REPEATERS FOR ENHANCEMENT OF WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER

• US 20140103881A1
• Filed: 12/16/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Mohammadian, Alireza Hormoz, Ozaki, Ernest T., Grob, Matthew S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• 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: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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 50/80 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0031 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 : for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/02 : using transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 : Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 : for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. A wireless power transfer system include a transmit circuit with a transmit antenna driven from a power amplifier to generate a near field radiation at a resonant frequency within a first coupling mode region surrounding the transmit antenna. One or more repeater antennas are disposed at different locations within the first coupling mode region. Each repeater antenna generates an enhanced near field radiation at the resonant frequency within a coupling mode region corresponding to that repeater antenna. One or more receive circuits including a receive antenna receive power when they are disposed in one of the coupling mode regions corresponding to that repeater antenna.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transferring power wirelessly, comprising:

a transmit antenna of a first size configured to generate a first electromagnetic field; and

a repeater antenna of a second size comprising a loop antenna and a capacitive element, the second size smaller than the first size, the repeater antenna located within a perimeter of the transmit antenna, the repeater antenna configured to receive power within the first electromagnetic field and to generate a second electromagnetic field, the second electromagnetic field comprising an improved electromagnetic field at least within an area defined by dimensions of the repeater antenna when compared to the first electromagnetic field within the area defined by dimensions of the repeater antenna.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the repeater antenna is further disposed in a substantially coaxial position relative to the transmit antenna.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the repeater antenna is further disposed in a substantially coplanar position relative to the transmit antenna.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electromagnetic field generated by the transmit antenna and the second electromagnetic field generated by the repeater antenna are at substantially a same frequency.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the frequency is a resonant frequency of the repeater antenna.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the repeater antenna further comprises an amplifier operably coupled to the loop antenna and the capacitive element, the amplifier configured to amplify the first electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency of the repeater antenna.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit antenna and the repeater antenna are configured to transfer power wirelessly to a receive antenna configured to receive power stored in at least one of the first electromagnetic field and the second electromagnetic field.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a de-tuning circuit, coupled to the receive antenna, is configured to inhibit resonance of the receive antenna.

9. A wireless charging method, comprising:

generating, by a transmit antenna of a first size, a first electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency; and

generating, by a repeater antenna of a second size located within a perimeter of the transmit antenna, a second electromagnetic field at the resonant frequency, the second size smaller than the first size, the second electromagnetic field comprising an improved electromagnetic field at least within an area defined by dimensions of the repeater antenna when compared to the first electromagnetic field within the area defined by dimensions of the repeater antenna.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting power stored in at least one of the first electromagnetic field and the second electromagnetic field to a receive antenna.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising de-tuning the receive antenna by selectively modifying a resonant frequency of the receive antenna.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising de-tuning the receive antenna by selectively operating a switch configured to electrically short at least a portion of a capacitor operably coupled to the receive antenna in order to inhibit resonance of the receive antenna.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the second electromagnetic field further comprises disposing the repeater antenna in a substantially coaxial position relative to the transmit antenna.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the second electromagnetic field further comprises disposing the repeater antenna in a substantially coplanar position relative to the transmit antenna.

15. A wireless power transfer system, comprising:

a repeater antenna of a first size configured to receive power via a first electromagnetic field generated by a transmit antenna of a second size, the first size smaller than the second size, the repeater antenna configured to generate a second electromagnetic field, the second electromagnetic field comprising an improved electromagnetic field at least within an area defined by dimensions of the repeater antenna when compared to the first electromagnetic field within the area defined by dimensions of the repeater antenna.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first repeater antenna and the second repeater antenna are further configured to transfer power wirelessly to a plurality of receive antennas, each receive antenna configured to receive power stored in at least one of the first electromagnetic field or the second electromagnetic field.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first repeater antenna and the second repeater antenna are further disposed within a perimeter of the transmit antenna.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first repeater antenna and the second repeater antenna is further disposed in a substantially coplanar position relative to the transmit antenna.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first repeater antenna is further disposed in a substantially coaxial position relative to the transmit antenna.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the second repeater antenna is further disposed in a substantially coplanar position relative to the transmit antenna.