3D triple linear antenna that acts as heat sink

• US 10,027,180 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energous Corporation
• Inventors: Hosseini, Alister
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnett, Joel
• Application Number:
  US14/930,531
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/106 Microstrip slot antennas patch antenna elements H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/18 the slot being backed by, or formed in boundary wall of, a resonant cavity longitudinally slotted cylinder H01Q13/12 ; Open cavity antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas

Abstract

A wireless power receiver including an antenna to receive radio frequency (RF) waves via a plurality of slots defined by a metal plate. Each slot comprises at least two continuous segments that are orthogonally positioned relative to each other, where: (i) a first segment of the at least two continuous segments is defined by the metal plate in a first planar dimension and receives RF waves having a first polarization; and (ii) a second segment of the at least two continuous segments is defined by the metal plate in a second planar dimension and receives RF waves having a second polarization. The receiver further includes a circuit configured to convert the RF waves received by the antenna into power for powering a device. Additionally, the antenna is coupled with the circuit, and the metal plate at least partially houses the circuit, and operates as a heat sink for the circuit.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves via a plurality of slots defined by a metal plate, wherein each of the plurality of slots comprises;

at least two continuous segments that are substantially orthogonally positioned relative to each other, where;

a first segment of the at least two continuous segments is defined by the metal plate in a first planar dimension and configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a first polarization; and

a second segment of the at least two continuous segments is defined by the metal plate in a second planar dimension, distinct from the first planar dimension, and configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a second polarization different from the first polarization; and

an electronic circuit configured to convert the RF power transmission waves received by the antenna into useable power for powering an electronic device or charging a battery of the electronic device,

wherein;

the antenna is coupled with the electronic circuit, and

the metal plate is configured to;

(i) at least partially house the electronic circuit, and (ii) operate as a heat sink for the electronic circuit.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the antenna is coupled with the electronic circuit via a portion of the metal plate that contacts the electronic circuit, and

the portion of the metal plate operates as the heat sink.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein:

a first slot of the plurality of slots is oriented along a first axis;

a second slot of the plurality of slots is oriented along a second axis; and

the first axis is substantially orthogonal to the second axis.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 3, wherein:

the first slot has a shape;

the second slot also has the shape; and

the first and second slots are distinct and separate from each other.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 4, wherein:

a third slot of the plurality of slots is oriented along the first axis;

the third slot also has the shape;

the first slot is oriented in a first direction along the first axis;

the third slot is oriented in a second direction along the first axis, the second direction being opposite to the first direction; and

the third slot is distinct and separate from the first and second slots.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein:

a first segment of the at least two continuous segments in each of the plurality of slots is defined by a surface of the metal plate;

feet of the metal plate are offset from the surface of the metal plate;

sidewalls of the metal plate extend from the feet to the surface; and

a second segment of the at least two continuous segments in each of the plurality of slots is defined by one of the sidewalls of the metal plate.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 6, wherein:

the surface of the metal plate is in the first planar dimension; and

the sidewalls of the metal plate are in the second planar dimension.

8. The wireless power receiver of claim 7, wherein the antenna operates as a heat sink by dissipating heat produced by the electronic circuit via the feet of the metal plate.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 8, wherein the second segment of the at least two continuous segments in each of the plurality of slots is further defined by the feet of the metal plate.

10. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless power receiver further comprises a printed circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces;

the electronic circuit is mounted on the printed circuit board and coupled with respective first ends of the plurality of conductive traces; and

feet of the metal plate are coupled with respective second ends of the plurality of conductive traces, thereby coupling the antenna with the electronic circuit.

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 10, wherein:

the respective second ends of the plurality of conductive traces are formed along a perimeter of the printed circuit board; and

the feet of the metal plate substantially cover the perimeter.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the RF power transmission waves are transmitted by a remote transmitter.

13. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the metal plate operates as the heat sink for the electronic circuit while the RF power transmission waves are being received by the antenna.

14. A method of manufacturing a wireless power receiver, the method comprising:

stamping a metal plate to form an antenna, wherein;

the antenna comprises a plurality of slots defined by the metal plate, and

each of the plurality of slots comprises at least two continuous segments that are substantially orthogonally positioned relative to each other, where;

a first segment of the at least two continuous segments is defined by the metal plate in a first planar dimension and configured to receive radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves having a first polarization; and

a second segment of the at least two continuous segments is defined by the metal plate in a second planar dimension, distinct from the first planar dimension, and configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a second polarization different from the first polarization;

coupling the antenna with an electronic circuit, wherein;

the antenna is configured to receive RF power transmission waves via the plurality of slots defined by the metal plate;

the electronic circuit is configured to convert the RF power transmission waves received by the antenna into useable power for powering an electronic device or charging a battery of the electronic device; and

the metal plate is configured to;

(i) at least partially house the electronic circuit, and (ii) operate as a heat sink for the electronic circuit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the antenna is coupled with the electronic circuit via a portion of the metal plate that contacts the electronic circuit, and

the portion of the metal plate operates as the heat sink.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

a first slot of the plurality of slots is oriented along a first axis;

a second slot of the plurality of slots is oriented along a second axis; and

the first axis is substantially orthogonal to the second axis.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the first slot has a shape; and

the second slot also has the shape.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

a third slot of the plurality of slots is oriented along the first axis;

the third slot also has the shape;

the first slot is oriented in a first direction along the first axis; and

the third slot is oriented in a second direction along the first axis, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein:

a first segment of the at least two continuous segments in each of the plurality of slots is defined by a surface of the metal plate;

feet of the metal plate are offset from the surface of the metal plate;

sidewalls of the metal plate extend from the feet to the surface; and

a second segment of the at least two continuous segments in each of the plurality of slots is defined by one of the sidewalls of the metal plate.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the surface of the metal plate is in the first planar dimension; and

the sidewalls of the metal plate are in the second planar dimension.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the antenna operates as a heat sink by dissipating heat produced by the electronic circuit via the feet of the metal plate.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second segment of the at least two continuous segments in each of the plurality of slots is further defined by the feet of the metal plate.