Wireless energy transfer using repeater resonators

• US 8,729,737 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Schatz, David A., Hall, Katherine L., Kesler, Morris P., Kurs, Andre B., Kulikowski, Konrad J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US13/369,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2823 Wires H01F27/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 37/00 Fixed inductances not covered by group H01F17/00
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 2001/0057 comprising magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance

Abstract

A bag for wireless energy transfer comprising a compartment for storing an electronic device enabled for wireless energy transfer, and at least one magnetic resonator positioned for wireless energy transfer to the electronic device, wherein a the at least one magnetic resonator optionally operates in one of three modes: (1) as a repeater resonator to extend the energy transfer to the electronic device from an external wireless energy source, (2) as a source resonator transferring energy from a battery in the bag to the electronic device, and (3) as an energy capture resonator receiving wireless energy from an external source to recharge a battery in the bag.

Claims

1. A bag for wireless energy transfer comprising:

a compartment for storing an electronic device enabled for wireless energy transfer;

at least one magnetic resonator;

circuit elements configured to enable a mode of operation of the resonator; and

at least one switch element for changing at least one connection between the circuit elements to enable at least two modes of operation of the resonator;

wherein the at least one magnetic resonator is positioned for wireless energy transfer with the electronic device in the compartment, and

wherein the at least two modes of operation of the resonator include operating as a source resonator and operating as an energy capture resonator.

2. The bag from claim 1, wherein the at least one resonator is operable as a repeater resonator to extend the energy transfer to the electronic device from an external wireless energy source.

3. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag further comprises at least one battery.

4. The bag of claim 3, wherein the at least one resonator is operable as a wireless energy source wherein the electrical energy from the at least one battery is used to energize the resonator for wireless energy transfer from the magnetic resonator to the electronic device in the compartment.

5. The bag of claim 4, wherein the bag comprises at least one of a phone, computer, camera, and a tablet.

6. The bag of claim 3, wherein the at least one resonator is operable as an energy capture resonator and receives wireless energy from an external source and wherein at least some of the captured energy is used to recharge the at least one battery.

7. The bag of claim 1, wherein the resonator has a quality factor Q>

100.

8. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is a purse.

9. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is a pouch.

10. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is a backpack.

11. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is a piece of luggage.

12. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is a device case.

13. The bag of claim 1, further comprising at least one battery.

14. A container for wireless energy transfer comprising:

at least one magnetic resonator,

circuit elements configured to enable a mode of operation of the resonator, and

at least one switch element for changing at least one connection between the circuit elements to enable at least two modes of operation of the resonator;

wherein the at least one switch element is configured to configure the magnetic resonator as an energy capture resonator configured to receive wireless energy from a source or as a source resonator configured to supply wireless energy to a device.

15. The container of claim 14, wherein the energy captured by the at least one resonator is used to recharge the at least one battery.

16. The container of claim 14, further comprising a compartment for storing an electronic device enabled for wireless energy transfer.

17. The container of claim 14, wherein the container is portable.

18. The container of claim 14, further comprising an electronic device enabled for wireless power transfer.

19. The container of claim 18, wherein the electronic device is at least one of a phone, computer, camera and a tablet.

20. The container of claim 14, wherein the magnetic resonator is at least partially integrated into a flexible housing.