Patents Assigned to uBeam Inc.
  • Patent number: 11190881
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for a piezoelectric transducer. A base plate includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. A transduction element is mounted directly on the base plate and electrically connected to the first electrical contact. A spacer includes a via. The via includes electrically conductive material. The spacer is mounted on the base plate around the transduction element and the electrically conductive material of the via is electrically connected to the second electrical contact. A diaphragm is mounted on the spacer and on the transduction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Niblock, Iman Shahosseini, Wade Smith
  • Patent number: 11108244
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for a power receiver circuit. A power generating mechanism may include power generating elements that may generate alternating current signals. Rectifier circuit may include rectifiers that may generate a direct current signal from an alternating current signal, and diodes. Group circuits that may connect groups of rectifier circuits in electrical circuits to combine the direct current signals from the rectifier circuits in a group into a single direct current signal. A step down converter may be connected to the group circuits. The step down converter may convert a direct current signal to a direct current signal of a target voltage level. An output switch may be connected to the step down converter. A linear regulator may be connected to the step down converter. A microcontroller may be connected to the linear regulator and the output switch and may control the output switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Gao, Jonathan Bolus
  • Patent number: 11005293
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for beamforming for wireless power transfer. A phase/amplitude map for a notional field in a plane of an aperture of the second wireless power transfer device may be determined. A Fourier transform may be performed on the phase/amplitude map for the notional field to generate a spatial frequency representation of the notional field. A phase/amplitude map for a second notional field in a plane of an aperture of the first wireless power transfer device may be determined based on the spatial frequency representation of the notional field and the position of the second wireless power transfer device. Control signals for transducer elements of the first wireless power transfer device may be generated based on the determined phase/amplitude map for the second notional field. The control signals for the transducer elements may be supplied to the transducer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joyce, Rob Adamson, Dan MacDougall, Kate Latham, Josh Farrell
  • Patent number: 10910889
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joyce, Paul Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10742267
    Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Meredith Perry, Paul Reynolds, Sean Taffler, Andrew Joyce
  • Patent number: 10742268
    Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Meredith Perry, Paul Reynolds, Sean Taffler, Andrew Joyce
  • Patent number: 10591951
    Abstract: An array of ultrasonic transducers can be controlled to produce a steerable beam. Beam steering can be skewed by buffer delays in the distribution of a clock signal. The skew can be at least approximately linearized by distributing the clock signal in a diagonal fashion across an array of buffers corresponding to ultrasonic transducer controllers. Potential error in beam steering that can arise from clock skew can be corrected based on the linear tilt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Angle, Marc Berte
  • Patent number: 10554080
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joyce, Paul Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10483766
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for a power receiver circuit. A power generating mechanism may include power generating elements that may generate alternating current signals. Rectifier circuit may include rectifiers that may generate a direct current signal from an alternating current signal, and diodes. Group circuits that may connect groups of rectifier circuits in electrical circuits to combine the direct current signals from the rectifier circuits in a group into a single direct current signal. A step down converter may be connected to the group circuits. The step down converter may convert a direct current signal to a direct current signal of a target voltage level. An output switch may be connected to the step down converter. A linear regulator may be connected to the step down converter. A microcontroller may be connected to the linear regulator and the output switch and may control the output switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Gao, Jonathan Bolus
  • Patent number: 10468916
    Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventor: Meredith Perry
  • Patent number: 10322570
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for laminate material bonding. A bonding agent may be applied to a first layer. A second layer may be placed onto the bonding agent on the first layer to form a laminate material. The laminate material may be placed between a first piece of non-compliant material with a first piece of compliant material and a second piece of non-compliant material with a second piece of compliant material. The laminate material may be in contact with the first piece non-compliant material and the second piece of non-compliant material. Pressure may be applied to the laminate material by applying pressure to the first piece of compliant material for a curing time of the bonding agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joyce, Paul Reynolds, Sean Taffler, Nicholas Lavada Nemeth, Adam Stephen Elhadad
  • Patent number: 10315224
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for an ultrasonic transducer. A substrate may include a main cavity, a secondary cavity, and a channel. The main cavity may have a greater depth than the secondary cavity. The secondary cavity may have a greater depth than channel. A first step may be formed where the main cavity and the secondary cavity overlap. A second step may be formed where the secondary cavity and the main cavity overlap. An electromechanically active device may be attached to the substrate at the first step and the second step such that a free end of the electromechanically active device is suspended over the main cavity. A membrane section may be bonded to the substrate such that the membrane covers the main cavity and the secondary cavity and is bonded to the free end of the electromechanically active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joyce, Sean Taffler, Paul Reynolds, Jonathan Lake
  • Patent number: 10252908
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for membrane bonding. A photoresist may be applied to an ultrasonic device. A portion of the photoresist may be removed. A bonding agent may be applied a portion of the photoresist that is not removed. A membrane may be placed on the ultrasonic device such that the membrane is in contact with the ultrasonic device through the bonding agent and the photoresist. The membrane and the ultrasonic device may be placed in between a first flat plate and a second flat plate, such that the second flat plate rests on top of the membrane. Light pressure may be applied to the membrane. The light pressure may be applied by one or more of the weight of the second flat plate and a pressure providing device applying pressure to either or both of the first flat plate and the second flat plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joyce, Sean Taffler, Paul Reynolds, Nicholas Lavada Nemeth, Adam Stephen Elhadad, Boozarjomehr Faraji
  • Patent number: 10252294
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer that can include a driver side and a bias voltage side. A higher voltage source can be electrically connected to the bias voltage side through a first resistor. A lower voltage source can be electrically connected to the driver side of through a second resistor. A field effect transistor or other suitable switch can be included, having a source, a gate and a drain. The source can be electrically connected to ground and the gate can be electrically connected to a control signal source. The drain can be electrically connected to the lower voltage source through a second resistor and be electrically connected to the driver side of the ultrasonic transducer. The gate can be electrically connected to a signal source through a third resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Angle, Marc Berte
  • Patent number: 10233076
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for transducer array subdicing. A laminate material may include two laminate material flexures which each have a flexure boundary defined by a gap in the piece of laminate material. A trench may be located between the two flexures. The trench may be defined by a removal of a portion of laminate material from the piece of laminate material. A second trench may be on an opposite surface of the piece of laminate material from the trench. The second trench may be partially aligned with the trench. The trench and the second trench may result from the removal of laminate material from the piece of laminate material to a depth of 20% to 60% of the thickness of the piece of laminate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Joyce
  • Patent number: 10230271
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for beamforming for wireless power transfer. A phase/amplitude map for a notional field in a plane of an aperture of the second wireless power transfer device may be determined. A Fourier transform may be performed on the phase/amplitude map for the notional field to generate a spatial frequency representation of the notional field. A phase/amplitude map for a second notional field in a plane of an aperture of the first wireless power transfer device may be determined based on the spatial frequency representation of the notional field and the position of the second wireless power transfer device. Control signals for transducer elements of the first wireless power transfer device may be generated based on the determined phase/amplitude map for the second notional field. The control signals for the transducer elements may be supplied to the transducer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joyce, Rob Adamson, Dan MacDougall, Kate Latham, Josh Farrell
  • Patent number: 10148131
    Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Meredith Perry, Paul Reynolds, Sean Taffler, Andrew Joyce
  • Patent number: 10149391
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for trench cutting with laser machining. A laminate material including a conductive layer and a non-conductive layer may be cut with a first cut using a UV-laser. The cutting of a second cut, using the UV-laser, may be started at a top electrode of the non-conductive layer based on the location of the first cut, wherein the second cut is wider than the first cut. The cutting of the second cut may be stopped partially though the non-conductive layer. The stopping of the cutting of the second cut partially though the non-conductive layer may include stopping the cutting of the second cut before cutting a bottom electrode of the non-conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Lavada Nemeth, Adam Stephen Elhadad, Andrew Joyce, Sean Taffler
  • Patent number: 10148137
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joyce, Paul Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10128692
    Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: uBeam Inc.
    Inventor: Meredith Perry