Power transfer system and method

Abstract

A system for transferring power from a power source to a receiver.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference

[0002] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 817,159, filed on March 12, 2019; U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 934,309, filed on November 12, 2019; U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 944,645, filed on December 6, 2019; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 956,479, filed on January 2, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to power transmitters, receivers, and systems and methods for power transfer. Background Art

[0004] In inductive power transfer (IPT), power is typically transferred between wire coils through a magnetic field. Alternating current (AC) is driven through a transmitter coil to generate an oscillating magnetic field. This magnetic field passes through a receiver coil, where the magnetic field induces an alternating current in the receiver coil. The induced alternating current can either directly drive a load or be rectified to direct current (DC), which is applied to drive the load. For high efficiency, the transmitter coil and the receiver coil must be placed close together. For example, it is common for the transmitter coil and the receiver coil to be separated by only a fraction of the coil diameter (e.g., within a few centimeters) and the axes of the coils to be closely aligned.

[0005] In some IPT systems, resonant inductive coupling is employed. Resonant inductive coupling can increase the efficiency of IPT by using resonant circuits. Compared to non-resonant inductive coupling, resonant inductive coupling can achieve higher efficiency at greater distances. In resonant inductive coupling, power is transferred through a magnetic field between two resonant circuits, one in the transmitter and one in the receiver. The two circuits are tuned to resonate at the same resonant frequency.

[0006] In some IPT systems, eddy currents are generated in nearby metals by the magnetic field. This can cause significant temperature rises and fire hazards. Ferrite plates can be used to provide shielding and improve inductive coupling, but may increase the cost of such systems.

[0007] Capacitive power transfer (CPT) uses an electric field to transfer power between two electrodes such as metal plates. Typically, four metal plates are used in a CPT system to form a capacitive coupler. Two plates serve as power transmitters and the other two plates act as power receivers, resulting in at least two coupled capacitors providing a power flow loop. An alternating voltage is applied by the transmitter to the transmit plates. The oscillating electric field induces an alternating potential on the receive plates, which causes an alternating current to flow in the load circuit. Resonance can also be used in conjunction with capacitive coupling to extend the range of power transfer.

[0008] In a CPT system, eddy current losses can be reduced, and the plates used are low-cost and reduce system costs. However, a problem with many systems is that a high voltage can be imposed on the plates. This high voltage can generate a strong electric field, which results in significant field emission to the surrounding area.

[0009] There are also problems associated with capacitive or inductive compensation networks in CPT and IPT systems. Currently, both CPT systems and IPT systems require a minimum spacing between the receiver and the transmitter. This typically requires large capacitors and inductors in the compensation networks on the primary and secondary sides. Such large components are difficult to fabricate, and their parasitic resistance can greatly reduce system efficiency. Additionally, such compensation components do not directly participate in the power transfer process.

[0010] There is still a desire for wireless power transmitters and receivers with fewer components and / or lower costs. There is still a desire for wireless power transmitters and receivers that reduce the dependence on compensation networks. There is still a desire for wireless power transmitters and receivers with higher efficiency. There is still a desire for wireless power transmitters with more flexible requirements for alignment and spacing between them.

[0011] The field of power transfer related to consumer products has become increasingly important. In the automotive field, wire harnesses have become an important and costly subsystem of vehicles. In the current decade, the automotive wire harness market is expected to exceed $77 billion. In an era focused on gasoline mileage for internal combustion engine vehicles, carbon emissions from these vehicles, and electric vehicle mileage, the cost, weight, and power transfer efficiency of such wire harnesses have become major considerations in vehicle design. Given that materials and components account for approximately 57% of automotive manufacturing costs, this consideration is understandable.

[0012] Although battery pack technology has steadily improved to provide battery packs with higher energy density, the demand from consumers for an increasing number of auxiliary user electronics and electric drive systems integrated into vehicles has also increased simultaneously. This places increasingly high demands on the battery pack, the weight, cost, and power transfer efficiency of the vehicle. In the 1990s, higher voltage battery pack systems were proposed for the automotive industry, partly in the hope of reducing the weight of the wire harness.

[0013] Numerous efforts have been made to reduce the amount of expensive copper used in wire harnesses and move towards using cheaper aluminum. The desire to reduce weight by approximately 40 lbs in a typical vehicle has also contributed to this trend. This trend of using aluminum has its own problems, partly due to the fact that the resistivity of aluminum is 1.58 times that of copper. Aluminum also suffers from a phenomenon called creep, which causes connections to loosen. In addition, aluminum oxidizes, so precautions must be taken with regard to connections. Some aspects of the wire harness still require copper, and any connection between copper and aluminum introduces an electrolytic potential problem.

[0014] There is a clear need for an alternative approach for vehicle wire harnesses that reduces the expensive copper content, provides flexibility in terms of voltage, avoids the problems associated with aluminum, and reduces weight.

[0015] At the same time, there is a need to improve the efficiency of power transfer technology to keep up with the rapidly advancing battery pack technology, which is in turn driven by developments in the field of electric vehicles.

[0016] This requirement is not limited to the automotive field but is also relevant to, for example, the field of solar power transfer and, with some modifications, also applies to other consumer household devices such as computers and television monitors. Power conditioning units that optimally extract power from sources with varying voltages are now widely used, but they are typically limited to a certain extent by control facilities. This in turn prevents the optimization of power transfer efficiency.

[0017] The foregoing examples of the related art and their associated limitations are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the specification and studying the drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] In a first aspect, there is provided a bimodal near-field resonant radio power transfer system configured to simultaneously perform capacitive power transfer and inductive power transfer at a resonant power signal oscillation frequency while adjusting a transfer mode ratio, the system comprising: a transmitter subsystem including a transmitter antenna subsystem and a power signal tuner module configured to adjust the transfer mode ratio by adjusting a power signal provided by the tuner module to the transmitter antenna subsystem; and a receiver subsystem including a receiver antenna subsystem configured to receive electrical power from the transmitter antenna subsystem at the transfer mode ratio.

[0019] The tuner module can be configured to adjust the power signal by adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem. The transmitter subsystem can further include a controller and at least one sensor, where the controller is configured to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor and automatically provide a tuning instruction to the tuner module based on the sensor information; and the tuner module is configured to adjust the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem according to the tuning instruction.

[0020] The at least one sensor can be disposed on the transmitter subsystem. In other embodiments, the at least one sensor can be disposed on the receiver subsystem and the controller can be configured to wirelessly receive the sensor information. The at least one sensor can be one of the following: a power load sensor; a transmit power sensor; a surrounding object detector; and a distance detector configured to detect the distance between the transmitter antenna and the receiver antenna.

[0021] The resonant power signal oscillation frequency can vary freely within a predetermined frequency band. The predetermined frequency band can be an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) frequency band. The system can be detuned to an extent that allows the resonant power signal oscillation frequency to vary within the relative limits of the predetermined frequency band.

[0022] In a further aspect, there is provided a wireless method of transferring power bi - modally according to an adjustable transfer mode ratio at a resonant power signal oscillation frequency. The method includes: providing a transmitter subsystem including a power signal tuner module and a transmitter antenna subsystem configured to resonate at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency; providing a receiver subsystem including a receiver antenna subsystem configured to resonate at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency; providing a power signal from the tuner module to the transmitter antenna subsystem at the power signal oscillation resonant frequency; adjusting the transfer mode ratio by adjusting the power signal from the tuner module to the transmitter antenna subsystem; and receiving the transferred power at the receiver subsystem at the power signal oscillation resonant frequency via the receiver antenna subsystem at the transfer mode ratio. Adjusting the transfer mode ratio can include adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem.

[0023] The provided transmitter subsystem may further include a provided controller and at least one sensor, and may complete adjusting the phase difference between the current and the voltage via a command of the controller by the tuner module based on sensor information received by the controller from the at least one sensor. When the controller receives the sensor information, the command of the controller may be automatically issued to the tuner module; and the tuner module may automatically implement to change the phase difference from the command of the controller.

[0024] The method may further include allowing the oscillation frequency of the resonant power signal to vary within a predetermined frequency band. The predetermined frequency band may be an Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency band. The provided transmitter subsystem may include a provided transmitter subsystem that is detuned to an extent that allows the oscillation frequency of the resonant power signal to vary within the relative limits of the predetermined frequency band.

[0025] In a further aspect, there is provided a near-field resonant radio power transfer system, comprising: a transmission subsystem including a plurality of substantially mutually decoupled transmitter resonators and corresponding transmitter modules for power signal communication with each transmitter resonator, each transmitter module including a transmission controller and a power signal source having a power signal oscillation frequency and a power signal phase, each power signal source being controlled by the corresponding transmission controller; one or more receiver subsystems, each receiver subsystem including a corresponding receiver resonator; a software look-up table of discrete allowable power signal oscillation frequencies of the power signal sources; and software that, when loaded in memory and implemented by the controller of any of the transmitter modules, performs the following operations: measuring one of the input impedance of the corresponding transmitter resonator and the test signal power drawn by the corresponding transmitter resonator; and selecting a frequency from the look-up table for the corresponding power signal source based on one of the input impedance of the corresponding transmitter resonator and the test signal power drawn by the corresponding transmitter resonator. The software, when executed, may perform the operation of measuring the level of power transferred by the corresponding transmitter resonator while adjusting the phase of the power signal from the corresponding power signal source. The transmitter resonators may be substantially mutually decoupled by a ground shield grid.

[0026] In a further aspect, there is provided a wireless near-field method for transferring power from a multi-transmitter subsystem to a single resonant receiver subsystem at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency, the method comprising: providing the multi-transmitter subsystem, which includes a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator being driven by a corresponding transmitter module capable of independently being set to one of a plurality of preset power signal oscillation frequencies in a preset frequency band, wherein all of said transmitter resonators have a common transmission surface; disposing the resonant receiver subsystem in the vicinity of the common transmission surface, the resonant receiver subsystem including a single receiver resonator overlapping with two or more of said transmitter resonators; measuring one of the input impedance of each of said transmitter resonators and the power drawn by each of said transmitter resonators from a test signal; based on the corresponding measured resonator input impedance and one of the power drawn by the corresponding transmitter resonator from the test signal, setting the power signal to each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators to one of an off state and an active state; selecting a power signal oscillation frequency for each active transmitter resonator from among the plurality of preset power oscillation frequencies based on the measured input impedance of the active transmitter resonator; and setting the power signal of each active transmitter resonator to the corresponding selected frequency. The method may further include adjusting the phase of the power signal applied to each corresponding transmitter resonator to a phase at which power transfer through the transmitter resonator is substantially maximized.

[0027] In a further aspect, there is provided a wireless near - field method for transferring power from a multi - transmitter subsystem to two or more receiver subsystems at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency. The method includes: providing the multi - transmitter subsystem, which includes a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator being driven by a corresponding transmitter module capable of independently being set to one of a plurality of preset power signal oscillation frequencies in a preset frequency band, wherein all of the transmitter resonators have a common transmission surface; disposing two or more resonant receiver subsystems near the common transmission surface, each resonant receiver subsystem including one or more individual receiver resonators overlapping with two or more of the transmitter resonators; measuring one of the input impedance of each of the transmitter resonators and the power drawn by each of the transmitter resonators from a test signal; based on one of the corresponding measured resonator input impedance and the power drawn by the corresponding transmitter resonator from the test signal, setting the power signal to each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators to one of an off state and an active state; selecting a power signal oscillation frequency for each active transmitter resonator from among the plurality of preset power oscillation frequencies based on the measured input impedance of the active transmitter resonator; and setting the power signal of each active transmitter resonator to the corresponding selected frequency. The method may further include adjusting the phase of the power signal applied to each corresponding transmitter resonator to a phase at which power transfer through the transmitter resonator is substantially maximized.

[0028] In a further aspect, there is provided a near - field wireless system for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell to a power load. The system includes: a transmission module in wired electrical communication with the photovoltaic cell, the transmission module configured to convert the power from the photovoltaic cell in the future into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency; a transmitter resonator in wired electrical communication with the transmission module and configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; a receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency and arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and a receiver module in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator, the receiver module configured to receive power from the receiver resonator and present the received power in the form of direct current to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0029] The transmission module may include a power amplifier configured to modulate the power received from the photovoltaic cell at the oscillation frequency. The transmission module may include an oscillator configured to provide the oscillation frequency to the power amplifier. The transmission module may include a controller and one or more sensors, the controller being configured to change the oscillation frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors. The transmission module may include a transmission tuning network configured to change at least one phase of the power provided by the transmission module to the transmitter resonator under the control of the controller based on second information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

[0030] The system may include a power conditioning unit electrically connected between the photovoltaic cell and the transmission module and configured to adapt the power from the photovoltaic cell to a format compatible with the transmission module. The transmission module may include small-signal electronics and the power conditioning unit may be further configured to supply power to the small-signal electronics. The transmitter resonator may be disposed on a surface of the photovoltaic cell opposite the active solar radiation receiving surface of the cell. The transmitter resonator has a surface area that has a range that is at least a major portion of the range of the active solar radiation receiving surface of the cell.

[0031] The transmitter resonator may have a planar area smaller than the planar area of the receiver resonator. The receiver resonator may be arranged and configured to receive power from a further transmitter resonator at the resonance frequency via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction.

[0032] In a further embodiment of a near-field wireless system for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell array to a power load, the system includes: a first plurality of transmission modules, each transmission module in wired electrical communication with a corresponding photovoltaic cell in the array, each transmission module configured to convert the power from the corresponding photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency; a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator in wired electrical communication with a corresponding transmission module from the first plurality of transmission modules and configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; a single receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency and arranged to receive power from the plurality of transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and a receiver module in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator, the receiver module configured to receive power from the receiver resonator and present the received power as direct current to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0033] Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may include a power amplifier configured to modulate the power received from the corresponding photovoltaic cell at the oscillation frequency. Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may include an oscillator configured to provide the oscillation frequency to the corresponding power amplifier. Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may further include a controller and one or more sensors, the controller being configured to change the oscillation frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors. Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may include a transmission tuning network configured to change at least one phase of the power provided by the transmission module to the corresponding transmitter resonator under the control of the corresponding controller based on second information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

[0034] The system may include a third plurality of power conditioning units, each of the third plurality of power conditioning units being electrically connected between the corresponding photovoltaic cell and the corresponding transmission module and configured to adapt the power from the corresponding photovoltaic cell to a format compatible with the corresponding transmission module. Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may include small signal electronics and the corresponding power conditioning unit may be further configured to provide power to the small signal electronics. Each of the second plurality of transmitter resonators may be disposed on a surface of the corresponding photovoltaic cell opposite the active solar radiation receiving surface of the cell.

[0035] In a further embodiment of a near-field wireless system for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell array to a power load, the system includes: a first plurality of transmission modules, each transmission module in wired electrical communication with a corresponding photovoltaic cell in the array, each transmission module being configured to convert the power from the corresponding photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency; a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmission resonator in wired electrical communication with a corresponding transmission module from the first plurality of transmission modules and configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; a third plurality of receiver resonators configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency, each of the third plurality of receiver resonators being arranged to receive power from the corresponding transmitter resonator from the second plurality of transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and a fourth plurality of receiver modules, each receiver module in wired electrical communication with a corresponding receiver resonator from the third plurality of receiver resonators, the receiver module being configured to receive power from the corresponding receiver resonator and present the received power in the form of direct current to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0036] Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may include a power amplifier configured to modulate the power received from the corresponding photovoltaic cell at the oscillation frequency. Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may include an oscillator configured to provide the oscillation frequency to the corresponding power amplifier. Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may further include a controller and one or more sensors, the controller being configured to change the oscillation frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors. Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may include a transmission tuning network configured to change at least one phase of the power provided by the transmission module to the corresponding transmitter resonator under the control of the corresponding controller based on second information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

[0037] The system may further include a fifth plurality of power conditioning units, each power conditioning unit of the fifth plurality of power conditioning units being electrically connected between the corresponding photovoltaic cell of the solar cell array and the corresponding transmission module of the first plurality of transmission modules and configured to adapt the power from the corresponding photovoltaic cell to a format compatible with the corresponding transmission module. Each of the first plurality of transmission modules may include small-signal electronics and the corresponding power conditioning unit of the fifth plurality of power conditioning units may be further configured to provide power to the small-signal electronics. Each of the second plurality of transmitter resonators may be disposed on a surface of the corresponding photovoltaic cell of the photovoltaic cell array opposite the active solar radiation receiving surface of the cell.

[0038] In a further embodiment, there is provided a near-field wireless system for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell array to a power load, the system comprising: a first plurality of transmission modules, each transmission module being in wired electrical communication with a corresponding photovoltaic cell in the array, each transmission module being configured to convert the power from the corresponding photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency; a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmission resonator being in wired electrical communication with a corresponding transmission module of the first plurality of transmission modules and configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; a third plurality of receiver resonators, which are fewer in number than the plurality of transmitter resonators and configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency, each receiver resonator of the third plurality of receiver resonators being arranged to receive power from a portion of the plurality of transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and a fourth plurality of receiver modules, each receiver module being in wired electrical communication with a corresponding receiver resonator, the receiver module being configured to receive power from the corresponding receiver resonator and present the received power in the form of direct current to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0039] Each transmission module among the first plurality of transmission modules may include a power amplifier configured to modulate the power received from the corresponding photovoltaic cell at the oscillation frequency. Each transmission module among the first plurality of transmission modules may include an oscillator configured to provide the oscillation frequency to the corresponding power amplifier. Each transmission module among the first plurality of transmission modules may further include a controller and one or more sensors, the controller being configured to change the oscillation frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors. Each transmission module among the first plurality of transmission modules may include a transmission tuning network configured to change at least one phase of the power provided by the transmission module to the corresponding transmitter resonator under the control of the corresponding controller based on second information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

[0040] The system may include a fifth plurality of power conditioning units, each power conditioning unit among the fifth plurality of power conditioning units being electrically connected between the corresponding photovoltaic cell among the solar cell array and the corresponding transmission module among the first plurality of transmission modules and configured to adapt the power from the corresponding photovoltaic cell to a format compatible with the corresponding transmission module.

[0041] Each transmission module among the first plurality of transmission modules may include small-signal electronics and the corresponding power conditioning unit among the fifth plurality of power conditioning units may be further configured to provide power to the small-signal electronics. Each transmitter resonator among the second plurality of transmitter resonators may be disposed on a surface of the corresponding photovoltaic cell among the photovoltaic cell array opposite to the active solar radiation receiving surface of the cell.

[0042] In a further aspect, there is provided a method for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell to a power load, the method comprising: converting, in a transmission module, the power from the photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency; transferring the power to a transmitter resonator in wired electrical communication with the transmission module and configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; receiving power in a receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency and arranged to receive the power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; receiving the power in a receiver module in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator; and presenting the received power as direct current to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0043] In a further embodiment of a method for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell array to a power load, the method includes: converting, in each of a first plurality of corresponding transfer modules, the power from each of the photovoltaic cells in the array into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillating frequency; transferring the power in each of the transfer modules to a corresponding transmitter resonator among a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power in a receiver resonator, the receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency and arranged to receive the power from the plurality of transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; receiving the power in a receiver module in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator; and presenting the received power in the form of direct current to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0044] In a further embodiment of a method for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell array to a power load, the method includes: converting, in each of a first plurality of corresponding transfer modules, the power from each of the photovoltaic cells in the array into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillating frequency; transferring the power from each of the transfer modules to a corresponding transmitter resonator among a second plurality of transmitter resonators, wherein each transmitter resonator is configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power from each transmitter resonator in a corresponding receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency, wherein each receiver resonator is further arranged and configured to receive the power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and presenting the received power in the form of direct current to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0045] In a further embodiment of a method for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell array to a power load, the method includes: converting, in each of a first plurality of corresponding transfer modules, the power from each of the photovoltaic cells in the array into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillating frequency; transferring the power from each of the transfer modules to a transmitter resonator among a second plurality of transmitter resonators, wherein each transmitter resonator is configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power from each transmitter resonator in any adjacent receiver resonator among a third plurality of receiver resonators configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency, wherein each receiver resonator is further arranged and configured to receive the power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; sharing the received power among the third plurality of receiver resonators; and presenting the received power to the power load in the form of direct current electricity via one or more receiver modules corresponding to one or more of the third plurality of receiver resonators via wired electrical communication. The method may further include converting the voltage and current of the power into a voltage and current adapted to the corresponding transfer module before converting the power from each photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal.

[0046] An electrical power transfer system for supplying power from a DC power source to a power load, the system includes: a radio frequency power amplifier that is in wired electrical communication with the power source and is configured to convert the DC voltage from the power source into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier that is in wired electrical contact with the power load and in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, the rectifier being configured to receive the power transferred from the amplifier; and a receiver controller that communicates with the rectifier, the receiver controller being configured to adjust the efficiency of the power transfer from the amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. The rectifier may be a differential self-synchronous radio frequency rectifier.

[0047] The receiver controller may be configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. The power transfer system may further include a load management system that is in wired communication with the load and is disposed between the load and the rectifier in the form of a power signal, the load management system being configured to increase the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier. The load management system may be configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier.

[0048] The power transfer system may further include a transmitter controller that communicates with the amplifier, the transmitter controller being configured to increase the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the amplifier. The transmitter controller may be configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the amplifier to increase the efficiency of the power transfer.

[0049] The power transfer system may further include an oscillator that communicates with the amplifier and the transmitter controller. The transmitter controller may be configured to adjust the oscillation frequency via the oscillator.

[0050] The power amplifier may communicate directly with the adjustable phase RF rectifier via wired RF communication. The power amplifier may communicate with the adjustable phase RF rectifier via wireless near-field RF communication. The power transfer system may include a transmitter resonator that communicates with the power amplifier via wired RF communication and a receiver resonator that communicates with the rectifier via wired RF communication. The transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator may communicate with each other via wireless near-field RF communication. The power amplifier may communicate with the rectifier via at least one of capacitive near-field wireless RF communication and inductive near-field wireless RF communication. The power amplifier may communicate with the rectifier via dual-mode near-field wireless RF communication.

[0051] The DC power supply may include a rechargeable battery pack and the load may include an electric motor. The load may include a computer monitor. The resonant structure of the system may include at least one conductive mechanical load-bearing structure component of the system.

[0052] The system may further include a power conditioning unit electrically disposed between the power supply and the power transfer system, the power conditioning unit being configured to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply to improve the efficiency of the power transfer.

[0053] There is further provided a method for power transfer from a DC power supply to a power load, the method comprising: providing a power transfer system in wired electrical communication with the power supply, the power transfer system including a RF power amplifier in RF communication with an adjustable phase RF rectifier, the RF power amplifier being in wired electrical contact with the power load; converting the power from the DC power supply into a RF oscillating power signal in the amplifier; converting the RF oscillating power signal into a DC power signal in the rectifier; and adjusting the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. Providing the adjustable phase RF rectifier may include providing a differential self-synchronizing RF rectifier.

[0054] The method may further include adjusting the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the amplifier. Providing the power transfer system may include providing a load management system that communicates wired between the rectifier and the load. Adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the amplifier may include adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier by adjusting the load management system. Adjusting the load management system may include automatically adjusting the load management system.

[0055] The method may further include adjusting the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier. Providing the power transfer system may include providing a transmitter controller that communicates with the power amplifier to control the power amplifier. Adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier may be performed by the transmitter controller. Adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier may be automatically performed by the transmitter controller.

[0056] The method may further include adjusting the efficiency of the power transfer by changing the oscillation frequency of the power amplifier.

[0057] Providing the power transfer system may include providing a receiver controller that communicates with the rectifier to control the rectifier. Adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier may be performed by the receiver controller. Adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier may be automatically performed by the receiver controller.

[0058] Providing the power transfer system may include providing the power amplifier that performs direct wired radio frequency communication with the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier. Providing the power transfer system may include providing the power amplifier that performs wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier.

[0059] Providing the power transfer system may include providing a transmitter resonator that performs wired radio frequency communication with the power amplifier and a receiver resonator that performs wired radio frequency communication with the radio frequency rectifier. The method may further include operating the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator that perform wireless near-field radio frequency communication with each other. Providing the power transfer system may include providing the power amplifier that performs at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier. Providing the power transfer system may include providing the power amplifier that performs dual-mode wireless near-field communication with the rectifier.

[0060] The method may further include: providing a power regulation unit that is electrically disposed between the power source and the power transfer system; and adjusting the power regulation unit to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power source to improve the efficiency of the power transfer.

[0061] Further provided is a method for transferring power from a direct current power source to a power load, the method comprising: providing a power transfer system that is in wired electrical communication with the power source, the power transfer system comprising: an oscillator capable of oscillating at an oscillation frequency; a power amplifier and a transmitter tuning network, both under the control of a transmitter controller; and a receiver tuning network and a load management system, both under the control of a receiver controller, the load management system being in wired electrical communication with the power load; converting the power from the power source in the power amplifier into an oscillating electrical power signal having the oscillation frequency; transferring the power signal from the power amplifier to the load management system via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network under the control of the transmitter controller; adjusting at least one of the oscillation frequency, the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier, the transmitter tuning network, the receiver tuning network, and the load management system to change the power transfer rate; and presenting the power received by the load management system to the power load in the form of direct current via wired electrical communication.

[0062] Transferring the power signal via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network may include transferring the power through wired communication. Transferring the power signal via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network may include transferring the power through wireless communication. Transferring the power through wireless communication may include transferring the power through near-field wireless communication. Transferring the power through near-field wireless communication may include transferring the power through at least one of capacitive coupling and inductive coupling.

[0063] Transferring power from a direct current power source may include transferring power from at least one solar cell. Transferring power from a direct current power source may include transferring power from at least one solar cell battery pack. Transferring power from a direct current power source may include transferring power from the power source at a varying voltage.

[0064] In another embodiment, an electric system comprises: a mechanical load-bearing structure having a conductive first part; an electrical power load; and an electrical power transfer system comprising at least one radio frequency resonator configured for near-field wireless power transfer, wherein the resonator at least partially comprises the conductive first part. The electric system may further comprise a rechargeable battery pack and the electrical power load may comprise an electric motor. The electric system may be an electric vehicle and the mechanical load-bearing structure may comprise the vehicle chassis. The electric system may be a display monitor and the mechanical load-bearing structure may be at least one of the monitor's frame and base.

[0065] The electric system may further include a power source. The electric power transfer system may include: a radio frequency power amplifier that is in wired electrical communication with the power source and is configured to convert a direct current voltage from the power source into an alternating voltage signal having an oscillation frequency in the future; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier that is in wired electrical contact with the power load and in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, the rectifier being configured to receive the power transferred from the amplifier; and a receiver controller that communicates with the rectifier, the receiver controller being configured to adjust the efficiency of the power transfer from the amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier.

[0066] In another embodiment, a device includes: a mechanical load-bearing structure having a conductive first part; a power source; an electric power load; and an electric power transfer system including: a radio frequency power amplifier that is in wired electrical communication with the power source and is configured to convert a direct current voltage from the power source into an alternating voltage signal having an oscillation frequency in the future; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier that is in wired electrical contact with the power load and in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, the rectifier being configured to receive the power transferred from the amplifier; and a receiver controller that communicates with the rectifier, the receiver controller being configured to adjust the efficiency of the power transfer from the amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier; wherein the conductive first part is arranged to conduct at least one of carrying a radio frequency signal from the amplifier and carrying a radio frequency signal to the rectifier.

[0067] The device may further include a load management system that is in wired communication with the load and is disposed between the load and the rectifier in the form of a power signal, the load management system being configured to increase the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier. The device may further include a transmitter controller that communicates with the amplifier, the transmitter controller being configured to increase the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the amplifier. The device may further include an oscillator that communicates with the amplifier and the transmitter controller, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to adjust the oscillation frequency via the oscillator.

[0068] The power amplifier can perform direct wired RF communication with the rectifier via the conductive first part. The power amplifier can perform wireless near-field RF communication with the rectifier. The power transfer system can include a transmitter resonator in wired RF communication with the power amplifier and a receiver resonator in wired RF communication with the rectifier, and one of the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator can include the conductive first part. The transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator can perform wireless near-field RF communication with each other. The power amplifier can perform at least one of capacitive near-field wireless RF communication and inductive near-field wireless RF communication with the rectifier. The power amplifier can perform dual-mode near-field wireless RF communication with the rectifier. The DC power source can include a rechargeable battery pack and the load can include an electric motor. Description of the Drawings

[0069] Exemplary embodiments are shown in the reference figures of the drawings. The embodiments and the drawings disclosed herein are intended to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0070] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless power transfer system according to an example embodiment.

[0071] Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2C depict antennas that can be used in various example embodiments or used alone or in combination with other disclosed components.

[0072] Figure 3A and Figure 3B depict side view profiles of antennas that can be used in various example embodiments or used alone or in combination with other disclosed components.

[0073] Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 4C and Figure 4D depict side view profiles of exemplary resonators that can be used in various example embodiments or used alone or in combination with other disclosed components.

[0074] Figure 5 depicts a cross-section of an exemplary resonator that can be used in various example embodiments or used alone or in combination with other disclosed components.

[0075] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the primary side of a wireless power transfer system according to an example embodiment.

[0076] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the secondary side of a wireless power transfer system according to an example embodiment.

[0077] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of an exemplary power amplifier that can be used in various example embodiments, used alone, or in combination with other disclosed components.

[0078] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of an exemplary self - synchronous rectifier that can be used in various example embodiments, used alone, or in combination with other disclosed components.

[0079] Figure 10 Shows a more detailed schematic diagram of a V / I tuner for adjusting a power signal to a transmitter resonator according to an example. Figure 6 Thereof.

[0080] Figure 11 Shows a flowchart of a near - field resonance wireless method for transferring power bimodally according to an adjustable transfer mode at the oscillation frequency of a resonant power signal according to an example embodiment.

[0081] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of a multi - transmitter near - field resonance radio power transfer system for transferring power to a single receiver subsystem.

[0082] Figure 13A And Figure 13B Depicts a multi - transmitter near - field resonance radio power transfer system for transferring power to a single receiver subsystem.

[0083] Figure 14 Depicts a multi - transmitter near - field resonance radio power transfer system for transferring power to more than one receiver subsystem.

[0084] Figure 15 Shows a flowchart of a wireless near - field method for transferring power from a multi - transmitter subsystem to a single resonant receiver subsystem at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency.

[0085] Figure 16 Shows a flowchart of another wireless near - field method for transferring power from a multi - transmitter subsystem to a single resonant receiver subsystem at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency.

[0086] Figure 17 Shows a flowchart of a wireless near - field method for transferring power from a multi - transmitter subsystem to more than one resonant receiver subsystem at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency.

[0087] Figure 18 Shows a flowchart of another wireless near - field method for transferring power from a multi - transmitter subsystem to more than one resonant receiver subsystem at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency.

[0088] Figure 19ADisclosed is a near-field resonant radio power transfer system for wirelessly transferring electrical power from a photovoltaic solar cell to an electrical power load.

[0089] Figure 19B Disclosed is a power transfer system for wirelessly transferring electrical power from a photovoltaic solar cell to an electrical power load.

[0090] Figure 20A and Figure 20B Disclosed are front and rear views of a solar cell array of a near-field resonant radio power transfer system configured for use in a multi-to-one configuration. Figure 19A

[0091] Figure 21A and Figure 21B Disclosed are front and rear views of a solar cell array of a near-field resonant radio power transfer system configured for use in a one-to-one configuration. Figure 19A

[0092] Figure 22A and Figure 22B Disclosed are front and rear views of a solar cell array of a near-field resonant radio power transfer system configured for use in a column-based configuration. Figure 19A

[0093] Figure 23 Disclosed is a flowchart of a method for wirelessly transferring electrical power from a photovoltaic solar cell to an electrical power load.

[0094] Figure 24 Disclosed is a flowchart of another method for wirelessly transferring electrical power from a photovoltaic solar cell array to an electrical power load.

[0095] Figure 25 Disclosed is a flowchart of another method for wirelessly transferring electrical power from a photovoltaic solar cell array to an electrical power load.

[0096] Figure 26 Disclosed is a flowchart of another method for wirelessly transferring electrical power from a photovoltaic solar cell array to an electrical power load.

[0097] Figure 27A Disclosed is a diagram of a portion of an electric vehicle using an embodiment of a power transfer system.

[0098] Figure 27B Disclosed is another diagram of a portion of an electric vehicle using an embodiment of a power transfer system.

[0099] Figure 28A Disclosed is a diagram of a computer monitor using an embodiment of a power transfer system.

[0100] Figure 28BA computer monitor showing another embodiment of a power transfer system.

[0101] Figure 29 A flowchart showing a method for transferring power from a DC power source to a power load.

[0102] Figure 30 A flowchart showing a further method for transferring power from a DC power source to a power load. Detailed Description

[0103] Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding to those skilled in the art. However, well-known components may not be shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

[0104] One aspect of the present invention provides a wireless power transfer system including a transmitter (also referred to as the primary side) and a receiver (also referred to as the secondary side). Another aspect of the present invention provides a wireless power transmitter that can be used as part of other wireless power transfer systems. Another aspect of the present invention provides a wireless power receiver that can be used as part of other wireless power transfer systems. The transmitter according to some embodiments of the present invention may include a resonator configured to transfer power through inductive power transfer and / or through capacitive power transfer. Similarly, the receiver according to some embodiments of the present invention may include a resonator configured to receive power through inductive power transfer and / or through capacitive power transfer.

[0105] Figure 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a wireless power transfer (WPT) system 10 including a primary side 12 and a secondary side 14. The primary side 12 may also be referred to as the transmitter and the secondary side 14 may also be referred to as the receiver. The primary side 12 includes a transmitter module 20 and a transmitter resonator 30 and the secondary side 14 includes a receiver module 40 and a receiver resonator 50.

[0106] The transmitter module 20 receives power, such as direct current (DC) power for example, as an input. Although not depicted, the transmitter module 20 may include, for example, an inverter, a transmitter compensation network, and / or other components further described herein. The transmitter module 20 delivers power, such as alternating current (AC) power for example, as an output to the transmitter resonator 30.

[0107] The transmitter resonator 30 receives power as an input from the transmitter module 20 and can output a magnetic field 31A (e.g., a time-varying magnetic field) and / or an electric field 31B (e.g., a time-varying electric field). In some embodiments, the transmitter resonator 30 outputs the magnetic field 31A for the purpose of IPT. In some embodiments, the transmitter resonator 30 outputs the electric field 31B for the purpose of CPT. In some embodiments, the resonator 30 outputs both the magnetic field 31A and the electric field 31B for the purpose of transferring power simultaneously by CPT and IPT. In some embodiments, the resonator 30 can switch between the following operations: outputting the electric field 31B for the purpose of CPT; outputting the magnetic field 31A for the purpose of IPT; and outputting both the magnetic field 31A and the electric field 31B for the purpose of transferring power simultaneously by CPT and IPT.

[0108] In the presence of the magnetic field 31A, a current can be induced in the receiver resonator 50 for the purpose of IPT. In the presence of the electric field 31B, an alternating potential can be induced on the receiver resonator 50 (or one or more of its antennas).

[0109] When a current is induced in the receiver resonator 50 by the magnetic field 31A, this current can be output to the receiver module 40. Similarly, when an alternating potential is induced in the receiver resonator 50 by the electric field 31B, a current can be caused to flow through the receiver resonator 50 into the receiver module 40.

[0110] The receiver module 40 can receive power (e.g., AC power) as an input from the receiver resonator 50 and can output power (e.g., DC power) to a load. The load can be the charge of an electrical storage device (such as a battery pack or a supercapacitor). As a non-limiting example, the load can include an electric bicycle (also referred to as an e-bicycle or e-bike) (such as an e-bike that is part of a shared bicycle fleet), an automobile, a boat, etc., or a component thereof. Although not depicted, the receiver module 40 can include, for example, a rectifier, a receiver compensation network, and / or other components discussed further herein.

[0111] The WPT system 10 may be configured to adjust the ratio of power transferred from the transmitter module 20 to the receiver module 40 via CPT to power transferred by the transmitter module 20 to the receiver module 40 via IPT ("transfer mode ratio") for various reasons. For example, the transfer mode ratio may be adjusted to: increase the proportion of power delivered by CPT as the distance between the transmitter resonator 30 and the receiver resonator 50 increases; increase the proportion of power delivered by IPT when a living being (e.g., a human or animal) is in the vicinity of the WPT system 10; increase the proportion of power delivered by IPT when an object (e.g., a metallic object) is in the vicinity of the WPT system 10; increase the proportion of power delivered by CPT when the alignment between the transmitter resonator 30 and the receiver resonator 50 deteriorates; and / or any combination of the foregoing.

[0112] In some embodiments, the transfer mode ratio can be adjusted according to a maximum power point tracking technique, such as, but not limited to, "observe and perturb" as sometimes used for wind turbines and solar panels (see, for example, S. Dehghani, S. Abbasian, and T. Johnson, "Adjustable Load With Tracking Loop to Improve RF Rectifier Efficiency Under Variable RF Input Power Conditions," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 64, No. 2, pp. 343-352, February 2016). In some embodiments, the transfer mode ratio can be adjusted according to a machine learning algorithm. For example, in some embodiments, if the WPT system 10 determines that the WPT efficiency is unexpectedly low, the WPT system 10 may increase the proportion of power delivered by the CPT (or IPT). If the WPT efficiency is negatively affected by the increased reliance on the CPT (or IPT), the WPT system 10 may reduce the reliance on the CPT (or IPT). This procedure may be repeated iteratively until the desired / maximum WPT efficiency is reached.

[0113] Each of the transmitter resonator 30 and the receiver resonator 50 may include a plurality of antennas 80 arranged in various configurations.

[0114] Antenna 80 may include any suitable antenna having high self-inductance and high self-capacitance capable of generating both magnetic field 31A and electric field 31B (separately and / or simultaneously) for the purposes of CPT and IPT. Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2CDepict non-limiting examples of antennas 80, 180, and 280. For the purposes of this document, a "high self-inductance" is large enough to allow the antenna to generate a self-inductance of a magnetic field suitable for the purposes of IPT. Similarly, for the purposes of this document, a "high self-capacitance" is large enough to allow the antenna to generate a self-capacitance of an electric field suitable for the purposes of CPT.

[0115] Figure 2A Depict antenna 80 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Antenna 80 may comprise any suitable conductive material. For example, antenna 80 may comprise copper, gold, silver, aluminum, other suitable materials, or combinations thereof. As can be seen from Figure 2A the figure, antenna 80 includes an elongate component 80A having a rectangular (e.g., square) cross-section, and the elongate component 80A has been bent or formed into the shape of a generally planar rectangular (in the XY plane) coil such that adjacent windings of the elongate component 80A are separated by a gap 80B. Although the gap 80B is depicted as being generally constant along the length of the elongate component 80A, this is not mandatory.

[0116] To increase the self-inductance of antenna 80, the size of the gap 80B can be decreased. To increase the self-capacitance of antenna 80, the number of bends (e.g., bend 82A) of the elongate component 80A can be increased, the number of corners and edges (e.g., edge 82B) of the elongate component 80A can be increased, the length of the elongate component 80A can be increased, and / or the thickness 80C of the elongate component 80A can be increased.

[0117] Figure 2B Depict another non-limiting example of antenna 180 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Antenna 180 is substantially the same as the first antenna 80, except that instead of being bent or formed into the shape of a generally planar rectangular coil, the elongate component 180A is bent or formed into the shape of a generally planar sawtooth shape with square corners, as Figure 2B depicted in the figure. Like antenna 80, adjacent zigzag (zig or zag) of the elongate component 180A are separated by a gap 180B. Although the gap 180B is depicted as being generally constant along the length of the elongate component 180A, this is not mandatory.

[0118] To increase the self-inductance of antenna 180, the size of the gap 180B can be decreased. To increase the self-capacitance of antenna 180, the number of bends (e.g., bend 182A) of the elongate component 180A can be increased, the number of corners and edges (e.g., edge 182B) of the elongate component 180A can be increased, and / or the thickness 180C of the elongate component 180A can be increased.

[0119] Figure 2CDepict another non - limiting example of antenna 280 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Antenna 280 is substantially like the first antenna 80, except that instead of being bent or formed into a generally planar rectangular coil shape, the elongated component 280A together with the hub component 280A is bent or formed into a generally planar circular shape (in the XY plane), and the sector components 280C extend radially outward from the hub component 280A. Adjacent sector components 280C are separated from each other by a gap 280B.

[0120] To increase the self - inductance of antenna 280, the size of the gap 280B can be reduced. To increase the self - capacitance of antenna 280, the number of sectors 280C can be increased, the number of corners and edges (e.g., edge 282A) of the hub 280A and / or the sectors 280C can be increased, and / or the thickness 282C of the elongated hub 280A and / or the sectors 280C can be increased.

[0121] Although Figure 2A 、 Figure 2B and Figure 2C Depict exemplary non - limiting embodiments of antennas 80, 180, 280, it should be understood that many other shapes and configurations of a suitable antenna 80 can be employed in the resonators described herein. Non - limiting examples of changes that can be made to the depicted antennas include changing the cross - sectional shape of the elongated components 80A, 180A to a shape other than rectangular (e.g., triangular, circular, hexagonal, etc.) using a non - repeating pattern of bends and corners, changing the 90° bends 82A, 182A to non - 90° or rounded corners, and changing the XY - plane shape of the first transmitter antenna 80 to a shape other than rectangular or circular.

[0122] Although antennas 80, 180, 280 are described and depicted herein as being relatively flat or planar (e.g., the thickness in the Z - direction is substantially unchanged), this is not mandatory. In some embodiments, antennas 80, 180, 280 can have a conical concave or conical convex shape as Figure 3A and Figure 3B depicted. For example, the antennas herein can have a conical spiral shape (not depicted). In some embodiments, antenna 80 can have a rectangular conical spiral shape such that the inner winding of antenna 80 is separated from the outer winding of antenna 80 in the Z - direction. This conical shape can allow the resonator to be used for a wider range of resonant frequencies. In other embodiments, the thickness of the first transmitter antenna in the Z - direction can vary in other ways.

[0123] The antennas 80, 180, 280 may be arranged, for example, in a configuration similar to the board configuration in a CPT WPT system. For example, in a two-antenna WPT system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter resonator 30 may include a first transmitter antenna 32 configured parallel to a first receiver antenna 52 of the receiver resonator 50, as Figure 4A shown. For the purpose of CPT, the mutual capacitance between the two antennas 32, 52 provides a path for the current to flow to the receiver side, and a conductive path (e.g., ground) will allow the current to flow back to the transmitter side. For the purpose of IPT, by driving a current through the first transmitter antenna 32, a magnetic field 31A can be generated that can induce a current in the first receiver antenna 52. For the purpose of CPT, a voltage can be applied to the first transmitter antenna 32 to create a potential difference between the first transmitter antenna 32 and the first receiver antenna 52, thereby generating an electric field 31B.

[0124] The first transmitter antenna 32 may include any suitable antenna having a high self-inductance and a high self-capacitance and capable of generating both the magnetic field 31A and the electric field 31B (separately and / or simultaneously). For example, the first transmitter antenna may include one of the antennas 80, 180, 280 or any other antenna described herein.

[0125] The first receiver antenna 52 may include any suitable antenna having a high self-inductance and a high self-capacitance and capable of inducing a current therein through the magnetic field 31A and having a potential difference thereacross due to the electric field 31B (separately and / or simultaneously). In some embodiments, the first receiver antenna 52 may be substantially similar to the first transmitter antenna 32 (e.g., the first receiver antenna 52 may have the same characteristics as any antenna described or depicted herein or otherwise). In some embodiments, the antennas 32, 52 may be different from each other (e.g., the first transmitter antenna 32 may include the antenna 80 while the first receiver antenna 52 may include the antenna 180).

[0126] In some embodiments, the XY plane area of the first transmitter antenna 32 is smaller than the XY plane area of the first receiver antenna 52 to improve the coupling between the first transmitter antenna 32 and the first receiver antenna 52.

[0127] Figure 4B Another example depicting the configuration of the antennas 80, 180, 280 is shown. Specifically, Figure 4B a four-antenna stack (or four-antenna vertical) WPT system is depicted. Each of the transmitter resonator 130 and the receiver resonator 150 includes two antennas. One antenna of the transmitter resonator 30 and one antenna of the receiver resonator 150 together provide a power forward path, and the other antenna of the transmitter resonator 130 and the other antenna of the receiver resonator 150 together provide a power return path.

[0128] For IPT purposes, a magnetic field that can induce current in the first receiver antenna 152 and the second receiver antenna 154 is generated by driving current through the antennas 132, 134 of the transmitter. For CPT purposes, a potential difference can be applied between the first antenna 132 and the second antenna 134 to generate an electric field ( Figure 1 as shown in 31B) to induce a potential across the first receiver antenna 152 and the second receiver antenna 154.

[0129] As Figure 4B depicted, the transmitter resonator 130 includes a first transmitter antenna 132 and a second transmitter antenna 134 separated in the Z direction by a spacer 138.

[0130] The first transmitter antenna 132 can include any suitable antenna having high self - inductance and high self - capacitance and capable of generating both the magnetic field 31A and the electric field 31B (individually and / or simultaneously). For example, the first transmitter antenna can include one of the antennas 80, 180, 280 or any other antenna described herein.

[0131] The spacer 138 can include any suitable material. For example, the spacer 138 can include air, a dielectric material, a ferrite, or some combination thereof. The spacer 138 can have a dielectric constant selected to alter the electric field 31A and / or the spacer 138 can have a permeability constant selected to alter the magnetic field 31B. The spacer 138 can include a high - dielectric - constant material to increase the capacitance of the transmitter resonator 130. The thickness and planar area of the spacer 138 can depend on the thickness and / or planar area of the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134. In some embodiments, electrical isolation may be desired and a low - dielectric - constant material can be used for the spacer 138 (e.g., for shielding).

[0132] The second transmitter antenna 134 can include any suitable antenna having high self - inductance and high self - capacitance and capable of generating both the magnetic field 31A and the electric field 31B (individually and / or simultaneously). In some embodiments, the second transmitter antenna 134 can be substantially similar to the first transmitter antenna 132 (e.g., the second transmitter antenna 134 can have the same characteristics as any antenna described or depicted herein or otherwise). In some embodiments, the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 and the first receiver antenna 152 and the second receiver antenna 154 can be different from each other (e.g., the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 can be like the antenna 80 while the first receiver antenna 152 and the second receiver antenna 154 can be like the antenna 180).

[0133] In some embodiments, the XY plane area of the second transmitter antenna 134 may have a size different from that of the XY plane area of the first transmitter antenna 132. In some embodiments, the XY plane area of the second transmitter antenna 134 may be smaller than the XY plane area of the first transmitter antenna 132 to ensure coupling between pairs of antennas. In some embodiments, the XY plane area of the second transmitter antenna 134 may be larger than the XY plane area of the first transmitter antenna 132.

[0134] In some embodiments, the second transmitter antenna 134 is substantially complementary to the first antenna 132 in size and / or shape such that the first transmitter antenna 132 does not substantially overlap the second transmitter antenna 134 in the Z direction. Figure 5 A schematic illustration depicting an XZ plane cross-section of a portion of the transmitter resonator 130, where the shapes of the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 are fabricated substantially as Figure 2B the first transmitter antenna 180 in. As can be seen, portions 132A-1, 132A-2, 132A-3 of the elongate component 132A of the first transmitter antenna 132 overlap gaps 134B-1, 134B-2, 134B-3 of the second transmitter antenna 134 in the Z direction (e.g., a line oriented in the Z direction and passing through portion 132A-1 of the elongate component 132A of the first antenna 132 passes through gap 134B-1 of the second antenna 134) and portions 134A-1, 134A-2, 134A-3 of the elongate component 134A of the second transmitter antenna 134 overlap gaps 132B-1, 132B-2, 132B-3 of the first transmitter antenna 132 in the Z direction (e.g., a line oriented in the Z direction and passing through portion 134A-1 of the elongate component 134A of the second antenna 134 passes through gap 132B-1 of the first antenna 132). The complementary shapes of the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second antenna 134 can reduce parasitic energy losses experienced by the transmitter resonator 130. In some embodiments, the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 may not be completely complementary but may have one or more complementary portions.

[0135] The receiver resonator 150 includes a first receiver antenna 152 and a second receiver antenna 154 separated in the Z direction by a spacer 158. The first receiver antenna 152 may be substantially similar to any one of antennas 80, 180, 280 or otherwise described herein. The second receiver antenna 154 is substantially similar to any one of antennas 80, 180, 280 or otherwise described herein. Like the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134, the first receiver antenna 152 and the second receiver antenna 154 may be complementary (or partially complementary) in size and / or shape.

[0136] In some embodiments, the XY plane areas of the first receiver antenna 152 and the second receiver antenna 154 are different from the XY plane areas of the first transmitter antenna and the second transmitter antenna as depicted in Figure 4B to adjust the self - inductance or self - capacitance of the receiver resonator 150. For example, in some embodiments, the XY plane areas of the first receiver antenna 152 and the second receiver antenna 154 are larger than the XY plane areas of the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134, as depicted in Figure 2A This difference in XY plane area can improve the ability of the receiver resonator 150 to capture more magnetic field 31A and / or electric field 31B.

[0137] The spacer 158 can include any suitable spacer. The spacer 158 can include the same or similar material as the spacer 138 or a different material from the spacer 138. Compared with the spacer 158, the spacer 138 can have a smaller Z - direction dimension to achieve the desired self - capacitance and / or self - inductance. This can effectively change the coupling coefficient of the link between the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14 and the impedance of the primary side 12. Different compensation networks can be employed in both the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14 to accommodate this change in coupling coefficient and impedance.

[0138] Compared with Figure 4C the four - antenna parallel structure depicted in Figure 4B the stacked structure of Figure 4C is much more compact in the XY plane. Additionally, since all antennas can be centered and aligned, this configuration is robust to angular misalignment. Specifically, when the antennas are circular in shape, angular rotation has no effect on the coupling capacitance. However, compared with Figure 4B the four - antenna parallel structure depicted in

[0139] Figure 4C Another example depicting the configuration of antennas 80, 180, 280 is shown. Specifically, Figure 4C a four - antenna parallel (or four - antenna horizontal) WPT system is depicted. Each of the transmitter resonator 230 and the receiver resonator 250 includes two antennas. One antenna of the transmitter resonator 230 and one antenna of the receiver resonator 250 together provide a power forward path, and the other antenna of the transmitter resonator 230 and the other antenna of the receiver resonator 250 together provide a power return path.

[0140] For IPT purposes, a magnetic field that can induce current in the first receiver antenna 252 and the second receiver antenna 254 is generated by driving current through the antennas 232, 234 of the transmitter. For CPT purposes, a potential difference is generated between the first antenna 232 and the second antenna 234 to generate an electric field 31B to induce a potential across the first receiver antenna 252 and the second receiver antenna 254.

[0141] Compared with Figure 4B the transmitter resonator 130 and the receiver resonator 150 shown in, in applications where there are limitations on the Z - direction dimensions of the resonators, the transmitter resonator 230 and the receiver resonator 250 having a horizontal antenna configuration are desirable.

[0142] The transmitter resonator 230 includes a first transmitter antenna 232 and a second transmitter antenna 234 separated in the X - direction by a spacer 238. By separating the first transmitter antenna 232 and the second transmitter antenna 234 in the X - direction, parasitic energy losses can be reduced. The first transmitter antenna 232 and the second transmitter antenna 234 can be substantially similar to the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 and the spacer 238 can be substantially similar to the spacer 138. Similar to the transmitter resonator 130, the first transmitter antenna 232 can have an XY - plane area greater than the XY - plane area of the second transmitter antenna 234 to improve the power transfer forward path.

[0143] The spacer 238 can include any suitable material. For example, the spacer 238 can include air, a dielectric material, a ferrite, or a combination thereof. The spacer 238 can have a dielectric constant selected to change the electric field 31A and / or the spacer 238 can have a permeability constant selected to change the magnetic field 31B. The spacer 238 can include a high - dielectric - constant material to increase the capacitance of the transmitter resonator 230. The thickness and the planar area of the spacer 238 can depend on the thickness and / or the planar area of the first transmitter antenna 232 and the second transmitter antenna 234. In some embodiments, electrical isolation is desired, and a low - dielectric - constant material can be used for the spacer 238 (e.g., for shielding).

[0144] The receiver resonator 250 includes a first receiver antenna 252 and a second receiver antenna 254 separated by a spacer 258 in the X direction. By separating the first receiver antenna 252 and the second receiver antenna 254 in the X direction, parasitic energy loss can be reduced. The first receiver antenna 252 and the second receiver antenna 254 may be substantially similar to the first receiver antenna 152 and the second receiver antenna 154, and the spacer 258 may be substantially similar to the spacer 138. Similar to the receiver resonator 150, the first receiver antenna 252 may have an XY plane area greater than that of the second receiver antenna 254.

[0145] The spacer 258 may include any suitable spacer. The spacer 258 may include a material the same as or similar to the spacer 238 or a material different from the spacer 238. Compared with the spacer 258, the spacer 238 may have a smaller Z - direction dimension to achieve the desired self - capacitance and / or self - inductance. This can effectively change the coupling coefficient of the link between the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14 and the impedance of the primary side 12. Different compensation networks may be employed in both the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14 to accommodate this change in the coupling coefficient and impedance.

[0146] In some embodiments, the XY plane area of the spacer 258 may be different from that of the spacer 238 to change the self - inductance or self - capacitance of the transmitter resonator 230 or the receiver resonator 250. For example, as depicted, the spacer 238 may have a smaller XY plane area compared with the spacer 258.

[0147] Figure 4D Another example of the configuration of the antennas 80, 180, 280 is depicted. Specifically, Figure 4D Depicts the combination Figure 4B of the stacked configuration and Figure 4CSix - antenna WPT system in a parallel configuration. Each of the transmitter resonator 130 and the receiver resonator 150 includes three antennas. One of the first transmitter antenna 332 and the second transmitter antenna 334 and one of the first receiver antenna 352 and the second receiver antenna 354 together provide a power forward path, and the other of the first transmitter antenna 332 and the second transmitter antenna 334 and the other of the first receiver antenna 352 and the second transmitter antenna 354 together provide a power return path. The third transmitter antenna 336 and the third receiver antenna 356 are used as auxiliary antennas to increase the equivalent self - capacitance and are used as electric - field shields. In some embodiments, the third transmitter antenna 336 and the third receiver antenna 356 are passive (e.g., no potential difference is applied between the third transmitter antenna 336 and the third receiver antenna 356 and / or no current is driven through the third transmitter antenna 336 and the third receiver antenna 356). For the purpose of IPT, by driving current through one or more of the antennas 332, 334, 336 of the transmitter, a magnetic field can be generated that can induce current in the first receiver antennas 352, 354, 356. For the purpose of CPT, a voltage can be applied to the first transmitter antenna 332, the second transmitter antenna 334, and / or the third transmitter antenna 336 to create a potential difference between any of the first transmitter antenna 332, the second transmitter antenna 334, and the third transmitter antenna 336, thereby generating an electric field 31B.

[0148] The transmitter resonator 330 includes: a first transmitter antenna 332 and a second transmitter antenna 334 that are separated by a spacer 338 in the X - direction; and a third transmitter antenna 336 that is separated from the first transmitter antenna, the second transmitter antenna, and the spacer 338 by a second spacer 339. The third transmitter antenna 336 can provide an electric - field shield to reduce the undesired escape of the electric field from the transmitter resonator 330. The third transmitter antenna 336 can contain a ferrite sheet or surface to provide a magnetic - field shield to reduce the undesired escape of the magnetic field from the transmitter resonator 330. By changing the spacer 339, it is also possible to shield or shape the electric or magnetic field.

[0149] The first transmitter antenna 332, the second transmitter antenna 334, and the third transmitter antenna 336 can be substantially similar to any one of the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134. The spacers 338, 339 can be substantially similar to the spacer 138. Like the transmitter resonator 130, the first transmitter antenna 332 can have an XY - plane area greater than the XY - plane area of the second transmitter antenna 334. The third transmitter antenna 336 can have an XY - plane area greater than any one of the first transmitter antenna 332 and the second transmitter antenna 334.

[0150] The spacers 338, 339 can comprise any suitable material. For example, the spacers 338, 339 can comprise air, a dielectric material, ferrite, or a combination thereof. The spacers 338, 339 can have a permittivity selected to alter the electric field 31A and / or the spacers 338, 339 can have a permeability selected to alter the magnetic field 31B. The spacers 338, 339 can comprise a high permittivity material to increase the capacitance of the transmitter resonator 330. The thickness and planar area of the spacers 338, 339 can depend on the thickness and / or planar area of the first transmitter antenna 332 and the second transmitter antenna 334 and the third transmitter antenna 336. In some embodiments, electrical isolation is desired and a low permittivity material can be used for the spacers 338, 339 (e.g., for shielding).

[0151] The receiver resonator 350 includes: a first receiver antenna 352 and a second receiver antenna 354 which are separated in the X direction by a spacer 358; and a third receiver antenna 356 which is separated from the first receiver antenna and the second receiver antenna by a second spacer 359 and by the spacer 358. The third receiver antenna 356 can provide electric field shielding to reduce the unwanted escape of the electric field from the receiver resonator 350. The third receiver antenna 356 can contain a ferrite sheet or surface to provide magnetic field shielding to reduce the unwanted escape of the magnetic field from the transmitter. By varying the spacer 359, shielding or shaping of the electric or magnetic field is also possible. The first receiver antenna 352 and the second receiver antenna 354 and the third receiver antenna 356 can be substantially similar to any one of the first receiver antenna 152 and the second receiver antenna 154. The spacers 358, 359 can be substantially similar to the spacer 158. As with the receiver resonator 150, the first receiver antenna 352 can have an XY planar area greater than the XY planar area of the second receiver antenna 354. The third receiver antenna 356 can have an XY planar area greater than either of the first receiver antenna 352 and the second receiver antenna 354.

[0152] The spacers 358, 359 can comprise any suitable spacer. The spacers 358, 359 can comprise the same or similar material as the spacers 338, 339 or a different material than the spacers 338, 339. Compared to the spacers 358, 359, the spacers 338, 339 can have a smaller Z direction dimension to achieve the desired self - capacitance and / or self - inductance. This can effectively change the coupling coefficient of the link between the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14 and the impedance of the primary side 12. Different compensation networks can be employed in both the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14 to accommodate this coupling coefficient and impedance change.

[0153] In some embodiments, the XY-plane area of spacer 358 can be different from the XY-plane area of spacer 338 to change the self-inductance or self-capacitance of transmitter resonator 330 or receiver resonator 350. For example, spacer 338 can have a smaller X-direction dimension compared to spacer 358. In some embodiments, the Z-direction dimension of spacer 359 can be different from the Z-direction dimension of spacer 339 to change the self-inductance or self-capacitance of transmitter resonator 330 or receiver resonator 350. For example, spacer 339 can have a smaller Z-direction dimension compared to spacer 359. This can effectively change the coupling coefficient of the link between primary side 12 and secondary side 14 and the impedance of primary side 12. Different compensation networks can be employed in both primary side 12 and secondary side 14 to accommodate this change in coupling coefficient and impedance.

[0154] In some embodiments, a magnetic shield can be provided around one or more of transmitter resonator 30 and receiver resonator 50. For example, ferrite can be used as the magnetic shield and is used to reduce unwanted eddy currents in nearby metal objects. Ferrite (or another suitable material) can also be used to isolate transmitter resonator 30 and / or receiver resonator 50 from surrounding metal objects and thus can be used to increase the self-inductance of the antenna and / or the mutual inductance of the resonators.

[0155] Figure 6 Schematic diagram depicting primary side 12 including transmitter module 20 and transmitter resonator 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Transmitter resonator 30 can include any one of transmitter resonators 30, 130, 230, 330 or otherwise described herein.

[0156] Transmitter module 20 includes controller 22. Controller 22 is configured to receive various inputs from sensors 24 (such as load detector 24A, transmitter power sensor 24B, surrounding object detector 24C, and / or distance detector 24D) and output control signals to components 26 connected thereto (such as oscillator 26A, power amplifier 26B, filter network 26C, matching network 26D, compensation network 26E, and V / I tuner 26F).

[0157] Load detector 24A is configured to detect load 70 connected to secondary side 14 ( Figure 7the presence (shown in). The load 70 can be, for example, a battery pack of an electric vehicle such as an electric bicycle or an electric car, or any other suitable item that requires a power input. The load detector 24A can be implemented using physical sensors (such as, but not limited to, optical sensors, pressure sensors, infrared sensors, or proximity sensors) and suitable software or firmware. For example, in some embodiments, power (such as current and voltage) is measured at, for example, point 24E to determine the power drawn by the transmitter resonator 30 (such as measured by the transmitter power sensor 24B). If the amount of power drawn by the transmitter resonator 30 increases above a baseline, the load detector 24A can signal the controller 22 of the presence of the load 70.

[0158] In other embodiments, the load detector 24A can be configured to measure the input impedance of the transmitter resonator 30 that the transmitter module 20 experiences at point 24E. The presence of a resonant load adjacent to the transmitter resonator 30 (including, for example, the secondary side 14 configured to drive the load 70) will change the input impedance of the transmitter resonator 30. This impedance change provided to the controller 22 by the load detector 24A can be used by the transmitter controller 22 to determine whether there is a cooperative receiver near the transmitter resonator 30. The impedance changes induced in the transmitter resonator 30 by different receivers are distinct and unique such that the controller 22 can not only detect the presence or absence of a receiver adjacent to the transmitter resonator 30, but also identify the type of receiver, including, for example, but not limited to, different models of mobile phones or digital tablet computers.

[0159] The transmitter power sensor 24B can measure power (such as measuring current and voltage) at point 24E to determine the amount of power drawn by the transmitter resonator 30. This information can be used, for example, by the load detector 24A to determine whether there is a desired effective coupling between the transmitter resonator 30 and the receiver resonator 50.

[0160] The Surrounding Object Detector (SOD) 24C is configured to determine whether an object (e.g., a living being such as a person or an animal or an inanimate object such as a metal block) is adjacent to the transmitter resonator 30. The SOD 24C can be implemented using physical sensors (e.g., but not limited to optical sensors, pressure sensors, infrared sensors, proximity sensors, RADAR or LIDAR) or through suitable software or firmware. For example, if the power drawn (as measured by the transmitter power sensor 24B) by the transmitter resonator 30 during IPT decreases, the software of the SOD can determine that a metal block (or any electrical conductor) is adjacent to the transmitter resonator 30 or the receiver resonator 50 and the SOD can provide a signal indicating this presence to the controller 22. In some embodiments, if a metal object is detected adjacent to the transmitter resonator 30 or the receiver resonator 50, the controller 22 can cause the transmitter module 20 to increase the proportion of power delivered by the CPT. In the absence of a living being as detected by the SOD 24C, the controller 22 can be configured to increase the power fed to the transmitter resonator 30 (e.g., above a specified level in the presence of a living being) or near a living being as detected by the SOD 24C, the controller 22 can be configured to reduce the power fed to the transmitter resonator 30 below a specified level.

[0161] The distance detector 24D is configured to determine the distance between the transmitter resonator 30 and the receiver resonator 50. The distance detector 24D can be implemented using physical sensors (e.g., but not limited to optical sensors, ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, proximity sensors, RADAR or LIDAR.) or through suitable software or firmware. For example, the distance detector 24D can be configured to determine the distance between the transmitter resonator 30 and the receiver resonator 50 based on the change in the transmitted power as measured by the transmitter power sensor 24B.

[0162] In one embodiment, one or more temperature sensors can monitor the temperature at the transmitter resonator 30 or the receiver resonator 50. If the temperature exceeds a predetermined limit, the controller 22 can cause the transmitter module 20 to reduce the proportion of power delivered by the IPT, reduce the total power fed to the transmitter resonator 30, or cut off the power supplied to the transmitter resonator 30 to prevent fire or thermal runaway.

[0163] The oscillator 26A can be configured to control the frequency band and / or bandwidth and / or duty cycle (phase) (e.g., 5% to 50%) of the current delivered to the transmitter resonator 30 in response to a signal from the controller 22.

[0164] Power amplifier 26B can be used to convert DC power into AC power. Power amplifier 26B can be used to adjust the power provided to transmitter resonator 30 in response to a signal from controller 22. Specifically, controller 22 can send a signal to power amplifier 26B to adjust the reflection coefficient of power amplifier 26B. In some embodiments, controller 22 can send a signal to power amplifier 26B to turn off (or sleep) when no load is detected by load detector 24A or to turn on when a load is detected by load detector 24A.

[0165] Power amplifier 26B can include a switching power amplifier (in single-ended mode or differential configuration), which can be configured to receive a square wave (sine wave) from oscillator 26A and generate a sine wave of a specific frequency desired to drive transmitter resonator 30. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary power amplifier 26B that can be used in transmitter 30. Power amplifier 26B can be a differential class-F amplifier. Power amplifier 26B has three inputs, namely: two input signals 127A, 127B, which drive active devices (transistors) 127C, 127D at a frequency set to the resonant frequency; and a DC voltage 127E, which is used to control the output power and operating region of the active devices.

[0166] Different load terminations are used to improve performance (such as output power, power conversion efficiency) and reduce unnecessary harmonic levels. Specifically, the third harmonic termination 127F is located in a series branch to shape the voltage waveform at the drain node 127G. The second harmonic termination 127H is located in a parallel branch to shape the voltage waveform at the drain node 127G. The first harmonic termination 127I is located in a series branch to shape the voltage waveform at the drain node 127G. The influence of the third harmonic termination can be considered in the second harmonic termination 127H and the first harmonic termination 127I. The influence of the second harmonic termination can be considered in the first harmonic termination 127I. For the differential configuration of power amplifier 26B, an AC load 127J (receiving the output power) is placed in series. The charging rate of AC load 127J can vary according to the functions of transmitter resonator 30, receiver resonator 50, and / or their alignment and positioning. Power amplifier 26B can be configured to generate sufficient power to transmitter resonator 30 such that an E-field or H-field or any combination of E-field and H-field can be generated by transmitter resonator 30 and captured by receiver resonator 50.

[0167] Filter network 26C can adjust the frequency response provided to transmitter resonator 30, such as bandwidth, cut-off frequency, 3dB frequency, gain, in response to a signal from controller 22. The filter network can be configured to adjust the shape of the waveform of the power in transmitter module 20 to increase the efficiency of transmitter module 20.

[0168] The matching network 26D can be configured to adjust the impedance to match the output of the power amplifier 26B to the transmitter resonator 30.

[0169] A compensation network 26E can be provided to drive the transmitter resonator 30 at a desired resonance frequency (e.g., the resonance frequency of the receiver resonator) to thereby increase the throughput, reduce heat generation, and improve the power transfer efficiency. The compensation network 26E can include one or more capacitors for increasing capacitance and one or more inductors for increasing inductance. The compensation network 26E can be configured to increase capacitance (and / or decrease inductance) and increase inductance (and / or decrease capacitance) as needed. When the transfer mode ratio is 100% CPT, the compensation network 26E can operate in a manner similar to any known CPT compensation network (e.g., the compensation network 26E can be used to increase inductance). Similarly, when the transfer mode ratio is 100% IPT, the compensation network 26E can operate in a manner similar to any known IPT compensation network (e.g., the compensation network 26E can be used to increase capacitance). However, when the transfer mode is part CPT and part IPT, less compensation may be needed because the capacitance of the transmitter resonator 30 will naturally compensate for the inductance of the transmitter resonator 30 and the inductance of the transmitter resonator 30 will naturally compensate for the capacitance of the transmitter resonator 300. For example, at approximately 50% IPT and 50% CPT (e.g., the transfer mode ratio equal to 1), the compensation network may not be needed at all or the use of the compensation network may be substantially limited, thereby increasing the efficiency of the WPT system 10.

[0170] As another example, between approximately 40% and 60% IPT and between 40% and 60% CPT, the compensation network may not be needed at all or the use of the compensation network may be substantially limited, thereby increasing the efficiency of the WPT system 10. For this reason, the compensation network 26E can include fewer or smaller inductors and / or capacitors compared to CPT WPT systems and / or pure IPT WPT systems that require significant compensation. In some embodiments, if the capacitance of the transmitter resonator 30 is low enough, additional compensation can be provided by the compensation network 26E. Similarly, if the inductance of the transmitter resonator 30 is low enough, additional compensation can be provided by the compensation network 26E. The controller 22 can signal the amount and type of compensation needed to the compensation network 26E based on, for example, the transfer mode ratio, the distance between the transmitter resonator 30 and the receiver resonator 50, the amount of power drawn by the transmitter resonator 30, the power transfer efficiency, etc.

[0171] In some embodiments, the amount of compensation of the compensation network 26E (e.g., capacitance increase or inductance increase) is proportional to the absolute value of the difference between the transfer mode ratio and 1. For example, if the transfer mode ratio is greater than 1, the compensation network 26E can be used to increase the inductance and as the transfer mode ratio increases beyond 1, the amount of increase in the inductance can increase. Similarly, if the transfer mode ratio is less than 1, the compensation network 26E can be used to increase the capacitance and as the transfer mode ratio decreases beyond 1, the amount of increase in the capacitance can increase.

[0172] Figure 10 Embodiments of the V / I tuner 26F are shown in more detail in. The input signal of the V / I tuner 26F received from the self-matching network 26E ( Figure 6 ) is split by a splitter 262 so as to have two mutually asymmetric paths 261A and 261B for the input signal. A first phase shifter 264A and a second phase shifter 264B create a phase difference between the input voltage and the input current of the transmitter resonator 30 ( Figure 6 ). The first phase shifter 264A is controlled by the controller 22 ( Figure 6 ) via a first demultiplexer control line 263A, and the second phase shifter 264B is controlled by the controller 22 (see Figure 6 ) via a second demultiplexer control line 263B. A first active switch 266A and a second active switch 266B receive signals from the first phase shifter 264A and the second phase shifter 264B respectively, and are controlled by the controller 22 via a first active switch control line 265A and a second active switch control line 265B respectively. The first active switch 266A and the second active switch 266B are used to adjust the imaginary parts of the signals received from the first phase shifter 264A and the second phase shifter 264B respectively. Passive signal shaping networks 268A and 268B receive the adjusted signals from the first active switch 266A and the second active switch 266B respectively. The passive signal shaping networks 268A and 268B are used to finely adjust the signals received from the first active switch 266A and the second active switch 266B respectively, specifically, to reduce any harmonics in these signals before delivering these signals to the combiner 269. The signals provided along the two mutually asymmetric paths 261A and 261B are combined by the combiner 269 and provided to the transmitter resonator 30. In other embodiments, the first phase shifter 264A and the second phase shifter 264B can be combined into one phase shifter for the input signal received by the V / I tuner 26F and the combined phase shifter can have two separate outputs for the servo active switches 266A and 266B.

[0173] The V / I tuner 26F adjusts the transfer mode ratio by adjusting the phase difference between the input current and the input voltage to the transmitter resonator 30 in response to a signal from the controller 22. The real part of the impedance seen by the transmitter module 20 is adjusted by the phase shifters 264A and 264B, and the imaginary part thereof can be adjusted by the switches 266A and 266B. For example, a 90-degree phase shift every 3 milliseconds out of every 10 milliseconds can result in 30% magnetic power transfer and 70% electric power transfer.

[0174] The V / I tuner 26F can be configured to adjust the current passing through each transmitter antenna (e.g., the first transmitter antenna 32, 132, 232, 332 and the second transmitter antenna 134, 234, 334 or the third transmitter antenna 336) and the potential applied to each transmitter antenna (e.g., the first transmitter antenna 32, 132, 232, 332 and the second transmitter antenna 134, 234, 334 or the third transmitter antenna 336).

[0175] If current is made to flow through both the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134, they will each generate a magnetic field 31A for IPT purposes. If the current delivered to the second transmitter antenna 134 is reduced compared to the current delivered to the first transmitter antenna 132, a potential difference will be generated between the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 and an electric field 31B will be generated for CPT purposes. To modulate between CPT and IPT, the current delivered to the second antenna 134 can be modulated (e.g., less IPT occurs when less current is allowed to pass through the second antenna 134 and more CPT occurs when more current is allowed to pass through the second antenna). For example, when power transfer via IPT is desired, the I / V tuner 26F can be configured to act as a short circuit connecting the first transmitter antenna and the second transmitter antenna together, thereby creating a series LC resonator that allows current to flow therein. Conversely, when power transfer via CPT is desired, the I / V tuner 26F can be configured to act as an open circuit that dumps current, thereby creating a potential difference between the first transmitter antenna and the second transmitter antenna. The I / V tuner 26F can thus be configured to control whether the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 are effectively connected in series or in parallel.

[0176] Alternatively, when the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 are connected in parallel, the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 can be floated so as to create an electric field 31B for CPT purposes, while substantially not creating a magnetic field 31A. To change the transfer mode ratio (e.g., modulate between CPT and IPT), the I / V tuner 26F can be set (via a multiplexer of the I / V tuner 26F, etc.) to alternate between: (1) floating the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 to cause CPT; and (2) driving current through the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134 to cause IPT. This alternation can be implemented in milliseconds or at a frequency between 10 Hz and 10 kHz. In cases where more time is allocated to float the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134, the transfer mode ratio will be biased more towards CPT, and in cases where more time is allocated to drive current through the first transmitter antenna 132 and the second transmitter antenna 134, the transfer mode ratio will be biased more towards IPT.

[0177] In some embodiments, the component 26 can be a discrete component in the transmitter module 20, while in other embodiments, one or more of the components 26 can be part of an integrated circuit design.

[0178] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a load 70 and a secondary side 14 including a receiver resonator 50 and a receiver module 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 1 shown.

[0179] The receiver resonator 50 may include any one of receiver resonators 50, 150, 250, 350 or otherwise described herein. The receiver resonator 50 may be configured to capture power at a frequency set by an oscillating signal in the transmitter module 20, such as, for example and without limitation, between 1 MHz and 1 GHz. In some embodiments, the frequency set by the oscillating signal in the transmitter module 20 is about 1 MHz to about 100 MHz, about 1 MHz to about 200 MHz, about 1 MHz to about 300 MHz, about 1 MHz to about 400 MHz, about 1 MHz to about 500 MHz, about 1 MHz to about 600 MHz, about 1 MHz to about 700 MHz, about 1 MHz to about 800 MHz, about 1 MHz to about 900 MHz, about 1 MHz to about 1 GHz, about 100 MHz to about 200 MHz, about 100 MHz to about 300 MHz, about 100 MHz to about 400 MHz, about 100 MHz to about 500 MHz, about 100 MHz to about 600 MHz, about 100 MHz to about 700 MHz, about 100 MHz to about 800 MHz, about 100 MHz to about 900 MHz, about 100 MHz to about 1 GHz, about 200 MHz to about 300 MHz, about 200 MHz to about 400 MHz, about 200 MHz to about 500 MHz, about 200 MHz to about 600 MHz, about 200 MHz to about 700 MHz, about 200 MHz to about 800 MHz, about 200 MHz to about 900 MHz, about 200 MHz to about 1 GHz, about 300 MHz to about 400 MHz, about 300 MHz to about 500 MHz, about 300 MHz to about 600 MHz, about 300 MHz to about 700 MHz, about 300 MHz to about 800 MHz, about 300 MHz to about 900 MHz, about 300 MHz to about 1 GHz, about 400 MHz to about 500 MHz, about 400 MHz to about 600 MHz, about 400 MHz to about 700 MHz, about 400 MHz to about 800 MHz, about 400 MHz to about 900 MHz, about 400 MHz to about 1 GHz, about 500 MHz to about 600 MHz, about 500 MHz to about 700 MHz, about 500 MHz to about 800 MHz, about 500 MHz to about 900 MHz, about 500 MHz to about 1 GHz, about 600 MHz to about 700 MHz, about 600 MHz to about 800 MHz, about 600 MHz to about 900 MHz, about 600 MHz to about 1 GHz, about 700 MHz to about 800 MHz, about 700 MHz to about 900 MHz, about 700 MHz to about 1 GHz, about 800 MHz to about 900 MHz, about 800 MHz to about 1 GHz or about 900 MHz to about 1 GHz.In some embodiments, the frequency set by the oscillating signal in the transmitter module 20 is about 1 MHz, about 100 MHz, about 200 MHz, about 300 MHz, about 400 MHz, about 500 MHz, about 600 MHz, about 700 MHz, about 800 MHz, about 900 MHz, or about 1 GHz. In some embodiments, the frequency set by the oscillating signal in the transmitter module 20 is at least about 1 MHz, about 100 MHz, about 200 MHz, about 300 MHz, about 400 MHz, about 500 MHz, about 600 MHz, about 700 MHz, about 800 MHz, or about 900 MHz. In some embodiments, the frequency set by the oscillating signal in the transmitter module 20 is at most about 100 MHz, about 200 MHz, about 300 MHz, about 400 MHz, about 500 MHz, about 600 MHz, about 700 MHz, about 800 MHz, about 900 MHz, or about 1 GHz.

[0180] For some applications, frequencies in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency bands are preferred. For the purposes of the present invention, the ISM bands shall be understood to be 6.765 MHz to 6.795 MHz; 13.553 MHz to 13.567 MHz; 26.957 MHz to 27.283 MHz; 40.66 MHz to 40.70 MHz; 83.996 MHz to 84.004 MHz; 167.992 MHz to 168.008 MHz; 433.05 MHz to 434.79 MHz; and 886 MHz to 906 MHz. For other applications, frequencies in the official reserved application bands are preferred, such as but not limited to police communication or military bands. The receiver resonator 50 may be configured to capture power from the magnetic field 31A or the electric field 31B or any combination of these two fields at that frequency.

[0181] The receiver module 40 includes a controller 42. The controller 42 is configured to receive various inputs from sensors 44 (e.g., receiver power sensor 44A and load detector 44B) and output control signals to various components 46 (e.g., compensation network 46A, matching network 46B, rectifier 46D, filter 46C, and load manager 46E).

[0182] The receiver power sensor 44A may measure power (e.g., measure current and voltage) at point 44C to determine the amount of power received by the receiver resonator 50.

[0183] The load detector 44B is configured to detect the presence of the load 70. The load detector 44B can be implemented using physical sensors (such as but not limited to optical sensors, pressure sensors, infrared sensors, or proximity sensors) or through suitable software or firmware. For example, in some embodiments, the load detector 44B measures current and voltage at, for example, point 44D to determine the power received by the load 50. If the amount of power measured at point 44D increases above a baseline, the load detector 44B can signal the controller 42 that the load 70 is present.

[0184] The compensation network 46A can be configured to maintain the desired resonant frequency of the receiver resonator 50 in response to a signal from the controller 42 so as to thereby improve the efficiency of power transfer from the transmitter resonator 30 to the receiver resonator 50. The compensation network 46A can be and can operate substantially like the compensation network 26E of the transmitter module 20.

[0185] The matching network 26D can be configured to adjust the input impedance of the rectifier 46D to match the desired impedance of the resonator 30 to achieve maximum power transfer.

[0186] The rectifier 46D can be configured to convert the AC power received by the receiver antenna 50 into DC power for supply to the load 70.

[0187] The filter 46C can be configured to shape the waveform of the power output from the rectifier 46D according to a signal from the controller 42 so as to improve the overall power efficiency of the receiver module 40.

[0188] The load manager 46E can be configured to provide suitable voltage and current to the load 70 and / or extract maximum power from the rectifier 46D by adjusting its input impedance (e.g., the output impedance of the rectifier 46D).

[0189] In some embodiments, the load manager 46E or another component may be configured to communicate (wirelessly or wired) with an external device (e.g., load 70) to provide appropriate information for data analysis. This information may include, but is not limited to, the presence of load 70, the charge level of load 70, the charging rate of load 70, the status of load 70, the current voltage of load 70, the capacity, and / or the remaining charge time. The load manager 46E may utilize this information (or relay this information to controller 42 or controller 22) to adjust, for example, the transfer mode ratio to achieve optimal energy transfer between the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14. The load manager 46E may also provide this information to the user via a display. This display may be built into one or more of the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14 or may be accessible via software on a mobile device, such as an application on a mobile phone or tablet computer that communicates (wirelessly or wired) with the load manager 46E or controller 22 or controller 42.

[0190] In some embodiments, component 46 is a discrete component in receiver module 40, while in other embodiments, one or more of components 46 are part of an integrated circuit design.

[0191] In some embodiments, the primary side 12 may include a plurality of transmitter resonators 30 and / or the secondary side 14 may include a plurality of receiver resonators 50. In such embodiments, each of the transmitter resonators 30 and / or receiver resonators 50 may be controlled in a similar manner. In other embodiments, each of the transmitter resonators 30 and / or receiver resonators 50 may be controlled individually. For example, in some embodiments, the primary side 12 may rely more on transmitter resonators 30 that are subject to less interference (e.g., due to nearby metal objects), are not near a living being, or transfer power more efficiently, and / or similarly, the secondary side 14 may rely more on receiver resonators 50 that are subject to less interference (e.g., due to nearby metal objects), are not near a living being, or receive power more efficiently. This control may be provided or facilitated by, for example, the transmitter module 20 and the receiver module 40 and / or the communication therebetween.

[0192] In some embodiments, the primary side 12 may communicate with the secondary side 14 (e.g., the controller 22 may communicate with the controller 42) to share, for example, the presence of the load 70, the charge level of the load 70, the power transfer efficiency, the charging rate of the load 70, the state of the load 70, the current voltage of the load 70, the power level, the remaining charging time, etc. In some embodiments, this information may be transferred at a frequency different from the power transfer frequency of the link between the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14. In some embodiments, the power transfer frequency between the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14 may be modulated (e.g., the amplitude may be modulated) to allow communication between the primary side 12 and the secondary side 14. The primary side 12 and the secondary side 14 may communicate via Bluetooth (e.g., 2.4 GHz) or a single frequency similar to the GPS frequency (e.g., 10 GHz). In some embodiments, there may be additional units that can separately collect data and transfer data back and forth between the primary side 12 and / or the secondary side 14. For example, WiFi may be used to upload data from the primary side 12 and / or the secondary side 14 to an online portal (e.g., a website or a mobile application associated with the primary side 12 and / or the secondary side 14).

[0193] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to transfer power between two receivers 40 (e.g., inter - receiver power transfer). For example, if the battery pack of a first electric bicycle with a first receiver is depleted or has insufficient power and a second electric bicycle with a second receiver and a charged (or at least partially charged) battery pack is nearby, it may be desirable to transfer power from the second electric bicycle to the first electric bicycle (e.g., if there is no transmitter nearby). To allow this power transfer between the receivers, a phase shifter may be integrated into the rectifier 46D, which allows the receiver to also act as a transmitter.

[0194] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the rectifier 46D with an integrated phase shifter. In some embodiments, the rectifier 46D includes discrete phase shifters.

[0195] The rectifier 46D may be a switched - synchronous rectifier (in a single - ended mode or a differential configuration) configurable to receive a sine wave (e.g., AC power) from the receiver resonator 50 at a specific resonant frequency. The rectifier 46D may be a differential class - F synchronous rectifier. The rectifier 46D may capture sufficient power from the receiver resonator 50 such that an E - field or an H - field or any combination of an E - field and an H - field may be captured by the receiver resonator 50.

[0196] Rectifier 46D has an input 147A (e.g., AC power) that drives an active device 147B (e.g., a transistor) at a frequency set to the resonant frequency and has an output 147D (e.g., DC voltage) across a DC load (to control the output power, input impedance, and operating region of the active device). In this design, different load terminals are used to improve performance (e.g., output power and power conversion efficiency). The third harmonic terminal 147D is positioned in a series branch to shape the voltage waveform at the drain node 147E. The second harmonic terminal 147F is positioned in a parallel branch to shape the voltage waveform at the drain node 147E. The first harmonic terminal 147G is positioned in a series branch to shape the voltage waveform at the drain node 147E. The influence of the third harmonic terminal can be considered in the second harmonic terminal and the first harmonic terminal. The influence of the second harmonic terminal can be considered in the first harmonic terminal.

[0197] For a differential configuration, the AC source 147A is placed in series. The AC source 147A can vary according to the power received by the receiver resonator 50 and the alignment and positioning of the receiver resonator 50 relative to the transmitter resonator 30. The DC load 147C can be a single-ended load.

[0198] Rectifier 46D can include two phase shifters 147H in a differential configuration (but only one phase shifter in a single-ended configuration). The phase shifter 147H adjusts the appropriate phase difference between the AC source and the gate signal of the transistor 147B. The phase difference between the gate signal and the AC source 147A can change the performance of the synchronous rectifier (e.g., the power conversion efficiency and operating region of the transistor). It can also change the input impedance of the synchronous rectifier 46D and / or the optimal DC load 147C of the rectifier 46D.

[0199] Rectifier 46D can include two level shifters 147I in a differential configuration (but only one level shifter in a single-ended configuration). The level shifter 147I can adjust the appropriate amplitude for the gate signal of the transistor 147B. The amplitude level at the gate signal can change the performance of the synchronous rectifier (e.g., the power conversion efficiency and operating region of the transistor).

[0200] The WPT system 10, transmitter, and / or receiver described herein can be integrated into various applications, such as but not limited to electric vehicles, electric boats, electric airplanes, electric trucks, electric bicycles, electric scooters, electric skateboards, etc. An exemplary non-limiting application is a bike-sharing fleet, where various docking stations are provided that integrate one or more transmitters (e.g., the primary side 12) and an electric bicycle including a receiver (e.g., the secondary side 14) and a battery pack (as the load 70) can be charged at the docking stations.

[0201] In some applications, the primary side 12 or the secondary side 14 may be configured to transfer power using other systems not described herein and to adjust the transfer mode ratio from CPT to IPT to provide compatibility with other CPT systems and / or IPT systems even if they are not specifically designed to work with the power transfer systems described herein.

[0202] Although several exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will recognize specific modifications, substitutions, additions, and subcombinations thereof. Accordingly, the appended claims for patent of the invention and the claims introduced hereinafter are intended to be construed to include all such modifications, substitutions, additions, and subcombinations consistent with the broadest interpretation of the entire specification.

[0203] In a first aspect, each of the (several) systems described above and Figures 1 to 10 depicted in forms a dual-mode near-field resonant radio power transfer system 10 configured to simultaneously perform capacitive power transfer and inductive power transfer at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency according to an adjustable transfer mode ratio. The system 10 includes: a transmitter subsystem 12, which includes transmitter antenna subsystems 32, 132, 232, 332, 134, 234, 334, 336 and a power signal tuner module 26F, the tuner module 26F being configured to adjust the transfer mode ratio by adjusting the power signal provided by the tuner module 26F to the transmitter antenna subsystems 32, 132, 232, 332, 134, 234, 334, 336; and a receiver subsystem 14, which includes receiver antenna subsystems 52, 152, 252, 352, 154, 254, 354, 356, the receiver antenna subsystems 52, 152, 252, 352, 154, 254, 354, 356 being configured to receive electrical power from the transmitter antenna subsystems 32, 132, 232, 332, 134, 234, 334, 336 at the transfer mode ratio.

[0204] The tuner module 26F may be configured to adjust the power signal by adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystems 32, 132, 232, 332, 134, 234, 334, 336. The transmitter subsystem 12 may further include a controller 22 and at least one sensor 24, wherein the controller 22 is configured to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor 24 and automatically provide tuning instructions to the tuner module 26F based on the sensor information; and the tuner module 26F, which is configured to adjust the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystems 32, 132, 232, 332, 134, 234, 334, 336 according to the tuning instructions.

[0205] System 10 resonates at a resonant frequency that freely varies within a predetermined frequency band based on the degree of coupling between a transmitter subsystem 12 and a receiver subsystem 14. The predetermined frequency band can be, for example but not limited to, an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band officially designated and reserved, or a band dedicated to a particular user. The quality factor (Q) of system 10 can be reduced to an extent that allows the oscillation frequency of the power signal to vary within the relative limits of the predetermined frequency band. The reduced value of Q allows system 10 to employ any one of several different resonant frequencies within the predetermined frequency band during a power transfer procedure. The coupling between the transmitter subsystem 12 and the receiver subsystem 14 and the associated absorption of power by the resonant receiver subsystem 14 ensure that little electromagnetic radiation is emitted into the far-field region when system 10 is in operation. As described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 10 the configuration described, along with the immediately preceding aspects of frequency, makes system 10 a dual-mode near-field resonant radio power transfer system. It should be noted that in wireless power transfer system 10, power is transferred from a primary subsystem to a secondary subsystem via capacitive coupling or inductive coupling or both, and no substantial degree of transfer occurs via electromagnetic radiation.

[0206] In reference to the foregoing figures and Figure 11In a further aspect described by the flowchart herein, there is provided a near-field wireless method

[1000] for transferring power bimodally according to an adjustable transfer mode ratio at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency. The method includes: providing

[1010] a transmitter subsystem 12, the transmitter subsystem 12 including a power signal tuner module 26F and transmitter antenna subsystems 32, 132, 232, 332, 134, 234, 334, 336 configured to resonate at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency; providing

[1020] a receiver subsystem 14, the receiver subsystem 14 including receiver antenna subsystems 52, 152, 252, 352, 154, 254, 354, 356 configured to resonate at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency; providing

[1030] a power signal from the tuner module 26F to the transmitter antenna subsystems 32, 132, 232, 332, 134, 234, 334, 336 at the power signal oscillation resonant frequency; adjusting

[1040] the transfer mode ratio by adjusting the power signal from the tuner module 26F to the transmitter antenna subsystems 32, 132, 232, 332, 134, 234, 334, 336; and receiving

[1050] the transferred power at the transfer mode ratio in the receiver subsystem 14 at the power signal oscillation resonant frequency via the receiver antenna subsystems 52, 152, 252, 352, 154, 254, 354, 356. Adjusting

[1040] the transfer mode ratio may include adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystems 32, 132, 232, 332, 134, 234, 334, 336.

[0207] Providing

[1010] the transmitter subsystem 12 may further include providing a controller 22 and at least one sensor 24, and adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage may be accomplished by the tuner module 26F based on a command from the controller 22 and sensor information received by the controller 22 from the at least one sensor 24. The command from the controller 22 may be automatically issued to the tuner module 26F after the controller 22 receives the sensor information; and the tuner module 26F may automatically execute the command from the controller 22 to change the phase difference.

[0208] The method

[1000] may further include allowing

[1060] the resonant power signal oscillation frequency to vary within a predetermined frequency band. The predetermined frequency band may be an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) frequency band. Providing

[1010] the transmitter subsystem may include providing a transmitter subsystem that is detuned to an extent that allows the resonant power signal oscillation frequency to vary within the relative limits of the predetermined frequency band.

[0209] In reference Figure 12 、 Figure 13A andFigure 13B And with reference to Figures 1 to 10 the further embodiments described, the multi-transmitter dual-mode near-field resonant radio power transfer system 10' is configured to simultaneously perform capacitive power transfer and inductive power transfer at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency according to an adjustable transfer mode ratio. The system 10' includes a multi-transmitter subsystem 12', and the multi-transmitter subsystem 12' includes a plurality of transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' each driven by a corresponding dedicated transmitter module 20A' to 20I', wherein each transmitter resonator and the corresponding transmission module (e.g., 30E' and 20E' respectively) can conform to the description given above and with reference to Figures 1 to 10 the description given. Figure 12 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the system 10', where the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' are presented as nine resonators in a row but not depicted in their formal spatial positions. Figure 13A and Figure 13B depict and hereinafter describe an embodiment of the spatial layout of the multi-transmitter subsystem 12'. In the system 10', the resonant receiver subsystem 14 can be the same or substantially similar to the resonant receiver system described above and referenced by Figures 1 to 10 . In Figure 12 the embodiment shown, the resonant receiver subsystem 14 can be implemented, for example but not limited to, in a mobile phone or a digital "tablet computer". For clarity, the resonant receiver subsystem 14 is depicted in a dashed outline in Figure 13A . In one embodiment, each operating transmitter resonator 30A' to 30I' and each corresponding transmitter module 20A' to 20I' can be the same or substantially similar to the transmitter resonator 30 and the transmitter module 20 described above and Figures 1 to 10 depicted in Figure 13A and Figure 13B depict an embodiment of the spatial layout of the multi-transmitter subsystem 12'. Figure 13B is a view of the multi-transmitter subsystem 12' in an inverted orientation relative to its orientation in Figure 13A .

[0210] In Figure 12 , Figure 13A and Figure 13B the example embodiments of the system 10' shown, the multi-transmitter subsystem 12' includes nine pairs of transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' and corresponding transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' configured in a square array. The transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' are covered by the ground substrate 35' in Figure 13A , but in Figure 13Bis visible. In more general embodiments, other numbers of resonators and transmitter modules may be employed, and the resonator array need not be square or rectangular. By way of example and not limitation, the resonator array may have a hexagonal configuration. In some embodiments, the array is preferably tightly packed within the constraints of a ground shield grid that separates and defines the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'. The ground shield grid 33' laterally confines the array of transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'. The ground shield grid 33' is disposed at a constant distance 37' from the perimeter of each of the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' to ensure consistent electric field behavior and associated capacitance between the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' and the ground shield grid 33'. The term "shield distance" is used herein to describe the distance between the resonators 30A' to 30I' and the ground shield grid 33'.

[0211] In an embodiment, the ground shield grid 33' ensures that the electric fields of the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' will be spatially completely decoupled and thus spatially independent. The transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' may have magnetic fields selected to be decoupled from each other by spatial orientation. In other embodiments, the ground shield grid 33' may be formed of or coated with a high conductivity ferrite material to decouple the magnetic fields generated by the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'.

[0212] As Figure 13A and Figure 13B shown, the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' and their corresponding transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' may be mounted substantially in line with each other on opposite faces of a ground substrate 35', where each transmitter resonator (e.g., 30E') is near its corresponding transmitter module (20E'). In other embodiments, there may be no fixed spatial relationship between the transmitter resonators and their corresponding transmitter modules. The array of transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' shares a common transmission surface defined by the common upper surface of the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' in Figure 13A . For aesthetic and protective reasons, the array of transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' may be covered with a dielectric plate, Figure 13A not shown in

[0213] In Figure 12 and Figure 13A , an embodiment of the resonant receiver subsystem 14 is schematically shown overlapping a subset of the plurality of transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'. In accordance with Figure 12 and Figure 13A , the overlapping transmitter resonators are shown as 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H'. InFigure 13A In this case, the resonant receiver subsystem 14 is shown as a dashed rectangle above the mutually adjacent transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H'. The controller of any one of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' can determine the presence or absence of the resonant receiver subsystem 14 near or overlapping with their corresponding transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I', and based on this detection, the controller can turn on or off the power signal to their corresponding transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'.

[0214] If the power amplifiers of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' supply power signals to the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' such that the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' transmit power, and the controllers of the transmitter modules 20A', 20B', 20C', 20F', and 20I' determine that there is no resonant receiver adjacent to their corresponding transmitter resonators 30A', 30B', 30C', 30F', and 30I' within their frequency ranges, then these controllers can turn off the power signals to the transmitter resonators 30A', 30B', 30C', 30F', and 30I'.

[0215] If the power amplifiers of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' do not supply power signals to the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I', then the controllers of the transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H' can determine the presence of the resonant receiver subsystem 14 overlapping and adjacent to the resonators 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H', and turn on the transmissible power provided by the transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G', and 20H' to the transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H'. This configuration ensures that only the transmitter resonators adjacent to the resonant receiver subsystem 14 draw power and transmit power to the resonant receiver subsystem 14.

[0216] The input impedance of a specific transmitter resonator 30A' to 30I' can be used to detect the presence or absence of the resonant receiver subsystem 14 adjacent to the specific transmitter resonator. The input impedance of the transmitter resonator varies with the presence or absence of the resonant receiver subsystem 14 adjacent to the specific transmitter resonator. As explained above, reference Figure 6 shows that the effects of a specific resonant receiver subsystem 14 are different, so that not only the presence and absence of the receiver can be detected, but also the type of the receiver can be identified by its influence on the input impedance of the transmitter resonator. The size of the receiver resonator specifically has a profound influence on the input impedance of a specific transmitter resonator 30A' to 30I'.

[0217] In an embodiment of the system 10', as Figure 12 andFigure 13B The transmitter module 20E' depicted in [[ ]] is a transmitter module associated with one of four transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' that overlap with the resonant receiver subsystem 14. Figure 6 and Figure 8 The detailed structure of each of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' is provided in [[ ]]. This program is initiated in the case where the power amplifier 26B of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' does not supply a power signal to the corresponding transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'.

[0218] Now looking at the transmitter module 20E', its load detector 24A is configured in this embodiment to measure the input impedance of the transmitter resonator 30E'. The load detector 24A provides the input impedance measurement result to the controller 22. A preset input impedance measurement value is stored in a buffer in the controller 22, and this preset input impedance measurement value represents the input impedance of the transmitter resonator 30E' in the absence of any resonant receiver subsystem adjacent to the transmitter resonator 30E'. As Figure 12 shown in [[ ]], the placement of the resonant receiver subsystem 14 adjacent to the transmitter resonator 30E' causes the load detector 24A to make a new and different input impedance measurement, the result of which is supplied to the controller 22 by the load detector 24A. The controller 22 compares the new input impedance measurement (referred to herein as the "first input transmitter resonator impedance change" or "primary transmitter resonator input impedance change") with the preset impedance measurement value stored in the buffer. Based on this first input impedance change, the controller 22 makes a determination as to whether there is a receiver resonator (e.g., a resonator of the resonant receiver subsystem 14) near the transmitter resonator 30E'. To make a determination as to whether there is a receiver resonator near the transmitter resonator 30E', the controller 22 can be pre-programmed with a minimum input impedance change that must be exceeded before the controller 22 deems that there is a receiver resonator.

[0219] If the controller 22 determines that a receiver resonator (e.g., the resonator of the resonant receiver subsystem 14) exists near the transmitter resonator 30E', the controller 22 instructs the power amplifier to take an "on" state. Thereby, power is provided to the transmitter resonator 30E' and then transferred to the resonant receiver subsystem 14. If the controller 22 determines that, for example, no receiver resonator (e.g., the resonator of the resonant receiver subsystem 14) exists near the receiver resonator 30E', the controller 22 instructs the power amplifier to take an "off" state. Thereby, no power is provided to the transmitter resonator 30E', and then no power is transferred to the resonant receiver subsystem 14. Each transmitter module 20A' to 20I' performs the same procedure independently with respect to their corresponding transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'. Thus, the power amplifiers of the transmitter modules 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H' that overlap with the resonant receiver subsystem 14 are turned on, and the power amplifiers of the transmitter modules 30A', 30B', 30C', 30F', and 30I' that do not overlap with the resonant receiver subsystem 14 are turned off.

[0220] It should be noted that receiver resonators of different sizes present significantly different impedances to the load detector 24A of the transmitter modulator 20 at point 24E. The impedance difference measured when a given receiver resonator partially overlaps a particular transmitter resonator is not as distinct as the impedance difference measured when it completely overlaps that transmitter resonator, unlike when the impedance is different from the size of the receiver resonator. This allows the controller 22 of any transmitter module 20A' to 20I' to distinguish between small and large receiver resonators in the vicinity of the corresponding transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'.

[0221] According to one embodiment, the power signal frequencies and phases among these transmitter resonators (e.g., 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H') that overlap with the resonant receiver subsystem (e.g., the resonant receiver subsystem 14) as described herein are set. In order to transfer power from the combination of the transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H' that receive power with maximum efficiency, the power signals in the resonators 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H' need to have the same frequency and be in phase with each other. Given that the frequencies of the power signals in the transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H' can vary within the permitted frequency band, as previously described above with reference to Figures 1 to 10 as described, this embodiment is in Figure 12 , Figure 13A and Figure 13BThe requirement in [description] is to adjust the frequencies of the power signals in the transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' to be the same and then lock their phases together so that the power signals from the transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' will be completely synchronized and in phase.

[0222] In one embodiment, to ensure that the controllers 22 of the overlapping transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' all set their corresponding oscillators 26A to the same frequency, the controllers 22 of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' all have the same frequency table selected within any given licensed frequency band (e.g., the ISM band). Within this particular ISM band, several discrete frequencies are selected to be included in the frequency table. Thus, the number of listed frequencies within the ISM band is limited and restricted and the spacing between the listed frequencies is wide enough such that the various controllers 22 of the transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G' and 20H' can determine the power signal frequency from the first impedance difference described above. Despite small variations in these impedances, all the controllers 22 of the transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G' and 20H' select the same discrete frequency for the power signals of their respective oscillators 26A and power amplifiers 26B from among the licensed frequencies within the band.

[0223] In one embodiment, to ensure that resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' all have not only the same power signal frequency, but also the same phase, the following procedure is employed and programmed into the software of each controller 22 of transmitter modules 20A' through 20I'. Statistically, the first of the independent controllers 22 among these transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G' and 20H' will first turn on its corresponding oscillator 26A and power amplifier 26B to supply power to the resonant receiver subsystem 14 via its transmitter resonator. A second one of the other independent controllers 22 among these transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G' and 20H' will measure the input impedance of its corresponding transmitter resonator and detect, via its corresponding load detector 24A, a small secondary change in impedance attributable to the operation of the first transmitter resonator. In effect, the second controller 22 understands the reflection of the impedance of the first transmitter resonator via the interaction of the first transmitter resonator with the resonant receiver subsystem 14. The second controller 22 is programmed to infer, based on the secondary impedance change, that another controller has first turned on its oscillator 26A and power amplifier 26B. After making this inference, the second controller 22 then turns on its oscillator 26A and power amplifier 26B and changes the phase of its power signal while measuring, using its transmitter power sensor 24B, the power transmitted by its corresponding transmitter resonator. Next, the second controller 22 changes the phase of its oscillator and searches for the phase at which maximum power transfer occurs and sets the phase of the oscillator to that value. The oscillator phase thus determined will ensure that the phase of the power signal transferred by the second transmitter resonator is equal to the phase of the power signal transferred by the first transmitter resonator to the resonant receiver subsystem 14. In one embodiment, the setting of the oscillator phase is based on substantially maximizing power transfer rather than absolutely equalizing the power signal phases.

[0224] In another embodiment, again based on the overlap of the transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' with the resonant receiver subsystem 14, the proximity detection of the resonant receiver subsystem 14 is based on the test signal power drawn through the transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H'. In this embodiment, a low amplitude power signal is initially maintained by the oscillators and power amplifiers corresponding to all the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'. Then, the controllers 22 of all the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' sense the power drawn by their corresponding transmitter resonators 30 using their corresponding transmitter power sensors 24B. The controllers 22 of the transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G' and 20H' sense that power is drawn via their corresponding transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' using their corresponding transmitter power sensors 24B. Based on the detection of the drawn test signal power, the controllers 22 of the transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G' and 20H' turn on the full power of their corresponding power amplifiers 26B. The term "first test signal power draw" is used herein to describe the power drawn from the test signal via the transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H'. After a suitable test period, the test power signal of the power amplifiers 26B of the transmitter modules 30A', 30B', 30C', 30F' and 30I' that do not overlap with the resonant receiver subsystem 14 can be turned off.

[0225] Equivalent to the impedance-based embodiment described above, the controllers 22 of the transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G' and 20H' may require a threshold power draw in order to consider the resonant receiver subsystem 14 to be present in the vicinity of their corresponding transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H'.

[0226] In one embodiment, to ensure that the controllers 22 of the overlapping transmitter resonators 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' all set their corresponding oscillators 26A to the same frequency, the controllers 22 of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' all have the same frequency table selected within any given licensed frequency band (e.g., the ISM band). Within this particular ISM band, several discrete frequencies are selected to be included in the frequency table. Thus, the number of listed frequencies within the ISM band is limited and restricted, and the spacing between the listed frequencies is wide enough such that the various controllers 22 of the transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G' and 20H' can determine the power signal frequency from the first test signal power draw described above. Despite small variations in these power draw values, all the controllers 22 of the transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G' and 20H' select the same discrete frequency from the licensed frequencies within the band for the power signals of their respective oscillators 26A and power amplifiers 26B.

[0227] In one embodiment, to ensure that resonators 30D', 30E', 30G', and 30H' all have not only the same power signal frequency, but also the same phase, the following procedure is employed and programmed into the software of each controller 22 of transmitter modules 20A' through 20I'. Statistically, the first of the independent controllers 22 among these transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G', and 20H' will first turn on its corresponding oscillator 26A and power amplifier 26B to supply power to the resonant receiver subsystem 14 via its transmitter resonator. The second of the other independent controllers 22 among these transmitter modules 20D', 20E', 20G', and 20H' will measure the power draw of its corresponding transmitter resonator and detect a small secondary change in the power draw due to the operation of the first transmitter resonator through its corresponding transmitter power sensor 24B. In effect, the second controller 22 understands the reflection of the impedance of the first transmitter resonator via the interaction of the first transmitter resonator with the resonant receiver subsystem 14. The second controller 22 is programmed to infer, based on the secondary power draw change, that another controller has first turned on its oscillator 26A and power amplifier 26B. After making this inference, the second controller 22 then turns on its oscillator 26A and power amplifier 26B and changes the phase of its power signal while measuring the power transmitted by its corresponding transmitter resonator using its transmitter power sensor 24B. The second controller 22 then searches for the phase at which maximum power transfer occurs and sets the oscillator to that phase. The oscillator phase set in this manner ensures that the phase of the power signal transferred from the second transmitter resonator to the resonant receiver subsystem 14 is equal to the phase of the power signal transferred from the first transmitter resonator to the resonant receiver subsystem 14. In this embodiment, the setting of the oscillator phase is based on substantially maximizing power transfer, rather than absolutely equalizing the power signal phases.

[0228] In one embodiment, when two different resonant receiver subsystems are adjacent to multi-transmitter subsystem 12' and overlap with different ones or combinations of transmitter resonators 30A' through 30I', there is no a priori reason for two different transmitter resonators or two different groups of transmitter resonators overlapping with the two resonant receiver systems to operate at the same frequency or phase, nor is it required that they operate at the same frequency or phase. The ground shield grid 33' ensures this multiplex independence by decoupling all individual transmitter resonators 30A' through 30I' from each other. However, the transmitter resonators overlapping with a particular resonant receiver subsystem need to have their corresponding power signal amplifiers actively synchronized by their controllers as described above. This can result in two different transmitter resonators or two different groups of resonators operating at two specific different locked frequencies within a frequency band, where all the signals within a particular group are in phase with each other.

[0229] In the foregoing, it has been described how two transmitter resonators transferring power to the same receiver resonator can be programmed to behave such that the two transmitter resonators carry power signals in phase to thereby ensure maximum power transfer. A different situation occurs when two adjacent transmitter resonators (i.e., 30A' and 30B' in Figure 14 ) are transmitted to two substantially similar corresponding receiver subsystems 14A and 14B. Both of the transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' have fringing fields with their field lines extending, for example, from the transmitter resonator 30A' to the receiver subsystem 14B' and from the transmitter resonator 30B' to the receiver subsystem 14A. Generally, there is no specific physical structure in the system 10' to prevent, for example, the field of the transmitter resonator 30A' from interacting with the receiver resonator of the receiver subsystem 14B.

[0230] In one embodiment, when both of the transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' serve the same large receiver resonator that overlaps both of the transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' (as in Figure 13A ), the fringing fields are essentially not a problem because both of the transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' will operate a power signal of the same frequency in the same phase. In the situation depicted in Figure 14 , the requirement is to ensure that any fringing field of a given transmitter resonator (e.g., 30A') that interacts with a receiver subsystem (e.g., 14B which is intended to receive power from the adjacent transmitter resonator 30B') does not allow parasitic power from the transmitter resonator 30A'. One way to achieve this goal is to drive the two adjacent transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' 180° out of phase with each other such that the overlapping fringing fields from the transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' will largely cancel each other out.

[0231] Since any one of the transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' will experience parasitism from the other of the transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' when the power signals of the transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' are not 180° out of phase, the controller 22 of each of the transmitter resonators 30A' and 30B' can increment the phase of the signal from the respective oscillator while measuring the power transmitted by the corresponding transmitter resonator 30A', 30B' using the corresponding transmitter power sensor 24B. The controller 22 can then search for the adjusted oscillator phase that provides the maximum transmission power via the corresponding transmitter resonators 30A', 30B', and then set the phase of the oscillator to that corresponding phase.

[0232] As described above, the configuration of the frequency and phase of each resonant receiver system (regardless of whether they are similar or different in size) ensures that the two resonant receiver systems receive maximum transferred power. In a general embodiment, there may be a large number of transmitter resonators, and several different resonant receiver subsystems may receive power, each resonant receiver subsystem receiving power from its corresponding group of transmitter resonators at a frequency and phase selected by a controller corresponding to the transmitter resonators in its own corresponding individual group of transmitter resonators. Due to maximizing the power transfer to each of the adjacent transmitter resonators of different receiver subsystems, the adjacent transmitter resonators may operate 180° out of phase. The procedure for maximizing power transfer adjusts the oscillator phase. Since the impedances of the various transmitter modules are complex with small variations in resistance, inductance, and capacitance, the phase angles of different oscillators at the maximum power transfer point may not be exactly equal (or exactly 180° different) when the power signals in the transmitter resonators are actually equal (or exactly 180° different).

[0233] To the extent that system 10' includes a circuit having an air gap between a primary side and a secondary side, any power transfer measured or maximized in a transmitter resonator (e.g., at point 24E in Figure 6 based on measurements of transmitter power sensor 24B) can also be measured or maximized in the secondary circuit (e.g., at point 44C in Figure 7 based on measurements of receiver power sensor 44A). Measurements can be provided to controller 42 of receiver module 40 by transmitter power sensor 24B, and controller 42 of receiver module 40 can in turn communicate the measurements to controller 22 of transmitter module 20 through one of the components described above.

[0234] The concept of a multi - transmitter near - field resonant radio power transfer system has been explained above with reference to system 10', which is configured to simultaneously perform capacitive power transfer and inductive power transfer according to an adjustable transfer mode ratio at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency. In a more general embodiment, a multi - transmitter near - field resonant radio power transfer system need not specifically be a dual - mode system and can be a pure capacitive or pure inductive power transfer system.

[0235] In Figure 15In a further aspect depicted by the flowchart, a wireless near-field method

[1100] for transferring power from a multi-transmitter subsystem 12' to a single resonant receiver subsystem 14 at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency includes: providing

[1110] the multi-transmitter subsystem 12', the multi-transmitter subsystem 12' including a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I', each of the transmitter resonators being driven by a corresponding transmitter module 20A' to 20I', each of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' being capable of being independently set to one of a plurality of preset power signal oscillation frequencies in a preset frequency band, and all the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' having a common transmission surface; disposing

[1120] the resonant receiver subsystem 14 near the common transmission surface, the resonant receiver subsystem 14 including two or more overlapping single receiver resonators 50 with the transmitter resonators ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them); measuring

[1130] the input impedance of each of the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I'; and setting

[1140] the power signal to each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' to one of an off state and an active state based on the corresponding measured resonator input impedance.

[0236] The method

[1100] may further include selecting

[1150] a power signal oscillation frequency from among the plurality of preset power signal oscillation frequencies for a corresponding transmitter resonator ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them) based on the measured input impedance of each of the active transmitter resonators ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them).

[0237] The method

[1100] may further include setting

[1160] the power signal of each of the active transmitter resonators ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them) to the corresponding selected frequency.

[0238] The method

[1100] may further include adjusting

[1170] the phase of the power signal applied to each of the corresponding transmitter resonators ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them) to a phase at which the power transfer through the transmitter resonators ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them) is substantially maximized.

[0239] In Figure 16In a further aspect depicted by the flowchart, a wireless near-field method

[1200] for transferring power from a multi-transmitter subsystem 12' to a single resonant receiver subsystem 14 at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency includes: providing

[1210] the multi-transmitter subsystem 12', the multi-transmitter subsystem 12' including a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I', each of the transmitter resonators being driven by a corresponding transmitter module 20A' to 20I', each of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' being capable of being independently set to one of a plurality of preset power signal oscillation frequencies in a preset frequency band, and all the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' having a common transmission surface; disposing

[1220] the resonant receiver subsystem 14 near the common transmission surface, the resonant receiver subsystem 14 including two or more overlapping single receiver resonators 50 with the transmitter resonators ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them); measuring

[1230] the power drawn by each of the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' from a test signal; and setting

[1140] the power signal of each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' to one of an off state and an active state based on the corresponding measured resonator test power draw.

[0240] The method

[1200] may further include selecting

[1250] a power signal oscillation frequency for a corresponding transmitter resonator ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them) from among a plurality of preset power signal oscillation frequencies based on the measured test power drawn by each of the active transmitter resonators ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them).

[0241] The method

[1200] may further include setting

[1260] the power signal of each active transmitter resonator ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them) to the corresponding selected frequency.

[0242] The method

[1200] may further include adjusting

[1270] the phase of the power signal applied to each corresponding transmitter resonator ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them) to a phase at which the power transfer through the transmitter resonator ( Figure 13A such as 30D', 30E', 30G' and 30H' among them) is substantially maximized.

[0243] In Figure 17In a further aspect depicted by the flowchart, a wireless near-field method

[1300] for transferring power from a multi-transmitter subsystem 12' to two or more receiver subsystems 14A, 14B at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency Figure 14 comprises: providing

[1310] a multi-transmitter subsystem 12' including a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' Figure 14 wherein each of the transmitter resonators is driven by a corresponding transmitter module 20A' to 20I' (see Figure 13B ), each of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' being capable of being independently set to one of a plurality of preset power signal oscillation frequencies in a preset frequency band, and all the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' having a common transmission surface; disposing

[1320] two or more resonant receiver subsystems 14A, 14B near the common transmission surface, each resonant receiver subsystem including a single receiver resonator overlapping one or more of the transmitter resonators Figure 14 such as transmitter resonators 30A', 30B' therein; measuring

[1330] the input impedance of each of the transmitter resonators 30A', 30B'; and setting

[1340] the power signal of each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' to one of an off state and an active state based on the corresponding measured resonator input impedance.

[0244] The method

[1300] may further include selecting

[1350] a power signal oscillation frequency for a corresponding transmitter resonator 30A', 30B' from among a plurality of preset power signal oscillation frequencies based on the measured input impedance of each of the active transmitter resonators Figure 14 such as resonators 30A', 30B' therein.

[0245] The method

[1300] may further include setting

[1360] the power signal of each active transmitter resonator 30A', 30B' to the corresponding selected frequency.

[0246] The method

[1300] may further include adjusting

[1370] the phase of the power signal applied to each corresponding transmitter resonator 30A', 30B' to a phase at which the power transfer through the transmitter resonators 30A', 30B' Figure 14 is substantially maximized.

[0247] In Figure 18 a further aspect depicted by the flowchart, a wireless near-field method for transferring power from a multi-transmitter subsystem 12' to two or more receiver subsystems 14A, 14B at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency Figure 14The wireless near - field method

[1400] in (China) includes: providing

[1410] a multi - transmitter subsystem 12', the multi - transmitter subsystem 12' including a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' ( Figure 14 in China), each of the transmitter resonators being driven by a corresponding transmitter module 20A' to 20I' (see Figure 13B ), each of the transmitter modules 20A' to 20I' being capable of being independently set to one of a plurality of preset power - signal oscillation frequencies in a preset frequency band, and all the transmitter resonators 30A' having a common transmission surface 30I'; arranging

[1420] two or more resonator receiver subsystems 14A, 14B near the common transmission surface, each resonator receiver subsystem including a single receiver resonator that overlaps with one or more of the transmitter resonators (the transmitter resonators 30A', 30B' in FIG. 13); measuring

[1430] the power drawn by each of the transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' from a test signal; and setting

[1440] the power signal of each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators 30A' to 30I' to one of an off state and an active state based on the corresponding measured resonator test power draw.

[0248] The method

[1400] may further include selecting

[1450] a power - signal oscillation frequency for each corresponding transmitter resonator 30A', 30B' from among a plurality of preset power - signal oscillation frequencies based on the measured input impedance of each of the active transmitter resonators ( Figure 14 the resonators 30A', 30B' in China).

[0249] The method

[1400] may further include setting

[1460] the power signal of each active transmitter resonator 30A', 30B' to the corresponding selected frequency.

[0250] The method

[1400] may further include adjusting

[1470] the phase of the power signal applied to each corresponding transmitter resonator 30A', 30B' to a phase at which the power transfer through the transmitter resonators 30A', 30B' ( Figure 14 in China) is substantially maximized.

[0251] In further aspects described in reference Figure 20A and Figure 20B 、 Figure 21A and Figure 21B as well as Figure 22A and Figure 22B and based on Figures 1 to 10 and Figures 12 to 14 of the system described, in accordance with Figure 19AThe schematic diagram presents a near-field resonant radio power transfer system 10" for wirelessly transferring power from a photovoltaic solar cell 420 to an electrical power load 70". The numbered system is used for Figure 19A reference numerals on, such that the similar parts to Figure 13A and Figure 13B are clear, and thus the similar parts to Figure 6 and Figure 7 are also clear. Through this numbering scheme, DC power is supplied from the solar cell 420 to the transmitter module 20" via a power conditioning unit (PCU) 430. In addition to converting the DC voltage and DC current to levels that can be further transmitted by the power amplifier 26B", the PCU 430 also provides appropriate regulation of the voltage and current levels to drive the remaining system components in the transmitter module 20", including small-signal electronic components. The PCU 430 represents an adaptive variable load of the solar cell 420 to accommodate the variable power provided by the solar cell 420 and the variable output impedance presented by the solar cell 420 to the PCU 430. This allows the PCU430 to absorb power from the solar cell 420 at the maximum possible rate at all times and temperatures, despite the variation in this power from the solar cell 420.

[0252] The oscillator 26A" can be used to modulate the power amplifier 26B" at a frequency suitable for wireless power transfer, as described above. The power amplifier 26B" can have the same design as the amplifier 26B shown in Figure 8 , where the power from the PCU430 replaces V DD supply as the DC voltage 127E. In an alternative embodiment, the power amplifier 26B" can suitably include circuitry to sustain oscillation itself, as is well known in the field of radio systems, thereby obviating the oscillator 26A".

[0253] Power can be transferred to the transmitter resonator 30" via a transmission tuning network 28", which in Figure 19A is a combination of the signal conditioning and tuning components 26C, 26D, 26E, and 26F of Figure 6 . The transmitter resonator 30" can have a surface area that has a range that is at least a major part of the range that can be the active solar radiation receiving surface of the solar cell 420. All such components of the transmitter module 20" are under the control of the controller 22", just as Figure 6 the corresponding components of the transmitter module 20 in Figure 19A are under the control of the controller 22. For clarity, Figure 6 does not show all the components of the transmitter module 20".The sensors and detectors 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D may also exist in an equivalent form in the transmitter module 20” and be connected to the controller 22” and may perform the same functions as Figure 6 in

[0254] Power may be wirelessly transferred from the transmitter module 20” to the receiver module 40” via the transmitter resonator 30” and the receiver resonator 50”. The power may then be transferred from the receiver module 40” to the DC load 70”. Power transfer may be performed between the transmitter resonator 30” and the receiver resonator 50” by near-field wireless transfer, as described above with reference to Figures 6 to 10 The near-field wireless power transfer according to FIG. 20 is not limited to being bimodal and may be purely capacitive or purely inductive.

[0255] The receiver module 40” may have components the same as Figure 7 of the receiver 40. For clarity, Figure 19A a reduced set of these components is shown in Figure 7 The sensors 44A and detectors 44B of Figure 19A are not shown in an equivalent form in Figure 19A but may exist. The receiver tuning network 48” in

[0256] may be a combination of the compensation network 46A, the matching network 46B, the rectifier 46D, and the filter 46C. Power may be transferred from the receiver tuning network 28” to the load manager 46E”, and both the receiver tuning network 28” and the load manager 46E” may be under the control of the receiver controller 42”. Figure 19A and based on Figures 1 to 10 the system described, there is presented a near-field resonant radio power transfer system 10” for wirelessly transferring electrical power from a power source (in this example embodiment, a photovoltaic solar cell 420) to an electrical power load 70”. A double-numbering system is used for the reference numerals on Figure 19A such that Figure 6 and Figure 7Similar aspects may be clearer. With this numbering scheme, DC power is supplied from the solar cell 420 to the transmitter module 20 via the power conditioning unit (PCU) 430. In addition to converting the DC voltage and DC current to appropriate levels for conversion to a radio frequency signal for further transmission by the power amplifier 26B, the PCU 430 also provides appropriate regulation of the voltage and current levels to drive the remaining system components in the transmitter module 20, such as small signal electronic components. The PCU 430 represents an adaptive variable load of the solar cell 420 to accommodate the variable power provided by the solar cell 420 and the variable output impedance presented by the solar cell 400 to the PCU 430. This allows the PCU 430 to absorb power from the solar cell 420 at the maximum possible rate at all times and temperatures, despite the variation in this power from the solar cell 420.

[0257] The oscillator 26A can be used to modulate the power amplifier 26B at a frequency suitable for wireless power transfer, as described above. The power amplifier 26B may have the same design as the amplifier 26B shown in Figure 8 where the power from the PCU 430 replaces V DD and is supplied as the DC voltage 127E. In an alternative embodiment, the power amplifier 26B may suitably include circuitry to sustain oscillation itself, as is well known in the field of radio systems, thereby obviating the oscillator 26A.

[0258] Power may be transferred to the transmitter resonator 30 via the transmission tuning network 28, where in Figure 19A the transmission tuning network 28 is Figure 6 a combination of the signal conditioning and tuning components 26C, 26D, 26E, and 26F. The transmitter resonator 30 may have a surface area that has a range that is at least a major part of the range that can be the active solar radiation receiving surface of the solar cell 420. All such components of the transmitter module 20 are under the control of the controller 22, just as Figure 6 the corresponding components of the transmitter module 20 in Figure 19A are under the control of the controller 22. For clarity, Figure 6 not all components of the transmitter module 20 are shown in Figure 6 The sensors and detectors 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D of

[0259] Power can be wirelessly transferred from the transmitter module 20” to the receiver module 40” via the transmission resonator 30” and the receiver resonator 50”. The power can then be transferred from the receiver module 40” to the DC load 70”. Power transfer can be performed between the transmission resonator 30” and the receiver resonator 50” by near-field wireless transfer, as described above with reference to Figures 6 to 10 as described. According to Figure 19A the near-field wireless power transfer is not limited to being bimodal and can be purely capacitive or purely inductive.

[0260] The receiver module 40” can have components identical to Figure 7 that of the receiver 40. For clarity, Figure 19A a reduced set of these components is shown in Figure 7 The sensors 44A and detectors 44B of Figure 19A are not shown in an equivalent form in Figure 19A but may be present. The receiver tuning network 48” in

[0261] Regarding Figure 7 the rectifier 46D shown in more detail in

[0262] In operation, the near-field resonant radio power transfer system 10” can operate in the same manner as Figure 1 and Figures 6 to 10 the near-field resonant radio power transfer system 10, except that the applied voltage V on each power amplifier 26B” DD is replaced by a power signal from a power conditioning unit (PCU) 430, which in turn receives its power from a relevant power source (in this embodiment, a solar cell 420).

[0263] In another embodiment, the power conditioning unit 430 can be omitted from the system shown in Figure 19A and the power transfer system 10” is instead configured or operated to also function as a power conditioning system. This can be achieved by configuring the controller 22” (e.g., but not limited to software) to be based on Figure 6The power level measured by the power sensor 24B adjusts the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier 26B. The term "input DC equivalent resistance" is used herein to describe the ratio of the DC voltage to the DC current at the DC terminals of the power amplifier 26B. Although the controller 22" will make adjustments based on the power measurement, it is expected that the maximum power point of the transferred power will be reached when the input impedance of the power amplifier 26B matches the output impedance of the solar cell 420. In this embodiment, the system 10" functions as a device identical to what is industrially referred to as a "maximum power point tracker" and ensures that power is always transferred at a rate more suitable for consuming the load with the power obtained under unregulated power supply conditions. In another embodiment, the controller 22" can be configured to measure the output impedance of the power supply (the solar cell 420 in this embodiment), and then adjust the input impedance of the power amplifier 26B based on the measured output impedance of the solar cell 420.

[0264] In addition to the adjustment of the input impedance of the power amplifier 26B", the controller 22" can also adjust one or more of the settings of the transmitter tuning network 28" and the frequency of the oscillator 26A". Additionally, the transmitter controller 22" can make the adjustments described above based on Figure 6 the measurements of the load detector 24A shown in, which gives more details about the circuits of the transmitter modules 20 and 20". The load detector 24A senses the influence of the load 70" at point 24E in Figure 6 .

[0265] The receiver controller 42" can also adjust one or more of the settings of the receiver tuning network 48" and the load management system 46E" based on the measurements of the receiver power sensor 44A and the load detector 44B ( Figure 7 both are shown in) to improve the efficiency of power transfer.

[0266] When considering the power regulation function of the system 10", it can be seen that there is no a priori reason why the power transfer function of the system should be limited to near-field wireless transmission across the air gap as in Figure 19A . Therefore, in another embodiment, Figure 19B based on Figure 19AThe components of the "system 10" show a power regulation unit 410. The transmitter tuning network 28" is in direct electrical communication with the receiver tuning network 48" via a suitable non-air-gap connection 60". This communication is via a radio frequency power signal and constitutes the power in and transferred by the system. Electronic components with appropriate reactances can be employed in well-known configurations to decouple any DC voltage and current levels in the transmitter module 20" from such levels in the receiver module 40". The transmitter resonator 30" and the receiver resonator 50" are absent in this embodiment and are dispensed with by the direct communication connection between the transmitter tuning network 28" and the receiver tuning network 48".

[0267] Specifically, by considering Figure 19B , it can be better understood Figure 19A and Figure 19B that the power transfer system serves as a power regulation system, where the absence of the transmitter resonator 30" and the receiver resonator 50" simplifies the power regulation concept, although this equally applies to the presence of such resonators (as in Figure 19A ). Figure 19A and Figure 19B The system of

[0268] has four independent control parameters that can be adjusted during operation to regulate the power transferred to the receiver module 40" and thus to the load 70". Typical commercial power regulation units are often called "boost converters" by raising their output voltage above the source voltage. Such devices have only two control parameters.

[0269] The first independent control parameter that can be adjusted during operation to regulate the power transferred to the receiver module 40" and thus to the load 70" is the oscillation frequency of the power amplifier 26B", which can be adjusted by the controller 22A" in the oscillator 26A". Figure 19A ) is the output load on the rectifier 46D of the receiver module 40". This output load in turn directly determines the input impedance of the rectifier 46D and thus directly determines the input impedance of the receiver module 40". This is in turn the load experienced by the transmitter module 20" and directly determines the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier 26B". Manipulating the output load on the rectifier 46D is carried out under the control of the receiver controller 42" via the load management system 46E" of the receiver module 40" (see

[0270] The third and fourth independent control parameters that can be adjusted during operation to regulate the power transferred to the receiver module 40" and thus to the load 70" are the nature of the rectifier 46D of the receiver module 40" (see Figure 7 ), and the nature of the power amplifier 26B" ( Figure 19A ), and are similar in nature but completely independent of each other. Both the rectifier 46D and the power amplifier 26B" include multi-terminal amplification devices that rely on modulating the current passing between two terminals by a voltage signal applied to a third terminal of each device through the multi-terminal device. The simplest multi-terminal amplification device that can be used in each of the rectifier 46D and the power amplifier 26B" is a transistor. This allows for a phase difference between the voltage signal generated by the device or in the device and the current signal. The voltage-current phase difference can be adjusted via the applied voltage. The rectifier 46D can be an adjustable-phase radio-frequency rectifier whose voltage-current phase difference can be adjusted via the receiver controller 42". In the case of the power amplifier 26B", the voltage-current phase difference can be adjusted via the transmitter controller 22". The rectifier 46D can usefully include a differential self-synchronous radio-frequency rectifier. Specifically, the rectifier 46D can include a class-F differential self-synchronous radio-frequency rectifier.

[0271] Figure 19A and Figure 19B Examples of are based on transferring power from a solar cell or, by extension, from a solar cell array, where the power delivered by the solar cell 420 can drop sharply to zero depending on sunlight. There are also many other power sources that suffer from variable outputs in both power and the generated voltage. Among them are power generation turbines, wind turbines, and various battery packs and accumulators. Wind turbines can vary sharply in their power generation, and various battery packs can have a wide range of power depletion curves. Given the power transfer efficiency of a given system, any one of such systems 10" and 410 can be configured to receive power from, for example but not limited to, a commercial battery pack having a slow open-circuit voltage decay curve. The load management system 46E" can be configured to change the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier 26B" (as explained above), and the controllers 22" and 42" can be configured to present the desired voltage level to the load 70" until this voltage can no longer be maintained by the transmitted power and the adjustability of the parameters of the systems 10" and 410.

[0272] Figure 19A and its associated descriptive description address the near-field wireless transfer of power from a single solar cell 420 to a single load 70" (usually a battery pack). In a practical implementation of a larger solar cell power system, a battery array is typically employed, such that a similar approach can be adopted as in reference Figure 12 , Figure 13A and Figure 13BThe power transfer scheme of the described power transfer scheme has multiple transmitter subsystems and typically a single receiver subsystem. In Figure 20A and Figure 20B this scenario is shown, Figure 20A and Figure 20B are respectively the exploded front view and rear view of a solar panel 400 with a transparent solar cover 440, in which for each solar cell 420 there is a near-field wireless power transfer subsystem, and thus includes, for example, 60 near-field wireless power transfer subsystems 16. Each transfer subsystem 16 includes a transmitter resonator 30", a transmitter module 20" and a power conditioning unit 430, as described with reference to Figure 19A . To avoid clutter, the transfer subsystems 16 are not labeled in Figure 19A , but are indicated and labeled in Figure 20B , Figure 21B and Figure 22B as further described below.

[0273] In one embodiment, the coupling of each individual solar cell of a solar panel composed of multiple solar cells to the power transfer and management system allows for cell-level power management. By providing power management at each individual cell, power collection can be optimized for each cell, resulting in improved efficiency of the entire solar panel system. In this embodiment, the effects attributed to the failure of an individual cell or a poor connection among the cells will be mitigated. Even under non-ideal conditions (such as rain, shade, or debris covering part of the solar panel), power collection at the individual cell level still allows for maximum power harvest.

[0274] To avoid clutter, Figure 20B labels only one near-field wireless power transfer subsystem 16. In Figure 20A and Figure 20B , the transmitter resonator 30" of each transfer subsystem 16 can be positioned on the back of its corresponding solar cell 420. As seen from the front of the panel in Figure 20A , the flat area of the solar cell represents the active solar radiation receiving and energy conversion semiconductor device itself and is correspondingly labeled 420, while as seen from the back of Figure 20B , the flat area of the device represents the transmitter resonator and is correspondingly labeled 30". The transmitter resonator 30" can have a surface area that has a range that is at least a major part of the range that can be the active solar radiation receiving surface of the solar cell 420. The transmitter module 20" and the power conditioning unit 430 of each near-field wireless power transfer subsystem 16 are combined together in Figure 20B and are labeled 450. To avoid clutter, the combined component 450 is not labeled in Figure 19A , but is indicated as a unit and inFigure 20B , Figure 21B and Figure 22B are marked as further described below. A single receiver resonator 50” can be fitted into the frame 460 of the solar panel 400. A single receiver module 40” can be mounted directly on the back of the receiver resonator 50”.

[0275] In operation, the near-field resonant radio power transfer system 10” can operate in the same manner as the near-field resonant radio power transfer systems 10” of Figure 12 , Figure 13A and Figure 13B , except that the applied voltage V on each of the power amplifiers 26B” is replaced by a power signal from a power conditioning unit (PCU) 430, which in turn receives its power from the associated solar cell 420. DD

[0276] In Figure 20A and Figure 20B another embodiment of the system, the frame 460 can be configured as a suitable receiver resonator to receive power from all the transmitter resonators 30” and the receiver module 40” can be positioned on the frame 460. In this embodiment, the plates within the frame are not resonators and can be simple flat plates of non-conductive material.

[0277] In another implementation, the solar panel 400' shown in the front and rear views respectively before Figure 21A and Figure 21 enables each near-field wireless power transfer subsystem to transfer power to one near-field wireless power receiver subsystem. Although the frame 460 is shown as being filled with an opaque plate 470, the plate 470 may not be part of the near-field circuit or magnetic circuit. For clarity, we use the same component numbers on the transmission side as in Figure 20A and 20B . On the receiving side, we use the numbering of Figure 19A . Furthermore, to avoid confusion, only one receiving-side device is marked.

[0278] In operation, Figure 21A and Figure 21B the solar panel configuration 400' can have individual transmitter modules 20” linked by hardwire (not shown) such that they can be in phase, thereby allowing minimum power loss during transmission. In other embodiments, the transmitter modules 20” can be independent and operate as explained in Figure 14 , Figure 17 and Figure 18 .

[0279] respectively in Figure 22A[[ ​In yet a further embodiment shown as solar panel configuration 400” in the front and rear views before and after Figure 22, an array of twenty-five solar cells is shown, for example, configured as five rows of five cells 420 each. Each solar cell 420 has a transmitter resonator 30” at its rear and a unit 450 including its corresponding transmitter module 20” and power conditioning unit 430. Receiver resonators 50” configured in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the solar cells 420 are at the bottom and top of the array and between every two columns of solar cells, and each receiver resonator 50” is in wired electrical communication with its corresponding receiver module 40”. As in the previous solar panel embodiments, each component is labeled in the example. As ​ and ​ in and ​ and ​ the embodiment shown, the solar panel configuration 400” may also have a frame 460 in some embodiments. For clarity, ​ and ​ the frame 460 is not shown.

[0280] In operation, the transmitter resonators 30” of the solar cells 420 in a particular column of the system 400” transfer power to the receiver resonators 50” both above and below them. However, in this embodiment, there is an additional mechanism where the various closest adjacent receiver resonators 50” are resonantly coupled and share the collected power among them. The collected power gathered by all the receiver resonators 50” of the array can thus be tapped via any one or more of the various receiver modules 40”. Specifically, the power collected by all the receiver modules 40” can, for example, be tapped only via the bottommost receiver module 40”. Any one of the receiver modules 40” on any resonator 50” can act as a receiver module to collect the power of a column of solar cells 420 while also serving as a transmitter module to transfer the collected power to another resonator 50” adjacent to it via its associated resonator 50”. This operation can be repeated along the array to transfer the power to the bottommost receiver module 40”.

[0281] In ​ and ​ another embodiment of the system, a frame (similar to the frame 460 of ​ and ​ ) surrounding the planar perimeter of the solar cell array of ​ and ​ can be a receiver resonator carrying the receiver modules 40” and can receive power from the various resonators 50”. In this way, the total power generated by all the solar cells 420 in the array can be received by the resonator frame 460 and tapped for further electrical transmission via the receiver modules 40”.

[0282] Individual solar cell level power collection can be accomplished using wired connections. However, the use of a wireless transmission system in a solar panel allows for a reduction in wiring, and since this allows for a reduction in manufacturing costs.

[0283] In a further aspect described in the flowchart of reference ​ a method

[1500] is provided for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell 420 to a power load 70", the method comprising: converting

[1510] power from the photovoltaic cell 420 in a transmission module 20" into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillating frequency; transferring

[1520] the power to a transmitter resonator 30", the transmitter resonator 30" being in wired electrical communication with the transmission module 20" and configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving

[1530] the power in a receiver resonator 50", the receiver resonator 50" being configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency and arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonator 30" via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; receiving

[1540] the power in a receiver module 40", the receiver module 40" being in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator 50"; and presenting

[1550] the received power in the form of direct current to the power load 70" via wired electrical communication. The method may further comprise converting the voltage and current of the power to voltages and currents adapted to the transmission module 20" before converting the power from the photovoltaic cell 420 into an oscillating electrical power signal.

[0284] In reference ​ and ​In a further embodiment of the method described by the flowchart in

[1600] , a method for transferring power from an array 400 of photovoltaic cells 420 to a power load 70″ is provided, the method comprising: converting

[1610] the power from each of the photovoltaic cells 420 in the array 400 into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency in each of a first plurality of corresponding transmission modules 20″; transferring

[1620] the power in each of the transmission modules 20″ to a corresponding transmitter resonator 30″ among a second plurality of transmitter resonators 30″, each transmitter resonator 30″ being configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; receiving

[1630] the power in a receiver resonator 50″, the receiver resonator 50″ being configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency and being arranged to receive power from the plurality of transmitter resonators 30″ via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; receiving

[1640] the power in a receiver module 40″, the receiver module 40″ being in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator 50″; and presenting

[1650] the received power in the form of direct current to the power load 70″ via the wired electrical communication. The method may further comprise converting the voltage and current of the power into voltages and currents corresponding to and adapted for the transmission modules 20″ before converting the power from each of the photovoltaic cells 420 into an oscillating electrical power signal in the future. Receiving

[1630] the power in the receiver resonator 50″ may comprise receiving the power in a receiver resonator arranged around the planar perimeter of the photovoltaic cell array 400.

[0285] In reference ​ and ​In a further embodiment of the method described by the flowchart herein, a method for transferring power from an array 400' of photovoltaic cells 420 to a power load 70" is provided

[1700] , the method comprising: converting

[1710] the power of each of the photovoltaic cells 420 in the array 400' into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency in each of a first plurality of corresponding transmission modules 20"; transferring

[1720] the power from each of the transmission modules 20" to a corresponding transmitter resonator 30" among a second plurality of transmitter resonators 30", wherein each transmitter resonator 30" is configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; receiving

[1730] the power from each transmitter resonator 30" in a corresponding receiver resonator 50", the corresponding receiver resonator 50" being configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency, wherein each receiver resonator 50" is further arranged and configured to receive power from the transmitter resonator 30" via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; receiving

[1740] the power from each receiver resonator 50" in a corresponding receiver module 40", the corresponding receiver module 40" being in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator 50"; and presenting

[1750] the received power in the form of direct current to the power load 70" via wired electrical communication. The method may further comprise converting the voltage and current of the power to voltages and currents adapted to the corresponding transmission modules 20" prior to converting the power of each of the photovoltaic cells 420 into an oscillating electrical power signal in the future.

[0286] In reference Figure 19A and Figure 26 In a further embodiment described by the flowchart herein, a method for transferring power from an array 400" of photovoltaic cells 420 to a power load 70" ( Figure 19AThe method in

[1800] includes: converting the power of each photovoltaic cell 420 in the array 400” into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency in each of the first plurality of corresponding transmission modules 20”; transferring the power from each of the transmission modules 20” to a transmitter resonator 30” among the second plurality of transmitter resonators 30”, where each transmitter resonator 30” is configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; receiving power from each transmitter resonator 30” in any adjacent receiver resonator 50” among the third plurality of receiver resonators 50”, the third plurality of receiver resonators 50” being configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency, where each receiver resonator 50” is further arranged and configured to receive power from the transmitter resonator 30” via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; sharing the received power among the third plurality of receiver resonators 50”; and presenting the power received from one or more of the third plurality of receiver resonators 50” via the corresponding one or more receiver modules 40” to the power load 70” in the form of direct current via wired electrical communication. The method may further include converting the voltage and current of the power to voltages and currents adapted to the corresponding transmission modules 20” before converting the power of each photovoltaic cell 420 into an oscillating electrical power signal in the future.

[0287] Figure 27A Show a representative portion 500 of an extended near-field radio power distribution system in an electric vehicle having a conductive chassis 510. In Figure 19A this embodiment of the general system 10”, the power source is a rechargeable battery pack 520 instead of the solar cells 420 and the load 70” is an electric motor 530 instead of a battery pack as in Figure 19A A. Figure 14 The system shown in A may optionally include a power conditioning unit 430 as in Figure 19A . In other embodiments, the transmitter modules may cooperate to provide power conditioning, as explained above with reference to Figure 19B .

[0288] Figure 27A The system shown in and described in more detail below can operate by capacitive power transfer, inductive power transfer, or by dual-mode power transfer. Referring to Figure 4B and Figure 19A , the transmitter resonator 30” includes a dielectric component 138 sandwiched between conductive antennas 132 and 134. Referring to Figure 4B and Figure 19A, the receiver resonator 50” includes a dielectric component 158 sandwiched between conductive antennas 152 and 154. The transmitter module 20” is shown mounted directly to antenna 132, which also serves as a frame or support for the battery pack 520. The transmitter module 20” can be electrically connected between the battery pack 520 and the transmitter resonator 30”. The receiver module 40” is shown mounted directly to the electric motor 530. The receiver module 40” can be electrically connected between the receiver resonator 50” and the motor 530.

[0289] Figure 27B Figure 500' shows a representative portion of an extended near-field radio power distribution system in an electric vehicle having a conductive chassis 510. In Figure 19A this embodiment of the general system 10”, again as in Figure 27A , the power source is a rechargeable battery pack 520 instead of the solar cell 420 and the load 70” is an electric motor 530 instead of a battery pack as in Figure 19A . Figure 27B The system shown in Figure 19A may optionally include a power conditioning unit 430 as in Figure 19B . In other embodiments, the transmitter module 20” and the receiver module 40” can cooperate to provide power conditioning, as explained above with reference to

[0290] Figure 27B . The system shown in Figure 4B and Figure 19A and described in more detail below can operate by capacitive power transfer, inductive power transfer, or by dual-mode power transfer. Referring to Figure 4B and Figure 19A , the transmitter resonator 30” includes a dielectric component 138 sandwiched between conductive antennas 132 and 134. Referring to Figure 4B and Figure 19A , the receiver resonator 50”' includes a dielectric component 158 and a conductive antenna 152, and in this embodiment there is no Figure 27A antenna 154 in resonator 50”'. The transmitter module 20” is shown mounted directly to antenna 132, which also serves as a frame or support for the battery pack 520. The transmitter module 20” can be electrically connected between the battery pack 520 and the transmitter resonator 30”. The receiver module 40” is shown mounted directly to the electric motor 530. In this embodiment, the receiver module 40” can be electrically connected between the motor 530 and the chassis 510. In this configuration, there is sufficient coupling between the chassis 510 and the antenna 152 to effect power transfer at a suitable high efficiency. The conductive mechanical components of the system (i.e., the components that have, for example, a load-bearing structure function in the system) can thus form part of the resonant structure of the electrical power transfer system.

[0291] In Figure 27A and27B In the illustrated embodiment, particular attention is paid to the electrical power supplied to an electric motor 530 driving one of the vehicle wheels, but equivalent configurations can be implemented with a plurality of suitably adapted receiver modules 40” powered by a transmitter module 20” for any electronic system on the vehicle.

[0292] For power transfer from a vehicle's battery pack to an electronic system Figure 27A and Figure 27B The configuration largely eliminates the very complex automotive wiring harness that causes difficulties during vehicle manufacturing and is a source of significant manufacturing costs. Figure 27A and Figure 27B The embodiments in

[0293] along with their extension to other electronic systems of the vehicle can be described as an “extended near-field radio power distribution system”. Figures 1 to 11 In addition to the other wheels of the electric vehicle, this configuration can be extended to headlights and other vehicle accessories, including but not limited to interior lights, dashboard displays, gauges, digital electronics, navigation systems, warning systems, and the like. The application is not limited to electric vehicles. It can be applied to hybrid or internal combustion engine vehicles to distribute electrical power as needed. It can similarly be applied to other vehicles employing any electrical system that requires electrical power. Examples include but are not limited to motorized and non-motorized bicycles, airplanes, boats, and other vehicles with on-board power supplies. The battery pack or power source need not be limited to being on the vehicle. Regarding Figures 19A to 19B and Figures 27A to 27B The principles explained also apply to fixed vehicle systems that require electrical power supplied from a geostationary source, such as but not limited to a fixed track for supplying power to a moving vehicle.

[0294] Figure 28A Another embodiment of the general system 10” showing Figure 19A in a power supply system 600 for supplying power (electrical power from a suitable source) to a computer monitor 610 located on the desktop 620 of a table via a primary side 12 in accordance with Figure 1 and more particularly in accordance with Figure 6 . In system 600, Figure 19A Both the transmitter module 20” and the transmission resonator 30” of Figure 19A are incorporated into the primary side 12. In the configuration of system 600, a receiver resonator 50” in accordance with Figure 19A forms the base of the monitor 610. Figure 19A The receiver module 40” of Figure 4B, antenna 152 forms the bottom of the base of monitor 610 and is separated from antenna 154 by dielectric 158.

[0295] The housing and structural frame 630 of monitor 610 can be at least partially conductive and act as a continuous conductor to electrically supply a power signal from antenna 154 to the circuit of monitor 610 representing Figure 19A ) the load resonator 70” of Figure 19A . Another electrical connector from antenna 152 to the circuit of monitor 610 extends from antenna 152 to the base frame of monitor 610. In other embodiments, the housing and structural frame 630 of monitor 610 can be a non-conductive polymer and a separate conductor extends from antenna 154 to the circuit of monitor 610 representing Figure 19A the load resonator 70”.

[0296] As Figure 28B shown in another embodiment of the power supply system 600' for supplying power to computer monitor 610, the base of monitor 610 can include only antenna 152 and dielectric 158. In this embodiment, the metallic conductive portion of the monitor housing or frame 630 acts as an antenna in place of antenna 154, and the housing or frame 630 has sufficient coupling with antenna 152 below the dielectric 158 to provide sufficient effective power transfer. Figure 19A The receiver module 40” of Figure 19A can be incorporated into the base of monitor 610. Alternatively, Figure 19A the receiver module 40” of

[0297] can be incorporated inside monitor 610 itself. The housing and structural frame 630 of monitor 610 can act as a continuous electrical conductor to supply a power signal to the circuit of monitor 610 representing Figure 19A the load resonator 70” of Figure 19A via the receiver module 40”. Figure 28A The near-field wireless power transfer system of

[0298] does not require cumbersome power cables to supply power to monitor 610 and employs the mechanical structure components of the system as integrated electrical / electronic components in the power transfer configuration. Figure 29 As shown in the flowchart of Figure 19A and Figure 19BAs described in the system of [], a method for transferring power from a DC power supply 420 to a power load 70 is provided

[2000] . The method includes: providing

[2010] a power transfer system 10, 410, which is in wired electrical communication with the power supply 420. The power transfer system 10, 410 includes: an oscillator 26A, which is capable of oscillating at an oscillation frequency; a power amplifier 26B and a transmitter tuning network 28, both of which are under the control of a transmitter controller 22; and a receiver tuning network 48 and a load management system 46E, both of which are under the control of a receiver controller 42, where the load management system 46E is in wired electrical communication with the power load 70; converting

[2020] the power from the power supply 420 into an oscillating electrical power signal having the oscillation frequency in the power amplifier 26B; transferring

[2030] the power signal from the power amplifier 26B to the load management system 46E via the transmitter tuning network 28 and the receiver tuning network 48 under the control of the transmitter controller 22; adjusting

[2040] at least one of the oscillation frequency, the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier 26B, the transmitter tuning network 28, the receiver tuning network 48, and the load management system 46E to change the power transfer rate; and presenting

[2050] the power received by the load management system 46E to the power load 70 in the form of direct current via wired electrical communication.

[0299] Transferring

[2030] the power signal via the transmitter tuning network 28 and the receiver tuning network 48 may include transferring power through wired communication or through wireless communication. Transferring power through wireless communication may include transferring power through near-field wireless communication. Transferring power through near-field wireless communication may include transferring power through at least one of capacitive coupling and inductive coupling. Transferring power from the DC power supply 420 may include transferring power from at least one solar cell 420. Transferring power from the DC power supply may include transferring power from at least one battery pack. Transferring power from the DC power supply may include transferring power from the power supply at a varying voltage.

[0300] In reference Figure 30 to the flowchart in [] and considering more deeply Figure 19A and Figure 19B In another embodiment described in the system of [], a method for transferring power from a DC power supply 420 to a power load 70 is provided

[2100] . The method includes: providing

[2110] a power transfer system 10, 410, which is in wired electrical communication with the power supply 420. The power transfer system 10, 410 includes an adjustable-phase RF rectifier 46D (see Figure 7)The radio frequency power amplifier 26B for radio frequency communication”, the phase-adjustable radio frequency rectifier 46D is in wired electrical contact with the power load 70”; convert the power from the DC power supply 420 into a radio frequency oscillating power signal in the amplifier 26B”

[2120] ; convert the radio frequency oscillating power signal into a DC power signal in the rectifier 46D

[2130] ; and adjust

[2140] the efficiency of power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristic of the rectifier 46D. Providing a phase-adjustable radio frequency rectifier may include providing a differential self-synchronizing radio frequency rectifier 46D.

[0301] The method

[2100] may further include adjusting the efficiency of power transfer by adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the amplifier 26B”. Providing

[2110] the power transfer systems 10”, 410 may include providing a load management system 46E”, and the load management system 46E” communicates wired between the rectifier 46D and the load 70”. Adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the amplifier 26B” may include adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier 46D by adjusting the load management system 46E”. Adjusting the load management system 46E” may include automatically adjusting the load management system 46E”.

[0302] The method

[2100] may further include adjusting the efficiency of power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristic of the power amplifier 26B”. Providing

[2110] the power transfer systems 10”, 410 may include providing a transmitter controller 22”, and the transmitter controller 22” communicates with the power amplifier 26B” to control the power amplifier 26B”. Adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristic of the power amplifier 26B” may be performed by the transmitter controller 22”. Adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristic of the power amplifier 26B” may be automatically performed by the transmitter controller 22”.

[0303] The method

[2100] may further include adjusting the efficiency of power transfer by changing the oscillation frequency of the power amplifier 26B”.

[0304] Providing

[2110] the power transfer systems 10”, 410 may include providing a receiver controller 42”, and the receiver controller 42” communicates with the rectifier 46D to control the rectifier 46D. Adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristic of the rectifier 46D may be performed by the receiver controller 42”. Adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristic of the rectifier 46D may be automatically performed by the receiver controller 42”.

[0305] Providing

[2110] the power transfer systems 10”, 410 may include providing direct wired radio frequency communication with the phase-adjustable radio frequency rectifier 46D (via Figure 19BThe power amplifier 26B” for the connection 60”). The provided

[2110] power transfer system 10”, 410 may include a power amplifier 26B” that provides wireless near-field RF communication with the adjustable phase RF rectifier 46D.

[0306] The provided

[2110] power transfer system 10”, 410 may include a transmitter resonator 30” that provides wired RF communication with the power amplifier 26B' and a receiver resonator 50” that provides wired RF communication with the RF rectifier 46D. The method

[2100] may further include operating the transmitter resonator 30” and the receiver resonator 50” that communicate wirelessly in a near-field RF manner with each other. The provided

[2110] power transfer system 10”, 410 may include a power amplifier 26B” that provides at least one of capacitive near-field wireless RF communication and inductive near-field wireless RF communication with the rectifier 46D. The provided

[2110] power transfer system 10”, 410 may include a power amplifier 26B” that provides dual-mode wireless near-field communication with the rectifier 46D.

[0307] The method

[2100] may further include: providing a power regulation unit 430, the power regulation unit 430 being electrically disposed between the power supply 420 and the power transfer system 10”; and adjusting the power regulation unit 430 to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply 420 to improve the efficiency of power transfer.

[0308] Based on Figure 19A and Figure 19B a more in-depth consideration of the system and with reference to Figure 7 A general-purpose electric power transfer system 10”, 410 for supplying power from a DC power supply 420 to a power load 70” includes: an RF power amplifier 26B” that communicates electrically in a wired manner with the power supply 420 and is configured to convert the DC voltage from the source 420 into an AC voltage signal having an oscillation frequency; an adjustable phase RF rectifier that is in electrical contact with the power load 70” in a wired manner and communicates with the power amplifier in an RF manner, the rectifier being configured to receive the power transferred from the power amplifier 26B”; and a receiver controller 42” that communicates with the rectifier 46D, the receiver controller being configured to adjust the efficiency of power transfer from the power amplifier 26B” to the rectifier 46D by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier 46D. The receiver controller 42” may be configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier 46D. The rectifier may be a differential self-synchronizing RF rectifier.

[0309] The power transfer systems 10”, 410 may further include a load management system 46E”, which communicates with the load 70” in a wired manner and is disposed between the load 70” and the rectifier 46D in the form of a power signal. The load management system 46E” is configured to increase the efficiency of power transfer by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier 46D. The load management system 46E” may be configured to automatically adjust the input impedance of the rectifier 46D.

[0310] The power transfer systems 10”, 410 may further include a transmitter controller 22”, which communicates with the amplifier 26B”. The transmitter controller 22” is configured to increase the efficiency of power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the amplifier 26B”. The transmitter controller 22” may be configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the amplifier 26B” to increase the efficiency of power transfer.

[0311] The power transfer systems 10”, 410 may further include an oscillator 26A”, which communicates with the amplifier 26B” and the transmitter controller 22”. The transmitter controller 22” may be configured to adjust the oscillation frequency via the oscillator 26A”.

[0312] The power amplifier 26B” may communicate directly with the adjustable-phase radio frequency rectifier 46D in a wired radio frequency manner (via Figure 19B connection 60”). The power amplifier 26B” may communicate with the adjustable-phase radio frequency rectifier 46D in a wireless near-field radio frequency manner. The power transfer systems 10”, 410 may include a transmitter resonator 30” that communicates with the power amplifier 26B” in a wired radio frequency manner and a receiver resonator 50” that communicates with the rectifier 46D in a wired radio frequency manner. The transmitter resonator 30” and the receiver resonator 50” may communicate with each other in a wireless near-field radio frequency manner. The power amplifier 26B” may communicate with the rectifier 46D in at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. The power amplifier 26B” may communicate with the rectifier 46D in a dual-mode near-field wireless radio frequency manner.

[0313] The power transfer system may further include a power conditioning unit 430, which is electrically disposed between the power source 420 and the power amplifier 26B”. The power conditioning unit 430 is configured to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power source 420 to improve the efficiency of power transfer.

[0314] In reference Figure 19A 、 Figure 19B 、 Figure 27A and Figure 27B and Figure 28A and Figure 28BIn another embodiment described, an electric system includes: mechanical load-bearing structures 510, 630 having a first conductive portion; an electrical power load; and an electrical power transfer system 10", 410 including at least one RF resonator 30", 50" configured for near-field wireless power transfer, wherein the resonator at least partially includes the first conductive portion. The electric system may further include a rechargeable battery pack 520 and the electrical power load may include an electric motor 530. The electric system may be an electric vehicle 500, 500' and the mechanical load-bearing structure may include the vehicle chassis 510. The electric system may be a display monitor 610 and the mechanical load-bearing structure may be at least one of the monitor frame 630 and the base.

[0315] The electric system may further include a power source. The electrical power transfer system may include: an RF power amplifier 26B" in wired electrical communication with the power source and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power source into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency; an adjustable phase RF rectifier 46D in wired electrical contact with the power load 70" and in RF communication with the power amplifier 26B", the rectifier 46D configured to receive power transferred from the amplifier 26B"; and a receiver controller 42" in communication with the rectifier 46D, the receiver controller 42" configured to adjust the efficiency of power transfer from the amplifier 26B" to the rectifier 46D by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier 46D.

[0316] In another embodiment as depicted in Figure 19A and Figure 19B 、 Figure 27A and Figure 27B and Figure 28A and Figure 28B An apparatus includes: mechanical load-bearing structures 510, 630 having a first conductive portion; a power source; electrical power loads 70", 530, 610; and an electrical power transfer system 10", 410 including: an RF power amplifier 26B" in wired electrical communication with the power source and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power source into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency; an adjustable phase RF rectifier 46D in wired electrical contact with the power load 70" and in RF communication with the power amplifier 26B", the rectifier 46D configured to receive power transferred from the amplifier 26B"; and a receiver controller 42" in communication with the rectifier 46D, the receiver controller 42" configured to adjust the efficiency of power transfer from the amplifier 26B" to the rectifier 46D by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier 46D; wherein the first conductive portion is arranged to conduct at least one of carrying an RF signal from the amplifier 26B" and carrying an RF signal to the rectifier 46D.

[0317] The apparatus may further include a load management system 46E”, which is in wired communication with a load 70” and is disposed between the load 70” and a rectifier 46D in the form of a power signal, and the load management system 46E” is configured to increase the efficiency of power transfer by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier 46D. The apparatus may further include a transmitter controller 22', which communicates with an amplifier 26B”, and the transmitter controller 22” is configured to increase the efficiency of power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the amplifier 26B”. The apparatus may further include an oscillator 26A”, which communicates with the amplifier 26B” and the transmitter controller 22', and wherein the transmitter controller 22' is configured to adjust the oscillation frequency via the oscillator 26A”.

[0318] The power amplifier 26B” may perform direct wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier 46D via a conductive first portion. The power amplifier 26B” may perform wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the rectifier 46D. The power transfer systems 10”, 410 may include a transmitter resonator 30” in wired radio frequency communication with the power amplifier 26B” and a receiver resonator 50” in wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier 46D, and one of the transmitter resonator 30” and the receiver resonator 50” may include a conductive first portion. The transmitter resonator 30” and the receiver resonator 50” may perform wireless near-field radio frequency communication with each other. The power amplifier 26B” may perform at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier 46D. The power amplifier 26B” may perform dual-mode near-field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier 46D. The DC power supply may include a rechargeable battery pack 520 and the load may include an electric motor 530.

[0319] Current preferred embodiment

[0320] 1. In a current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a dual-mode near-field resonant radio power transfer system configured to simultaneously perform the capacitive power transfer and the inductive power transfer according to an adjustable transfer mode ratio of the capacitive power transfer and the inductive power transfer at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency, the system comprising: a transmitter subsystem including a transmitter antenna subsystem and a power signal tuner module configured to adjust the transfer mode ratio by adjusting a power signal provided by the power signal tuner module to the transmitter antenna subsystem; and a receiver subsystem including a receiver antenna subsystem configured to receive electric power from the transmitter antenna at the transfer mode ratio.

[0321] 2. The system as described in paragraph 1, wherein the power signal tuner module is configured to adjust the power signal by adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem.

[0322] 3. The system as described in paragraph 2, wherein the transmitter subsystem further includes a controller and at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor and automatically provide a tuning instruction to the power signal tuner module based on the sensor information, and wherein the tuner module is configured to adjust the phase difference between the current and the voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem according to the tuning instruction.

[0323] 4. The system as described in paragraph 3, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on the transmitter subsystem.

[0324] 5. The system as described in paragraph 3, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on the receiver subsystem and the controller is configured to wirelessly receive the sensor information.

[0325] 6. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 3 to 5, wherein the at least one sensor includes a power load sensor.

[0326] 7. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 3 to 6, wherein the at least one sensor includes a transmitted power sensor.

[0327] 8. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 3 to 7, wherein the at least one sensor includes a surrounding object detector.

[0328] 9. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 3 to 8, wherein the at least one sensor includes a distance detector for detecting the distance between the transmitter antenna subsystem and the receiver antenna subsystem.

[0329] 10. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 9, wherein the variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency varies freely within a predetermined frequency band.

[0330] 11. The system as described in paragraph 10, wherein the predetermined frequency band is between 1 MHz and 1 GHz.

[0331] 12. The system as described in paragraph 10, wherein the system is detuned to an extent that allows the variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency to vary within the relative limits of the predetermined frequency band.

[0332] 13. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a wireless power transfer system, comprising: a primary side including a transmitter module and a transmitter resonator, the transmitter module being configured to adjust a transfer mode ratio of capacitive power transfer and inductive power transfer by modulating a current level and a voltage level applied to the transmitter resonator, thereby generating an oscillating magnetic field and an oscillating electric field from the transmitter resonator; and a secondary side including a receiver module and a receiver resonator, the receiver resonator being configured to generate a current when placed within the oscillating magnetic field and the oscillating electric field generated by the transmitter resonator, wherein the receiver module transfers the current from the transmitter resonator to a load.

[0333] 14. The system as described in paragraph 13, wherein the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator include at least one antenna.

[0334] 15. The system as described in paragraph 14, wherein the at least one antenna is in a coil shape.

[0335] 16. The system as described in paragraph 14, wherein the at least one antenna is in a zigzag shape.

[0336] 17. The system as described in paragraph 15 or 16, wherein the at least one antenna further includes square corners.

[0337] 18. The system as described in paragraph 14, wherein the at least one antenna is in a circular shape.

[0338] 19. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 14 to 18, wherein the at least one antenna is substantially planar.

[0339] 20. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 14 to 19, wherein the system includes at least two antennas.

[0340] 21. The system as described in paragraph 20, wherein the at least two antennas are separated by spacers.

[0341] 22. The system as described in paragraph 21, wherein the spacers include air, a dielectric material, a ferrite, or a combination thereof.

[0342] 23. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a wireless power transfer system, comprising: a transmission subsystem including: one or more transmitter resonators; and one or more transmitter modules for controlling a power signal output to the one or more transmitter resonators, each transmitter module including a controller, wherein the one or more transmitter modules are in electrical communication with the one or more transmitter resonators.

[0343] 24. The system as described in paragraph 60, wherein each of the one or more transmitter resonators is coupled to a respective one of the one or more transmitter modules to form one or more transmitter pairs.

[0344] 25. The system as described in paragraph 61, wherein the one or more transmitter pairs are electrolytically coupled to each other.

[0345] 26. The system as described in paragraph 62, wherein the one or more transmitter pairs are electrolytically coupled to each other through a grounded shield grid such that there is no electrical communication between the one or more transmitter pairs.

[0346] 27. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 60 to 63, wherein the transmission controller of each transmitter module includes a load detector for measuring the input impedance of the coupled transmitter resonator.

[0347] 28. The system as described in paragraph 64, wherein the transmission controller changes the frequency of the power signal based on the measured input impedance of the coupled transmitter.

[0348] 29. The system as described in paragraph 65, wherein the transmission controller of each of the one or more transmission modules includes a tuner module for changing the phase of the power signal output.

[0349] 30. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 60 to 66, wherein the one or more transmitter resonators are configured to form a transmission surface.

[0350] 31. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 60 to 67, further comprising one or more receiver subsystems, each receiver subsystem including one or more receiver resonators.

[0351] 32. The system as described in paragraph 68, wherein the transmission controller of each transmitter module includes a load detector for measuring the input impedance of one or more coupled transmitter resonators, and wherein the load detector detects a change in the input impedance when the one or more receiver resonators are adjacent to the one or more coupled transmitter resonators.

[0352] 33. The system as described in paragraph 69, wherein the transmission controller changes the frequency of the power signal based on the measured input impedance of the coupled transmitter.

[0353] 34. The system as described in paragraph 70, wherein the controller includes a tuner module for changing the phase of the power signal.

[0354] 35. The system according to any one of paragraphs 68 to 71, wherein power is transferred from the one or more transmitter resonators of the transmission subsystem to the one or more receiver resonators of the one or more receiver subsystems at the resonant frequency.

[0355] 36. The system according to any one of paragraphs 68 to 72, wherein power is transferred from the one or more transmitter resonators of the transmission subsystem to the one or more receiver resonators of the one or more receiver subsystems by near-field magnetic induction.

[0356] 37. The system according to any one of paragraphs 68 to 73, wherein power is transferred from the one or more transmitter resonators of the transmission subsystem to the one or more receiver resonators of the one or more receiver subsystems by near-field capacitance.

[0357] 38. The system according to any one of paragraphs 69 to 74, wherein the load detector of the transmission controller of each transmitter module measures the input impedance of one coupled transmitter resonator.

[0358] 39. The system according to any one of paragraphs 69 to 74, wherein the load detector of the transmission controller of each transmitter module measures the input impedance of two coupled transmitter resonators.

[0359] 40. The system according to any one of paragraphs 69 to 74, wherein the load detector of the transmission controller of each transmitter module measures the input impedance of three coupled transmitter resonators.

[0360] 41. The system according to any one of paragraphs 69 to 74, wherein the load detector of the transmission controller of each transmitter module measures the input impedance of four or more coupled transmitter resonators.

[0361] 42. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for changing a power signal of a wireless transfer system, the method comprising: providing a transmission surface composed of one or more transmitter resonators; monitoring the input impedance of each of the one or more transmitter resonators; and controlling the power signal output to each of the one or more transmitter resonators based on the input impedance.

[0362] 43. The method according to paragraph 79, further comprising calibrating the baseline impedance of the one or more transmitter resonators.

[0363] 44. The method according to paragraph 80, further comprising assigning an off state to the transmitter resonator of the one or more transmitter resonators when the input impedance is less than the baseline impedance; or assigning an active state to the transmitter resonator when the input impedance is greater than the baseline impedance.

[0364] 45. The method as described in paragraph 81, further comprising setting the frequency of the power signal output to the one or more transmitter resonators assigned the active state.

[0365] 46. The method as described in paragraph 82, further comprising adjusting the phase of the power output signal of the one or more transmitter resonators assigned the active state to a maximum power transfer phase at which power transfer through the transmitter resonator is substantially maximum.

[0366] 47. The method as described in any one of paragraphs 79 to 83, further comprising providing one or more receiver resonators adjacent to the transmission surface.

[0367] 48. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a near-field resonant radio power transfer system, comprising: a transmission subsystem including a plurality of substantially mutually decoupled transmitter resonators and corresponding transmitter modules for power signal communication with each transmitter resonator, each transmitter module including a transmission controller and a power signal source having a power signal oscillation frequency and a power signal phase, each power signal source being controlled by the corresponding transmission controller; one or more receiver subsystems, each receiver subsystem including a corresponding receiver resonator; a software look-up table of discrete allowed power signal oscillation frequencies of the power signal sources; and software which, when loaded in memory and executed by the controller of any one of the transmitter modules, performs the following operations: measuring one of the input impedance of the corresponding transmitter resonator and the power drawn by a test signal from the corresponding transmitter resonator; and selecting a frequency for the corresponding power signal source from the look-up table based on one of the input impedance of the corresponding transmitter resonator and the power of the test signal drawn by the corresponding transmitter resonator.

[0368] 49. The system as described in paragraph 85, wherein the software, when executed, performs an operation of measuring the level of power transferred by the corresponding transmitter resonator while adjusting the phase of the power signal from the corresponding power signal source.

[0369] 50. The system as described in paragraph 85 or 86, wherein the transmitter resonators are substantially mutually decoupled by a ground shielding grid.

[0370] 51. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a near-field wireless system for transferring power from one or more photovoltaic cells to a power load. The system includes: one or more transmission modules that are in electrical communication with the one or more photovoltaic cells, each transmission module configured to convert the power from at least one of the one or more photovoltaic cells into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency; one or more transmitter resonators that are in electrical communication with the one or more transmission modules, each transmitter resonator configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; one or more receiver resonators, each receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency and arranged to receive power from at least one of the one or more transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and one or more receiver modules that are in electrical communication with the receiver resonators, each receiver module configured to receive power from at least one of the one or more receiver resonators, convert the power received from the receiver resonator into a direct current voltage, and transmit the direct current voltage to the power load.

[0371] 52. The system according to paragraph 1, wherein each of the one or more transmission modules includes a power amplifier configured to modulate the power received from the one or more photovoltaic cells at the oscillation frequency.

[0372] 53. The system according to paragraph 24, wherein each of the one or more transmission modules includes an oscillator configured to provide the oscillation frequency to the power amplifier.

[0373] 54. The system according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 25, wherein each of the one or more transmission modules further includes a controller and one or more sensors, the controller configured to change the oscillation frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

[0374] 55. The system according to paragraph 26, wherein each of the one or more transmission modules includes a transmission tuning network configured to change at least one phase of the power provided by the transmission module to the one or more transmitter resonators under the control of the controller based on second information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

[0375] 56. The system according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 27, which includes one or more power conditioning units electrically connected between the one or more photovoltaic cells and the one or more transmission modules, each power conditioning unit configured to adapt the power from at least one of the one or more photovoltaic cells to a format compatible with the one or more transmission modules.

[0376] 57. The system as described in paragraph 28, wherein each of the one or more transmission modules includes small-signal electronic circuitry and the power conditioning unit is further configured to provide power to the small-signal electronic circuitry.

[0377] 58. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 29, wherein the one or more transmitter resonators are disposed on a surface of at least one of the one or more photovoltaic cells, the surface being opposite to the active solar radiation receiving surface of the at least one of the one or more photovoltaic cells.

[0378] 59. The system as described in paragraph 30, wherein the one or more transmitter resonators include a surface area that is at least a major portion of the active solar radiation receiving surface of the at least one of the one or more photovoltaic cells.

[0379] 60. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 31, wherein each transmitter resonator has a first planar area; each receiver resonator has a second planar area; and the second planar area is larger than the first planar area.

[0380] 61. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 32, wherein each of the one or more receiver resonators is arranged and configured to receive power from more than one of the one or more transmitter resonators at the resonant frequency via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction.

[0381] 62. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 33, wherein the one or more transmission modules are in electrical communication with the one or more photovoltaic cells via a wired connection.

[0382] 63. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 34, wherein the one or more transmission modules are in electrical communication with the one or more transmitter resonators via a wired connection.

[0383] 64. The system as described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 35, wherein the one or more receiver modules are in electrical communication with the one or more receiver resonators via a wired connection.

[0384] 65. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell to a power load, the method comprising: converting, in a transmission module, the power from the photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency; transferring the power to a transmitter resonator that is in wired electrical communication with the transmission module and configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; receiving, in a receiver resonator, the power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction, the receiver resonator being configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; receiving, in a receiver module, the power from the receiver resonator, the receiver module being in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator; presenting the power in the form of direct current; and transmitting the power to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0385] 66. The method as described in paragraph 37, further comprising converting the voltage and current of the power into voltages and currents adapted to the transmission module before converting the power from the photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal.

[0386] 67. A method for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell array to a power load, the method comprising: converting, in each of a plurality of corresponding transmission modules, the power from each of the photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic cell array into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillation frequency; transferring, in each of the transmission modules, the power to a corresponding transmitter resonator of a plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator being configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; receiving, in a receiver resonator, the power from the plurality of transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction, the receiver resonator being configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; receiving, in a receiver module, the power, the receiver module being in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator; presenting the power in the form of direct current; and transmitting the power to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0387] 68. The method as described in paragraph 39, further comprising converting the voltage and current of the power into voltages and currents adapted to the corresponding transmission module before converting the power from each photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal.

[0388] 69. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell array to a power load, the method comprising: converting, in each of a first plurality of corresponding transfer modules, the power from each of the photovoltaic cells in the array into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillating frequency; transferring the power from each of the transfer modules to a corresponding transmitter resonator of a second plurality of transmitter resonators, wherein each transmitter resonator is configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power in a corresponding receiver resonator from each transmitter resonator, the corresponding receiver resonator being configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency, wherein each receiver resonator is further arranged and configured to receive the power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; receiving the power in a corresponding receiver module from each receiver resonator, the corresponding receiver module being in wired electrical communication with the receiver resonator; and presenting the received power to the power load in the form of direct current via wired electrical communication.

[0389] 70. The method as described in paragraph 41, further comprising converting the voltage and current of the power into a voltage and current adapted to the corresponding transfer module before converting the power from each photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal.

[0390] 71. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transferring power from a photovoltaic cell array to a power load, the method comprising: converting, in each of a plurality of corresponding transfer modules, the power from each photovoltaic cell of the photovoltaic cell array into an oscillating electrical power signal having an oscillating frequency; transferring the power from each of the transfer modules to a transmitter resonator of a plurality of transmitter resonators, wherein each transmitter resonator is configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power in any adjacent receiver resonator of a plurality of receiver resonators, the plurality of receiver resonators being configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency, wherein each receiver resonator is further arranged and configured to receive the power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; sharing the received power among the plurality of receiver resonators; and presenting the received power in the form of direct current in one or more receiver resonators of the plurality of receiver resonators; and transmitting the power in the form of direct current to the power load via wired electrical communication.

[0391] 72. The method as described in paragraph 43, further comprising converting the voltage and current of the power into a voltage and current adapted to the corresponding transfer module before converting the power from each photovoltaic cell into an oscillating electrical power signal.

[0392] 73. A photovoltaic power collection system for transferring power from a plurality of photovoltaic cells to a power load, the system comprising:

[0393] One or more power conditioning units, which are in electrical communication with one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic cells; and

[0394] At least one receiver module, which is in electrical communication with the one or more power conditioning units, wherein each power conditioning unit is configured to adapt the power from the one or more photovoltaic cells to a format compatible with the receiver module, and wherein the receiver module is configured to adapt the power from the power conditioning unit to a format compatible with the power load.

[0395] 74. The system according to paragraph 45, wherein a power conditioning unit is provided for each photovoltaic cell.

[0396] 75. The system according to paragraph 45 or 46, wherein the one or more power conditioning units are in electrical communication with the one or more photovoltaic cells via a wired connection.

[0397] 76. The system according to any one of paragraphs 45 to 47, wherein the at least one receiver module is in electrical communication with the one or more power conditioning units via a wired connection.

[0398] 77. The system according to any one of paragraphs 45 to 48, wherein the at least one receiver module is in electrical communication with the power load via a wired connection.

[0399] 78. The system according to any one of paragraphs 45 to 49, further comprising one or more power amplifiers, the one or more power amplifiers being in electrical communication with the one or more power conditioning units and the at least one receiver module.

[0400] 79. The system according to paragraph 50, wherein the one or more power amplifiers are in electrical communication with the one or more power conditioning units via a wired connection, and the one or more power amplifiers are in electrical communication with the at least one receiver module via a wired connection.

[0401] 80. The system according to paragraph 50 or 51, wherein the power amplifier converts the direct current power received from the one or more power conditioning units into alternating current power.

[0402] 81. The system according to paragraph 52, wherein the power amplifier transmits the alternating current power to the at least one receiver module.

[0403] 82. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transferring power from a plurality of photovoltaic cells to a power load, the method comprising: transferring the power from the plurality of photovoltaic cells to one or more power conditioning units; presenting the power in a format compatible with the power load; and transferring the power to the power load.

[0404] 83. The method as described in paragraph 54, wherein the step of presenting the power in a format compatible with the power load comprises converting the power to direct current power.

[0405] 84. The method as described in paragraph 54, wherein the step of presenting the power in a format compatible with the power load comprises converting the power to alternating current power.

[0406] 85. The method as described in any one of paragraphs 54 to 56, further comprising the steps of:

[0407] presenting the power in a format compatible with one or more receiver modules; and

[0408] transferring the power to one or more receiver modules prior to the step of presenting the power in the format compatible with the power load.

[0409] 86. The method as described in paragraph 57, wherein the step of presenting the power in a format compatible with the one or more receiver modules comprises converting the power to alternating current power.

[0410] 87. The method as described in paragraph 57, wherein the step of presenting the power in a format compatible with the one or more receiver modules comprises converting the power to direct current power.

[0411] 88. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transferring power from a DC power source to a power load, the method comprising: providing a power transfer system that communicates with the power source by wire, the power transfer system comprising: an oscillator capable of oscillating at an oscillation frequency; a power amplifier and a transmitter tuning network, both under the control of a transmitter controller; and a receiver tuning network and a load management system, both under the control of a receiver controller, the load management system communicating with the power load by wire; converting the power from the power source in the power amplifier into an oscillating electric power signal having the oscillation frequency; transferring the power signal from the power amplifier to the load management system via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network under the control of the transmitter controller; adjusting at least one of the oscillation frequency, the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier, the transmitter tuning network, the receiver tuning network, and the load management system to change the power transfer rate; and presenting the power received by the load management system to the power load in the form of DC power via wire communication.

[0412] 89. The method according to paragraph 88, wherein transferring the power signal via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network comprises transferring the power by wire communication.

[0413] 90. The method according to paragraph 88, wherein transferring the power signal via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network comprises transferring the power by wireless communication.

[0414] 91. The method according to paragraph 90, wherein transferring the power by wireless communication comprises transferring the power by near-field wireless communication.

[0415] 92. The method according to paragraph 91, wherein transferring the power by near-field wireless communication comprises transferring the power by at least one of capacitive coupling and inductive coupling.

[0416] 93. The method according to any one of paragraphs 88 to 92, wherein transferring power from a DC power source comprises transferring power from at least one solar cell.

[0417] 94. The method according to any one of paragraphs 88 to 93, wherein transferring power from a DC power source comprises transferring power from at least one battery pack.

[0418] 95. The method according to any one of paragraphs 88 to 94, wherein transferring power from a DC power source comprises transferring power from the power source at a varying voltage.

[0419] 96. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for power transfer from a direct current power source to a power load, the method comprising: providing a power transfer system that communicates with the power source by wire, the power transfer system including a radio frequency power amplifier that communicates with an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier in wire contact with the power load by radio frequency; converting the power from the direct current power source into a radio frequency oscillating power signal in the amplifier; converting the radio frequency oscillating power signal into a direct current power signal in the rectifier; and adjusting the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier.

[0420] 97. The method as described in paragraph 96, wherein providing the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier includes providing a differential self-synchronizing radio frequency rectifier.

[0421] 98. The method as described in paragraph 96 or 97, further comprising adjusting the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the direct current equivalent input resistance of the amplifier.

[0422] 99. The method as described in paragraph 97, wherein providing the power transfer system includes providing a load management system that communicates with the load by wire between the rectifier and the load.

[0423] 100. The method as described in paragraph 99, wherein adjusting the direct current equivalent input resistance of the amplifier includes adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier by adjusting the load management system.

[0424] 101. The method as described in paragraph 100, wherein adjusting the load management system includes automatically adjusting the load management system.

[0425] 102. The method as described in paragraph 96, further comprising adjusting the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier.

[0426] 103. The method as described in paragraph 102, wherein providing the power transfer system includes providing a transmitter controller that communicates with the power amplifier to control the power amplifier.

[0427] 104. The method as described in paragraph 103, wherein adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier is performed by the transmitter controller.

[0428] 105. The method as described in paragraph 104, wherein adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier is automatically performed by the transmitter controller.

[0429] 106. The method as described in paragraph 96, further comprising adjusting the efficiency of the power transfer by varying the oscillation frequency of the power amplifier.

[0430] 107. The method as described in paragraph 96, wherein providing a power transfer system includes providing a receiver controller that communicates with the rectifier to control the rectifier.

[0431] 108. The method as described in paragraph 107, wherein adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristic of the rectifier is performed by the receiver controller.

[0432] 109. The method as described in paragraph 108, wherein adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristic of the rectifier is automatically performed by the receiver controller.

[0433] 110. The method as described in paragraph 96, wherein providing the power transfer system includes providing the power amplifier that performs direct wired radio frequency communication with the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier.

[0434] 111. The method as described in paragraph 96, wherein providing the power transfer system includes providing the power amplifier that performs wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier.

[0435] 112. The method as described in paragraph 96, wherein providing the power transfer system includes providing a transmitter resonator that performs wired radio frequency communication with the power amplifier and a receiver resonator that performs wired radio frequency communication with the radio frequency rectifier.

[0436] 113. The method as described in paragraph 112, further comprising operating the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator that perform wireless near-field radio frequency communication with each other.

[0437] 114. The method as described in paragraph 96, wherein providing the power transfer system includes providing the power amplifier that performs at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0438] 115. The method as described in paragraph 96, wherein providing the power transfer system includes providing the power amplifier that performs dual-mode wireless near-field wireless communication with the rectifier.

[0439] 116. The method as described in paragraph 96, further comprising: providing a power regulation unit that is electrically disposed between the power supply and the power amplifier; and

[0440] adjusting the power regulation unit to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply to improve the efficiency of the power transfer.

[0441] 117. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an electric power transfer system for supplying power from a DC power source to a power load. The system includes: a radio frequency power amplifier that is in wired electrical communication with the power source and is configured to convert a future DC voltage from the power source into an AC voltage signal having an oscillation frequency; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier that is in wired electrical contact with the power load and in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, the rectifier being configured to receive the power transferred from the amplifier; and a receiver controller that is in communication with the rectifier, the receiver controller being configured to adjust the efficiency of power transfer from the amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier.

[0442] 118. The system as described in paragraph 117, wherein the receiver controller is configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier.

[0443] 119. The system as described in paragraph 117, further comprising a load management system that is in wired communication with the load and is disposed between the load and the rectifier in the form of a power signal. The load management system is configured to increase the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier.

[0444] 120. The system as described in paragraph 119, wherein the load management system is configured to automatically adjust the input impedance of the rectifier.

[0445] 121. The system as described in paragraph 117, further comprising a transmitter controller that is in communication with the amplifier, the transmitter controller being configured to increase the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the amplifier.

[0446] 122. The system as described in paragraph 121, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the amplifier to increase the efficiency of the power transfer.

[0447] 123. The system as described in paragraph 117, further comprising an oscillator that is in communication with the amplifier and the transmitter controller, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to adjust the oscillation frequency via the oscillator.

[0448] 124. The system as described in paragraph 117, wherein the power amplifier is in direct wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0449] 125. The system as described in paragraph 117, wherein the power amplifier is in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0450] 126. The system as described in paragraph 117, wherein the power transfer system includes a transmitter resonator in wired radio frequency communication with the power amplifier and a receiver resonator in wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0451] 127. The system as described in paragraph 126, wherein the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator communicate with each other in wireless near - field radio frequency communication.

[0452] 128. The system as described in paragraph 117, wherein the power amplifier performs at least one of capacitive near - field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near - field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0453] 129. The system as described in paragraph 117, wherein the power amplifier performs dual - mode near - field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0454] 130. The system as described in paragraph 117, wherein the DC power supply includes a rechargeable battery pack and the load includes an electric motor.

[0455] 131. The system as described in paragraph 117, wherein the load includes a display monitor.

[0456] 132. The system as described in paragraph 117, wherein the resonant structure of the system includes at least one conductive mechanical load - bearing structure component of the system.

[0457] 133. The system as described in paragraph 117, further comprising a power conditioning unit electrically disposed between the power supply and the power amplifier, the power conditioning unit configured to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply to improve the efficiency of the power transfer.

[0458] 134. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an electric system, comprising: a mechanical load - bearing structure having a conductive first part; an electric power load; and an electric power transfer system including at least one radio frequency resonator configured for near - field wireless power transfer, wherein the resonator at least partially includes the conductive first part.

[0459] 135. The system as described in paragraph 134, wherein the electric system further includes a rechargeable battery pack and the electric power load includes an electric motor.

[0460] 136. The system as described in paragraph 135, wherein the electric system is an electric vehicle and the mechanical load - bearing structure includes the chassis of the vehicle.

[0461] 137. The system as described in paragraph 134, wherein the electric system is a display monitor and the mechanical load - bearing structure is at least one of the frame and the base of the monitor.

[0462] 138. The system as described in paragraph 134 further includes a power supply.

[0463] 139. The system as described in paragraph 138, wherein the electric power transfer system includes: a radio frequency power amplifier that is in wired electrical communication with the power supply and is configured to convert a direct current voltage from the power supply in the future into an alternating voltage signal having an oscillation frequency; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier that is in wired electrical contact with the power load and is in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, the rectifier being configured to receive the power transferred from the amplifier; and a receiver controller that is in communication with the rectifier, the receiver controller being configured to adjust the efficiency of the power transfer from the amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier.

[0464] 140. In a currently preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus that includes: a mechanical load-bearing structure having a conductive first part; a power supply; an electric power load; and an electric power transfer system that includes: a radio frequency power amplifier that is in wired electrical communication with the power supply and is configured to convert a direct current voltage from the power supply in the future into an alternating voltage signal having an oscillation frequency; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier that is in wired electrical contact with the power load and is in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, the rectifier being configured to receive the power transferred from the amplifier; and a receiver controller that is in communication with the rectifier, the receiver controller being configured to adjust the efficiency of the power transfer from the amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier; wherein the conductive first part is arranged to conduct at least one of carrying a radio frequency signal from the amplifier and carrying a radio frequency signal to the rectifier.

[0465] 141. The apparatus as described in paragraph 140 further includes a load management system that is in wired communication with the load and is disposed between the load and the rectifier in the form of a power signal, the load management system being configured to increase the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier.

[0466] 142. The apparatus as described in paragraph 140 further includes a transmitter controller that is in communication with the amplifier, the transmitter controller being configured to increase the efficiency of the power transfer by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the amplifier.

[0467] 143. The apparatus as described in paragraph 140 further includes an oscillator that is in communication with the amplifier and the transmitter controller, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to adjust the oscillation frequency via the oscillator.

[0468] 144. The apparatus as described in paragraph 140, wherein the power amplifier performs direct wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier via the conductive first portion.

[0469] 145. The apparatus as described in paragraph 140, wherein the power amplifier performs wireless near - field radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0470] 146. The apparatus as described in paragraph 140, wherein the power transfer system includes a transmitter resonator in wired radio frequency communication with the power amplifier and a receiver resonator in wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier, and one of the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator includes the conductive first portion.

[0471] 147. The apparatus as described in paragraph 146, wherein the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator perform wireless near - field radio frequency communication with each other.

[0472] 148. The apparatus as described in paragraph 140, wherein the power amplifier performs at least one of capacitive near - field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near - field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0473] 149. The apparatus as described in paragraph 140, wherein the power amplifier performs dual - mode near - field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0474] 150. The apparatus as described in paragraph 140, wherein the DC power supply includes a rechargeable battery pack and the load includes an electric motor.

[0475] Although several exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will recognize specific modifications, substitutions, additions, and sub - combinations thereof. Accordingly, the following appended patent application for the invention and the claims introduced hereinafter are intended to be construed to include all such modifications, substitutions, additions, and sub - combinations as are consistent with the broadest interpretation of the entire specification.

[0476] Interpretation of Terms

[0477] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the specification and the patent application for the invention:

[0478] "Comprise", "comprising", and the like shall be construed in an inclusive sense rather than an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is, in the sense of "including but not limited to";

[0479] "Connect", "couple", or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling (direct or indirect) between two or more components; the coupling or connection between the components can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof; components formed integrally may be considered connected or coupled;

[0480] "Wired", "via a wired connection", or any variation thereof means any physical connection via a conductive medium, an intermediate circuit, or any other member that permits the flow of electric current between, through, or across components of a system;

[0481] "Electric communication", "electrical communication", or any variation thereof means any connection, coupling, interface, or other communication, hardwired, wireless, or combination thereof, suitable for transferring electrical signals between, through, or across components of a system;

[0482] When used to describe this specification, "herein", "above", "below", and words of similar import shall refer to this specification as a whole and not to any particular part of this specification;

[0483] "Or" in reference to a list of two or more items covers all of the following interpretations of that word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list;

[0484] The singular forms "a", "an", and "the" also include the meaning of any appropriate plural forms.

[0485] Directions (such as "vertical", "lateral", "horizontal", "upward", "downward", "forward", "backward", "inward", "outward", "perpendicular", "transverse", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "beneath", "above", "under", etc.) used in this specification and in any appended claims (if any) of the invention depend on the particular orientation of the device described and illustrated. The objects described herein may assume various alternative orientations. Accordingly, such directional terms are not rigidly defined and should not be construed narrowly.

[0486] Embodiments of the invention include the various operations described herein. Such operations may be performed by hardware components, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0487] Particular embodiments may be implemented as a computer program product that may include instructions stored on a machine-readable medium. Such instructions may be used to program a general-purpose or special-purpose processor to perform the described operations. Machine-readable media include any mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer), such as in a software or processing application. Machine-readable media may include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage media (e.g., floppy disks); optical storage media (e.g., CD-ROMs); magneto-optical storage media; read-only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROMs and EEPROMs); flash memory, or another type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.

[0488] In addition, some embodiments may be practiced in a distributed computing environment where machine-readable media are stored on and / or executed by more than one computer system. Additionally, information transferred between computer systems may be pulled or pushed across a communication medium connecting the computer systems.

[0489] The computer processing components used in the implementation of the embodiments of the present invention include one or more general-purpose processing devices, such as a microprocessor or a central processing unit, a controller, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a unit computer, or the like. Alternatively, such digital processing components may include one or more dedicated processing devices, such as a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and so on. In a particular embodiment, for example, the digital processing device may be a network processor having multiple processors and multiple microengines including a core unit. Additionally, the digital processing device may include any combination of (a) general-purpose processing devices and (a) dedicated processing devices.

[0490] Although the operations of the (a) methods herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of operations of the methods may be changed such that particular operations may be performed in the reverse order or such that particular operations may be performed at least partially concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, the instructions or sub-operations of different operations may be performed in an intermittent and / or alternating manner.

[0491] In cases where components (e.g., software modules, processors, assemblies, devices, circuits, etc.) are referenced above, unless otherwise indicated, a reference to the component (including a reference to a "member") shall be construed to include an equivalent of the component (any component that performs the function of the described component (i.e., is functionally equivalent)), including components that are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure that performs the functions in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0492] For purposes of illustration, specific instances of systems, methods, and apparatuses have been described herein. Such are merely examples. The techniques provided herein may be applied to systems other than the example systems described above. In the practice of the present invention, numerous changes, modifications, additions, omissions, and permutations are possible. The present invention encompasses variations of the described embodiments that will be apparent to those skilled in the art, including variations obtained by: replacing features, components, and / or operations with equivalent features, components, and / or operations; mixing and matching features, components, and / or operations from different embodiments; combining features, components, and / or operations from the embodiments described herein with features, components, and / or operations of other technologies; and / or omitting combinations of features, components, and / or operations from the described embodiments.

Claims

1. A dual - mode near - field resonant radio power transfer system configured to simultaneously perform said capacitive power transfer and said inductive power transfer at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency according to an adjustable transfer mode ratio between the capacitive power transfer and the inductive power transfer, the system comprising: A transmitter subsystem including a transmitter antenna subsystem and a power signal tuner module, the power signal tuner module being configured to adjust the transfer mode ratio by adjusting the power signal provided by the power signal tuner module to the transmitter antenna subsystem; And A receiver subsystem including a receiver antenna subsystem, the receiver antenna subsystem being configured to receive electrical power from the transmitter antenna subsystem at the transfer mode ratio.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power signal tuner module is configured to adjust the power signal by adjusting the phase difference between the current and the voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the transmitter subsystem further includes a controller and at least one sensor, the controller being configured to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor and automatically provide a tuning instruction to the power signal tuner module based on the sensor information, and wherein the tuner module is configured to adjust the phase difference between the current and the voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem according to the tuning instruction.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed in the transmitter subsystem.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed in the receiver subsystem, and the controller is configured to wirelessly receive the sensor information.

6. The system of any one of claims 3 - 5, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a power load sensor, a transmitted power sensor, a surrounding object detector, and a distance detector, the distance detector being configured to detect the distance between the transmitter antenna subsystem and the receiver antenna subsystem.

7. The system of any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency varies freely within a predetermined frequency band.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined frequency band is between 1 MHz and 1 GHz.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the system is detuned to an extent that allows the variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency to vary within the relative limits of the predetermined frequency band.

10. The system of any one of claims 1 - 5, which includes an electrical load configured to be in electrical communication with a conductive mechanical load - bearing structure, wherein the receiver antenna subsystem includes at least a portion of the conductive mechanical load - bearing structure.

11. A method of using the system of claim 1 to transfer power from a direct - current power source to a load in a dual - mode manner, comprising: Provide the direct current power supply that is in electrical communication with the transmitter subsystem, the transmitter subsystem including the transmitter antenna subsystem, the power signal tuner module, and a controller; Provide at least one sensor; Provide the load that is in electrical communication with the receiver subsystem; Transfer power by oscillating at the variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency from the transmitter antenna subsystem to the receiver antenna subsystem while performing the capacitive power transfer and the inductive power transfer; And Adjust the power signal tuner module to change the transfer mode ratio of the capacitive power transfer and the inductive power transfer at the variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein adjusting the power signal tuner module includes adjusting the phase difference between the current and the voltage of the power signal provided from the power signal tuner module to the transmitter antenna subsystem.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein adjusting the phase difference between the current and the voltage of the power signal includes: Receiving sensor information from the at least one sensor in the controller; Automatically providing a tuning instruction from the controller to the power signal tuner module based on the sensor information; Adjusting the phase difference between the current and the voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem according to the tuning instruction.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein providing the transmitter subsystem includes providing at least one sensor disposed in the transmitter subsystem.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein Providing the receiver subsystem includes providing at least one sensor disposed in the receiver subsystem; and Receiving the sensor information in the controller includes wirelessly receiving the sensor information in the controller.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein providing the at least one sensor includes providing at least one of a power load sensor, a transmitted power sensor, a surrounding object detector, and a distance detector, the distance detector being configured to detect the distance between the transmitter antenna subsystem and the receiver antenna subsystem.

17. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the transferring power in a dual mode includes allowing the variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency to vary within a predetermined frequency band, the predetermined frequency band being in the range between 1 MHz and 1 GHz.

18. The method according to claim 17, further including allowing the variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency to vary within the relative limits of the predetermined frequency band.

19. A dual-mode near-field resonant wireless system for transferring power from one or more photovoltaic cells to a power load, the system including: One or more transmission modules that are in electrical communication with the one or more photovoltaic cells, each transmission module being configured to convert the power from at least one of the one or more photovoltaic cells into an oscillating electrical power signal having a variable oscillation frequency; One or more transmitter resonators, which are in electrical communication with the one or more transmission modules, each transmitter resonator being configured to resonate at the variable oscillation frequency; One or more receiver resonators, each receiver resonator being configured to resonate at the variable oscillation frequency and being arranged to receive power bimodally from at least one of the one or more transmitter resonators via capacitive coupling and magnetic induction simultaneously according to an adjustable transfer mode ratio of capacitive power transfer and inductive power transfer at the variable oscillation frequency; And One or more receiver modules, which are in electrical communication with the one or more receiver resonators, each receiver module being configured to receive power from at least one of the one or more receiver resonators, convert the power received from the one or more receiver resonators into a direct current voltage, and transmit the direct current voltage to the power load.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein each of the one or more transmission modules includes a power amplifier configured to modulate the power received from the one or more photovoltaic cells at the variable oscillation frequency.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein each of the one or more transmission modules includes an oscillator configured to provide the variable oscillation frequency to the power amplifier.

22. The system according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein each of the one or more transmission modules further includes a controller and one or more sensors, the controller being configured to change the variable oscillation frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein each of the one or more transmission modules includes a transmission tuning network configured to change at least one phase of the power provided by the one or more transmission modules to the one or more transmitter resonators under the control of the controller based on second information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

24. The system according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein one or more receiver resonators are configured to receive power from any adjacent transmitter resonator of the one or more transmitter resonators.

25. The system according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the one or more transmitter resonators are disposed on a surface of at least one of the one or more photovoltaic cells, the surface being opposite to the active solar radiation receiving surface of the at least one of the one or more photovoltaic cells.

26. The system according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the variable oscillation frequency of the oscillating electric power signal varies freely within a predetermined frequency band, the predetermined frequency band being in the range between 1 MHz and 1 GHz.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the system is detuned to an extent that allows the variable oscillation frequency of the oscillating electric power signal to vary within the relative limits of the predetermined frequency band.

28. A method for bi - mode transferring power from one or more photovoltaic cells to a power load, comprising: Providing one or more transmission modules, each transmission module being in electrical communication with a corresponding one of the one or more photovoltaic cells; Providing at least one or more transmitter resonators configured to resonate at a variable oscillation frequency, each transmitter resonator being in electrical communication with a corresponding one of the one or more transmission modules; Providing at least one or more receiver resonators configured to resonate at the variable oscillation frequency, each receiver resonator being in electrical communication with a corresponding receiver module; Converting, in each transmission module, the power from the corresponding one of the one or more photovoltaic cells into an oscillating electrical power signal having the variable oscillation frequency; Bi - mode transferring, at the variable oscillation frequency, according to an adjustable transfer mode ratio of capacitive power transfer and inductive power transfer, the power from at least one of the one or more transmitter resonators to the one or more receiver resonators via capacitive coupling and electromagnetic induction simultaneously; Converting the power received from the one or more receiver resonators into a direct current voltage; And Supplying the direct current voltage to the power load.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein Providing the one or more transmission modules includes providing one or more transmission modules each including a power amplifier; and Modulating, in at least one power amplifier, the power received from the one or more photovoltaic cells at the variable oscillation frequency.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein Providing the one or more transmission modules includes providing one or more transmission modules each including an oscillator; and Providing the variable oscillation frequency from the oscillator to the power amplifier.

31. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein Providing the one or more transmission modules includes providing one or more transmission modules each including a controller and one or more sensors, and the method includes adjusting the variable oscillation frequency via the controller based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein Providing the one or more transmission modules includes providing one or more transmission modules each including a transmission tuning network, and the method includes adjusting, via the controller, at least one phase of the power provided by the one or more transmission modules to the one or more transmitter resonators based on second information from at least one of the one or more sensors.

33. The method according to claim 28, wherein Providing the one or more receiver resonators includes providing at least one of the one or more receiver resonators, which is disposed adjacent to more than one of the plurality of transmitter resonators, and receiving power in the at least one receiver resonator from one or more receiver resonators adjacent to the at least one receiver resonator.

34. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein said bimodal transfer of power from at least one of said one or more transmitter resonators to said one or more receiver resonators includes allowing said variable oscillation frequency to vary within a predetermined frequency band, said predetermined frequency band being in the range between 1 MHz and 1 GHz.

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