WIRELESS ENERGY TRANSFER USING REPEATER RESONATORS

• US 20110095618A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Kesler, Morris P., Schatz, David A., Hall, Katherine L., Kurs, Andre B., Kulikowski, Konrad J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,601,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2823 Wires H01F27/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 37/00 Fixed inductances not covered by group H01F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 2001/0057 comprising magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance

Abstract

Described herein are improved configurations for a device for wireless power transfer that includes a conductor forming at least one loop of a high-Q resonator, a capacitive part electrically coupled to the conductor, and a power and control circuit electrically coupled to the conductor, the power and control circuit providing two or more modes of operation and the power and control circuit selecting how the high-Q resonator receives and generates an oscillating magnetic field.

Claims

1. A device for wireless power transfer comprising:

a conductor forming at least one loop of a high-Q resonator;

a capacitive part electrically coupled to the conductor; and

a power and control circuit electrically coupled to the conductor, the power and control circuit providing two or more modes of operation and the power and control circuit selecting how the high-Q resonator receives and generates an oscillating magnetic field.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the two or more modes of operation include a repeater mode of operation wherein the high-Q resonator is used to wirelessly receive power from a source and wirelessly transmit power to a receiver.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the two or more modes of operation include a source mode of operation wherein the high-Q resonator is used to generate a magnetic field.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the two or more modes of operation include a device mode of operation wherein the high-Q resonator is used to convert an oscillating magnetic field into electrical energy.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a battery coupled to the power and control circuit.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the battery is charged during the device mode of operation.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the battery is charged during the repeater mode of operation.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is integrated into a table.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is integrated into a piece of furniture.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is integrated into a bag.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the high-Q resonator has a quality factor Q>

100.

12. A method of operating a resonator comprising:

providing a conductor forming at least one loop of a high-Q resonator;

providing a capacitive part electrically coupled to the conductor;

providing a power and control circuit electrically coupled to the conductor;

measuring one or more operational parameters of one or more components of the high-Q resonator; and

selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation of the power and control circuit based on the one or more operational parameters.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of modes of operation includes a repeater mode of operation wherein the high-Q resonator is used to wirelessly receive power from a source and wirelessly transmit power to a receiver.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of modes of operation includes a source mode of operation wherein the high-Q resonator is used to generate a magnetic field.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of modes of operation includes a device mode of operation wherein the high-Q resonator is used to convert an oscillating magnetic field into electrical energy.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising electrically coupling a battery to the power and control circuit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising charging the battery during the device mode of operation.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising charging the battery during the repeater mode of operation.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising integrating the high-Q resonator into a table.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising integrating the high-Q resonator into a piece of furniture.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising integrating the high-Q resonator into a bag.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising integrating the high-Q resonator into a container.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the high-Q resonator has a quality factor Q>

100.