Resonant cavity mode enabled wireless power transfer

• US 10,707,685 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Sample, Alanson P., Chabalko, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Adam D
• Application Number:
  US14/698,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20160164301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 307149
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

An embodiment provides a method of wireless power transmission, including: powering a transmitter that produces electromagnetic waves in a three dimensional structure; selecting a transmission frequency that is a resonance frequency for the three dimensional structure; and transmitting, using the transmitter, electromagnetic waves within the three dimensional structure on the transmission frequency selected. Other systems, methods, apparatuses and products are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method of wireless power transmission, the method comprising:

powering a first transmitter that produces electromagnetic waves in a three dimensional structure, wherein the three dimensional structure comprises a cavity space allowing for placement of objects having power receivers within the cavity space;

selecting a transmission frequency that is a first resonance frequency of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure; and

stimulating the first transmitter at the first resonance frequency of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure to generate electromagnetic waves within the three dimensional structure, wherein the electromagnetic waves transmit power to a receiver located within the three dimensional structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a second resonance frequency of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmissions are made at the first resonance frequency and the second resonance frequency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the three dimensional structure is substantially enclosed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the three dimensional structure is a metallic structure.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the metallic structure is a substantially complete enclosure.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

powering a second transmitter; and

generating electromagnetic waves within the three dimensional structure using

the second transmitter,

wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter are placed at different locations within the three dimensional structure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter transmit on different resonance frequencies of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission frequency selected is less than 200 MHz.

10. An apparatus for wireless power transmission, the apparatus comprising:

a power source; and

a first transmitter operatively coupled to the power source, the first transmitter being placed in a three dimensional structure comprising a cavity space allowing for placement of objects having power receivers within the cavity space, and first the transmitter being stimulated to produce electromagnetic waves within the three dimensional structure,

wherein the produced electromagnetic waves transmit power to a receiver located within the three dimensional structure, and

wherein the first transmitter transmits is stimulated at a first transmission frequency that is a resonance frequency of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein power is further transmitted at a second transmission frequency that is a resonance frequency of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the power is transmitted at the first transmission frequency and the second transmission frequency at different times.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a second transmitter, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter are placed at different locations within the three dimensional structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter transmit on different resonance frequencies of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure.

15. A system for wireless power transmission, the system comprising:

a three dimensional structure;

a first transmitter placed in the three dimensional structure, wherein the three dimensional structure comprises a cavity space allowing for placement of objects having power receivers within the cavity space; and

a power source that powers the first transmitter to produce electromagnetic waves in the three dimensional structure,

wherein the produced electromagnetic waves transmit power to a receiver located within the three dimensional structure, and

wherein the first transmitter is stimulated at a first transmission frequency that is a resonance frequency of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein power is further transmitted at a second transmission frequency that is a resonance frequency of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the power is transmitted at the first transmission frequency and the second transmission frequency at different times.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a second transmitter,

wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter are placed at different locations within the three dimensional structure.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter transmit on different resonance frequencies of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure.

20. An apparatus receiving wireless power, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing instructions that are executable by the processor; and

a receiver that is coupled to the processor and coupled to an object, the receiver being tuned to receive wireless power transmitted at a resonance frequency of a cavity space within a three dimensional structure, wherein the three dimensional structure comprises the cavity space allowing for placement of the object having the coupled receiver within the cavity space.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the receiver is tunable to more than one resonance frequency of the cavity space within the three dimensional structure.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor executes instructions to tune the receiver to the resonance frequency.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a rechargeable battery coupled to the receiver; and

a wirelesses communication mechanism;

wherein the apparatus communicates with a transmission system providing the wireless power to the three dimensional structure at the resonance frequency.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus communicates at least a charging state to the transmission system.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the receiver comprises a coil or a dipole.