Apparatus, System, and Method for Multicoil Telemetry

• US 20120228958A1
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Original Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Inventors: Rakhyani, Anil K. Ram, Lazzi, Gianluca
• Granted Patent: US 9,368,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2038/143 for signals
• 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 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for multicoil telemetry are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an intermediate coil disposed between a driving coil and a receiving coil, where the intermediate coil is configured to act on magnetic fields between the driving coil and receiving coil in order to provide improved coupling efficiency. The improved coupling may assist in providing efficient power transfer and/or data transfer utilizing the magnetic fields. In some embodiments the receiving coil may be in direct communication with the intermediate coil, without any other intermediate coils. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a second intermediate coil disposed between the driving coil and receiving coil to improve the transfer efficiency between the driving and receiving coils. The intermediate coils may have a high quality factor and be configured to decouple the resistance between the driving and receiving coils.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a driving inductive unit, the driving inductive unit coupled to an electric source and configured to generate an alternating magnetic field; and

an intermediate inductive unit disposed between the driving inductive unit and a receiving inductive unit, wherein;

the intermediate inductive unit is configured to alter the shape of the generated alternating magnetic field to optimize coupling efficiency between the driving inductive unit and the receiving inductive unit; and

the driving inductive unit is configured to be in communication with the receiving inductive unit without any other intermediate inductive units.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to transfer power from the driving inductive unit to the receiving inductive unit via a wireless link.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is further configured to charge, via the wireless link, a battery connected to the receiving inductive unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to transfer data via a wireless link.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the data comprises control signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving inductive unit is configured to capture the alternating magnetic field and provide a voltage output.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving inductive unit is implanted in an object.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the object is a human body.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the object is a machine.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further configured to transmit a control signal to the receiving inductive unit to operate the object.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intermediate inductive unit is configured to decouple the resistance between the driving and receiving inductive units.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the quality factor of the intermediate inductive unit is not affected by the driving and receiving inductive units.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intermediate inductive unit has a high quality factor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second intermediate inductive unit disposed between the intermediate inductive unit and the receiving inductive unit, wherein:

the second intermediate inductive unit is configured to alter the shape of the alternating magnetic field to optimize coupling efficiency between the receiving inductive unit and the driving inductive unit, the second intermediate inductive unit disposed proximate to the receiving inductive unit; and

wherein the apparatus is further configured to transmit data using the alternating magnetic field.

15. A system comprising:

a receiving inductive unit, the receiving inductive unit configured to capture an alternating magnetic field from a driving inductive unit and provide a voltage output;

an intermediate inductive unit disposed between the receiving inductive unit and the driving inductive unit, the intermediate inductive unit disposed proximate to the receiving inductive unit, wherein;

the intermediate inductive unit is configured to alter the shape of the alternating magnetic field to optimize coupling efficiency between the receiving inductive unit and the driving inductive unit; and

the receiving inductive unit is configured to be in communication with the driving inductive unit without any other intermediate inductive units.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driving inductive unit is configured to generate an alternating magnetic field.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the receiving inductive unit and the intermediate inductive unit are implanted in an object.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the system further comprises a second intermediate inductive unit disposed between the intermediate inductive unit and the receiving inductive unit, wherein:

the second intermediate inductive unit is configured to alter the shape of the alternating magnetic field to optimize coupling efficiency between the receiving inductive unit and the driving inductive unit, said second intermediate inductive unit disposed proximate to said driving inductive unit; and

wherein said system is further configured to transmit data using said alternating magnetic field.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second intermediate inductive unit is configured to decouple the resistance between the driving and receiving inductive units.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the second intermediate inductive unit has a high quality factor.

32. The method of claim 19, wherein the quality factor of the intermediate inductive unit is not affected by the driving and receiving inductive units.

33. The method of claim 15, wherein the intermediate inductive unit has a high quality factor.

21. A method comprising:

forming a driving inductive unit, the driving inductive unit coupled to an electric source and configured to generate an alternating magnetic field; and

forming an intermediate inductive unit disposed between the driving inductive unit and a receiving inductive unit, wherein;

the intermediate inductive unit is configured to alter the shape of the generated alternating magnetic field to optimize coupling efficiency between the driving inductive unit and the receiving inductive unit; and

the driving inductive unit configured to be in communication with the receiving inductive unit without any other intermediate inductive units.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the driving inductive unit is configured to transfer power to the receiving inductive unit via a wireless link.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the driving inductive unit is configured to charge, via the wireless link, a battery connected to the receiving inductive unit.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the driving inductive unit is configured to transfer data to the receiving inductive unit via a wireless link.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the data comprises control signals.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the receiving inductive unit is configured to capture the alternating magnetic field and provide a voltage output.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving inductive unit is implanted in an object.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the object is a human body.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the object is a machine.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the driving inductive unit is configured to transmit a control signal to the receiving inductive unit to operate the object.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the intermediate inductive unit is configured to decouple the resistance between the driving and receiving inductive units.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the object is a human body.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the object is a machine.

34. An apparatus comprising:

a receiving inductive unit configure to capture an alternating magnetic field generated by a driving inductive unit wherein said alternating magnetic field includes data information; and

an intermediate inductive unit disposed between the receiving inductive unit and the driving inductive unit, wherein;

the intermediate inductive unit is configured to alter the shape of the generated alternating magnetic field to optimize coupling efficiency between the driving inductive unit and the receiving inductive unit; and

wherein the receiving unit and intermediate inductive unit are configured to receive the alternating magnetic field generated by the driving unit after it has been further altered by a second intermediate inductive unit.

35. The apparatus of 34, wherein the apparatus is implantable in an object.