Apparatus for transmitting and receiving wireless energy using meta-material structures having zero refractive index

• US 8,779,629 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soongsil University Research Consortium Techno-Park, Wit Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group), Soongsil University Research Consortium Techno-Park
• Inventors: Kim, Hyoung Jun, Seo, Chul Hun, Kim, Eung Ju, Kim, Jeong Hoon, Hwang, Sang Hoon, Park, Chul Gyun, Lee, Kwang Du, Yoon, Jung Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US12/848,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20110266879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for transmitting and receiving wireless energy using meta-material structures having a zero refractive index. The apparatus includes a wireless energy transmission unit and a wireless energy reception unit. When external power is applied thereto, the wireless energy transmission unit generates wireless energy to be wirelessly transmitted, and then wirelessly transmits wireless energy, which is normally propagated radially when the generated wireless energy is transmitted, using a magnetic resonance method while concentrating the wireless energy in one direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving wireless energy using meta-material structures having a zero refractive index, comprising:

a wireless energy transmission unit for, when external power is applied thereto, generating wireless energy to be wirelessly transmitted, and then wirelessly transmitting wireless energy, which is normally propagated radially when the generated wireless energy is transmitted, using a magnetic resonance method while concentrating the wireless energy in one direction; and

a wireless energy reception unit for wirelessly receiving the wireless energy, transmitted by the wireless energy transmission unit, using the magnetic resonance method while concentrating the wireless energy in one direction,

wherein the wireless energy transmission unit comprises a wireless transmission loop configured to, when external power is applied thereto, generate the wireless energy using a resonance frequency based on an inductor L and a capacitor C and then wirelessly transmit the generated wireless energy using the magnetic resonance method and a wireless transmission meta-material structure placed in a wireless transmission path, and configured to have a zero refractive index so as to transmit the wireless energy, which is normally propagated radially when the generated wireless energy is transmitted, while concentrating the wireless energy in one direction, and

wherein the wireless transmission meta-material structure includes a substrate configured to have a diameter larger than that of the wireless transmission loop and a meta-material structure configured such that the first meta cells composed by gaps of two thin metal films that are faced to each other in a split ring resonance pattern having the same shape and size are repeatedly arranged on the substrate.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission loop comprises:

a disk unit comprising first and second conductor plates configured to correspond to each other and to be spaced apart from each other and a dielectric material inserted between the first and second conductor plates, the disk unit functioning as a capacitor so that an electric field can be induced between the first and second conductor plates; and

a ring-shaped wire unit having one end connected to the first conductor plate and a remaining end connected to the second conductor plate, the ring- shaped wire unit functioning as an inductor so that a magnetic field can be induced by the electric field.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the wire unit further comprises first and second terminals for connecting with the power, and

when the power is applied through the first and second terminals, current flows through the wire unit and thus the electric field is generated in the disk unit, so that the magnetic field is induced in the wire unit by the generated electric field, with the result that the wireless energy is transmitted using the magnetic resonance method.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the meta-material structure comprises:

a plurality of second meta cells each formed of one thin metal film having a split ring resonator form and repeatedly formed on a side of the substrate so that gaps of the thin metal films are directed toward an identical direction so as to have directionality.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless energy reception unit comprises:

a wireless reception loop configured to wirelessly receive the wireless energy, transmitted by the wireless energy transmission unit, using the magnetic resonance method using a resonance frequency according to an inductor L and a capacitor C; and

a wireless reception meta-material structure placed in a wireless reception path and configured to have the zero refractive index and to receive the wireless energy while concentrating the wireless energy in one direction.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the wireless reception loop comprises:

a disk unit comprising first and second conductor plates configured to correspond to each other and to be spaced apart from each other and a dielectric material inserted between the first and second conductor plates, the disk unit functioning as a capacitor so that an electric field can be induced between the first and second conductor plates; and

a ring-shaped wire unit having one end connected to the first conductor plate and a remaining end connected to the second conductor plate, the ring-shaped wire unit functioning as an inductor so that a magnetic field can be induced by the electric field.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the wire unit further comprises first and second terminals for connecting with a load device, and

when the wireless energy is received from the wireless energy transmission unit using the magnetic resonance method, the electric field is induced in the disk unit and thus the magnetic field is induced in the wire unit by the induced electric field, so that the induced magnetic field causes current to flow through the wire unit, with the result that the load device is supplied or charged with the wireless energy.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the wireless reception meta-material structure comprises:

a substrate configured to have a diameter larger than that of the wireless reception loop; and

a meta-material structure configured such that meta cells having a split ring resonance pattern are repeatedly arranged on the substrate.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the meta-material structure comprises:

a plurality of first meta cells each formed of one or more thin metal films having a split ring resonator form and repeatedly formed on upper and lower surfaces of the substrate in an identical manner so as to have symmetry; and

a plurality of second meta cells each formed of one thin metal film having a split ring resonator form and repeatedly formed on a side of the substrate so that gaps of the thin metal films are directed toward an identical direction so as to have directionality.