Slot antenna with orthogonally positioned slot segments for receiving electromagnetic waves having different polarizations

• US 10,511,196 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• 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:
  US16/038,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20190020224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 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

An antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves having different polarizations that comprises a plurality of slots defined by a piece of metal, and each of the plurality of slots includes at least two continuous segments. In addition, for each of the plurality of slots: a first segment of the at least two continuous segments is: (i) defined by the piece of metal in a first dimension, and (ii) 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: (i) defined by the piece of metal in a second dimension, distinct from the first dimension, and (ii) configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a second polarization different from the first polarization.

Claims

1. An antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves having different polarizations, comprising:

a plurality of slots defined by a piece of metal, wherein each of the plurality of slots comprises at least three continuous segments,

wherein, for each of the plurality of slots;

a first segment of the at least three continuous segments is;

(i) defined by the piece of metal in a first dimension, and (ii) configured to receive radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves having a first polarization;

a second segment of the at least three continuous segments is;

(i) defined by the piece of metal in a second dimension, distinct from the first dimension, and (ii) configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a second polarization different from the first polarization; and

a third segment of the at least three continuous segments is;

(i) defined by the piece of metal in a third dimension, distinct from the first and second dimensions, and (ii) configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a third polarization different from the first and second polarizations.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein:

the antenna is connected to an electronic circuit; and

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

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein:

the piece of metal is configured to;

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

4. The antenna of claim 2, wherein:

the electronic circuit is mounted on a circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces;

the electronic circuit is coupled with respective first ends of the plurality of conductive traces; and

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

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein:

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

the feet of the piece of metal substantially cover the perimeter.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein two continuous segments of the at least three continuous segments included in each of the plurality of slots are substantially orthogonally positioned relative to each other.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is orthogonal to the second dimension.

8. The antenna 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.

9. The antenna of claim 8, 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.

10. The antenna of claim 9, 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.

11. The antenna of claim 1, wherein:

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

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

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

the second segment of the at least three continuous segments in each of the plurality of slots is defined by one of the sidewalls of the piece of metal.

12. The antenna of claim 11, wherein:

the surface of the piece of metal is in the first dimension; and

the sidewalls of the piece of metal are in the second dimension.

13. The antenna of claim 11, wherein the antenna operates as a heat sink by dissipating heat via the feet of the piece of metal.

14. The antenna of claim 11, wherein the second segment of the at least three continuous segments in each of the plurality of slots is further defined by the feet of the piece of metal.

15. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the RF power transmission waves are transmitted by a remote transmitter.

16. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the piece of metal operates as a heat sink for the electronic circuit while the RF power transmission waves are being received by the antenna.

17. The antenna of claim 1, wherein:

the RF power transmission waves having the first polarization are horizontally polarized RF power transmission waves; and

the RF power transmission waves having the second polarization are vertically polarized RF power transmission waves.

18. The antenna of claim 1, wherein, for each of the plurality of slots:

the first segment is defined substantially along the x-axis;

the second segment is defined substantially along the y-axis; and

the third segment is defined substantially along the z-axis.

19. A method of manufacturing an antenna, the method comprising:

stamping a piece of metal, wherein;

the stamped piece of metal defines a plurality of slots; and

each of the plurality of slots comprises at least three continuous segments, where;

a first segment of the at least three continuous segments is;

(i) defined by the piece of metal in a first dimension, and (ii) configured to receive radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves having a first polarization;

a second segment of the at least three continuous segments is;

(i) defined by the piece of metal in a second dimension, distinct from the first dimension, and (ii) configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a second polarization different from the first polarization; and

a third segment of the at least three continuous segments is;

(i) defined by the piece of metal in a third dimension, distinct from the first and second dimensions, and (ii) configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a third polarization different from the first and second polarizations.

20. A receiver for reception of wireless power transmission, the receiver comprising:

an antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves having different polarizations, including;

a plurality of slots defined by a piece of metal, wherein each of the plurality of slots comprises at least three continuous segments,

wherein, for each of the plurality of slots;

a first segment of the at least three continuous segments is;

(i) defined by the piece of metal in a first dimension, and (ii) configured to receive radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves having a first polarization;

a second segment of the at least three continuous segments is;

(i) defined by the piece of metal in a second dimension, distinct from the first dimension, and (ii) configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a second polarization different from the first polarization; and

a third segment of the at least three continuous segments is;

(i) defined by the piece of metal in a third dimension, distinct from the first and second dimensions, and (ii) configured to receive RF power transmission waves.