MULTI-RESONATOR WIRELESS ENERGY TRANSFER FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING

• US 20120242225A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Karalis, Aristeidis, Kurs, Andre B., Campanella, Andrew J., Schatz, David A., Lou, Herbert Toby, Kesler, Morris P., Hall, Katherine L., Kulikowski, Konrad, Giler, Eric R., Fiorello, Ron, Soljacic, Marin
• Granted Patent: US 8,441,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/70
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/502 the energy repeater being integrated together with the emitter or the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance

Abstract

A mobile wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply and a second electromagnetic resonator coupled to at least one of a power supply and the first electromagnetic resonator. The mobile wireless receiver includes a load associated with an outdoor lighting unit that draws energy from the load to power a light source associated with the outdoor lighting unit, and a third electromagnetic resonator configured to be coupled to the load and movable relative to at least one of the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator, wherein the third resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to at least one of the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the third electromagnetic resonator from at least one of the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply and a second electromagnetic resonator coupled to at least one of a power supply and the first electromagnetic resonator, the first electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₁, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₁, and a first Q-factor Q₁=ω

₁/2Γ

₁ and the second electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₂, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₂, and a second Q-factor Q₂=ω

₂/2Γ

₂, the mobile wireless receiver comprising;

a load associated with an outdoor lighting unit that draws energy from the load to power a light source associated with the outdoor lighting unit; and

a third electromagnetic resonator configured to be coupled to the load and movable relative to at least one of the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator, the third resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₃, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₃, and a third Q-factor Q₃=(ω

₃/2Γ

₃,

wherein the third resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to at least one of the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the third electromagnetic resonator from at least one of the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator with a wireless energy transfer rate ic, and

wherein the square root of the product of Q₃ with at least one of Q₁ and Q₂ is greater than 100.

2. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is an LED lighting unit.

3. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is an incandescent lighting unit.

4. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is a landscape lighting unit.

5. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the non-radiative wireless power is delivered over a distance greater than the diameter of at least one of the electromagnetic resonators.

6. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator transfers power originating from the first electromagnetic resonator to the third electromagnetic resonator.

7. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit further comprises at least one of a battery and an energy storage unit.

8. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the wireless power at least one of charges a battery and powers the lighting source.

9. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the power supply is tunable.

10. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the power supply is coupled to the first electromagnetic resonator using a wired connection.

11. A power source for wirelessly providing power to a mobile wireless receiver, the power source comprising:

a power supply configured to be placed remote from an outdoor lighting unit; and

a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to the power supply and having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₁, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₁, and a first Q-factor Q₁=ω

₁/2Γ

₁,

wherein the first electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to at least one of a second electromagnetic resonator and a third electromagnetic resonator to provide non-radiative wireless power to at least one of the second electromagnetic resonator and the third electromagnetic resonator, the second electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₂, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₂, and a second Q-factor Q₂=ω

₂/2Γ

₂ and the third resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₃, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₃, and a third Q-factor Q₃=ω

₃/2Γ

₃,

wherein at least one of the second and third electromagnetic resonators is coupled to a load associated with the outdoor lighting unit that draws energy from the load to power a light source associated with the outdoor lighting unit and is moveable relative to the first electromagnetic resonator,

wherein the square root of the product of Q₁ with at least one of Q₂ and Q₃ is greater than 100.

12. The power source of claim 11, wherein the lighting unit is an LED lighting unit.

13. The power source of claim 11, wherein the lighting unit is an incandescent lighting unit.

14. The power source of claim 11, wherein the lighting unit is a landscape lighting unit.

15. The power source of claim 11, wherein the non-radiative wireless power is delivered over a distance greater than the diameter of at least one of the electromagnetic resonators.

16. The power source of claim 11, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator transfers power originating from the first electromagnetic resonator to the third electromagnetic resonator.

17. The power source of claim 11, wherein the lighting unit further comprises at least one of a battery and an energy storage unit.

18. The power source of claim 11, wherein the wireless power at least one of charges a battery and powers the lighting source.

19. The power source of claim 11, wherein the power supply is tunable.

20. The power source of claim 11, wherein the power supply is coupled to the first electromagnetic resonator using a wired connection.

21. A mobile wireless power system, comprising:

a first electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₁, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₁, and a first Q-factor Q₁=ω

₁/2Γ

₁;

a second electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₂, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₂, and a second Q-factor Q₂=ω

₂/2Γ

₂; and

a third electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₃, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₃, and a third Q-factor Q₃=ω

₃/2Γ

₃;

wherein at least one of the electromagnetic resonators is coupled to a power supply and at least one of the electromagnetic resonators is coupled to a load associated with the outdoor lighting unit that draws energy from the load to power a light source associated with an outdoor lighting unit;

wherein at least two of the electromagnetic resonators are moveable relative to each other while transferring power; and

wherein the square root of the product of at least two of the respective Q factors is greater than 100.

22. The wireless power system of claim 21, wherein the lighting unit is an LED lighting unit.

23. The wireless power system of claim 21, wherein the lighting unit is an incandescent lighting unit.

24. The wireless power system of claim 21, wherein the lighting unit is a landscape lighting unit.

25. The wireless power system of claim 21, wherein the non-radiative wireless power is delivered over a distance greater than the diameter of at least one of the electromagnetic resonators.

26. The wireless power system of claim 21, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator transfers power originating from the first electromagnetic resonator to the third electromagnetic resonator.

27. The wireless power system of claim 21, wherein the lighting unit further comprises at least one of a battery and an energy storage unit.

28. The wireless power system of claim 21, wherein the wireless power at least one of charges a battery and powers the lighting source.

29. The wireless power system of claim 21, wherein the power supply is tunable.

30. The wireless power system of claim 21, wherein the power supply is coupled to the first electromagnetic resonator using a wired connection.