SINGLE STRUCTURE MULTI MODE ANTENNA FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION USING MAGNETIC FIELD COUPLING HAVING AN INTERNAL SWITCH CIRCUIT

• US 20170040691A1
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nucurrent, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nucurrent, Inc.
• Inventors: Rajagopalan, Ajit, Luzinski, Jason, Singh, Vinit, Peralta, Alberto, Babcock, Jacob, Frysz, Christine A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,948,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2823 Wires H01F27/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Various embodiments of a single structure multiple mode antenna are described. The antenna is preferably constructed having a first inductor coil that is electrically connected in series with a second inductor coil. The antenna is constructed having a plurality of electrical connections positioned along the first and second inductor coils. A plurality of terminals facilitates connection of the electrical connections thereby providing numerous electrical connection configurations and enables the antenna to be selectively tuned to various frequencies and frequency bands. An internal switch circuit is provided that facilitates electrical connection of the various terminals and frequency tuning.

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

a) a first conductive wire forming a first coil having N₁ number of turns with spaced apart first and second first coil ends contactable to a substrate surface, wherein the first coil is capable of generating a first inductance;

b) a second conductive wire forming a second coil having N₂ number of turns with spaced apart first and second coil ends, the second coil capable of generating a second inductance positioned within an inner perimeter formed by the first coil;

c) a first terminal electrically connected to the first end of the first coil, a second terminal electrically connected to the second end of the second coil and a third terminal electrically connected to an electrical switch circuit comprising at least one capacitor, wherein the electrical switch circuit is electrically connected along either of the first or second coils; and

d) wherein actuation of the electrical switch electrically connects two of the three terminal ends so that an antenna operating frequency is modified.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein a gap disposed between the inner perimeter of the first coil and an outer perimeter of the second coil.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the gap is at least about 0.1 mm.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first conductive wire comprises two or more filars electrically connected in parallel.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the second conductive wire comprises two or more filars electrically connected in parallel.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first terminal is electrically connected to the first end of the first coil, the first end of the first coil disposed at an end of the first wire of the first coil located at an outermost first coil perimeter, the third terminal is electrically connected to the first end of the second coil positioned at a second coil outer perimeter, and the second terminal is electrically connected to the second end of the second coil located along an interior perimeter of the second coil.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein a selection circuit is electrically connected to the first, second and third terminals, wherein the selection circuit electrically connects two of the first, second and third terminals to generate a tunable inductance.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the selection circuit comprises at least one electrical component selected from the group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor and an inductor.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein N₁ is at least one and N₂ is at least two.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein N₂ is greater than N₁.

11. The antenna of claim 1, wherein each terminal has a terminal lead portion that extends between a coil connection point and a terminal end, the coil connection point electrically connected to either of the first and second conductive wires of the first and second coils, respectively, and wherein the terminal lead portion extends over at least a portion of either of the first and second conductive wires of the first and second coils, respectively.

12. The antenna of claim 11, wherein a plurality of first vias are positioned adjacently along a right side of a length of the terminal lead portion and a plurality of second vias are positioned along a left side of the length of the terminal lead portion and opposed from the plurality of first vias so that each of the plurality of first vias opposes one of the plurality of second vias, wherein the respective opposing vias of the plurality of first and second vias are electrically connected to the same conductive wire of either of the first and second coils, thereby establishing a conductive electrical path therebetween that bypasses the terminal lead portion.

13. The antenna of claim 1, wherein at least the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire has a variable wire width.

14. The antenna of claim 1, the antenna having a quality factor greater than 10.

15. The antenna of claim 1, wherein an electrical signal selected from the group consisting of a data signal, an electrical voltage, an electrical current, and combinations thereof is receivable by at least the first and second coils.

16. The antenna of claim 1, wherein an electrical signal selected from the group consisting of a data signal, an electrical voltage, an electrical current, and combinations thereof is transmittable by at least the first and second coils.

17. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises material composed of an electrically insulative material selected from the group consisting of a polyimide, an acrylic, fiberglass, polyester, polyether imide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyethylene napthalate, fluropolymers, copolymers, a ceramic material, a ferrite material, and combinations thereof.

18. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna is capable of receiving a frequency band selected from the group consisting of about 100 kHz to about 250 kHz, about 250 kHz to about 500 kHz, 6.78 MHz, 13.56 MHz, and combinations thereof.

19. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna is capable of receiving or transmitting frequencies of at least 100 kHz.

20. The antenna of claim 1, wherein actuation of the electrical switch electrically connects two of the three terminal ends so that an antenna inductance is modified.