Patents by Inventor Erik Heinke

Erik Heinke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240128799
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an indication that a wireless-power receiver is located within one meter of a wireless-power transmission system and is authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power from a wireless-power transmission system. The method includes, in response to receiving the indication, selecting a power level at which to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal using a power amplifier (PA). In accordance with a determination that transmitting the RF signal to the wireless-power receiver would satisfy safety thresholds, the method includes instructing the PA to amplify the RF signal using the power level to create an amplified RF signal, and providing the amplified RF signal to the one or more antennas. The one or more antennas are caused to, upon receiving the amplified RF signal, radiate RF energy that is focused within an operating area that includes the wireless-power receiver while forgoing any active beamforming control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Cesar A. JOHNSTON, Erik HEINKE, Daniel P. LAWLESS
  • Publication number: 20230420996
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting system includes a power amplifier comprising a plurality of measurement points and a power amplifier controller integrated circuit (IC). In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC performs synchronization of the various components of the power amplifier, conducts impedance and temperature measurements at the measurements points, determines if a foreign object is within the transmission range of the wireless power transmitter, and decides if a shutdown of the power amplifier is needed. In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC determines through a transmitter controller IC, the presence of a foreign object within the transmission range and adjusts the power transmission to one or more receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Cesar A. Johnston, Sean Nicolson, Aras Pirbadian, Deepak Jain, Howard Chan, Erik Heinke, Mehdi Khanpour
  • Publication number: 20230378817
    Abstract: An example method is performed at a near-field charging pad with a processor, a power-transferring element, a signature-signal-receiving circuit, and the processor of the near-field charging pad is in communication with a data source that includes predefined signature signals that each identify one of (i) a wireless power receiver, (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver, and (iii) a combination of a wireless power receiver and an object other than a wireless power receiver. The method includes: after sending a plurality of test radio frequency (RF) power transmission signals, detecting, using the signature-signal-receiving circuit, respective amounts of reflected power; generating, based on variations in the respective amounts of reflected power, a signature signal; and determining whether (i) an authorized wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad and/or (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Cesar A. Johnston, Deepak Jain, Erik Heinke, Alister Hosseini, Sean Nicolson
  • Publication number: 20230369899
    Abstract: Methods and devices for surveying for active and inactive power receivers within a wireless-power coverage area are described. A method includes causing performance of a survey looking for active power receivers within a wireless-power coverage area using communication radio(s). Information is received from an active power receiver and transmission of RF signals is caused to energize inactive power receivers using a power-transmission antenna. A first RF signal is transmitted using a first value for a transmission characteristic, and a second RF signal is transmitted using a second value for the transmission characteristic. Additional information is received from a first energized power receiver and further information from a second energized power receiver. Two or more frequency bands are identified for radio-frequency wireless-power transmissions by a wireless-power transmitting device within the wireless-power coverage area based on the information, the additional information, and the further information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Cesar A. Johnston, Erik Heinke, Deepak Jain, Yunhong Liu, Weimin Peng, Noorul Ameen Thufile Ahamed
  • Patent number: 11817719
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling and managing operation of one or more power amplifiers to optimize the performance of one or more antennas are disclosed. An example wireless-power transmission system includes a power amplifier, one or more antennas, and one or more integrated circuits. The one or more integrated circuits are configured to adjust power provided to the one or more antennas from a power amplifier and adjust a power distribution for the transmission field based, in part, on the adjusted power provided to the one or more antennas from the power amplifier such that the adjusted power provided is evenly distributed across the power distribution for the transmission field of the antenna. The even distribution of the adjusted power results in a reduced power loss at an edge of the power distribution for the transmission field of the antenna from 30% to 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar A. Johnston, Erik Heinke, Daniel P. Lawless
  • Patent number: 11715980
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting system includes a power amplifier comprising a plurality of measurement points and a power amplifier controller integrated circuit (IC). In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC performs synchronization of the various components of the power amplifier, conducts impedance and temperature measurements at the measurements points, determines if a foreign object is within the transmission range of the wireless power transmitter, and decides if a shutdown of the power amplifier is needed. In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC determines through a transmitter controller IC, the presence of a foreign object within the transmission range and adjusts the power transmission to one or more receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Sean Nicolson, Aras Pirbadian, Deepak Jain, Howard Chan, Erik Heinke, Mehdi Khanpour
  • Patent number: 11710987
    Abstract: An example method is performed at a near-field charging pad with a processor, a power-transferring element, a signature-signal-receiving circuit, and the processor of the near-field charging pad is in communication with a data source that includes predefined signature signals that each identify one of (i) a wireless power receiver, (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver, and (iii) a combination of a wireless power receiver and an object other than a wireless power receiver. The method includes: after sending a plurality of test radio frequency (RF) power transmission signals, detecting, using the signature-signal-receiving circuit, respective amounts of reflected power; generating, based on variations in the respective amounts of reflected power, a signature signal; and determining whether (i) an authorized wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad and/or (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Deepak Jain, Erik Heinke, Alister Hosseini, Sean Nicolson
  • Publication number: 20220407364
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling and managing operation of one or more power amplifiers to optimize the performance of one or more antennas are disclosed. An example wireless-power transmission system includes a power amplifier, one or more antennas, and one or more integrated circuits. The one or more integrated circuits are configured to adjust power provided to the one or more antennas from a power amplifier and adjust a power distribution for the transmission field based, in part, on the adjusted power provided to the one or more antennas from the power amplifier such that the adjusted power provided is evenly distributed across the power distribution for the transmission field of the antenna. The even distribution of the adjusted power results in a reduced power loss at an edge of the power distribution for the transmission field of the antenna from 30% to 10%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Cesar A. JOHNSTON, Erik HEINKE, Daniel P. LAWLESS
  • Publication number: 20220271572
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting system includes a power amplifier comprising a plurality of measurement points and a power amplifier controller integrated circuit (IC). In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC performs synchronization of the various components of the power amplifier, conducts impedance and temperature measurements at the measurements points, determines if a foreign object is within the transmission range of the wireless power transmitter, and decides if a shutdown of the power amplifier is needed. In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC determines through a transmitter controller IC, the presence of a foreign object within the transmission range and adjusts the power transmission to one or more receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Sean Nicolson, Aras Pirbadian, Deepak Jain, Howard Chan, Erik Heinke, Mehdi Khanpour
  • Patent number: 11411437
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an indication that a wireless-power receiver is located within one meter of a wireless-power transmission system and is authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power from a wireless-power transmission system. The method includes, in response to receiving the indication, selecting a power level at which to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal using a power amplifier (PA). In accordance with a determination that transmitting the RF signal to the wireless-power receiver would satisfy safety thresholds, the method includes instructing the PA to amplify the RF signal using the power level to create an amplified RF signal, and providing the amplified RF signal to the one or more antennas. The one or more antennas are caused to, upon receiving the amplified RF signal, radiate RF energy that is focused within an operating area that includes the wireless-power receiver while forgoing any active beamforming control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar A. Johnston, Erik Heinke, Daniel P. Lawless
  • Publication number: 20220181916
    Abstract: A wireless-power transmitter including an antenna including a plurality of power-transfer points. The antenna is configured to operate in multiple modes. The multiple modes include a standby mode and a single receiver power-transfer mode. The standby mode provides a signal to the antenna at predetermined time intervals. The signal causes the antenna to transmit electromagnetic energy that is below a threshold amount, and produce an electric field that is substantially equally distributed at each of the power-transfer points. The single receiver power-transfer mode is activated upon a wireless power-receiver coupling with one of the plurality of power-transfer points such that (i) a portion of the electric field is greater at the one of the plurality of the power-transfer points than at any other of the power-transfer points, and (ii) electromagnetic energy is transferred from the antenna to the wireless power-receiver at the one of the plurality of the power-transfer points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Kishore Ramachandramurthy, Yunhong Liu, Erik Heinke, Gabriel Joseph Cohn
  • Publication number: 20220171045
    Abstract: A wireless-power transmission system (WPTS) includes sensors, antennas, a power amplifier (PA), and integrated circuits (ICs). The antennas, upon receiving an amplified signal for the PA, are configured to radiate energy within a transmission field (TF) of the WPTS. The ICs are configured to receive sensor data indicating presence of an object within a keep-out zone (KOZ). The ICs are configured to classify using the sensor data the object as a sensitive object. While detecting presence of the sensitive object, the ICs are configured to forgo providing an instruction to the PA to amplify the signal. In accordance with a determination that the sensitive object is no longer detected the ICs are configured to determine whether an electronic device is within the TF and in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is within the TF the ICs are configured to instruct the PA to amplify the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Alister Hoss, Erik Heinke, Deepak Jain, William M. Wiese., JR., Fay Yew
  • Publication number: 20210313841
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an indication that a wireless-power receiver is located within one meter of a wireless-power transmission system and is authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power from a wireless-power transmission system. The method includes, in response to receiving the indication, selecting a power level at which to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal using a power amplifier (PA). In accordance with a determination that transmitting the RF signal to the wireless-power receiver would satisfy safety thresholds, the method includes instructing the PA to amplify the RF signal using the power level to create an amplified RF signal, and providing the amplified RF signal to the one or more antennas. The one or more antennas are caused to, upon receiving the amplified RF signal, radiate RF energy that is focused within an operating area that includes the wireless-power receiver while forgoing any active beamforming control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Cesar A. JOHNSTON, Erik HEINKE, Daniel P. LAWLESS
  • Patent number: 11139699
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting system includes a power amplifier comprising a plurality of measurement points and a power amplifier controller integrated circuit (IC). In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC performs synchronization of the various components of the power amplifier, conducts impedance and temperature measurements at the measurements points, determines if a foreign object is within the transmission range of the wireless power transmitter, and decides if a shutdown of the power amplifier is needed. In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC determines through a transmitter controller IC, the presence of a foreign object within the transmission range and adjusts the power transmission to one or more receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Sean Nicolson, Aras Pirbadian, Deepak Jain, Howard Chan, Erik Heinke, Mehdi Khanpour
  • Patent number: 10985617
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an indication that a wireless-power receiver is located within one meter of a wireless-power transmission system and is authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power from a wireless-power transmission system. The method includes, in response to receiving the indication, selecting a power level at which to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal using a power amplifier (PA). In accordance with a determination that transmitting the RF signal to the wireless-power receiver would satisfy safety thresholds, the method includes instructing the PA to amplify the RF signal using the power level to create an amplified RF signal, and providing the amplified RF signal to the one or more antennas. The one or more antennas are caused to, upon receiving the amplified RF signal, radiate RF energy that is focused within an operating area that includes the wireless-power receiver while forgoing any active beamforming control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ENERGOUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cesar A. Johnston, Erik Heinke, Daniel P. Lawless
  • Publication number: 20210091606
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting system includes a power amplifier comprising a plurality of measurement points and a power amplifier controller integrated circuit (IC). In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC performs synchronization of the various components of the power amplifier, conducts impedance and temperature measurements at the measurements points, determines if a foreign object is within the transmission range of the wireless power transmitter, and decides if a shutdown of the power amplifier is needed. In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC determines through a transmitter controller IC, the presence of a foreign object within the transmission range and adjusts the power transmission to one or more receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Sean Nicolson, Aras Pirbadran, Deepak Jain, Howard Chan, Erik Heinke, Mehdi Khanpour
  • Publication number: 20200244111
    Abstract: An example method is performed at a near-field charging pad with a processor, a power-transferring element, a signature-signal-receiving circuit, and the processor of the near-field charging pad is in communication with a data source that includes predefined signature signals that each identify one of (i) a wireless power receiver, (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver, and (iii) a combination of a wireless power receiver and an object other than a wireless power receiver. The method includes: after sending a plurality of test radio frequency (RF) power transmission signals, detecting, using the signature-signal-receiving circuit, respective amounts of reflected power; generating, based on variations in the respective amounts of reflected power, a signature signal; and determining whether (i) an authorized wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad and/or (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Deepak Jain, Erik Heinke, Alister Hosseini, Sean Nicolson
  • Patent number: 10615647
    Abstract: An example method is performed at a near-field charging pad that includes a wireless communication component, and a plurality of power-transfer zones that each respectively include at least one power-transferring element and a signature-signal receiving circuit. The method includes: sending, by a respective power-transferring element included in a first power-transfer zone of the plurality of power-transfer zones, test power transmission signals with first values for a set of transmission characteristics. The method also includes: in conjunction with sending each of the power transmission signals: detecting, using the signature-signal receiving circuit, respective amounts of reflected power at the first power-transfer zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Deepak Jain, Erik Heinke, Alister Hosseini, Sean Nicolson
  • Publication number: 20190245389
    Abstract: An example method is performed at a near-field charging pad that includes a wireless communication component, and a plurality of power-transfer zones that each respectively include at least one power-transferring element and a signature-signal receiving circuit. The method includes: sending, by a respective power-transferring element included in a first power-transfer zone of the plurality of power-transfer zones, test power transmission signals with first values for a set of transmission characteristics. The method also includes: in conjunction with sending each of the power transmission signals: detecting, using the signature-signal receiving circuit, respective amounts of reflected power at the first power-transfer zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Deepak Jain, Erik Heinke, Alister Hosseini, Sean Nicolson
  • Patent number: 9319904
    Abstract: A first sounding packet is transmitted from the wireless communication device to a calibration station. A first channel descriptor is generated based on the first sounding packet. A second sounding packet is transmitted from the calibration station to the wireless communication device. A second channel descriptor is generated based on the second sounding packet. The first channel descriptor and the second channel descriptor are obtained at a processor device. Calibration coefficients indicative of one or both of phase imbalance and amplitude imbalance between a receive radio frequency (RF) chain and a transmit RF chain at the wireless communication device are generated based on the first and the second channel descriptors. The calibration coefficients are sent from the processor device to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Sudhir Srinivasa, Xiayu Zheng, Hongyuan Zhang, Rohit U. Nabar, Riddhi Madani, Atul Salhotra, Erik Heinke, Brian Bosso