LOW RESISTANCE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR

• US 20120062345A1
• Filed: 08/31/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Kurs, Andre B., Kesler, Morris P.
• Application Number:
  US13/222,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20120062345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/235
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/026 Alloys based on copper
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance

Abstract

Described herein are improved configurations low loss electrical conductors. The designs for a conductive wire include several mutually insulated coaxial conducting shells. The shells extend through the length of the conductive wire with each successive outer shell completely covering each inner shell. The distribution and size of each may be optimized for frequency, current loads and other parameters to increase the effective cross section of the effective conductor wire. The proposed structures provide for a reduced effective resistance for oscillating currents of frequencies of 1 MHz or more.

Claims

1. A low-loss electrical conductive structure having a length, the conductive structure comprising:

an innermost conductor shell that extends the length of the conductive structure;

at least two nested concentric conductor shells that extend the length of the conductive structure, each of the at least two nested concentric conductor shells enclosing a preceding conductor shell and having an insulating material therebetween; and

an outermost conductor shell that extends the length of the conductive structure and having an insulating material between itself and the preceding conductor shell.

2. The wire of claim 1, wherein the wire comprises at least two outer conductor shells.

3. The wire of claim 1, wherein the cross section of the conductor shells is substantially round.

4. The wire of claim 1, wherein the cross section of the conductor shells is substantially rectangular.

5. The wire of claim 1, wherein the wire is fabricated on a printed circuit board.

6. The wire of claim 1, wherein the number and thickness of the innermost and outer conductor shells is designed to reduce resistance of the wire for 1 MHz and higher frequencies.

7. The wire of claim 1, wherein the number and thickness of the innermost and outer conductor shells is designed to reduce resistance of the wire for 5 MHz and higher frequencies.

8. The wire of claim 1, wherein the number and thickness of the innermost and outer conductor shells is designed to conduct at least 200 mA of current.

9. The wire of claim 1, wherein the innermost conductor shell is hollow.

10. The wire of claim 1, wherein the conductor shells are made of copper.

11. The wire of claim 1, wherein the conductor shells are each of a solid conducting material.

12. The wire of claim 1, where the wire is fabricated using an electroplating process.

13. A high frequency wireless power transfer resonator with low-loss electrical wire suitable for the transmission of high frequency alternating current electrical power having a length and a z-axis, the resonator comprising:

a wire having a single innermost conductor shell that extends along the z-axis of the wire, and a plurality of concentric outer conductor shells that extend along the z-axis of the wire, forming successive shells separated by an insulator around the innermost conductor shell, wherein each successive outer conductor shell surrounds and encloses all inner shells; and

wherein the wire is shaped to form at least one loop.

14. The resonator of claim 13, wherein the ends of the wire are coupled to a capacitance.

15. The resonator of claim 13, wherein the capacitance may be used to adjust to the resonant frequency of the resonator.