Wireless Power Transfer using Magneto Mechanical Systems

• US 20090167449A1
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nigel Power LLC (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Widmer, Hanspeter, Cook, Nigel P., Dominiak, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,373,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 331/154
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Wireless power transfer is received using a magneto mechanical system. Movement of the magneto mechanical system is converted to electric power.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an array of magneto-mechanical oscillators, each oscillator comprising a magnetic symmetrical part and a torsion suspension engaged to the magnetic part;

an induction coil formed around the array, and electromagnetically coupled to the oscillators to produce an electric current caused by electromagnetic coupling with the oscillators; and

a control circuit to receive the electric current for producing an output power,

wherein each said oscillator has a size of less than 10 μ

m.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein each of said magneto-mechanical oscillators is a MEMS device.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein said torsion suspension includes a magnetic field.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said torsion suspension includes both a magnetic field and also includes a mechanical spring.

5. The device as in claim 1, wherein said magnetic symmetrical part is radially symmetrical.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said magnetic symmetrical part is disc shaped having a first part that is round in cross-section, and a second dimension that is thinner than said rounding cross-section area.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said array of elements is arranged in a disc shape.

8. A system, comprising:

a magnetic element, which is movably mounted;

a source of a static magnetic field, said static magnetic field located in an area to force the magnetic element towards a specified rotation position, said static magnetic field being sufficiently weak as to allow said magnetic element to move under influence of an applied magnetic field; and

an electric producing part, which produces an electric output based on said movement of said magnetic element against the static magnetic field.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein said static magnetic field comprises a field which is a sole force resisting movement of the magnetic element.

10. A system as in claim 9, further comprising a spring which also reduces which also resists movement of the magnetic element.

11. A system as in claim 8, wherein said magnetic element is mounted in a way that allows it to rotate.

12. A system as in claim 8, wherein said magnetic element is radially symmetrical.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said magnetic element is disc shaped having a first part that is round in cross-section, and a second dimension that is thinner than said round in cross-section part.

14. A system as in claim 12, wherein said magnetic element is part of an array of magnetic elements.

15. A system as in claim 14, further comprising a coil as said electric producing part, said coil being common to each of said elements of said array of elements.

16. A system as in claim 14, wherein said array of elements is arranged in a disc shaped.

17. A method, comprising:

based on applied power, causing each element of an array of magneto-mechanical oscillators, where each said oscillator has a size of less than 10 μ

m, to move a magnetic element against the force of a torsion suspension;

producing an electric current in a single coil structure, caused by electromagnetic coupling with the oscillators; and

outputting the electric current for producing an output power.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein each of said magneto-mechanical oscillators is an array of MEMS devices.

19. The method as in claim 17, further comprising using a fixed magnetic field as said torsion suspension.

20. The method as in claim 17, further comprising using both a fixed magnetic field and a mechanical spring as said torsion suspension.