Generation and use of electric fields from capacitive effects of a solenoid

• US 9,472,366 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Divergent, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Divergent, Inc.
• Inventors: Kapcia, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): INGE, JOSEPH N
• Application Number:
  US14/635,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20150248982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/28 Energising current supplied by discharge tube
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for producing a directional electric field from an end of the solenoid in an efficient manner. For example, voltage pulses can be used to charge the turns of the coil so that the coil acts as a capacitor. The voltage pulses can be of a specified time width (e.g., 1 μs or less) so as to reduce the amount of current flowing in the coil, and thus reduce the input power used in the coil. The electric field can be used for a variety of purposes, e.g., for charging or communication. An output conductor can be positioned such that electrons can be moved in the output conductor. The motion of electrons can correspond to the communication of data or be used to operate a load (e.g., in charging a device or otherwise providing power).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an input coil comprising a plurality of windings of a conductor, the input coil having a first end that is separated from a second end;

a power supply circuit selectably connected to the input coil, the power supply circuit configured to provide a direct current (DC) voltage, wherein the power supply circuit includes a diode in parallel with the input coil and an inductor in series with the input coil;

a switching mechanism coupled between the power supply circuit and the input coil and configured to connect and disconnect the input coil to the power supply circuit, thereby causing the diode to store charges in a depletion layer when a forward current exists and to rapidly switch open after the depletion layer is discharged by a reverse current such that an input voltage pulse is provided from the inductor to the input coil;

a controller on a separate ground from the power supply circuit and communicably coupled with the switching mechanism for controlling a connection state of the switching mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching mechanism such that the power supply circuit provides a series of input voltage pulses to the input coil, thereby creating a directional electric field from the first end of the input coil; and

an output conductor positioned to receive the directional electric field.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input coil is a cylindrical solenoid, and wherein the directional electric field is along an axis of the cylindrical solenoid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output conductor comprises an output wire that is parallel to an axis of the input coil at the first end.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the output wire is at least partially within the input coil.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output conductor comprises an output coil that has a first axis aligned with a second axis of the input coil.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a load electrically coupled with the output conductor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each input voltage pulse has a rise time of less than 30 nanoseconds and has an amplitude of at least 1 volt.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each input voltage pulse has an amplitude of at least 900 volts.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the series of input voltage pulses creates a time-varying magnetic vector potential from the first end of the input coil, and wherein the time-varying magnetic vector potential forms a longitudinal wave.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each input voltage pulse has a slew rate of more than 10 V volts per nanosecond.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each input voltage pulse has a pulse width of 100 microseconds or less.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each input voltage pulse has a pulse width of 1 microsecond or less.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to provide signals to the switching mechanism to control the connection state of the switching mechanism, and wherein the signals are periodic.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a duty cycle of the series of input voltage pulses is less than 1%.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to provide signals to the switching mechanism to control the connection state of the switching mechanism, and wherein the signals are not periodic.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism includes a solid-state switch, and wherein the solid-state switch includes at least one of a MOSFET or an IGBT.

17. A method of generating a directional electric field from a first end of an input coil using a power supply circuit selectably connected to the input coil, the method comprising:

providing a direct current (DC) voltage with the power circuit, wherein the power supply circuit includes a diode in parallel with the input coil and an inductor in series with the input coil

selectably connecting the power supply circuit to the input coil using a switching mechanism such that an input voltage pulse is provided to the input coil, where the switching mechanism is configured to connect and disconnect the input coil to the power supply circuit, thereby causing the diode to store charges in a depletion layer when a forward current exists and to rapidly switch open after the depletion layer is discharged by a reverse current such that an input voltage pulse is provided from the inductor to the input coil;

providing, with the power supply circuit, a series of input voltage pulses to the input coil, thereby creating the directional electric field from the first end of the input coil, the first end being separated from a second end of the input coil;

using a controller to control a connection state of the switching mechanism to generate the series of input voltage pulses; and

receiving the directional electric field at an output conductor that includes a load.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

driving the load at least partially with a current resulting from the directional electric field.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the input coil is a cylindrical solenoid, and wherein the directional electric field is along an axis of the cylindrical solenoid.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the output conductor comprises an output wire that is parallel to an axis of the input coil at the first end.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the output wire is at least partially within the input coil.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the output conductor comprises an output coil that has a first axis aligned with a second axis of the input coil.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein each input voltage pulse has a pulse width of 100 microseconds or less.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein each input voltage pulse has a pulse width of 1 microsecond or less.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the controller provides signals to the switching mechanism to control the connection state of the switching mechanism, and wherein the signals are periodic.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the controller provides signals to the switching mechanism to control the connection state of the switching mechanism, and wherein the signals are not periodic.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein each input voltage pulse has a rise time of less than 30 nanoseconds and has an amplitude of at least 1 volt.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein each input voltage pulse has an amplitude of at least 900 volts.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the series of input voltage pulses creates a time-varying magnetic vector potential from the first end of the input coil, and wherein the time-varying magnetic vector potential forms a longitudinal wave.