System comprising a multi-layer-multi-turn structure for high efficiency wireless communication

• US 8,653,927 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nucurrent, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nucurrent, Inc.
• Inventors: Singh, Vinit, Frysz, Christine A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUYEN T
• Application Number:
  US13/233,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 336/200, 336/232, 307/104
• US Class Current: 336/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 17/00 Fixed inductances of the signal type coils in general H01F5/00; inductors without a potential-jump or surface barrier specially adapted for integrated circuits, details thereof and multistep manufacturing processes therefor H01L28/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 17/0006 Printed inductances printed coils for dynamo-electric machines H02K3/26; printed circuits H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 17/0013 with stacked layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2027/2809 on stacked layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2804 Printed windings
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 29/02 with tappings on coil or winding; with provision for rearrangement or interconnection of windings
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/04 for manufacturing coils coils for transformer or inductances H01F27/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/041 Printed circuit coils apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in general H05K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/00 Coils superconducting coils H01F6/06; fixed inductances of the signal type H01F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/003 Printed circuit coils
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/06 Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets electric coils H01F5/00; devices for holding workpieces using electric force B23Q3/15; load-engaging elements for lifting articles electromagnetically B66C1/06; electromagnetic couplings F16D27/00; magnetic brakes F16D63/002; electromagnetically operated valves F16K11/24, F16K31/00; analysing materials by magnetic means G01N27/72, G01N27/80; electromagnets for winding mechanical clocks G04C1/02; electromagnetic relays H01H51/00; windings for salient poles of dynamo-electric machines H02K3/18; electromagnets for telegraphic communication H04L; for arc lamps H05B31/28
• 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: H01R 43/00 : Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 : 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: H02P 13/00 : Arrangements for controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, for the purpose of obtaining a desired output regulation systems using transformers, reactors or choke coils G05F; transformers H01F; feeding a network in conjunction with a generator or a converter H02J; control or regulation of converters H02M
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/01 : Frequency selective two-port networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 : Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/45 : Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 : for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 : for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/06 : Control, e.g. of temperature, of power
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1245 : with special coil arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/36 : Coil arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/362 : with flat coil conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 : incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0352 : Differences between the conductors of different layers of a multilayer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 : Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 : Acoustic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 : Electromagnet, transformer or inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4908 : Acoustic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 : Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49195 : with end-to-end orienting

Abstract

A structure for wireless communication having a plurality of conductor layers, an insulator layer separating each of the conductor layers, and at least one connector connecting two of the conductor layers wherein an electrical resistance is reduced when an electrical signal is induced in the resonator at a predetermined frequency.

Claims

1. A system for wireless communication comprising:

a) a plurality of first conductors, each first conductor having a first conductor length, and a first conductor width, at least two of the plurality of first conductors electrically connected, wherein a first insulator is positioned in between each of the plurality of first conductors forming a first resonator capable of resonating at a first operating frequency, and wherein at least one of the first plurality of conductors comprises a first skin depth and a first conductor thickness equal to or greater than the first skin depth

b) plurality of second conductors, each second conductor having a second conductor length, and a second conductor width, at least two of the plurality of second conductors electrically connected, wherein a second insulator is positioned in between each of the second plurality of conductors forming a second resonator capable of resonating at a second operating frequency, wherein at least one of the second plurality of conductors comprises a second skin depth and a second conductor thickness equal to or greater than the second skin depth; and

c) wherein when a first electrical signal is propagated through the first skin depth of the first resonator, a first electrical resistance within the first resonator is reduced; and

d) wherein when a second electrical signal is propagated through the second skin depth of the second resonator, a second electrical resistance within the second resonator is reduced.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first conductors comprises a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer separated by an insulator layer wherein the first conductor layer is connected to the second conductor layer by at least one connector.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein at least one of plurality of the first and the second conductor layers comprises at least one of a conductive tape, a conductive ribbon, and a deposited metal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first conductor has a first cross-sectional shape and the second conductor has a second cross-sectional shape, the first and second cross-sectional shapes comprising at least one of a circular cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, a square cross-section, a triangular cross-section, and an elliptical cross-section.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and the second signal comprises at least one of an energy signal, a power signal, a data signal, an electrical signal, a time-varying signal, an electrical current, an electrical voltage, and a digital data signal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and the second signals may be substantially the same.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first conductor thickness ranges from the first skin depth to twice the first skin depth and the second conductor thickness ranges from the second skin depth to twice the second skin depth.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first conductor thickness is greater than about twice the first skin depth and the second conductor depth is greater than about twice the second skin depth.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of conductor and insulator layers have at least one turn.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of first and second conductors has substantially the same conductor length, conductor width, or conductor thickness.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the first resonator has a first structural shape and the second resonator has a second structural shape, the first and the second structural shapes comprising at least one of a circular solenoidal configuration, a square solenoidal configuration, a circular spiral configuration, a square spiral configuration, a rectangular configuration, a triangular configuration, a circular spiral-solenoidal configuration, a square spiral-solenoidal configuration, and a conformal solenoid configuration.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one first conductor and at least one second conductor are formed from an electrically conductive material.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the electrically conductive material includes at least one of copper, titanium, platinum and platinum/iridium alloys, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, hafnium, nitinol, Co—

Cr—

Ni alloys, stainless steel, gold, a gold alloy, palladium, carbon, silver, a noble metal, and a biocompatible material.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one first insulator and one second insulator are formed from an electrically insulative material.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the electrically insulative material includes at least one of air, Styrofoam, silicon dioxide, a biocompatible ceramic or any similar dielectric with a low permittivity, a non-conductive dielectric with a high permittivity, and a ferrite material.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the first operating frequency is selected from a frequency range from about 100 kHz to about 3 MHz and the second operating frequency is selected from a frequency range from about 100 kHz to about 3 MHz.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second operating frequency is a frequency band that is within a frequency range from about 100 kHz to about 3 MHz.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the first operating frequency is selected from a frequency range from about 3 MHz to about 10 GHz and the second operating frequency is selected from a frequency range from about 3 MHz to about 10 GHz.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the first and second operating frequency is a frequency band that is within a frequency range from about 3 MHz to about 10 GHz.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the first or second resonator has a quality factor greater than 100.

21. The system of claim 1 further incorporatable within a device comprising at least one of a resonator, an antenna, an RFID tag, an RFID transponder, and a medical device.

22. A system for wireless communication comprising:

a) a plurality of first conductors, each first conductor having a first conductor length, a first conductor width, and a first conductor thickness, at least two of the plurality of first conductors electrically connected, wherein a first insulator is positioned in between each of the plurality of first conductors forming a first resonator capable of resonating at a first operating frequency, and wherein each layer of the plurality of first conductors and first insulators has at least one turn;

b) a plurality of second conductors, each second conductor having a second conductor length, a second conductor width, and a second conductor thickness, at least two of the plurality of second conductors electrically connected, wherein a second insulator is positioned in between each of the plurality of second conductors forming a second resonator capable of resonating at a second operating frequency, and wherein each layer of the plurality of second conductors and second insulators has at least one turn.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first or second operating frequency is at least 3 MHz.

24. A system for wireless communication comprising:

a) a plurality of first conductors, each first conductor having a first conductor length, and a first conductor width, at least two of the plurality of first conductors electrically connected, wherein a first insulator is positioned in between each of the plurality of first conductors forming a first resonator capable of resonating at a first operating frequency, wherein each layer of the plurality of first conductors and first insulators has at least one turn, and wherein at least one of the first plurality of conductors comprises a first skin depth and a first conductor thickness equal to or greater than the first skin depth; and

b) a plurality of second conductors, each second conductor having a second conductor length, and a second conductor width, at least two of the plurality of second conductors electrically connected, wherein a second insulator is positioned in between each of the plurality of second conductors forming a second resonator capable of resonating at a second operating frequency, wherein each layer of the plurality of second conductors and second insulators has at least one turn, and wherein at least one of the second plurality of conductors comprises a second skin depth and a second conductor thickness equal to or greater than the second skin depth;

c) wherein when a first electrical signal is propagated through the first skin depth of the first resonator, a first electrical resistance within the first resonator is reduced; and

d) wherein when a second electrical signal is propagated through the second skin depth of the second resonator, a second electrical resistance within the second resonator is reduced.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the first or second operating frequency is at least 3 MHz.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein at least one of the first and the second signal comprises at least one of an energy signal, a power signal, a data signal, an electrical signal, a time-varying signal, an electrical current, an electrical voltage, and a digital data signal.