Integrated Antenna Structure Arrays for Wireless Power Transmission

• US 20160020647A1
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A., Contopanagos, Harry
• Granted Patent: US 10,381,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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

Abstract

A plurality of integrated antenna structures described herein may be formed in a flat panel antenna arrays which may be arranged in equally spaced grid and may be used in transmitters for sending focused RF waves towards a receiver for wireless power charging or powering. Each of the integrated antenna structures may include planar inverted-F antennas (PIFAs) integrated with artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) metamaterials. As a result of their high directionality and form factor, the integrated antenna structures may be placed very close together, thus enabling the integration of a high number of integrated antenna structures in a single flat panel antenna array which may fit about 400+ integrated antenna structures. Each integrated antenna structure in the flat panel antenna arrays may be operated independently, thus enabling an enhanced control over the pocket forming. In addition, the higher number of integrated antenna structures may contribute to a higher gain for the flat panel antenna arrays.

Claims

1. A flat panel antenna array for transmitting focused radio-frequency (RF) waves towards a receiver to provide wireless power thereto, comprising:

N number of integrated antenna structures, distributed in an at least substantially equally spaced grid, said grid comprising spacing between the integrated antenna structures of about 1/10λ

to about 1/15λ

, and wherein N is varied with at least one of a desired range and power of the transmitting.

2. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein the grid comprises a substantially rectangular shape, and wherein the grid comprise dimensions of about 16 inches by about 14 inches.

3. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein said grid spacing results from a high directionality of the integrated antenna structures.

4. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein said grid spacing minimizes coupling between ones of the integrated antenna structures.

5. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein N comprises about 418 of the integrated antenna structures.

6. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein each of the integrated antenna structures is suitable for independent operation.

7. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein at least a gain and phase of each of the integrated antenna structures is capable of adjustment.

8. The flat panel antenna array of claim 7, wherein the adjustment is suitable to provide a narrower beam of the RF.

9. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein the grid comprises a circular arrangement of the integrated antenna structures.

10. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein the grid comprises a polygonal arrangement of the integrated antenna structures.

11. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein the grid comprises a multi-faceted arrangement of the integrated antenna structures.

12. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, wherein the integrated antenna structures operate in at least one frequency band of the RF selected from the group consisting of 900 MHz, 2.5 GHz, 5.8 GHz, and independent frequencies.

13. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, further comprising at least one RFIC connected to at least one of the integrated antenna structures.

14. The flat panel antenna array of claim 13, wherein a grouped subset of the integrated antenna structures is connected to a single RFIC.

15. The flat panel antenna array of claim 14, wherein the grouped subset comprises 4 of the integrated antenna structures.

16. The flat panel antenna array of claim 14, wherein the grouped subset comprises a row of the integrated antenna structures.

17. The flat panel antenna array of claim 14, wherein the grouped subset comprises a column of the integrated antenna structures.

18. The flat panel antenna array of claim 13, further comprising at least one second RFIC serially connected to the at least one RFIC.

19. The flat panel antenna array of claim 13, further comprising at least one microcontroller connected to ones of the at least one RFIC.

20. The flat panel antenna array of claim 1, further comprising one RFIC connected to each of the integrated antenna structures.