RF power transmission network and method

• US 20080051043A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Original Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Inventors: Greene, Charles E., Harrist, Daniel W., McElhinny, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,639,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits

Abstract

Disclosed is an RF power transmission network. The network includes at least one RF power transmitter, at least one power tapping component, and at least one load. The at least one RF power transmitter, the at least one power tapping component, and the at least one load are connected in series. The RF power transmitter sends power through the network. The power is radiated from the network to be received by a device to be charged, re-charged, or directly powered by the power.

Claims

1. An RF power transmission network, comprising:

a first RF power transmitter for generating power;

at least one power tapping component electrically connected in series to the first RF power transmitter for separating the power received from the first power transmitter into at least a first portion and a second portion; and

at least one antenna electrically connected to the at least one power tapping component for receiving the first portion and transmitting power.

2. The network according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power tapping component is a directional coupler.

3. The network according to claim 1, further including a second RF power transmitter electrically connected in series to the at least one power tapping component.

4. The network according to claim 3, further including at least one controller electrically connected to one or more of the first RF power transmitter, the at least one power tapping component, the at least one antenna, and the second RF power transmitter.

5. The network according to claim 3, wherein the at least one power tapping component is a bi-directional coupler.

6. The network according to claim 3, wherein the directional coupler is a field adjustable directional coupler.

7. The network according to claim 3, wherein the at least one power tapping component is a power distributor.

8. The network according to claim 3, further including at least one additional RF power transmitter electrically connected in series to the at least one power tapping component.

9. The network according to claim 8, further including at least one controller electrically connected to one or more of the first RF power transmitter, the at least one power tapping component, the at least one antenna, and the at least one additional RF power transmitter.

10. The network according to claim 1, further including a terminating load.

11. The network according to claim 1, further including at least one transmission line.

12. The network according to claim 1, wherein power transmitted from the first RF power transmitter does not include data.

13. The network according to claim 1, further including at least one controller electrically connected to one or more of the first RF power transmitter, the at least one power tapping component, and the at least one antenna.

14. The network according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the at least one controllers is electrically connected to at least one other of the at least one controllers.

15. The network according to claim 1, wherein the network is configured to transmit the power via the at least one antenna in pulses.

16. The network according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one power tapping components is a switch.

17. The network according to claim 16, wherein the switch is controlled via a control line.

18. The network according to claim 16, wherein the switch is controlled by sensing power.

19. The network according to claim 18, wherein the sensed power is pulses of power.

20. The network according to claim 19, wherein the pulses of power vary in duration.

21. The network according to claim 19, wherein the pulses of power vary in timing.

22. The network according to claim 16, wherein the switch is controlled via a communications signal.

23. The network according to claim 22, wherein the communications signal is sent via coaxial cable.

24. The network according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a transmission line.

25. The network according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the power received from the first RF power transmitter is used by the at least one power tapping component as operational power.

26. The network according to claim 1, further including a second power tapping component electrically connected in series to the at least one power tapping component, with the at least one power tapping component disposed between the first RF power transmitter and the second power tapping component, the second power tapping component receives the second portion from the at least one power tapping component and separates it into at least a third portion and a fourth portion.

27. The network according to claim 26 wherein the first RF transmitter only includes a first connector which electrically connects the first RF power transmitter to the at least one power tapping component;

and the at least one power tapping component includes a second connector which electrically connects the at least one power tapping component to the second power tapping component.

28. A system for power transmission, comprising:

a first RF power transmitter for generating power;

at least one power tapping component electrically connected in series to the first RF power transmitter for separating the power received from the first RF power transmitter into at least a first portion and a second portion;

at least one antenna electrically connected to the at least one power tapping component for receiving the first portion and transmitting power;

a device to be powered; and

a receiving antenna electrically connected to the device and configured to receive the transmitted power.

29. The system according to claim 28, further including at least one controller electrically connected to one or more of the RF power transmitter, the at least one power tapping component, and the at least one antenna.

30. The network according to claim 28, wherein at least one of the at least one power tapping components is a switch.

31. The network according to claim 28, wherein the system is configured to transmit the power via the at least one antenna in pulses.

33. The network according to claim 28, wherein at least a portion of the power received from the first RF power transmitter is used by the at least one power tapping component as operational power.

34. The network according to claim 28, wherein power transmitted from the first RF power transmitter does not include data.

35. The network according to claim 28 including a second power tapping component electrically connected in series to the at least one power tapping component, with the at least one power tapping component disposed between the first RF power transmitter and the second power tapping component, the second power tapping component receives the second portion from the at least one power tapping component and separates it into at least a third portion and a fourth portion;

and a second antenna electrically connected to the second power tapping component for receiving the third portion and transmitting power.

36. A method for RF power transmission comprising the steps of:

generating power with a first RF power transmitter;

separating the power received from the first power transmitter into at least a first portion and a second portion with at least one power tapping component electrically connected in series to the first RF power transmitter;

receiving the first portion by at least one antenna electrically connected to the at least one power tapping component; and

transmitting power with the at least one antenna.

37. A method according to claim 36 including the steps of receiving the power transmitted wirelessly from the at least one antenna at a receiving antenna electrically connected to a device and configured to receive the transmitted power;

and converting the power received by the receiving antenna with a power harvester electrically connected to the device.

38. A method according to claim 37 including the steps of adding a second power tapping component electrically connected in series to the at least one power tapping component, with the at least one power tapping component disposed between the first RF power transmitter and the second power tapping component, the second power tapping component receives the second portion from the at least one power tapping component and separates it into at least a third portion and a fourth portion;

receiving the third portion at a second antenna electrically connected to the second power tapping component; and

transmitting power from the second antenna.

39. An apparatus for wireless power transmission to a receiver having a wireless power Harvester which produces direct current comprising:

a combiner having a first input having a first power;

a second input having a second power;

an output having an output power that is a combination of the first power and the second power and greater than the first power in the second power individually; and

an antenna electrically connected to the output through which the output power is transmitted to the receiver.

40. An apparatus for wireless power transmission to a receiver having a wireless power harvester which produces direct current comprising:

a field adjustable coupler to increase or decrease power to a desired level having a mainline and a secondary line a distance d from the mainline;

an adjustable mechanism that varies the distance d; and

an antenna through which the power is transmitted to the receiver.