Transfer priority for a wireless transfer station

Inventors

Miller, David R.Metelko, MaryKilbourne, Allen

Assignees

Enovate Medical LLC

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Publication Number

US-9666915-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2017-05-30

Expiration Date


Abstract

A technology for a wireless transfer station that is operable to wirelessly provide energy to other wireless transfer stations. A wireless transfer request can be received from one or more of the other wireless transfer stations to receive wireless energy from the wireless transfer station. A transferring of wireless energy to the one or more of the other wireless transfer stations can be prioritized using selected energy transfer priority criteria. Wireless energy can be provided to the one or more of the other wireless transfer stations based on the prioritization.

Core Innovation

The invention concerns a wireless transfer station network that wirelessly provides energy to other wireless transfer stations by receiving wireless energy transfer requests. Each wireless energy transfer request includes energy transfer priority criteria, including an operating temperature of the corresponding other wireless transfer station, and the wireless transfer station prioritizes transferring wireless energy to the plurality of other wireless transfer stations based on the energy transfer priority criteria.

The priority criteria used by the wireless transfer station include location, type, time since a last recharge, state of health, state of charge, warranty-related characteristics, energy transfer efficiency rate determined based on distance between wireless transfer coils and coil alignment, usage demand rate, and charge-time duration. Based on the prioritization, the station provides wireless energy sequentially to the plurality of other wireless transfer stations or with an energy transfer rate based on an energy transfer rate of each of the other wireless transfer stations.

In another aspect, the invention includes energy transfer priority information exchange between wireless transfer stations to coordinate energy reception based on firmware version and/or software version. In a product aspect, non-transitory storage medium instructions implement a method that receives a wireless transfer request and energy transfer priority information, sets a priority level, and provides wireless energy based on the priority level, including safety event related prioritization and enumerated safety-event condition types.

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes three independent claims. Together, they cover a wireless transfer station that receives requests with priority criteria and provides wireless energy based on prioritization, a first wireless transfer station that exchanges firmware/software version-based priority information with another station before receiving energy, and a product with non-transitory storage instructions that prioritizes distribution of wireless energy based on received energy transfer priority information.

Operating temperature based priority receiving and energy provision

A wireless transfer station receives a wireless energy transfer request from each of a plurality of the other wireless transfer stations, where each request includes energy transfer priority criteria including an operating temperature of the corresponding other wireless transfer station, prioritizes transferring wireless energy to the plurality based on the energy transfer priority criteria, and provides wireless energy to at least one of the plurality based on the prioritization.

Firmware/software version priority information exchange for receiving energy

A first wireless transfer station communicates a wireless transfer request to a second wireless transfer station, determines a firmware version or a software version of firmware/software operating at the first wireless transfer station, sends energy transfer priority information including information related to the firmware version or software version from the first wireless transfer station to the second wireless transfer station, and receives wireless energy from the second wireless transfer station based on the energy transfer priority information.

Non-transitory instructions for priority level distribution of wireless energy

A product including a non-transitory storage medium having stored instructions implements a method of prioritizing a distribution of wireless energy to a plurality of wireless transfer stations by receiving a wireless transfer request, receiving energy transfer priority information including an energy transfer efficiency rate, setting a priority level of the wireless transfer station to receive wireless energy from the product based on the energy transfer priority information, and providing wireless energy based on the priority level.

Across the independent claims, energy distribution is coordinated by receiving wireless transfer requests that carry priority criteria or priority information, setting a priority level or applying prioritization, and providing wireless energy to one or more wireless transfer stations based on that prioritization.

Stated Advantages

Not explicitly described in patent.

Documented Applications

Not explicitly described in patent.

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