Systems and methods for wirelessly projecting power using multiple in-phase current loops
First Claim
1. A system for wirelessly projecting power to wirelessly power microelectronic devices, the system comprising:
- a first array of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another to define a first surface and to define a first virtual current loop at a periphery of the first surface that produces a same first direction virtual current while current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops flows in opposite directions, the first surface including a center, wherein two points on the periphery of the first surface and the center define a plane and an axial direction that is normal to the plane; and
a second array of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another to define a second surface and to define a second virtual current loop at a periphery of the second surface that produces a same second direction virtual current that is opposite the same first direction virtual current while current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops flows in opposite directions, wherein the first surface is spaced apart from and at least partially overlaps the second surface in the axial direction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
First and second spaced apart in-phase current loops at least partially overlap in the axial direction. The first and second current loops may be first and second arrays of in-phase current loops that are spaced apart and at least partially overlap in the axial direction. First and second arrays of arrays also may be provided that are spaced apart from one another and that at least partially overlap in the axial direction. Desirably high mid-field strength may be provided without violating guidelines for far field radiation in the axial direction or in the plane of the loops. A third array of in-phase current loops, an array of third in-phase current loops and/or an array of arrays of third in-phase current loops also may be provided that spaced apart from and at least partially overlapping the second loops in the axial direction, opposite the first loops. Third and fourth arrays of in-phase current loops also may be provided that are spaced apart from one another, at least partially overlap one another in the axial direction, and have different orientation than the first and second current loops, to reduce and preferably minimize nulls in the near field and mid field. A receive antenna also may be provided between the overlapping portions of the first and second current loops. By providing a receive antenna at this position, the effects of the fields that are produced by the current loops on the receive antenna may be reduced and preferably minimized.
70 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A system for wirelessly projecting power to wirelessly power microelectronic devices, the system comprising:
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a first array of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another to define a first surface and to define a first virtual current loop at a periphery of the first surface that produces a same first direction virtual current while current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops flows in opposite directions, the first surface including a center, wherein two points on the periphery of the first surface and the center define a plane and an axial direction that is normal to the plane; and
a second array of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another to define a second surface and to define a second virtual current loop at a periphery of the second surface that produces a same second direction virtual current that is opposite the same first direction virtual current while current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops flows in opposite directions, wherein the first surface is spaced apart from and at least partially overlaps the second surface in the axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for wirelessly projecting power to wirelessly power microelectronic devices, the system comprising:
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a plurality of first arrays of in-phase current loops, the first arrays of in-phase current loops being disposed adjacent to one another to define a first surface, each first array of in-phase current loops defining a virtual current such that virtual currents of at least some adjacent first arrays of in-phase current loops are not in-phase with one another, each first array of in-phase current loops comprising a plurality of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another in the first surface, such that current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops in a first array flows in opposite directions, the first surface including a center, wherein two points on the periphery of the first surface and the center define a plane and an axial direction that is normal to the plane; and
a plurality of second arrays of in-phase current loops, the second arrays of in-phase current loops being disposed adjacent to one another to define a second surface, each second array of in-phase current loops defining a virtual current such that virtual currents of at least some adjacent second arrays of in-phase current loops are not in-phase with one another, each second array of in-phase current loops comprising a plurality of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another in the second surface, such that current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops in a second array flows in opposite directions, wherein the first surface is spaced apart from and at least partially overlaps the second surface in the axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A system for wirelessly projecting power to wirelessly power microelectronic devices, the system comprising:
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a first in-phase current loop that defines a first surface and that produces a first direction current, the first surface including a center, wherein two points on the periphery of the first surface and the center define a plane and an axial direction that is normal to the plane; and
a second in-phase current loop that defines a second surface and that produces a second direction current that is opposite the first direction current, wherein the first surface is spaced apart from and at least partially overlaps the second surface in the axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for wirelessly projecting power to wirelessly power microelectronic devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying current to a first array of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another to define a first surface and to define a first virtual current loop at a periphery of the first surface that produces a same first direction virtual current while current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops flows in opposite directions, the first surface including a center, wherein two points on the periphery of the first surface and the center define a plane and an axial direction that is normal to the plane; and
applying current to a second array of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another to define a second surface and to define a second virtual current loop at a periphery of the second surface that produces a same second direction virtual current that is opposite the same first direction virtual current while current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops flows in opposite directions, wherein the first surface is spaced apart from and at least partially overlaps the second surface in the axial direction.
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56. A method for wirelessly projecting power to wirelessly power microelectronic devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying current to a plurality of first arrays of in-phase current loops, the first arrays of in-phase current loops being disposed adjacent to one another to define a first surface, each first array of in-phase current loops defining a virtual current such that virtual currents of at least some adjacent first arrays of in-phase current loops are not in-phase with one another, each first array of in-phase current loops comprising a plurality of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another in the first surface, such that current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops in a first array flows in opposite directions, the first surface including a center, wherein two points on the periphery of the first surface and the center define a plane and an axial direction that is normal to the plane; and
applying current to a plurality of second arrays of in-phase current loops, the second arrays of in-phase current loops being disposed adjacent to one another to define a second surface, each second array of in-phase current loops defining a virtual current such that virtual currents of at least some adjacent second arrays of in-phase current loops are not in-phase with one another, each second array of in-phase current loops comprising a plurality of in-phase current loops that are disposed adjacent to one another in the second surface, such that current in adjacent portions of adjacent current loops in a second array flows in opposite directions, wherein the first surface is spaced apart from and at least partially overlaps the second surface in the axial direction.
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Specification