Resonator enclosure

• US 9,595,378 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Jonas, Jude R., MacDonald, Matthew J., Kesler, Morris P., Kurs, Andre B., Sirota, Jonathan, Kulikowski, Konrad J., Amirkhani, Hamik
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dominique, Emmanuel R
• Application Number:
  US14/031,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20140175892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/006 with special arrangement or spacing of turns of the winding(s), e.g. to produce desired self-resonance
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/02 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10

Abstract

Described herein are improved configurations for a wireless power transfer and mechanical enclosures. The described structure holds and secures the components of a resonator while providing adequate structural integrity, thermal control, and protection against environmental elements. The coil enclosure structure comprises a flat, planar material with a recess for an electrical conductor wrapped around blocks of magnetic material as well as an additional planar material to act as a cover for the recess.

Claims

1. A resonator enclosure for wireless energy transfer comprising:

a first generally rectangular planar material having a top and a bottom side wherein a recess is fabricated into the top side;

a first section of the recess containing a magnetic resonator comprising a conductor having one or more turns and wrapped around one or more pieces of magnetic material;

a second section of the recess containing electronic components;

a sheet of conductive material forming a barrier between the first section of the recess containing the magnetic resonator and the second section of the recess containing the electronic components; and

a second generally rectangular planar material forming a cover to the recess fabricated into the first generally rectangular planar material,

wherein the sheet of conductive material is in thermal contact with the second generally rectangular planar material via a thermal interface material.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the first generally rectangular planar material is made of a non-lossy material.

3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the first section of the recess comprises a plurality of parallel grooves to hold the conductor wrapped around the one or more pieces of magnetic material.

4. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the sheet of conductive material is copper.

5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the sheet of conductive material is in thermal contact with the electronic components and thermally isolated from the magnetic resonator.

6. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the sheet of conductive material is in electrical contact with the electronic components and electrically isolated from the magnetic resonator.

7. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the second generally rectangular planar material is made of a conductive material.

8. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the second generally rectangular planar material is aluminum.

9. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising conductive material placed in thermal contact between the one or more pieces of magnetic material and the sheet of conductive material forming the barrier between the first section of the recess and the second section of the recess.

10. The enclosure of claim 9, wherein the conductive material is placed in between the one or more turns of the conductor without thermally contacting the one or more turns of the conductor.

11. The enclosure of claim 9, wherein the conductive material is placed to provide an efficient path for heat to travel from the one or more pieces of magnetic material to the second generally rectangular planar material.

12. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the second generally rectangular planar material can be separated from the first generally rectangular planar material for service.

13. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the first and second generally rectangular planar materials are joined via a gasket made of non-lossy material.

14. A resonator enclosure for wireless energy transfer comprising:

a first generally rectangular planar material having a top and a bottom side wherein a recess is fabricated into the top side;

a first section of the recess containing a magnetic resonator comprising a conductor having one or more turns and wrapped around one or more pieces of magnetic material;

a second section of the recess containing electronic components;

a sheet of conductive material forming a barrier between the first section of the recess containing the magnetic resonator and the second section of the recess containing the electronic components;

a second generally rectangular planar material forming a cover to the recess fabricated into the first generally rectangular planar material; and

a second conductive material placed in thermal contact between the one or more pieces of magnetic material and the sheet of conductive material forming the barrier between the first and second sections of the recess,

wherein the second conductive material is placed in between the one or more turns of the conductor without thermally contacting the one or more turns of the conductor.

15. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the conductive material is placed to provide an efficient path for heat to travel from the one or more pieces of magnetic material to the second generally rectangular planar material.

16. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the second generally rectangular planar material can be separated from the first generally rectangular planar material for service.

17. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the first and second generally rectangular planar materials are joined via a gasket made of non-lossy material.

18. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the first section of the recess comprises a plurality of parallel grooves to hold the conductor wrapped around the one or more pieces of magnetic material.

19. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the sheet of conductive material is in thermal contact with the electronic components and thermally isolated from the magnetic resonator.

20. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the sheet of conductive material is in electrical contact with the electronic components and electrically isolated from the magnetic resonator.