wireless power transfer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0256994 A1 - Document ID: US20170256994A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/060,271 - Filed: 2016-03-03 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-03 - Assignees: uBeam Inc. - Applicants: uBeam Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Joyce; Paul Reynolds - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170256994A1 ## CPC - H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment - H02J 50/15: using ultrasonic waves - H02J 50/20: using microwaves or radio frequency waves - H02J 50/30: using light, e.g. lasers - H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Systems and techniques are provided for beamforming for wireless power transfer. A position of a second wireless power transfer device relative to a first wireless power transfer device may be determined. A beam may be simulated as being transmitted from the position of the second wireless power transfer device. Phases of a wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by elements of the first wireless power transfer device may be determined. A control signal for each of the elements for which phases were determined may be generated based on the determined phase of the wave front that would be received at the element. The control signal for each of the elements for which phases were determined may be supplied to the elements for which phases were determined. A waveform may be transmitted from the elements for which phases were determined based on the supplied control signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: determining a phase of a wave front that is received at a first element of a wireless power transfer device and a phase of the wave front that is received at a second element of the wireless power transfer device; generating a control signal for the first element and a control signal for the second element of the wireless power transfer device based on the determined phase of the wave front that is received at the first element and the determined phase of the wave front that is received at the second element of the wireless power transfer device; supplying the control signal for the first element to the first element of the wireless power transfer device and the control signal for the second element to the second element of the wireless power transfer device; and transmitting a waveform from the first element based on the supplied control signal for the first element and a waveform from the second element based on the supplied control signal for the second element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating a control signal for the first element and a control signal for the second element of the wireless power transfer device based on the phase of the wave front that is received at the first element and the phase of the wave front that is received at the second element of the wireless power transfer device further comprises maintaining a phase difference between the phase of the wave front that is received at the first element and the phase of the wave front that is received at the second element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the wave front is the wave front of a beam transmitted by a second wireless power transfer device, wherein the beam comprises waveforms transmitted by elements of the second wireless power transfer device transmitting in phase. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first element and the second element are ultrasonic transducers, RF transducers, or optical transducers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the phase received at the second element is determined relative to the phase received at the first element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the amplitude of the wave front that is received at the first element and the amplitude of the wave front that is received at the second element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein generating the control signal for the first element and the control signal for the second element further comprises determining an amplitude for the control signal for the first element based on the amplitude of the wave front that is received at the first element and an amplitude for the control signal for the second element based on the amplitude of the wave front that is received at the second element. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: determining a position of a second wireless power transfer device relative to a first wireless power transfer device; simulating a beam as being transmitted from the position of the second wireless power transfer device; determining a phase of a wave front of the simulated beam that would be received at a first element of the first wireless power transfer device and a phase of the wave front of the simulated beam that would be received at a second element of the first wireless power transfer device; generating a control signal for the first element and a control signal for the second element of the first wireless power transfer device based on the determined phase of the wave front that would be received at the first element and the determined phase of the wave front that would be received at the second element of the first wireless power transfer device; supplying the control signal for the first element to the first element of the wireless power transfer device and the control signal for the second element to the second element of the wireless power transfer device; and transmitting a waveform from the first element based on the supplied control signal for the first element and a waveform from the second element based on the supplied control signal for the second element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the simulated beam is simulated as comprising one or more waveforms originating from one or more points on the second wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the beam is simulated as comprising a waveform originating from the center of mass of the second wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the beam is simulated as comprising in phase waveforms originating from more than one point on the second wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the beam is simulated as comprising in phase waveforms originating from one or more elements of the second wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein generating a control signal for the first element and a control signal for the second element of the first wireless power transfer device based on the determined phase of the wave front that would be received at the first element and the determined phase of the wave front that would be received at the second element of the first wireless power transfer device further comprises maintaining a phase difference between the determined phase of the wave front that would be received at the first element and the determined phase of the wave front that would be received at the second element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first element and the second element are ultrasonic transducers, RF transducers, or optical transducers. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: determining a position of a second wireless power transfer device relative to a first wireless power transfer device; simulating a beam as being transmitted from the position of the second wireless power transfer device; determining phases of a wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by one or more of a plurality of elements of the first wireless power transfer device; generating a control signal for each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which phases were determined based on the determined phase of the wave front that would be received at the element; supplying the control signal for each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which phases were determined to each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which phases were determined; and transmitting a waveform from each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which phases were determined based on the supplied control signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein simulating the beam comprises simulating the beam in a channel between one or more points on the second wireless power transfer device and a first element of the plurality of elements of the first wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more points on the second wireless power transfer device are the positions of elements of the second wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein determining phases of a wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by one or more of a plurality of elements of the first wireless power transfer device comprises determining phases of the wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by a first subset of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising determining phases of the wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by a second subset of the plurality of elements, the second subset comprising at least one element not in the first subset of elements. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising generating control signals for elements of the plurality of elements not in the first subset of elements based on interpolation of the control signals generated for the elements in the first subset of elements. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the beam is simulated as comprising in phase waveforms originating from one or more elements of the second wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of elements are ultrasonic transducers, RF transducers, or optical transducers. ### Claim 23 A system for beamforming for wireless power transfer comprising: a plurality of elements adapted and configured to generate electrical signals based on a wave front of a received beam, and to transmit waveforms for a transmitted beam based on supplied control signals; and a computing device comprising a transducer signal generator adapted and configured to generate the control signals for the plurality of elements based on determined phases of the wave front that are received at the plurality of elements, and to supply the control signals for the plurality of elements to the plurality of elements. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, further comprising a transducer control adapted and configured to receive the electrical signals generated by the plurality of elements and determine the phases of the wave front that are received at the plurality of elements based on the electrical signals. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the transducer signal generator is further adapted and configured to receive the electrical signals generated by the plurality of elements and determine the phases of the wave front that are received at the plurality of elements based on the electrical signals. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the transducer signal generator is further adapted and configured to generate the control signals by maintaining phase difference between the phases of the wave front that are received at the plurality of elements. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of elements are ultrasound transducers, RF transducers, or optical transducers. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the received beam comprises a plurality of waveforms and wherein the plurality of waveforms are in phase at their origin. ### Claim 30 A system for beamforming for wireless power transfer comprising: a plurality of elements adapted and configured to transmit waveforms for a transmitted beam based on supplied control signals; a receiver position detector adapted to determine a position of a receiving wireless power transfer device; and a computing device comprising a transducer signal generator adapted and configured to simulate a beam as being transmitted from the position of the receiving wireless power transfer device, determine phases of a wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by one or more of the plurality of elements, generate a control signal for each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements based on the determined phases, and supply control signals to the one or more of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The system of claim 30, further comprising a transducer control adapted and configured to receive the control signals from the transducer signal generator and supply the control signals to the one or more of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the transducer signal generator is adapted and configure to simulate the beam in a channel between one or more points on the receiving wireless power transfer device and a first element of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the one or more points on the receiving wireless power transfer device are the positions of elements of the receiving wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the transducer signal generator is adapted and configured to determine phases of a wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by one or more of a plurality of elements by determining phases of the wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by a first subset of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the transducer signal generator is adapted and configured to determine phases of the wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by a second subset of the plurality of elements, the second subset comprising at least one element not in the first subset of elements. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the transducer signal generator is adapted and configured to generate control signals for elements of the plurality of elements not in the first subset of elements based on interpolation of the control signals generated for the elements in the first subset of elements. ### Claim 37 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the transducer signal generator is adapted and configured to simulate the beam as comprising in phase waveforms originating from one or more elements of the receiving wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 38 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of elements are ultrasonic transducers, RF transducers, or optical transducers. ### Claim 39 A method comprising: determining a position of a second wireless power transfer device relative to a first wireless power transfer device; simulating a beam as being transmitted from the position of the second wireless power transfer device, wherein simulating the beam comprises using one of a calculation or approximation to determine phases of a wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by one or more of a plurality of elements of the first wireless power transfer device directly based on the position of the second wireless power transfer device relative to the first wireless power transfer device and properties of the wave front of the simulated beam at its origin at the second wireless power transfer device without simulating the beam in route between the second wireless power transfer device and the first wireless power transfer device; generating a control signal for each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which phases were determined based on the determined phase of the wave front that would be received at the element; supplying the control signal for each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which phases were determined to each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which phases were determined; and transmitting a waveform from each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which phases were determined based on the supplied control signal. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein simulating the beam comprises calculating or approximating the simulated beam as having an origin at one or more points on the second wireless power transfer device and an arrival at a first element of the plurality of elements of the first wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the one or more points on the second wireless power transfer device are the positions of elements of the second wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein determining phases of a wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by one or more of a plurality of elements of the first wireless power transfer device comprises determining phases of the wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by a first subset of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, further comprising determining phases of the wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by a second subset of the plurality of elements, the second subset comprising at least one element not in the first subset of elements. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, further comprising generating control signals for elements of the plurality of elements not in the first subset of elements based on interpolation of the control signals generated for the elements in the first subset of elements. ### Claim 45 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the beam is simulated as comprising in phase waveforms originating from one or more elements of the second wireless power transfer device. ### Claim 46 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the plurality of elements are ultrasonic transducers, RF transducers, or optical transducers. ### Claim 47 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, further comprising: determining an updated position of the second wireless power transfer device relative to the first wireless power transfer device; simulating a beam as being transmitted from the updated position of the second wireless power transfer device, wherein simulating the beam comprises using one of a calculation or approximation to determine updated phases of a wave front of the simulated beam that would be received by one or more of the plurality of elements of the first wireless power transfer device directly based on the updated position of the second wireless power transfer device relative to the first wireless power transfer device and properties of the wave front of the simulated beam at its origin at the second wireless power transfer device without simulating the beam in route between the second wireless power transfer device and the first wireless power transfer device; generating an updated control signal for each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which updated phases were determined based on the determined updated phase of the wave front that would be received at the element; supplying the updated control signal for each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which updated phases were determined to each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which updated phases were determined; and transmitting a waveform from each element of the one or more of the plurality of elements for which updated phases were determined based on the supplied updated control signal.