Wireless energy transfer system

• US 8,922,065 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Inventors: Sun, Mingui, Hackworth, Steven, Sclabassi, Robert, Zhang, Fei, Liu, Xiaoyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US13/772,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 336/198, 336/206, 336/219
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• 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: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A wireless energy transfer system includes a first energy transfer unit having at least one resonant frequency, a second energy transfer unit having the at least one resonant frequency, and a load. The first wireless energy transfer unit includes a first coil magnetically coupled to a first wireless energy transfer cell, and the second wireless energy transfer unit includes a second coil magnetically coupled to a second wireless energy transfer cell. The first coil receives first energy and through the magnetic coupling between the first coil and the first wireless energy transfer cell, the first wireless energy transfer cell is caused to generate second energy, wherein the second wireless energy transfer cell receives the second energy and through the magnetic coupling between the second wireless energy transfer cell and the second coil, the second coil is caused to provide third electromagnetic wave energy to the load.

Claims

1. A wireless energy transfer system, comprising:

a first wireless energy transfer unit having at least one resonant frequency, said first wireless energy transfer unit including a first coil magnetically coupled to a first wireless energy transfer cell, said first wireless energy transfer cell comprising a first LC resonant tank including at least one first insulator having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface of said at least one first insulator, a first conductor coil provided on said first surface of said at least one first insulator, and a first conductor element comprising a first plurality of conductive strips or a second conductor coil provided on said second surface of said at least one first insulator, wherein said first conductor coil, said at least one first insulator and said first conductor element form at least one capacitor of said first LC resonant tank;

a second wireless energy transfer unit having said at least one resonant frequency, said second wireless energy transfer unit including a second coil magnetically coupled to a second wireless energy transfer cell, said second wireless energy transfer cell comprising a second LC resonant tank including at least one second insulator having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface of said at least one second insulator, a third conductor coil provided on said first surface of said at least one second insulator, and a second conductor element comprising a second plurality of conductive strips or a fourth conductor coil provided on said second surface of said at least one second insulator, wherein said third conductor coil, said at least one second insulator and said second conductor element form at least one capacitor of said second LC resonant tank; and

a load;

wherein said first coil receives first electromagnetic wave energy, wherein in response to receipt of said first electromagnetic wave energy and through the magnetic coupling between said first coil and said first wireless energy transfer cell said first wireless energy transfer cell is caused to generate second electromagnetic wave energy, wherein said second wireless energy transfer cell receives said second electromagnetic wave energy, wherein in response to receipt of said second electromagnetic wave energy and through the magnetic coupling between said second wireless energy transfer cell and said second coil said second coil is caused to provide third electromagnetic wave energy to said load.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second electromagnetic wave energy is generated in a first nonradiative near field of said first wireless energy transfer cell, wherein said second electromagnetic wave energy is received in a second nonradiative near field of said second wireless energy transfer cell, and wherein said first nonradiative near field overlaps said second nonradiative near field.

3. The system according to claim 1, said first wireless energy transfer unit having a plurality of resonant frequencies and said second wireless energy transfer unit also having said plurality of resonant frequencies.

4. A wireless energy transfer system, comprising:

a transmitter wireless energy transfer unit having at least one resonant frequency, said transmitter wireless energy transfer unit including a first coil magnetically coupled to a first wireless energy transfer cell, said first wireless energy transfer cell comprising a first LC resonant tank including at least one first insulator having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface of said at least one first insulator, a first conductor coil provided on said first surface of said at least one first insulator, and a first conductor element comprising a first plurality of conductive strips or a second conductor coil provided on said second surface of said at least one first insulator, wherein said first conductor coil, said at least one first insulator and said first conductor element form at least one capacitor of said first LC resonant tank;

a receiver wireless energy transfer unit having said at least one resonant frequency, said receiver wireless energy transfer unit including a second coil magnetically coupled to a second wireless energy transfer cell, said second wireless energy transfer cell comprising a second LC resonant tank including at least one second insulator having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface of said at least one second insulator, a third conductor coil provided on said first surface of said at least one second insulator, and a second conductor element comprising a second plurality of conductive strips or a fourth conductor coil provided on said second surface of said at least one second insulator, wherein said third conductor coil, said at least one second insulator and said second conductor element form at least one capacitor of said second LC resonant tank;

a number of relay units, each relay unit having a relay wireless energy transfer cell comprising a relay LC resonant tank including a relay conductor coil coupled to at least one relay insulator, wherein said at least one relay insulator forms a part of at least one capacitor of said relay LC resonant tank; and

a load;

wherein said first coil receives first electromagnetic wave energy, wherein in response to receipt of said first electromagnetic wave energy and through the magnetic coupling between said first coil and said first wireless energy transfer cell said first wireless energy transfer cell is caused to generate second electromagnetic wave energy, wherein said number of relay units in response to receipt of said second electromagnetic wave energy cause third electromagnetic wave energy to be generated, wherein said second wireless energy transfer cell receives said third electromagnetic wave energy, wherein in response to receipt of said third electromagnetic wave energy and through the magnetic coupling between said second wireless energy transfer cell and said second coil said second coil is caused to provide fourth electromagnetic wave energy to said load.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said transmitter wireless energy transfer unit, said number of relay units and said receiver wireless energy transfer unit are arranged in a linear fashion.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said transmitter wireless energy transfer unit, said number of relay units and said receiver wireless energy transfer unit are arranged in a non-linear fashion.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein said number of relay units comprises a plurality of relay units arranged in the form of a two-dimensional array.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein said number of relay units comprises a plurality of relay units arranged in the form of a three-dimensional array.

9. A wireless energy transfer system, comprising:

a transmitter wireless energy transfer unit having at least one resonant frequency, said transmitter wireless energy transfer unit including a first coil magnetically coupled to a first wireless energy transfer cell, said first wireless energy transfer cell comprising a first LC resonant tank including a first conductor coil coupled to at least one first insulator, wherein said at least one first insulator forms a part of at least one capacitor of said first LC resonant tank;

a receiver wireless energy transfer unit having said at least one resonant frequency, said receiver wireless energy transfer unit including a second coil magnetically coupled to a second wireless energy transfer cell, said second wireless energy transfer cell comprising a second LC resonant tank including a second conductor coil coupled to at least one insulator, wherein said at least one second insulator forms a part of at least one capacitor of said first LC resonant tank;

a number of relay units, each relay unit having a relay wireless energy transfer cell comprising a relay LC resonant tank including a relay conductor coil coupled to at least one relay insulator, wherein said at least one relay insulator forms a part of at least one capacitor of said relay LC resonant tank; and

a load;

wherein said first coil receives first electromagnetic wave energy, wherein in response to receipt of said first electromagnetic wave energy and through the magnetic coupling between said first coil and said first wireless energy transfer cell said first wireless energy transfer cell is caused to generate second electromagnetic wave energy, wherein said number of relay units in response to receipt of said second electromagnetic wave energy cause third electromagnetic wave energy to be generated, wherein said second wireless energy transfer cell receives said third electromagnetic wave energy, wherein in response to receipt of said third electromagnetic wave energy and through the magnetic coupling between said second wireless energy transfer cell and said second coil said second coil is caused to provide fourth electromagnetic wave energy to said load, said first wireless energy transfer unit having at least a first resonant frequency and a second resonant frequency, said second wireless energy transfer unit also having said first resonant frequency and said second resonant frequency, wherein said first, second and third electromagnetic energies are each at said first resonant frequency and said third electromagnetic energy is used to provide power to at least a portion of said load, wherein said first coil receives fourth electromagnetic wave energy at said second resonant frequency, wherein in response to receipt of said fourth electromagnetic wave energy and through the magnetic coupling between said first coil and said first wireless energy transfer cell said first wireless energy transfer cell is caused to generate fifth electromagnetic wave energy at said second resonant frequency, wherein said second wireless energy transfer cell receives said fifth electromagnetic wave energy, wherein in response to receipt of said fifth electromagnetic wave energy and through the magnetic coupling between said second wireless energy transfer cell and said second coil said second coil is caused to provide sixth electromagnetic wave energy at said second resonant frequency to said load, and wherein said fourth, fifth and sixth electromagnetic wave energies are used to communicate information to said load.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said fourth electromagnetic wave energy is modulated based on said information.

11. A wireless energy transfer method, comprising:

receiving first electromagnetic wave energy in a first conductor having a resonant frequency, said first electromagnetic wave energy resonating at said resonant frequency;

in response to receiving said first electromagnetic wave energy, causing a first wireless energy transfer cell to generate second electromagnetic wave energy resonating at said resonant frequency through magnetic coupling between said first conductor and said first wireless energy transfer cell, said first wireless energy transfer cell comprising a first LC resonant tank including at least one first insulator having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface of said at least one first insulator, a first conductor coil provided on said first surface of said at least one first insulator, and a first conductor element comprising a first plurality of conductive strips or a second conductor coil provided on said second surface of said at least one first insulator, wherein said first conductor coil, said at least one first insulator and said first conductor element form at least one capacitor of said first LC resonant tank;

receiving said second electromagnetic wave energy in a second wireless energy transfer cell, said second wireless energy transfer cell comprising a second LC resonant tank including at least one second insulator having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface of said at least one second insulator, a third conductor coil provided on said first surface of said at least one second insulator, and a second conductor element comprising a second plurality of conductive strips or a fourth conductor coil provided on said second surface of said at least one second insulator, wherein said third conductor coil, said at least one second insulator and said second conductor element form at least one capacitor of said second LC resonant tank; and

in response to receiving said second electromagnetic wave energy, causing a second conductor to provide third electromagnetic wave energy to a load through magnetic coupling between said second wireless energy transfer cell and said second conductor.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first conductor is a first coil and said second conductor is a second coil.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said second electromagnetic wave energy is generated in a first nonradiative near field of said first wireless energy transfer cell, wherein said second electromagnetic wave energy is received in a second nonradiative near field of said second wireless energy transfer cell, and wherein said first nonradiative near field overlaps said second nonradiative near field.

14. A wireless energy transfer method, comprising:

receiving first electromagnetic wave energy in a first conductor having a resonant frequency, said first electromagnetic wave energy resonating at said resonant frequency;

in response to receiving said first electromagnetic wave energy, causing a first wireless energy transfer cell to generate second electromagnetic wave energy resonating at said resonant frequency through magnetic coupling between said first conductor and said first wireless energy transfer cell, said first wireless energy transfer cell comprising a first LC resonant tank including a first conductor coil coupled to at least one first insulator, wherein said at least one first insulator forms a part of at least one capacitor of said first LC resonant tank;

receiving said second electromagnetic wave energy in a second wireless energy transfer cell, said second wireless energy transfer cell comprising a second LC resonant tank including a second conductor coil coupled to at least one second insulator, wherein said at least one second insulator forms a part of at least one capacitor of said second LC resonant tank;

in response to receiving said second electromagnetic wave energy, causing a second conductor to provide third electromagnetic wave energy to a load through magnetic coupling between said second wireless energy transfer cell and said second conductor;

receiving fourth electromagnetic wave energy in said first conductor, said first conductor also having a second resonant frequency different than said resonant frequency, said fourth electromagnetic wave energy resonating at said second resonant frequency;

in response to receiving said fourth electromagnetic wave energy, causing said first wireless energy transfer cell to generate fifth electromagnetic wave energy resonating at said second resonant frequency through magnetic coupling between said first conductor and said first wireless energy transfer cell;

receiving said fifth electromagnetic wave energy in said second wireless energy transfer cell; and

in response to receiving said fifth electromagnetic wave energy, causing said second conductor to provide sixth electromagnetic wave energy to said load through magnetic coupling between said second wireless energy transfer cell and said second conductor;

wherein said third electromagnetic energy is used to provide power to at least a portion of said load and wherein said fourth, fifth and sixth electromagnetic wave energies are used to communicate information to said load.