REPEATER RESONATOR

• US 20160308403A1
• Filed: 04/12/2016
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minnetronix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minnetronix, Inc.
• Inventors: Bluvshtein, Vlad, Lucke, Lori
• Granted Patent: US 10,193,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/216 including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• 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

Abstract

A repeater for a wireless power transfer system is disclosed. The repeaters includes an elongated strip of material arranged in a substantially circular configuration with opposing ends of the elongated strip disposed in close proximity to each other, an inductive element associated with the elongated strip and arranged to provide a coupling with an adjacent resonator through flux directed outward from a first surface of the elongated strip, and a capacitive element associated with the elongated strip and arranged to resonate electromagnetic energy with the inductive element when the electromagnetic energy is transferred from the adjacent resonator through the coupling provided by the inductive element.

Claims

1. A repeater for a wireless power transfer system, comprising:

an elongated strip of material arranged in a substantially circular configuration with opposing ends of the elongated strip disposed in close proximity to each other;

an inductive element associated with the elongated strip and arranged to provide a coupling with an adjacent resonator through flux directed outward from a first surface of the elongated strip; and

a capacitive element associated with the elongated strip and arranged to resonate electromagnetic energy with the inductive element when the electromagnetic energy is transferred from the adjacent resonator through the coupling provided by the inductive element.

2. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the inductive element includes a conductive pathway arranged along a perimeter of the elongated strip of material.

3. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the inductive element includes a plurality of coils arranged along a length of the elongated strip of material.

4. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the coupling between the repeater and the adjacent resonator is independent of an angular position of the repeater.

5. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the coupling between the repeater and the adjacent resonator is independent of a position of the resonator along a length of the repeater.

6. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the adjacent resonator is a first resonator and at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy that resonates between the inductive and capacitive elements transfers to a second resonator through the coupling provided by the flux directed outward from the first surface.

7. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the first resonator is electrically connected to a power source, and the second resonator is connected to a circuit load.

8. The repeater of claim 7, wherein:

the circuit load is an implanted medical device;

the second resonator is an implanted power transfer coil arranged to provide power to the implanted medical device; and

the repeater is configured to transfer power to the second resonator through the skin of a subject within whom the medical device and the second resonator are implanted.

9. The repeater of claim 8, wherein the repeater is configured to be worn around the waist of the subject within whom the medical device and the second resonator are implanted.

10. The repeater of claim 9, wherein the repeater is embedded within a garment worn by the subject within whom the medical device and the second resonator are implanted.

11. A wireless power transfer system, comprising:

a first resonator;

a repeater resonator inductively coupled to the first resonator and configured to receive electromagnetic energy from the first resonator, the coupling between the repeater and the first resonator being independent of an angular position of the repeater; and

a second resonator inductively coupled to the repeater and configured to receive electromagnetic energy from the repeater, the coupling between the second resonator and the repeater being independent of the angular position of the repeater.

12. The wireless power transfer system of claim 11, wherein the coupling between the repeater and the first and second resonators is independent of a position of the first and second resonators along a length of the repeater.

13. The wireless power transfer system of claim 11, wherein:

the first resonator is electrically connected to a power source and configured as a transmitter; and

the second resonator is electrically connected to a circuit load and configured as a receiver.

14. The wireless power transfer system of claim 13, wherein:

the circuit load is an implanted medical device;

the second resonator is an implanted power transfer coil arranged to provide power to the implanted medical device; and

the repeater is configured to be worn around the waist of a subject within whom the medical device and the second resonator are implanted, the repeater further configured to transfer power to the second resonator through the skin of the subject.

15. The wireless power transfer system of claim 14, wherein the first resonator includes an array of power transmission coils embedded within a mattress.

16. The wireless power transfer system of claim 14, wherein the first resonator includes an array of power transmission coils embedded with a chair.

17. The wireless power transfer system of claim 11, wherein the repeater resonator is a first resonator and at least one of the first and second resonators is a second repeater resonator.