Resonant, Contactless Radio Frequency Power Coupling
First Claim
1. A contactless RF power coupling system comprising:
- a transmit coupling, wherein the transmit coupling includes a first resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency; and
a receive coupling, wherein the receive coupling includes a second resonant circuit having a second resonant frequency;
wherein the transmit coupling receives an RF signal having a first frequency and a second frequency that is a harmonic frequency of the first frequency, and wherein the transmit coupling passes each of the first frequency and second frequency to the receive coupling when the transmit coupling and receive coupling are inductively coupled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A resonant, contactless, RF power coupling suitable for high power-density applications and for use in an ocean environment is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the power coupling includes a transmit coupling and a receive coupling, each of which include a resonant element. A high-powered RF generator is coupled to the transmit coupling and a rectifier circuit is coupled to the output coupling. Each of the resonant elements is disposed in its own electrically-conductive canister and advantageously potted in an appropriate insulating dielectric. Each canister has an open end to facilitate inductive coupling between the two resonant elements. In order to exclude seawater from the interface between the canisters, a seal of compliant material is disposed therebetween.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A contactless RF power coupling system comprising:
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a transmit coupling, wherein the transmit coupling includes a first resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency; and a receive coupling, wherein the receive coupling includes a second resonant circuit having a second resonant frequency; wherein the transmit coupling receives an RF signal having a first frequency and a second frequency that is a harmonic frequency of the first frequency, and wherein the transmit coupling passes each of the first frequency and second frequency to the receive coupling when the transmit coupling and receive coupling are inductively coupled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for contactless coupling of RF power to a storage system, wherein the method comprises:
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providing an RF signal to a first coupling, wherein the first coupling comprises a first resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency, and wherein the RF signal comprises a first frequency and a second frequency that is a harmonic frequency of the first frequency; locating a second coupling at a first distance from the first coupling, wherein the second coupling comprises a second resonant circuit having a second resonant frequency, and wherein the first distance enables inductive coupling of the RF signal between the first coupling and the second coupling; coupling the RF signal between the first coupling and the second coupling, wherein the coupled electrical energy comprises energy characterized by each of the first frequency and the second frequency. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A contactless, RF power coupling comprising:
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a transmit coupling, wherein the transmit coupling includes; (a) a first canister that is electrically conductive and at least partially open at an end thereof; (b) a first resonant circuit disposed in the first canister; a receive coupling, wherein the receive coupling includes; (a) a second canister that is electrically conductive and at least partially open at an end thereof; (b) a second resonant circuit disposed in the second canister, wherein, the first and second canister are disposed with respect to one another so that the partially open end of each of the first and second canisters are in opposed relation; and an RF source, wherein the RF source and the transmit coupling are electrically connected, and wherein the RF source provides an RF signal that comprises a first frequency and a second frequency that is a harmonic frequency of the first frequency; wherein the transmit coupling passes each of the first frequency and second frequency to the receive coupling when the transmit coupling and receive coupling are inductively coupled. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26)
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23. A power transfer system comprising:
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a first coupling, wherein the first coupling includes a first resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency; a second coupling, wherein the second coupling includes a second resonant circuit having a second resonant frequency; and a first storage system, wherein the first storage system stores electrical energy that is based on a first signal received from the second coupling; wherein the first coupling receives a first RF signal having a first frequency and a second frequency that is a harmonic frequency of the first frequency, and wherein the first coupling passes each of the first frequency and second frequency to the second coupling when the first coupling and second coupling are inductively coupled; and wherein the first storage system receives a first signal from the second coupling, and wherein the first energy system stores electrical energy that is based on the first signal, and further wherein the first signal is based on the first RF signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A power transfer system comprising:
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a first coupling, wherein the first coupling includes a first resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency; a second coupling, wherein the second coupling includes a second resonant circuit having a second resonant frequency; a first storage system; an RF generator; and a switch, wherein the switch has a first position and a second position, and wherein the second coupling and the storage system are electrically connected when the switch is in the first position, and wherein the second coupling and the RF generator are electrically connected when the switch is in the second position wherein the first coupling passes each of a first frequency and a second frequency of a first RF signal to the second coupling when the first coupling and second coupling are inductively coupled and the switch is in the first position, and wherein the second frequency is a harmonic of the first frequency; and wherein the second coupling passes each of a third frequency and a fourth frequency of a second RF signal to the first coupling when the first coupling and second coupling are inductively coupled and the switch is in the second position, and wherein the fourth frequency is a harmonic of the third frequency. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A power transfer system comprising:
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a first coupling, wherein the first coupling includes a first resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency; a second coupling, wherein the second coupling includes a second resonant circuit having a second resonant frequency; a third coupling, wherein the third coupling includes a third resonant circuit having a third resonant frequency; a fourth coupling, wherein the fourth coupling includes a fourth resonant circuit having a fourth resonant frequency; a rectifier; and an RF generator; wherein the first coupling passes each of a first frequency and a second frequency of a first RF signal to the second coupling when the first coupling and second coupling are inductively coupled; wherein the rectifier receives the first RF signal from the second coupling and converts the first RF signal into a first DC signal; wherein the RF generator receives the first DC signal and converts it into a second RF signal; and wherein the third coupling receives the second RF signal from the RF generator.
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Specification