Extending the distance range of near-field wireless power delivery
First Claim
1. A system for wireless power transfer comprising:
- a transmitter comprising;
a transmit-resonator configured to couple power from a power source into an oscillating field generated by the transmit-resonator resonating at a resonant frequency, the oscillating field being at least one of an oscillating electric field or an oscillating magnetic field;
a signal generator, separate from the transmit-resonator, and configured to transmit one or more electromagnetic test signals at one or more frequencies, wherein the test signals are distinct from the oscillating field;
a test-signal receiver configured to receive a reflection of any given transmitted test signal from one or more reflecting entities that reflect at least a portion of the any given transmitted test signal; and
a source-device processor configured to determine one or more electromagnetic properties of a reflecting entity of the one or more reflecting entities based on at least a corresponding reflection from the reflecting entity;
at least one repeater comprising;
a coupling resonator configured to resonate at the resonant frequency in response to coupling to the oscillating field,wherein the at least one repeater is configured to, in response to the coupling resonator resonating at the resonant frequency, re-emit the oscillating field; and
at least one receiver, the at least one receiver including;
a receive-resonator configured to resonate at the resonant frequency in response to coupling to the oscillating field,wherein the at least one receiver is configured to, in response to the receive-resonator resonating at the resonant frequency, transfer at least a portion of power of the oscillating field to a load associated with the at least one receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for wireless resonant power transfer is disclosed. The system may include a transmitter that, in addition to being configured for resonantly coupling power into an oscillating electric and/or magnetic field, is also configured to transmit one or more test signals. Test signals can include single frequency continuous wave test signals, frequency sweep test signals, and time-pulsed modulated test signals. By comparing measurements of phase and amplitude of both the transmitted test signal and one or more reflections of the test signal reflected by one or more reflecting entities, electromagnetic properties of the one or more reflecting entities may be determined. The determined properties may then be used to enhance the efficiency and/or effectiveness of power transfer, and/or to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate consumption of wirelessly transferred power by devices in the oscillating field.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for wireless power transfer comprising:
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a transmitter comprising; a transmit-resonator configured to couple power from a power source into an oscillating field generated by the transmit-resonator resonating at a resonant frequency, the oscillating field being at least one of an oscillating electric field or an oscillating magnetic field; a signal generator, separate from the transmit-resonator, and configured to transmit one or more electromagnetic test signals at one or more frequencies, wherein the test signals are distinct from the oscillating field; a test-signal receiver configured to receive a reflection of any given transmitted test signal from one or more reflecting entities that reflect at least a portion of the any given transmitted test signal; and a source-device processor configured to determine one or more electromagnetic properties of a reflecting entity of the one or more reflecting entities based on at least a corresponding reflection from the reflecting entity; at least one repeater comprising; a coupling resonator configured to resonate at the resonant frequency in response to coupling to the oscillating field, wherein the at least one repeater is configured to, in response to the coupling resonator resonating at the resonant frequency, re-emit the oscillating field; and at least one receiver, the at least one receiver including; a receive-resonator configured to resonate at the resonant frequency in response to coupling to the oscillating field, wherein the at least one receiver is configured to, in response to the receive-resonator resonating at the resonant frequency, transfer at least a portion of power of the oscillating field to a load associated with the at least one receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method in a transmitter of a system configured for wireless power transfer, the method comprising:
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a transmit-resonator of the transmitter coupling power from a power source into an oscillating field generated by the transmit-resonator resonating at a resonant frequency, the oscillating field being at least one of an oscillating electric field or an oscillating magnetic field; transmitting by a signal generator of the transmitter one or more electromagnetic test signals at one or more frequencies, wherein the signal generator is separate from the transmit-resonator, and the test signals are distinct from the oscillating field; receiving by a test-signal receiver of the transmitter a reflection of any given transmitted test signal from one or more reflecting entities that reflect at least a portion of the any given transmitted test signal; and determining by a source-device processor of the transmitter one or more electromagnetic properties of a reflecting entity of the one or more reflecting entities based on at least a corresponding reflection from the reflecting entity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a transmitter, cause the transmitter to carry out operations including:
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causing a transmit-resonator of the transmitter to resonate at a resonant frequency in order to generate an oscillating field and to couple power from a power source into the oscillating field, the oscillating field being at least one of an oscillating electric field or an oscillating magnetic field; causing a signal generator of the transmitter to transmit one or more electromagnetic test signals at one or more frequencies, wherein the signal generator is separate from the transmit-resonator, and the test signals are distinct from the oscillating field; causing a test-signal receiver of the transmitter to receive a reflection of a given one of the transmitted test signals from a reflecting entity of one or more reflecting entities; and determining one or more electromagnetic properties of the reflecting entity of the one or more reflecting entities based on at least the reflection from the reflecting entity. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification