Wireless Power At-A-Distance Technology – A Strategy for Nurturing Ecosystem Development

Spaces can be outfitted with multiple independently developed radio frequency power transmitters. These power transmitters will be able to coexist and cooperate to provide spatially continuous power coverage within the outfitted space. Likewise, a plethora of independently developed radio frequency power receivers will be able to occupy and receive wireless power anywhere within an outfitted space. For this ecosystem to come to pass, power transmitters and power receivers must be designed to seamlessly interoperate with one another. Interoperability will additionally facilitate regulatory approvals, create economies of scale by making it easier for some providers to provide parts and/or services to others, and enable device manufacturers to more quickly bring safe and thoroughly tested wirelessly powered devices to market. A prerequisite to achieving interoperability is that there must be a consensus amongst stakeholders as to the minimal viable set of features and capabilities needed for the ecosystem to grow organically. This paper proposes that devices must exchange certain self-descriptive information to ensure that power can be transferred safely. It will show how automated control of power transfer can be guided by on-the-fly techno-economic analysis of the potentially complex and dynamic power transfer situation.