Wireless power transmission using phased array antennae

• US 8,879,995 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings Americas Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Viconics Electronics Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Viglione, Louis, Mason, Dino, Primiani, Paolo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): TALUKDER, MD K
• Application Number:
  US12/645,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/42, 455/25, 455/73, 455/127.1, 375/308, 375/269, 375/273, 375/323
• US Class Current: 455/42
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0682 using phase diversity (e.g. phase sweeping)

Abstract

A remote device powering module, system and method for providing RF power to an electronic device located in a bounded area. The remote device powering module comprises a phased array antenna and is connected to a source to convert the power to an electric signal and to apply a phase reference to the electrical signal. The electrical signal is shifted with a shifting module and phased array antenna that comprises a plurality of radiating elements generates and transmits RF power via RF waves using the phase reference and the shifted phase. The RF power is then converted by the receiver to direct-voltage to be provided to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A remote device powering module adapted to be connected to a source for providing power via Radio Frequency (RF) waves to an electronic device located in a bounded area, the device comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting RF power to the electric device, the transmitter comprising;

at least one connector for providing an electrical connection with the power source;

a conversion circuit for converting power from the source to an electrical signal having a reference phase;

a phase shifter module for shifting the reference phase of the electrical signal; and

a phased array antenna mounted to the transmitter and having a plurality of radiating elements adapted to transmit the electrical signal at a plurality of phases,

the phase shifter module adapted to determine, prior to transmission of the electrical signal as RF power from the phased array antenna to the electronic device, a phase shift increment between at least a pair of the plurality of radiating elements to cause at least one of a constructive radiation intensity in a first direction and a destructive radiation intensity in a second direction upon radiation being emitted by the plurality of radiating elements, and to apply the phase shift increment to the reference phase of the electrical signal to create a shifted electrical signal provided to at least one of the at least pair of plurality of radiating elements.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the phase array antenna is a frequency scanning array antenna.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter comprises a synthesizer for generating a digital frequency for the electrical signal.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the phase shifter module is connected to the synthesizer of the transmitter.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the phase shifter module is a vector modulator.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of amplifiers.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein each radiating element of the plurality of radiating elements is connected to an amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers.

8. A method for providing power from a source to an electronic device located in a bounded area, the method comprising:

converting power from the source to an electrical signal;

generating at least two electrical signals, the at least two signals having a reference phase;

shifting a phase of at least one of the at least two signals by applying a phase shift increment to the reference phase and sending the at least two signals to at least two radiating elements of a phased array antenna, the phase shift increment being between the at least two radiating elements and determined to cause at least one of a constructive radiation intensity in a first direction and a destructive radiation intensity in a second direction upon radiation being emitted by the at least two radiation elements; and

transmitting RF power from the phased array antenna to the electronic device, the RF power being transmitted via RF waves.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the generating comprises generating by a synthesizer a digital frequency to be applied to the at least two electrical signals.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising amplifying the at least two electrical signals.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the shifting a phase occurs before the generating at least two electrical signals.

12. A system for providing power via Radio Frequency (RF) waves from a source to an electronic device located in a bounded area, the system comprising:

a remote device powering module adapted to be connected to the source, the device comprising;

a transmitter for transmitting RF power to the electronic device, the transmitter comprising;

at least one connector for providing an electrical connection with the power source;

a conversion circuit for converting power from the source to an electrical signal having a reference phase;

a phase shifter module for shifting the reference phase of the electrical signal;

a phased array antenna mounted to the transmitter and having a plurality of radiating elements adapted to transmit the electrical signal at a plurality of phases, the phase shifter module adapted to determine, prior to transmission of the electrical signal as RF power from the phased array antenna to the electronic device, a phase shift increment between at least a pair of the plurality of radiating elements to cause at least one of a constructive radiation intensity in a first direction and a destructive radiation intensity in a second direction upon radiation being emitted by the plurality of radiating elements, and to apply the phase shift increment to the reference phase of the electrical signal to create a shifted electrical signal provided to at least one of the at least pair of plurality of radiating elements; and

a receiver connected to the electronic device for detecting the RF power transmitted by the transmitter and converting the RF power to direct current (DC) voltage to be provided to the electronic device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmitter comprises a synthesizer for generating a digital frequency for the electrical signal.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the phase shifter module is connected to the synthesizer of the transmitter.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the phase shifter module is a vector modulator.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of amplifiers.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each radiating element of the plurality of radiating element is connected to an amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers of the transmitter.