Wireless Electrical Device Using Open-Circuit Elements Having No Electrical Connections

• US 20100109818A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Inventors: Woodard, Stanley E., Taylor, Bryant Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,179,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/24.C
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils

Abstract

A wireless electrical device includes an electrically unconnected electrical conductor and at least one electrically unconnected electrode spaced apart from the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the electrical conductor so-shaped resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses. Each electrode is at a location lying within the magnetic field response so-generated and is constructed such that a linear movement of electric charges is generated in each electrode due to the magnetic field response so-generated.

Claims

1. A wireless electrical device, comprising:

an electrical conductor having first and second ends and shaped between said first and second ends for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field, said first and second ends remaining electrically unconnected such that said electrical conductor so-shaped defines an unconnected open-circuit having inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, said electrical conductor so-shaped resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses, each of which has a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth associated therewith; and

at least one electrode spaced apart from said electrical conductor at a location lying within at least said magnetic field response so-generated, each said electrode having a length-to-width aspect ratio such that a linear movement of electric charges is generated in each said electrode, each said electrode being electrically unconnected.

2. A wireless electrical device as in claim 1, further comprising a magnetic field response recorder for wirelessly transmitting said time-varying magnetic field to said electrical conductor and for wirelessly detecting at least one of said frequency, amplitude and bandwidth associated with said magnetic field response so-generated.

3. A wireless electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor comprises a thin-film trace.

4. A wireless electrical device as in claim 3, wherein said trace is uniform in width.

5. A wireless electrical device as in claim 3, wherein spacing between adjacent portions of said trace is uniform.

6. A wireless electrical device as in claim 3, wherein said trace is non-uniform in width.

7. A wireless electrical device as in claim 3, wherein spacing between adjacent portions of said trace is non-uniform.

8. A wireless electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor lies in a two-dimensional plane.

9. A wireless electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor occupies a three-dimensional space.

10. A wireless electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor forms a spiral between said first and second ends thereof.

11. A wireless electrical device as in claim 10, wherein each said electrode is at a non-zero angular orientation with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode.

12. A wireless electrical device as in claim 10, wherein each said electrode is at a zero angular orientation with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode.

13. A wireless electrical device as in claim 10, wherein said at least one electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes with a first portion of said electrodes at non-zero angular orientations with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode, and a second portion of said electrodes at zero angular orientations with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode.

14. A wireless electrical device as in claim 1, further comprising dielectric material disposed between said electrical conductor and each said electrode.

15. A wireless electrical device, comprising:

an electrical conductor in the form of a thin-film trace, said electrical conductor having first and second ends and shaped to form a spiral between said first and second ends for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field, said first and second ends remaining electrically unconnected such that said electrical conductor so-shaped defines an unconnected open-circuit having inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, said electrical conductor so-shaped resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses, each of which has a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth associated therewith; and

at least one electrode spaced apart from said electrical conductor at a location lying within at least said magnetic field response so-generated, each said electrode having a length-to-width aspect ratio such that a linear movement of electric charges is generated in each said electrode, each said electrode being electrically unconnected.

16. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, further comprising a magnetic field response recorder for wirelessly transmitting said time-varying magnetic field to said electrical conductor and for wirelessly detecting at least one of said frequency, amplitude and bandwidth associated with said magnetic field response so-generated.

17. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, wherein said trace is uniform in width.

18. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, wherein spacing between adjacent portions of said trace is uniform.

19. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, wherein said trace is non-uniform in width.

20. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, wherein spacing between adjacent portions of said trace is non-uniform.

21. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, wherein said electrical conductor lies in a two-dimensional plane.

22. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, wherein said electrical conductor occupies a three-dimensional space.

23. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, wherein each said electrode is at a non-zero angular orientation with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode.

24. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, wherein each said electrode is at a zero angular orientation with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode.

25. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, wherein said at least one electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes with a first portion of said electrodes at non-zero angular orientations with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode, and a second portion of said electrodes at zero angular orientations with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode.

26. A wireless electrical device as in claim 15, further comprising dielectric material disposed between said electrical conductor and each said electrode.

27. A wireless electrical device, comprising:

an electrical conductor having first and second ends and shaped to form a spiral between said first and second ends for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field, said first and second ends remaining electrically unconnected such that said electrical conductor so-shaped defines an unconnected open-circuit having inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, said electrical conductor so-shaped resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses, each of which has a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth associated therewith;

at least one electrode spaced apart from said electrical conductor at a location lying within at least said magnetic field response so-generated, each said electrode having a length-to-width aspect ratio such that a linear movement of electric charges is generated in each said electrode, each said electrode being electrically unconnected; and

a magnetic field response recorder for wirelessly transmitting said time-varying magnetic field to said electrical conductor and for wirelessly detecting at least one of said frequency, amplitude and bandwidth associated with said magnetic field response so-generated.

28. A wireless electrical device as in claim 27, wherein said electrical conductor lies in a two-dimensional plane.

29. A wireless electrical device as in claim 27, wherein said electrical conductor occupies a three-dimensional space.

30. A wireless electrical device as in claim 27, wherein each said electrode is at a non-zero angular orientation with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode.

31. A wireless electrical device as in claim 27, wherein each said electrode is at a zero angular orientation with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode.

32. A wireless electrical device as in claim 27, wherein said at least one electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes with a first portion of said electrodes at non-zero angular orientations with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode, and a second portion of said electrodes at zero angular orientations with respect to portions of said spiral overlapped by said electrode.

33. A wireless electrical device as in claim 27, further comprising dielectric material disposed between said electrical conductor and each said electrode.