APPLICATIONS OF WIRELESS ENERGY TRANSFER USING COUPLED ANTENNAS

• US 20100117456A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Karalis, Aristeidis, Soljacic, Marin, Moffatt, Robert, Kurs, Andre B., Joannopoulos, John D., Fisher, Peter H.
• Application Number:
  US12/688,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20100117456A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/04 Resonant antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of transmitting power wirelessly that include driving a high-Q non-radiative resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a magnetic field output, said non-radiative-resonator formed of a combination of resonant parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part, and maintaining at least one characteristic of said resonator such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which-distance is set by a detuning effect when a-second resonator gets too close to said resonator.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting power wirelessly, comprising:

driving a high-Q non-radiative resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a magnetic field output, said non-radiative-resonator formed of a combination of resonant parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part; and

maintaining at least one characteristic of said resonator such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which-distance is set by a detuning effect when a-second resonator gets too close to said resonator.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising receiving the magnetic field in a second resonator, said second resonator also having a series resonant part, and producing usable power from said second resonator, and coupling said usable power to a load.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising setting the resonant frequency to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said non-radiative resonator has a Q value of approximately 1400.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising using a capacitor part which is capable of withstanding at least 1000 V.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising using a signal generator to produce said driving, and matching a characteristic of the signal generator to a characteristic of the resonator at resonance.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein said resonator has a substantially rectangular outer form factor.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein said resonator is a dipole that includes a first inductive part, coupled to receive said driving, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said inductive part, said second part formed of at least one loop of wire in series with said capacitor.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said an inductive part and said second part have different outer form factors.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein said inductive part and said second part have substantially the same outer form factors.

14. A method as in claim 11, wherein said second part is electrically connected to said capacitor part.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein said capacitor part is a variable capacitor.

16. A method as in claim 1, wherein said effect is a detuning of said resonant frequency of said resonator.

17. A method, comprising:

generating a magnetic field using a first high-Q resonator;

receiving said magnetic field in a second high-Q resonator; and

in said second high-Q resonator, using power from the magnetic field.

18. A method as in claim 17, further comprising using said power in said second high-Q resonator to drive a load.

19. A method as in claim 17, further comprising detuning at least one of said generating or said receiving when said second high-Q resonator gets closer than a predetermined amount to said first high-Q resonator.

20. A method as in claim 17, wherein said generating comprises using a capacitively loaded resonator for generating the magnetic field.

21. A method, comprising:

forming a magnetic field using a first high-Q part;

coupling said magnetic field to a second high-Q part using near-field coupling with said first part, where said second part is further than 6 inches from said first part; and

in said second part, recovering power from the coupled magnetic field.

22. A method as in claim 21, further comprising using said power in said high-Q second part to drive a load.

23. A method as in claim 21, further comprising detuning at least one of said first or second high-Q part when said second high-Q part gets closer than a predetermined amount to said first high-Q part.

24. A method as in claim 21, wherein said forming comprises using a capacitively loaded resonator for forming the magnetic field.

25. A system comprising:

a high-Q resonator;

a driving part for said resonator, driving said resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a magnetic field output, said resonator formed of a combination of series resonant parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part, and wherein said resonator has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect when a second resonator gets too close to said resonator.

26. A system as in claim 25, further comprising a second resonator, also having a series resonant part that has a corresponding resonance to said resonant frequency of said resonator, and has a connection outputting usable power to a load.

27. A system as in claim 26, wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches.

28. A system as in claim 25, wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches.

29. A system as in claim 25, wherein the resonant frequency is set to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz.

30. A system as in claim 25, wherein said resonator has a Q value of approximately 1400.

31. A system as in claim 25, wherein said capacitor part is capable of withstanding at least 1000V.

32. A system as in claim 25, further comprising signal generator that drives said resonator, said signal generator having a characteristic of the signal generator that is matched to a characteristic of the resonator at resonance.

33. A system as in claim 25, wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor.

34. A system as in claim 25, wherein said resonator has a substantially rectangular outer form factor.

35. A system as in claim 25, wherein said resonator includes a first inductive part, coupled to receive said driving, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said inductive part, said second part formed of at least one loop of plural coils of wire in series with said capacitor.

36. A system as in claim 35, wherein said an inductive part and said second part have different outer form factors.

37. A system as in claim 35, wherein said inductive part and said second part have substantially the same outer form factors.

38. A system as in claim 35, wherein said second part is electrically connected to said capacitor part.

39. A system as in claim 38, wherein said capacitor part is a variable capacitor.

40. A system, comprising:

a first high-Q resonator part formed of a capacitively loaded resonator;

a second high-Q resonator part, tuned to have similar resonant characteristics to said first resonator part, receiving a magnetic field therefrom, and producing a power output from the magnetic field.

42. A system as in claim 40, wherein said first LC circuit includes a capacitively loaded resonator for generating the magnetic field.

41. A system, comprising:

a first high-Q LC circuit, connected to receive a signal that forms a magnetic field; and

a second high-Q LC circuit that forms near-field coupling with said first high-Q LC circuit, where said second part is further than 6 inches from said first part, and has a connection for recovering power from the coupled magnetic field.

43. A method of transmitting power wirelessly, comprising:

driving a high-Q resonator at a value near a resonant frequency of said resonator to produce a magnetic field output, said resonator defining a distance between a second resonator and said resonator, and formed of a combination of resonant parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part; and

maintaining at least one characteristic of said resonator such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by an effect when a second resonator gets too close to said resonator.

44. A method as in claim 43, further comprising receiving the magnetic field in a second resonator, said second resonator producing usable power from said second resonator, and coupling said usable power to a load.

45. A method as in claim 43, wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches.

46. A method as in claim 43, wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches.

47. A method as in claim 43, further comprising setting the resonant frequency to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz.

48. A method as in claim 43, wherein said resonator has a Q value of approximately 1400.

49. A method as in claim 43, further comprising using a capacitor part which is capable of withstanding at least 1000 V.

50. A method as in claim 43, further comprising using a signal generator to produce said driving, and matching a characteristic of the signal generator to a characteristic of the resonator at resonance.

51. A method as in claim 43, wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor.

52. A method as in claim 43, wherein said resonator has a substantially rectangular outer form factor.

53. A method as in claim 43, wherein said resonator includes a first inductive part, coupled to receive said driving, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said inductive part, said second high-Q part formed of at least one loop of wire in series with said capacitor.

54. A method as in claim 53, wherein said an inductive part and said second part have different outer form factors.

55. A method as in claim 53, wherein said inductive part and said second part have substantially the same outer form factors.

56. A method as in claim 53, wherein said second part is electrically connected to said capacitor part.

57. A method as in claim 55, wherein said capacitor part is a variable capacitor.

123. A method as in claim 43, wherein said effect is a detuning of said resonant frequency of said resonator.

58. A method, comprising:

generating a magnetic field using a first high-Q resonator;

receiving said magnetic field in a second high-Q resonator; and

in said second high-Q resonator, using power from the magnetic field.

59. A method as in claim 58, further comprising using said power in said second high-Q resonator to drive a load.

60. A method as in claim 58, further comprising detuning at least one of said generating or said receiving when said second high-Q resonator gets closer than a predetermined amount to said first high-Q resonator.

61. A method as in claim 58, wherein said generating comprises using a capacitively loaded resonator for generating the magnetic field.

62. A method, comprising:

forming a magnetic field using a high-Q first part;

coupling said magnetic field to a second high-Q part using near-field coupling with said first part, where said second part is further than 6 inches from said first part; and

in said second part, recovering power from the coupled magnetic field.

63. A method as in claim 62, further comprising using said power in said high-Q second part to drive a load.

64. A method as in claim 62, further comprising detuning at least one of said high-Q first or second part when said second high-Q part gets closer than a predetermined amount to said first high-Q part.

65. A method as in claim 62, wherein said forming comprises using a capacitively loaded resonator for forming the magnetic field.

66. A system comprising:

a high-Q resonator;

a driving part for said resonator, driving said resonator at a value near a resonant frequency of said resonator to produce a magnetic field output, said resonator formed of a combination of parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part, and wherein said resonator has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect that changes said resonant frequency when a second resonator gets too close to said resonator.

67. A system as in claim 66, further comprising a second resonator, also having part that has a corresponding resonance to said resonant frequency of said resonator, and has a connection outputting usable power to a load.

68. A system as in claim 67, wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches.

69. A system as in claim 66, wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches.

70. A system as in claim 66, wherein the resonant frequency is set to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz.

71. A system as in claim 66, wherein said resonator has a Q value of approximately 1400.

72. A system as in claim 66, wherein said capacitor part is capable of withstanding at least 1000V.

73. A system as in claim 66, further comprising a signal generator that drives said resonator, said signal generator having a characteristic of the signal generator that is matched to a characteristic of the resonator at resonance.

74. A system as in claim 66, wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor.

75. A system as in claim 66, wherein said resonator has a substantially rectangular outer form factor.

76. A system as in claim 66, wherein said resonator includes a first inductive part, coupled to receive said driving, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said first inductive part, said second high-Q part, formed of at least one loop of plural coils of wire in series with said capacitor.

77. A system as in claim 76, wherein said first inductive part and said second high-Q part have different outer form factors.

78. A system as in claim 76, wherein said first inductive part and said second high-Q part have substantially the same outer form factors.

79. A system as in claim 76, wherein said second high-Q part is electrically connected to said capacitor part.

80. A system as in claim 79, wherein said capacitor part is a variable capacitor.

81. A system, comprising:

a first high-Q resonator part formed of a capacitively loaded resonator; and

a second high-Q resonator part, tuned to have similar resonant characteristics to said first resonator part, receiving a magnetic field therefrom, and producing a power output from the magnetic field.

82. A system, comprising:

a first high-Q LC circuit, connected to receive a signal that forms a magnetic field; and

a second high-Q LC circuit that forms near-field coupling with said first high-Q LC circuit, where said second part is further than 6 inches from said first part, and has a connection for recovering power from the coupled magnetic field.

83. A transmitting system comprising:

a high-Q resonator;

a driving part for said high-Q resonator, driving said high-Q resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a magnetic field output,

said resonator formed of a combination of parts, including at least an inductive part and a capacitance, said inductive part formed by a wire loop, that includes a first inductive part, coupled to receive said driving, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said first inductive part, said second part formed of at least one loop of plural coils of wire in series with said capacitance.

84. A system as in claim 83, wherein said capacitor part is formed of a material that is separate from a material forming the inductive part.

85. A system as in claim 83, wherein said first inductive part and said second high-Q part have different outer form factors.

86. A system as in claim 83, wherein said first inductive part and said second high-Q part have different outer sizes.

87. A system as in claim 83, wherein said first inductive part and said second high-Q part have substantially the same outer form factors.

88. A system as in claim 83, wherein said second high-Q part is electrically connected to said capacitor part.

89. A system as in claim 83, wherein said high-Q resonator has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect which changes said resonant frequency when a second resonator gets too close to said high-Q resonator.

90. A system as in claim 83, further comprising a second high-Q resonator, also having a series resonant part that has a corresponding resonance to said resonant frequency of said resonator, and has a connection outputting usable power to a load.

91. A system as in claim 90, wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches.

92. A system as in claim 90, wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches.

93. A system as in claim 83, wherein the resonant frequency is set to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz.

94. A system as in claim 83, wherein said capacitor part is capable of withstanding at least 1000V.

95. A system as in claim 83, further comprising a signal generator that drives said resonator, said signal generator having a characteristic of the signal generator that is matched to a characteristic of the resonator at resonance.

96. A system as in claim 83, wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor.

97. A system as in claim 83, wherein said resonator has a substantially rectangular outer form factor.

98. A receiving system comprising;

a high-Q resonator;

a circuit for receiving power from said resonator, interacting with said resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a power output from a received magnetic field,

said resonator formed of a combination of parts, including at least an inductive part and a capacitance, said inductive part formed by a wire loop, that includes a first inductive part, coupled to said circuit, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said first inductive part, said second part formed of at least one loop of plural coils of wire in series with said capacitance.

99. A system as in claim 98, wherein said capacitor part is formed of a material that is separate from a material forming the inductive part.

100. A system as in claim 98, wherein said first inductive part and said second part have different outer form factors.

101. A system as in claim 98, wherein said first inductive part and said second part have different outer sizes.

102. A system as in claim 98, wherein said first inductive part and said second part have substantially the same outer form factors.

103. A system as in claim 98, wherein said second part is electrically connected to said capacitor part.

104. A system as in claim 98, wherein said resonator has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect when a resonator gets too close to said resonator.

105. A system as in claim 98, further comprising a second resonator, also having a part that has a corresponding resonant frequency to said resonant frequency of said resonator, and has a connection outputting usable power to a load.

106. A system as in claim 104, wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches.

107. A system as in claim 104, wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches.

108. A system as in claim 98, wherein the resonant frequency is set to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz.

109. A system as in claim 98, wherein said capacitor part is capable of withstanding at least 1000V.

110. A system as in claim 98, further comprising a signal generator that drives said resonator, said signal generator having a characteristic of the signal generator that is matched to a characteristic of the resonator at resonance.

111. A system as in claim 98, wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor.

112. A system as in claim 98, wherein said resonator has a substantially rectangular outer form factor.

113. A method of wirelessly receiving power, comprising:

receiving power from a high-Q resonator, by interacting with said resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a power output from a received magnetic field,

said receiving comprising connecting a receiving circuit directly to a first high-Q resonator, and also receiving wireless power in a second high-Q resonator loop formed of a combination of resonant parts, including at least an inductive part and a capacitance, where said second resonator loop is physically separated from said first high-Q resonator.

114. A method as in claim 113, wherein said resonator has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect that changes a resonant frequency when the second resonator gets too close to said resonator.

115. A method as in claim 114, wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches.

116. A method as in claim 114, wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches.

117. A method as in claim 113, wherein the resonant frequency is set to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz.

118. A method of wirelessly transmitting power, comprising:

producing a magnetic power signal at a first frequency;

coupling said power signal to a first high-Q inductive loop by connecting to said first inductive loop; and

inducing said power signal into a second high-Q inductive loop from the first inductive loop, said second inductive loop having a resonant frequency substantially matched to said first frequency.

119. A method as in claim 118, where said second high-Q inductive loop is physically separated from said first high-Q inductive loop.

120. A method of claim 118, wherein said high-Q inductive loop has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect when a second high-Q resonator gets too close to said high-Q inductive loop.

121. A method as in claim 120, wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches.

122. A method as in claim 120, wherein said useable distance is between 2 and 4 inches.