RF power transmission network and method

• US 7,639,994 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Original Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Inventors: McElhinny, Michael T., Greene, Charles E., Harrist, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Blane J
• Application Number:
  US11/881,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.1, 455/343.1, 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/12.1, 455/14, 455/15, 455/16, 455/19, 455/20, 455/24, 455/25, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/539.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 333/116
• US Class Current: 455/129
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits

Abstract

Disclosed is an RF power transmission network. The network includes at least one RF power transmitter, at least one power tapping component, and at least one load. The at least one RF power transmitter, the at least one power tapping component, and the at least one load are connected in series. The RF power transmitter sends power through the network. The power is radiated from the network to be received by a device to be charged, re-charged, or directly powered by the power.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an RF power transmitter configured to generate power;

a first power tapping component coupled to the RF power transmitter, the first power tapping component configured to separate the power received from the RF power transmitter to produce a first power portion and a second power portion;

a second power tapping component coupled to the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component configured to separate the second power portion to produce a third power portion and a fourth power portion;

a first antenna coupled to the first power tapping component, the first antenna configured to transmit the first power portion received from the first power tapping component;

a second antenna coupled to the second power tapping component, the second antenna configured to transmit the third power portion received from the second power tapping component; and

a controller in communication with at least one of the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component, the first antenna, or the second antenna.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first power tapping component includes a directional coupler.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the directional coupler includes a field adjustable directional coupler.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a terminating load coupled to the second power tapping component.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission line configured to couple the RF power transmitter and the first power tapping component.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission line configured to couple the first power tapping component and the second power tapping component.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to alter a frequency of the first power portion transmitted at the first antenna.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is a first controller, the apparatus further comprising:

a second controller in communication with the first controller, the second controller in communication with at least one of the RF power transmitter, the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component, the first antenna, or the second antenna.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the RF power transmitter, the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component, the first antenna, and the second antenna are collectively configured to wirelessly transmit the power generated by the RF power transmitter via at least one pulse of power.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna includes a transmission line.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the first power tapping component is configured to rectify a portion of the power generated by the RF power transmitter to produce a DC power; and

the first power tapping component is configured to operate based on a portion of the DC power.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the RF transmitter includes a first connector configured to couple the RF power transmitter to the first power tapping component, and

the first power tapping component includes a second connector configured to couple the first power tapping component to the second power tapping component.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to alter at least one of a radiation pattern of the first power portion transmitted at the first antenna or a polarization of the first power portion transmitted at the first antenna.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to enable transmission of the first power portion at the first antenna during a first period; and

the controller is configured to disable transmission of the third power portion at the second antenna during a second period, a portion of the first period including at least a portion of the second period.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the RF transmitter is configured to generate a DC power; and

the first power tapping component is configured to receive at least a portion of the DC power and operate based on the portion of the DC power.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a first RF power transmitter configured to generate power;

a first power tapping component coupled to the RF power transmitter, the first power tapping component configured to separate the power received from the RF power transmitter to produce a first power portion and a second power portion;

a second power tapping component coupled to the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component configured to separate the second power portion to produce a third power portion and a fourth power portion;

a first antenna coupled to the first power tapping component, the first antenna configured to transmit the first power portion received from the first power tapping component;

a second antenna coupled to the second power tapping component, the second antenna configured to transmit the third power portion received from the second power tapping component; and

a second RF power transmitter configured to generate power, the second RF power transmitter coupled to the second power tapping component.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a controller in communication with at least one of the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component, the first antenna, the second antenna, or the second RF power transmitter.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first power tapping component includes a bi-directional coupler.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first power tapping component includes a power distributor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a third RF power transmitter configured to generate power;

a third power tapping component coupled to the first power tapping component and to the second power tapping component, the third power tapping component configured to separate the power received from the third RF power transmitter to produce a fifth power portion and a sixth power portion; and

a third antenna coupled to the third power tapping component, the third antenna configured to transmit the fifth power portion received from the third power tapping component.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a controller in communication with at least one of the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component, the third power tapping component, the first antenna, the second antenna, the third antenna, the second RF power transmitter, or the third RF power transmitter.

22. An apparatus comprising:

an RF power transmitter configured to generate power;

a first power tapping component coupled to the RF power transmitter, the first power tapping component configured to separate the power received from the RF power transmitter to produce a first power portion and a second power portion, the first power tapping component including a switch;

a second power tapping component coupled to the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component configured to separate the second power portion to produce a third power portion and a fourth power portion;

a first antenna coupled to the first power tapping component, the first antenna configured to transmit the first power portion received from the first power tapping component; and

a second antenna coupled to the second power tapping component, the second antenna configured to transmit the third power portion received from the second power tapping component.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the switch is configured to be controlled via a control line.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the switch is configured to be controlled by sensing power.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the sensed power includes a first pulse of power and a second pulse of power.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first pulse of power has a duration different from a duration of the second pulse of power.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first pulse of power occurs at a different time instance than the second pulse of power.

28. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the switch is configured to be controlled via a communications signal.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the communications signal is received by the switch via a coaxial cable.

30. An apparatus comprising:

an RF power transmitter configured to generate power;

a first power tapping component coupled to the RF power transmitter, the first power tapping component configured to separate the power received from the RF power transmitter to produce a first power portion and a second power portion;

a second power tapping component coupled to the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component configured to separate the second power portion to produce a third power portion and a fourth power portion;

a first antenna coupled to the first power tapping component, the first antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the first power portion received from the first power tapping component, the first power tapping component and the first antenna collectively configured to wirelessly transmit a portion of the first power portion via at least a first pulse of power, the first pulse of power having a first duration; and

a second antenna coupled to the second power tapping component, the second antenna configured to transmit the third power portion received from the second power tapping component, the second power tapping component and the second antenna collectively configured to wirelessly transmit a portion of the second power portion via at least a second pulse of power, the second pulse of power having a second duration different from the first duration.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising:

a controller in communication with at least one of the first power tapping component, the second power tapping component, the first antenna, or the second antenna.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first power tapping components includes a switch.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein:

the first power tapping component is configured to rectify a portion of the power generated by the RF power transmitter to produce a DC power; and

the first power tapping component is configured to operate based on a portion of the DC power.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

the first power tapping component and the first antenna are collectively configured to wirelessly transmit the portion of the first power portion via at least the first pulse of power and a third pulse of power, the first pulse of power and the third pulse of power separated by a first period; and

the second power tapping component and the second antenna are collectively configured to wirelessly transmit the portion of the second power portion via at least the second pulse of power and a fourth pulse of power, the second pulse of power and the fourth pulse of power separated by a second period different from the first period.

35. A method, comprising:

generating a first RF power signal during a first period;

generating a second RF power signal during a second period, at least a portion of the second period concurrent with a portion of the first period, and at least a portion of the second portion being mutually exclusive from a portion of the period;

separating the first RF power signal into a first portion of the first RF power signal and a second portion of the first RF power signal at a first power tapping component;

transmitting the first portion of the first RF power signal at an antenna;

providing at least a portion of the second portion of the first RF power signal to a second power tapping component coupled to the first power tapping component; and

providing the second RF power signal to the second power tapping component.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising:

receiving at least a portion of the transmitted first portion of the first RF power signal at a remote device; and

converting the at least a portion of the first portion of the first RF power signal received at the remote device to DC power.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

activating a first switch coupled to the first power tapping component and the first antenna such that the first portion of the generated RF power signal is transmitted as at least one on-off modulated pulse of power; and

activating a second switch coupled to the second power tapping component and the second antenna such that the third portion of the generated RF power signal is transmitted as at least one on-off modulated pulse of power.

38. The method according to claim 35 wherein the antenna is a first antenna, the method further comprising:

separating the second portion of the first RF power signal into a third portion of the first RF power signal and a fourth portion of the first RF power signal at the second power tapping component; and

transmitting the third portion of the generated first RF power signal at a second antenna coupled to the second power tapping component.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising activating a switch coupled to the first power tapping component and the first antenna such that the first portion of the generated RF power signal is an on-off modulated pulse of power.