How a Device Receives Wireless Power Using Terahertz Waves and Blockchain
This patent describes a receiver device that wirelessly collects terahertz electromagnetic energy using special materials and an antenna, then converts it to electricity, but only after a transmitter authenticates it using a blockchain.
Original patent title: “Receiver device for facilitating wireless energy reception”
This patent describes a receiver device that wirelessly collects terahertz electromagnetic energy using special materials and an antenna, then converts it to electricity, but only after a transmitter authenticates it using a blockchain. Granted to Voice Life in 2021 with 22 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2040.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a receiver device designed to get power without wires. It uses a special "receiver transceiver" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1) that has an outer casing, called a "receiver enclosure," made with "metamaterial" (Claim 1). This enclosure is designed to catch and store "terahertz electromagnetic wave energy" (Claim 1) and turn it into regular electricity that can power other gadgets. The device's antenna, which helps it grab this energy, is made with "superconducting material" (Claim 1) for better efficiency. Before any power is sent, the receiver sends a "registration request" with a unique ID to a transmitter (Claim 1). The transmitter then checks this request against a "distributed block-chain" (Claim 1) to make sure the receiver is allowed to get power, and only then does it send the terahertz energy. For example, a smartphone with this receiver could request power from a nearby transmitter, which would verify the phone's identity on a blockchain before wirelessly charging it.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover wireless power transfer using frequency ranges other than terahertz electromagnetic waves.
- Does not cover receiver devices that do not incorporate a metamaterial in their enclosure.
- Does not cover receiver antennas that are not made with at least one superconducting material.
- Does not cover wireless energy systems where the transmitter does not authenticate the receiver using a distributed blockchain.
- Does not cover energy conversion systems that do not specifically store terahertz energy before converting it to electrical energy.
- Does not cover wireless power systems that rely solely on near-field inductive or resonant coupling.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the specific combination of a receiver enclosure using metamaterials to efficiently capture and store terahertz electromagnetic energy, an antenna made of superconducting material for high efficiency, and a blockchain-based authentication system to ensure only authorized devices receive power. This creates a secure and highly efficient wireless power ecosystem.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Future long-range wireless charging systems for consumer electronics
Internet of Things (IoT) devices powered remotely
Smart home devices receiving continuous power
Medical implants charged without physical contact
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent outlines a sophisticated approach to wireless power transfer, combining advanced material science with secure digital authentication. While the specific technologies like terahertz power delivery and blockchain authentication are still emerging for consumer wireless charging, this patent lays a foundation for future systems that could offer secure, efficient, and potentially long-range power delivery. The assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, Voice Life, focuses on wireless power, suggesting a future where devices are continuously powered without physical connections.
Filed
December 30, 2020
Granted
November 9, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Voice Life, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing wireless power solutions. Other companies in the broader wireless power space, such as Energous, Ossia, and Powercast, are also working on various forms of far-field wireless charging, though their specific implementations may differ in frequency or authentication methods.
Market impact
This patent describes a potential future for wireless power, moving beyond short-range inductive charging to longer-range, secure energy transfer. If implemented, such technology could enable a new generation of always-on, battery-free devices, potentially reducing reliance on charging cables and increasing the convenience of electronic devices. It could also spur the development of new secure power delivery standards.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a receiver device designed to get power without wires. It uses a special "receiver transceiver" (Claim 1) that has an outer casing, called a "receiver enclosure," made with "metamaterial" (Claim 1). This enclosure is designed to catch and store "terahertz electromagnetic wave energy" (Claim 1) and turn it into regular electricity that can power other gadgets. The device's antenna, which helps it grab this energy, is made with "superconducting material" (Claim 1) for better efficiency. Before any power is sent, the receiver sends a "registration request" with a unique ID to a transmitter (Claim 1). The transmitter then checks this request against a "distributed block-chain" (Claim 1) to make sure the receiver is allowed to get power, and only then does it send the terahertz energy. For example, a smartphone with this receiver could request power from a nearby transmitter, which would verify the phone's identity on a blockchain before wirelessly charging it.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific combination of a receiver enclosure using metamaterials to efficiently capture and store terahertz electromagnetic energy, an antenna made of superconducting material for high efficiency, and a blockchain-based authentication system to ensure only authorized devices receive power. This creates a secure and highly efficient wireless power ecosystem.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover wireless power transfer using frequency ranges other than terahertz electromagnetic waves.
- Does not cover receiver devices that do not incorporate a metamaterial in their enclosure.
- Does not cover receiver antennas that are not made with at least one superconducting material.
- Does not cover wireless energy systems where the transmitter does not authenticate the receiver using a distributed blockchain.
- Does not cover energy conversion systems that do not specifically store terahertz energy before converting it to electrical energy.
- Does not cover wireless power systems that rely solely on near-field inductive or resonant coupling.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$33K – $105K
Midpoint $66K · 14.4 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Lark, D. L., Smith, R., & Smith, M. H. (2021). How a Device Receives Wireless Power Using Terahertz Waves and Blockchain (U.S. Patent No. 11,171,521). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11171521/receiver-device-for-facilitating-wireless-energy-reception
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Device Receives Wireless Power Using Terahertz Waves and Blockchain cover?
This patent describes a receiver device that wirelessly collects terahertz electromagnetic energy using special materials and an antenna, then converts it to electricity, but only after a transmitter authenticates it using a blockchain.
Who owns patent US 11171521?
Voice Life owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on December 30, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent outlines a sophisticated approach to wireless power transfer, combining advanced material science with secure digital authentication. While the specific technologies like terahertz power delivery and blockchain authentication are still emerging for consumer wireless charging, this patent lays a foundation for future systems that could offer secure, efficient, and potentially long-range power delivery. The assignee, Voice Life, focuses on wireless power, suggesting a future where devices are continuously powered without physical connections.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover wireless power transfer using frequency ranges other than terahertz electromagnetic waves.
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