Passive Base Station Wireless Power and Data Bridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing base station designs are costly and impractical for use in harsh environments due to the need for internal power sources and complex components, which complicates maintenance and functionality, especially when exposed to weather or theft.
Innovation Solution
A passive base station design without an internal power source, capable of wirelessly receiving power from an external device and transmitting it to an accessory via a wired connection, while establishing high-speed data communication between the portable device and accessory, using programmable logic devices for power distribution and communication modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a base station includes an internal power source and complex components (battery, display, main processor, firmware, sensors), then it can operate independently and provide more functionalities, but it becomes expensive, cumbersome, requires maintenance, and is less reliable in harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source and complex processing components from the base station, relocating them to the portable device. The base station retains only the essential wireless communication transceiver and antenna, thereby eliminating batteries, displays, main processors, and firmware while maintaining core functionality through the portable device's processing power.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable device acts as an intermediary, providing power and processing capabilities to the base station. The base station uses the portable device's wireless power transmission capability to power its transceiver and uses the portable device for complex processing tasks, allowing the base station to remain simple while gaining enhanced functionality.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a base station includes an internal power source and complex components, then it can operate independently, but it requires maintenance, firmware upgrades, and is susceptible to failure and wearing under various conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the power source and complex components that cause maintenance and reliability issues from the base station. By extracting the battery, display, main processor, and firmware, the base station becomes a simple, maintenance-free device with no moving parts or consumable components that can fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station leverages the portable device's resources to perform functions that would otherwise require independent components. The portable device provides power and processing, allowing the base station to operate without its own power source or complex electronics, thereby eliminating maintenance requirements.
3Device complexity
If a base station is designed as a simple passive unit without internal power source, then it is cost-effective, simple, and robust, but it cannot operate independently and requires a portable device for power and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The base station is designed to work with any portable device that has wireless power transmission capability. By using universal communication protocols and leveraging the portable device's processing power, the base station gains operational versatility without needing its own power source or complex components.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable device serves as an intermediary that provides both power and processing capabilities to the base station. This arrangement allows the base station to remain simple while gaining the operational independence it needs through the portable device's resources.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If existing base station designs use internal power sources and complex components, then they can operate independently, but they are costly and impractical for use in harsh environments like shopping/warehouse cart handles exposed to weather and theft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes all vulnerable components (battery, display, main processor, firmware, sensors) from the base station, leaving only the essential transceiver and antenna. This extraction makes the base station resistant to environmental factors like weather, dust, and theft, as there are no consumable or sensitive components to damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station is designed as a simple, inexpensive unit that can be easily replaced if needed. By eliminating expensive components like batteries and displays, the base station becomes a robust, weather-resistant device suitable for harsh environments where durability is more important than advanced functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design results in a cost-effective, simple, and robust base station that requires minimal maintenance, capable of operating under various conditions, and enables high-speed data communication between wireless and wired interfaces, suitable for use in challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
Inductive coupling may be used to transfer electromagnetic energy between the wireless power transmitter system and the wireless power receiver system
Data Source
AI summary
A base station comprising: a wireless power receiver module to wirelessly receive energy from a portable device; a wireless transceiver module adapted to establish a wireless data communication with the portable device so as to wirelessly receive/transmit data; a wired interface for wired connection to an accessory device; a power distribution module coupled to the wireless power receiver module and adapted to supply the energy received from the portable device both to the accessory device, via the wired interface, and to the wireless transceiver module; a communication module coupled to the wireless transceiver module and to the wired interface, adapted to adapt data wirelessly received from the portable device, via the wireless transceiver module, into data suitable to be transmitted in a wired way to the accessory device, via the wired interface, and vice versa, to adapt data received in a wired way from the accessory device, via the wired interface, into data suitable to be transmitted wirelessly to the portable device, via the wireless transceiver module; wherein the base station is passive, devoid of any internal power source.