Dynamic wireless power/energy transfer system apparatus including modeling and simulation (M and S), analysis, and visualization (MSAV) systems along with related methods

• US 10,574,097 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Bergsrud, Corey Alexis Marvin, Zellner, Alex John
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnett, Joel
• Application Number:
  US15/917,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20180342910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/367 Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

Systems and related methods are provided for improving cognitive function of a wireless power system designer and simulate various aspects of a wireless power system as an aid in making design selections in a tradeoff environment. Various embodiment enable such improved cognitive function by providing machine instructions that generate various graphical user interfaces which enable the wireless power system designer to visualize, compare, select, and change a variety of independent and dependent variables pertaining to a plurality of potential wireless power systems, a plurality of potential diodes, and a plurality of potential coplanar striplines for use in a plurality of operational environments as desired by the wireless power system designer. Aspects of various embodiments display design constraint warnings thereby providing visual display of design space solutions that do not violate various design constraints.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system to aid a user in designing, optimizing, and manufacturing a wireless power system for use in a specific user-defined operational environment, comprising:

an input variable graphical user interface means adapted to enable graphical user interface selection of data point identifiers as well as selection of an independent and dependent variable from a plurality of variables comprising;

an output variable graphical user interface generator means, said output variable graphical user interface generator means comprises a first, second and third graphical generator means that generates collection efficiency graphical analysis graph data, atmospheric efficiency graph data, and rectenna RF to DC conversion efficiency graph data associated with said at least one design scenario, wherein said output variable section further comprises an analysis summary graphical user interface generation means that generates, for each data point identifier and its respective variable data, a summary of input variables, efficiency values comprising rectenna, atmospheric, and collection percentage values associated with the wireless power system being simulated, and output DC power data.

2. A computer-implemented wireless power energy system (WPES) modeling, simulation, analysis and visualization (MSAV) system configured to visually aid a user in designing, optimizing, and manufacturing a wireless power system for use in a specific user-defined operational environment, comprising:

a non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising a plurality of machine readable instructions, a first library and a second library, wherein said first library comprises previously measured and user input wireless power energy system (WPES) experimental rectenna performance library data comprising usable power output and a list of power conversion efficiency performance data by design and power density comprising a list of rectenna designs with measured rectenna performance data at specific frequencies comprising a list of rectenna data with RF to DC power conversion efficiency as a function of power density of a directed energy beam for a specific rectenna element with an associated diode, wherein said a second library comprises diode SPICE performance parameters for each said diode;

wherein said plurality of machine readable instructions comprises a wireless power and energy system modeling and simulation and analysis visualization machine instruction system comprising;

a first plurality of machine readable machine instructions that generates a Wireless Power Analysis (WPA) graphical user interface (GUI), Coplanar Stripline Analysis (CPSA) GUI, and Diode Analysis (DA) GUI;

wherein the WPA GUI generates visualizations comprising simulation, and visual correlation of WPES system variables, WPES constants, a plurality of efficiency graphs, an output variable analysis summary section, and visual WPES design limitation boundary condition warning flags, wherein the WPA GUI further comprises;

an input variable section that enables user selection, input, and storage of sets of potential WPES system variables comprising WPES independent variable data, dependent variable data, and WPES constant data, wherein each said set is respectively associated with one of a plurality of graphically selected data point identifiers, each said sets comprising said WPES independent variable, WPES dependent variable and WPES constants having common WPES independent and dependent variable identifier selections and common WPES constant selections but different user input WPES independent variable data values associated with each said data point identifier; and

an output variable section comprising GUI generation sections that generate said plurality of efficiency graphs, said output variable analysis summary section, and said visual design limitation boundary condition warning flags, wherein said plurality of efficiency graphs comprises WPES collection efficiency defined by percentage of an electromagnetic spectrum beam is absorbed by a selected rectenna array, atmospheric efficiency depicting how much energy is absorbed by specified atmospheric conditions, and WPES rectenna radio frequency (RF) to direct current (DC) conversion efficiency;

wherein the CPSA GUI displays selectable coplanar stripline (CPS) design configuration data comprising at least a balanced uniplanar transmission line formed by two metallic conductor strips separated by a certain gap width on a substrate for a rectenna design which is used by the DA GUI, where the DA GUI generates visualization graphs and analysis data for diode component and CPS design.

3. A computer-implemented system to aid a user in designing, optimizing, and manufacturing a wireless power system for use in a specific user-defined operational environment, comprising:

a machine readable storage medium comprising plurality of non-transitory wireless power system (WPS) design scenario selection, input, computation, simulation, and graphical user interface (GUI) generator machine readable instructions operable to operate at least one processor, memory and display to generate a plurality of WPS GUIs on the at least one display enabling concurrent viewing and rapid switching of WPS design performance and said design scenarios with design parameter limitation tradeoff space and design limitation warnings that increases design insights and reduces WPS design and production rework or errors, the WPS GUI generator comprising;

a wireless power analysis (WPA) GUI wherein the first that enables input of wireless power system (WPS) design or performance data comprising;

a first section comprising a WPA design or performance parameter selection and value input GUI section that enables input or selection of a plurality of WPS data points and related WPS data for each said WPS data point into a non-transitory first relational database storage section comprising a plurality of WPS data points that serve as data keys, a plurality of WPS design or performance parameters identifiers, and a plurality of WPS design or performance parameter values data that are each associated with one of the plurality of WPS design or performance parameters identifiers and further are respectively associated with each said data key, wherein the WPA design or performance parameter selection and value input GUI section enables designation of one of the plurality of WPS design or performance parameter identifiers as an independent variable and selection of another one of said plurality of WPS design or performance parameter identifiers as a dependent variable, wherein remaining ones of said plurality of WPS design or performance parameters that are not selected as dependent or independent variables are used as constants in WPA computations and said first section'"'"'s GUI generation, wherein each of said independent and dependent variable identifier associated with each said data key are common to each other, wherein the first section further comprises a plurality of WPS design or performance parameter data input fields each associated with one of the plurality of WPS design or performance parameters identifiers receive WPS design or performance parameter values for storage as said plurality of WPS design or performance parameter values, wherein said first section further comprises machine instructions that generate one of a plurality of colored borders around respective ones of said plurality of WPS design or performance parameter data input fields where each colored border is associated with one of said independent variable, dependent variable, and constants;

a second section comprising a WPA analysis GUI generator section, the WPA GUI generator section generates a plurality of WPS efficiency graphs that generates the efficiency graphs based on the plurality of said plurality of WPS design or performance parameter values, a WPA analysis summary section, and a DC power output graph section, wherein the plurality efficiency graphs comprises wireless power system collection efficiency, atmospheric efficiency determined based on percentage of attenuation of a propagating electromagnetic wave, and an electromagnetic (EM) field to direct current (DC) conversion graph, wherein the WPA analysis summary comprises, for each said data point, a listing of said plurality of WPS design or performance parameter values, an associated efficiency value drawn from each of the said efficiency graphs, and an output DC power value, wherein the WPA analysis section further comprises a design warning visual indicator section that is generated when one or more of the said plurality of WPS design or performance parameter values fall outside boundary conditions associated with at least a selected design constraint, wherein the DC power output graph section generates a graph of rectenna EM power axis to said dependent variable axis graph, wherein said second section further comprises a rectenna performance specification data library selection section that selectively opens a menu of rectenna performance data sets each associated with at one of a plurality of rectenna designs, said rectenna performance data sets each comprising EM to DC conversion percentages at different power density values, wherein selection of one more said rectenna performance data sets is used to generate said design warning visual indicator and render said EM to direct current (DC) efficiency graph;

a diode analysis (DA) GUI comprising an input variable section and an DA output variable section, wherein the input section comprises data point identifier list and a diode specification or performance scenario data input section comprising frequency, diode inputs, and duty cycle percentage, wherein the output section comprises a plurality of diode performance graphs, an analysis summary section, and an EM to DC conversion efficiency graph section;

a rectenna power transfer configuration GUI section comprising a coplanar stripline (CPS) analysis GUI comprising an input section, an output section, and an analysis summary section; and

a library of diode specification parameters comprising a plurality of electrical characteristics of one or more diodes.

4. A computer-implemented system to aid a user in designing, optimizing, and manufacturing a wireless power system for use in a specific user-defined operational environment, comprising:

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing;

a plurality of machine readable data libraries comprising a first and second machine readable data library, wherein the first machine readable data library comprises at least one measured output power density data efficiency defined as a percentage of electromagnetic energy absorbed by a rectenna and converted into direct current power by at least one diode, wherein the second machine readable data library comprises a power conversion efficiency percentage for each of said diodes as a function of input power to diode converted power output;

a plurality of machine readable instructions that operates at least one processor comprising;

a first plurality of machine readable instructions that generates a first GUI on a display, the first GUI comprises a first user-input variable section, a first graph generation section, a second graph generation section, a third graph generation section, and a first analysis output section, wherein;

the first user-input variable section further comprises;

 

a data point selection section that generates a data point selection user interface that enables user selection of one or more graphing data point identifiers which are used by the first user-input variable section and associated machine instructions as respective data keys for storing and retrieving independent, dependent and constant variable data value inputs and calculated for each graphing data point identifier stored within a variable data relational database storage section stored within said at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium or another non-transitory computer readable storage medium corresponding to a wireless power system under test, wherein the data point selection section generates a first list menu with the graphing data point identifiers that a user can respectively select via the display;

 

a first independent variable identifier selection section that generates an independent variable identifier selection graphical user interface section that enables the user to select an independent variable identifier from an independent variable identifier dropdown menu displaying a list of selectable independent variable identifiers that are associated with said dependent variable values respectively associated with each graphing data point identifiers, wherein the list of selectable independent variable identifiers comprise a frequency variable (f), a power density variable (p_d), a transmitted power variable (P_t), a separation distance variable (d), a transmitter aperture area variable (A_t), and a receiver aperture area variable (A_r);

 

a first dependent variable identifier selection section generates a dependent variable identifier selection graphical user interface section that enables the user to select a dependent variable identifier that will be associated with a computed said dependent variable respectively associated with each said graphing data point identifiers and will be used to generate, said dependent variable identifier selection section enables the user to select one of said dependent variable identifiers from a dependent variable dropdown menu containing a list of selectable said dependent variable identifiers, wherein the list of selectable dependent variable identifiers comprises frequency, power density, transmitted power, separation distance, and transmitter aperture area;

 

a first user-input variable section that generates a user-input variable graphical user interface section that that enables the user to input a first plurality of user-input design values for the wireless power system being tested into a plurality of input fields corresponding to the wireless power system design variables, the first plurality of user-input design values comprising independent variable values and other variable values not selected as either independent or dependent variables in the first with listed in the independent or dependent variable identifier which are not designated as either independent or dependent variables in the independent and dependent variable identifier selection graphical user interface sections, wherein the user-input design values comprises the frequency variable, the power density variable, the transmitted power variable, the separation distance variable, the transmitter aperture area variable, and the receiver aperture area variable;

the first graph generation section further comprises;

 

a first graph section that generates and displays an invariant collection efficiency curve, the invariant collection efficiency curve generated comprising an algorithm based on a first formula η

₁=1−

e<sup>−

τ</sup>

wherein a variable r is calculated by the first graph section using a second formula

5. A computer-implemented system to aid a user in designing, optimizing, and manufacturing a wireless power system for use in a specific user-defined operational environment, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing;

a first machine readable data library containing previously measured and user measured data pertaining to a plurality of different rectenna arrays;

a second machine readable data library containing previously or user measured data pertaining to a plurality of different diodes;

a third machine readable data library storing user-input data and at least some outputs from the computer-implemented system;

a first, a second, and a third plurality of machine readable instructions, which generate a wireless power analysis GUI, wherein;

the first plurality of machine readable instructions generates a first data point list menu allowing a user to select at least one of a plurality of data points corresponding to a plurality of wireless power system configurations, a first independent variable dropdown menu, a dependent variable dropdown menu, and a plurality of user-input wireless power system variable edit boxes which accept a plurality of user-input wireless power system variables, the plurality of user-input wireless power system variable edit boxes comprises;

a first transmitted power beam frequency variable edit box;

a received power beam power density variable edit box;

a total transmitted power variable edit box;

a transmitting antenna aperture and receiving antenna aperture separation distance variable edit box;

a transmitter antenna aperture area variable edit box;

a receiver antenna aperture area variable edit box;

the second plurality of machine readable instructions generates a first plurality of output graphs, the first plurality of output graphs comprises;

a first output graph section containing a first output graph displaying an invariant curve of collection efficiencies for the plurality of wireless power configurations stored in the first machine readable data library and a first tracking dot indicating a collection efficiency of the wireless power system being examined, and a visual representation of separation distance between a transmitting aperture antenna and a receiving aperture antenna for the wireless power system being examined;

a second output graph section containing a second output graph displaying a plurality of receiving rectenna conversion efficiency curves corresponding to a plurality of previously measured rectenna conversion efficiency data stored in the first machine readable data library, and an open library action button, wherein the open library action button triggers a third plurality of machine readable instructions when selected by the user, the fourth plurality of machine readable instructions generate a library selection GUI, the library selection GUI further comprises;

 

a table containing the plurality of previously measured rectenna conversion efficiency data stored in the first machine readable data library;

 

a plurality of checkboxes allowing the user to choose whether or not to display at least one or more of the plurality of previously measured rectenna conversion efficiency data;

 

a user measured rectenna conversion efficiency data input section allowing the user to input a set of custom rectenna conversion efficiency data, to choose whether or not to display the set of custom rectenna conversion efficiency data, and to save the custom rectenna conversion efficiency data to the first machine readable data library;

a third output graph section containing a third output graph displaying a DC power output curve consisting of a DC power output variable calculated based on the plurality of user-input wireless power system variables entered in the user-input wireless power system variable edit boxes, wherein each point on the DC power output curve represents one of the plurality of data points corresponding to the plurality of wireless power system configurations;

the fourth plurality of machine readable instructions generates a first analysis summary section, the first analysis summary section comprises;

a first analysis summary table displaying the plurality of user-input wireless power system variables, the collection efficiency of each of the plurality of wireless power system configurations examined, the conversion efficiency of each of the plurality of wireless power system configurations examined, the DC power output variable for each of the wireless power systems tested;

an export data action button that exports the first analysis summary table in a form readable by other computer applications when selected by the user;

a boundary warning section that displays a warning flag when the conversion efficiency of the wireless power system being examined falls outside an upper conversion efficiency limit or a lower conversion efficiency limit as stored on at least one of the plurality of previously measured rectenna conversion efficiency data stored on the first machine readable data library;

a fifth, a sixth, and a seventh plurality of machine readable instructions, which generate a diode analysis GUI, wherein;

the fifth plurality of machine readable instructions generates a second data point list menu allowing the user to select at least one of a plurality of diode data points corresponding to a plurality of different diodes to be examined, and a plurality of user-input diode variable edit boxes, the plurality of user-input diode variable edit boxes comprises;

a second transmitted power beam frequency variable edit box, allowing the user to enter a custom power beam frequency variable;

a diode selection dropdown menu, allowing the user to load a plurality of diode SPICE parameters for a known diode as stored in the second machine readable data library;

a plurality of SPICE parameter edit boxes, the plurality of SPICE parameter edit boxes comprises;

 

a diode series resistance variable edit box;

 

a diode built-in barrier voltage variable edit box;

 

a diode reverse bias voltage variable edit box;

 

and a diode zero-bias junction capacitance variable edit box;

 

wherein the SPICE parameter edit boxes allow the user to input a plurality of custom diode SPICE parameters for examination and saving;

an add diode to library action button, allowing the user to save the plurality of custom diode SPICE parameters to the second machine readable data library;

a diode load resistance variable edit box, allowing the user to enter a custom diode load resistance variable;

the sixth plurality of machine readable instructions generates a second plurality of output graphs, the second plurality of output graphs comprises;

a fourth output graph section containing a first diode impedance graph which displays a range of potential diode load resistance variables, a first diode resistance curve showing a diode resistance variable as a function of the custom diode load resistance variable, a first diode reactance curve showing a diode reactance variable as a function of the custom diode load resistance variable, and a tracking line showing the diode load resistance variable entered by the user in the diode load resistance variable edit box;

a fifth output graph section containing a second diode impedance graph which displays a range of potential diode voltage values, a second diode resistance curve showing the diode resistance variable as a first function of the range of potential diode voltage values, and a second diode reactance curve showing the diode reactance variable as a second function of the range of potential diode voltage values;

a sixth output graph section containing a diode conversion efficiency graph which displays a range of potential input power values, and a plurality of curves corresponding to the conversion efficiency of each of the plurality of different diodes being examined as selected by the user in the second data point list menu as functions of the range of potential input power values;

the seventh plurality of machine readable instructions generates a second analysis summary section, the second analysis summary section comprises;

a plurality of diode analysis summary tables comprises;

 

a SPICE parameters table containing the plurality of custom diode SPICE parameters for each of at least one of the plurality of diode data points, an electrical characteristics table containing the diode reactance variable and the diode impedance variable for a plurality of load resistance values, and a power and voltage table containing the conversion efficiency of the plurality of different diodes being examined for a plurality of input power values;

 

an export diode data action button that exports the plurality of diode analysis summary tables in a form readable by other computer applications when selected by the user;

an eighth, a ninth, and a tenth plurality of machine readable instructions, which generate a coplanar stripline analysis GUI, wherein;

the eighth plurality of machine readable instructions generates a third data point list menu allowing the user to select at least one of a plurality of coplanar stripline data points corresponding to a plurality of different coplanar striplines to be examined, a second independent variable dropdown menu allowing the user to select an independent variable, and a plurality of user-input coplanar stripline variable edit boxes allowing the user to enter custom values for a plurality of coplanar stripline variables, the plurality of coplanar stripline variable edit boxes comprises;

 

a coplanar stripline dielectric constant edit box allowing the user to input a custom value for a coplanar stripline dielectric constant variable;

 

a coplanar stripline separation gap edit box allowing the user to input a custom value for a coplanar stripline separation gap variable;

 

a coplanar stripline width edit box allowing the user to input a custom value for a stripline width variable;

 

a substrate height edit box allowing the user to input a custom value for a substrate height variable;

wherein each of the plurality of coplanar stripline variables are contained and selectable in the second independent variable dropdown menu;

the ninth plurality of machine readable instructions generates a third plurality of output graphs, the third plurality of output graphs comprises;

 

a seventh output graph section containing a characteristic impedance graph which displays a plurality of characteristic impedance curves showing a characteristic impedance variable as a function of the independent variable selected by the user from the second independent variable dropdown menu, wherein each curve calculated using one of a plurality of well-known characteristic impedance functions;

 

an eighth output graph section containing an effective permittivity graph which displays a plurality of effective permittivity curves showing an effective permittivity variable as a function of the independent variable selected by the user from the second independent variable dropdown menu, wherein each curve calculated using one of a plurality of well-known effective permittivity functions;

the tenth plurality of machine readable instructions generates a third analysis summary section, the third analysis summary section comprises;

 

a coplanar stripline analysis table containing the plurality of coplanar stripline variables for each of the plurality of coplanar stripline data points as entered by the user in the plurality of coplanar stripline variable edit boxes, the effective permittivity variable as displayed in the effective permittivity graph, and the characteristic impedance variable as displayed in the characteristic impedance graph;

 

an export coplanar stripline data action button that exports the coplanar stripline analysis summary table in a form readable by other computer applications when selected by the user.

6. A computer-implemented system to aid a user in designing, optimizing, and manufacturing a wireless power system for use in a specific user-defined operational environment, comprising:

a machine readable storage medium comprising a plurality of machine readable instructions comprising;

a first plurality of machine readable instructions means for generating a wireless power graphical user interface (GUI) comprising;

WPA_INIT machine instructions that generates wireless power analysis UIObject Variables;

DA_INIT that generates the DA UIObject variables;

CPSA_INIT that generates CPSA UIObject variables;

WPA_CALLBACK creates user interface sections that accepts user input from WPA input variables edit boxes, WPA transmitter aperture radio buttons, receiver aperture radio buttons, parametric analysis lists, and WPA action button_library that generates a GUI for wireless power library data selection;

DA_CALLBACK generates user interface sections that accepts user input from DA input variables edit boxes, DA library menu/edit box, and DA parametric analysis lists;

CPSA_CALLBACK generates CPSA user interface sections that accepts user input from CPSA input variables edit boxes, and CPSA parametric analysis lists;

WPA_UPDATE calculates designated dependent variable data value and displays in a dependent variable input variables edit box, the WPA_UPDATE then updates output variables graphs, analysis summary table, and warning text user interface sections;

DA_UPDATE generates user interface displays of values for DA output variables graphs and DA analysis summary tables;

CPSA_UPDATE displays values for CPSA output variables graphs and DA analysis summary table;

a second plurality of machine readable instructions for performing wireless power analysis (WPA) system initialization comprising;

a parametric_analysis section that generates parametric analysis lists comprising dependent and independent variable identifier drop down selection menus and data point list;

a frequency variable input field box generator that displays a frequency variable input field and generates a first colored border surrounding the frequency variable input field with a default black color;

a power_density variable input field box generator that generates power density user interface panel comprising a second colored border and power density variable edit box within the power density user interface panel;

a power_transmitted variable input field box generator that generates a power transmitted user interface panel comprising a third colored border and power transmitted variable edit box within the power transmitted input user interface panel;

a distance input variable input field box generator that generates a distance user interface panel comprising a fourth colored border and a distance variable edit box within the distance user interface panel;

a transmitter_aperture_area input field box generator that generates a transmitter aperture area user interface panel comprising a fifth colored border and a transmitter aperture area selection interface within the transmitter aperture area user interface panel;

a receiver_aperture_area input field box generator that generates a receiver aperture area user interface panel comprising a sixth colored border and a receiver aperture area selection interface within the transmitter aperture area user interface panel;

a graph axes generator that initializes a plurality of graph display user interface sections and generates an interactive user-input action and experimental rectenna data storage library GUI displaying stored rectenna performance data associated with a plurality of rectenna designs, the rectenna performance data comprising power density, and RF to DC conversion data for different rectennas;

an analysis summary generator that generates an analysis summary user interface section, a WPA analysis table within the analysis summary user interface section that comprises input variable data, efficiency data, and output DC power data, wherein the analysis summary generator further generates warning text based on power density values exceeding design parameters for a selected rectenna comprising

an antenna and diode combination in the rectenna data storage library;

a means for performing diode analysis (DA) system initialization;

a means for performing coplanar stripline analysis (CPSA);

a means for performing WPA callback;

a means for generating a WPA library selection GUI;

a means for performing DA system callback functions comprising operating said wireless power GUI elements;

a means for performing CPSA callback;

a means for performing a WPA update;

a means for performing a DA update;

a means for performing a CPSA update;

a WPA variables data structure generator and storage means;

a CPSA analysis variables data structure generator and storage means;

a means for performing a DA variables data structure generator and storage means;

a user interface (UI) Object variables data structure generator and storage means;

a means for an experimental data library UIObject variables data structure generator and storage;

a CPSA UIObject variables data structure generator and storage means; and

a DA UIObject variables data structure generator and storage means.