WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM HAVING SUBSTANTIAL UNIFORMITY OVER A LARGE AREA - Patent application

Abstract

A system for wireless power transmission includes a wireless transmitting system and a wireless receiving system, the wireless transmitting system including a transmitting antenna configured to transmit wireless power signals and wireless data signals within a large charging area, and the wireless receiving system including a receiving antenna, the receiving antenna including a plurality of receiving coils, each of the plurality of receiving coils configured to receive one or both of the wireless power signals and the wireless data signals within the large charging area.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a joint venture between U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 518324, filed November 3, 2021, entitled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER SYSTEMS WITH SUBSTANTIAL UNIFORMITY OVER A LARGE AREA", (2) U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 518326, filed November 3, 2021, entitled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION ANTENNA WITH ANTENNA MOLECULES", (3) U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 518330, entitled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION ANTENNA WITH PUZZLED ANTENNA MOLECILES", and (4) U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 518335, filed November 3, 2021, entitled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION ANTENNA WITH (5) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518340, filed November 3, 2021, titled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WITH SOURCE-REPEATER ARCHITECTURE", (6) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518341, filed November 3, 2021, titled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION ANTENNA WITH PARALLEL COIL MOLECULE CONFIGURATION", (7) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518352, filed November 3, 2021, titled "METHOD OF MANUFACTURING LARGE AREA WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION ANTENNAS”, (8) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518354, filed November 3, 2021, entitled “WIRELESS POWER TRANSMITTER WITH INTERNAL REPEATER AND ENHANCED UNIFORMITY”, (9) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518358, filed November 3, 2021, entitled “WIRELESS POWER TRANSMITTER ANTENNA WITH INTERNAL(10) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518361, filed November 3, 2021, entitled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION ANTENNA WITH INTERNAL REPEATER AND INTER-TURN EMISSIONS MITIGATION", (11) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518364, filed November 3, 2021, entitled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSMITTER WITH METAL MESH FOR RESILIENCY", (12) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518366, filed November 3, 2021, entitled "COMMUNICATIONS DEMODULATION IN WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM HAVING AN INTERNAL REPEATER", (13) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518369, filed November 3, 2021, titled "DUAL COMMUNICATIONS DEMODULATION OF A WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM HAVING AN INTERNAL REPEATER", (14) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518371, filed November 3, 2021, titled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION ANTENNA WITH INTERNAL REPEATER AND REPEATER FILTER", (15) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518374, filed November 3, 2021, titled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION ANTENNA WITH INTERNAL REPEATER AND REPEATER FILTER", (16) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518377, filed November 3, 2021, titled "MULTI-COIL POLYGONAL WIRELESS POWER RECEIVER ANTENNA", (17) U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518381, filed November 3, 2021, titled "WIRELESS POWER RECEIVER WITH RECTIFIER FOR MULT-COIL RECEIVERThis application claims priority to (1) U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518,383, filed November 3, 2021, entitled "COMMUNICATIONS MODULATION IN WIRELESS POWER RECEIVER WITH MULTI-COIL RECEIVER ANTENNA", (18) U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518,384, filed November 3, 2021, entitled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER FROM MOUSE PAD TO MOUSE", and (19) U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application No. 17 / 518,384, filed November 3, 2021, entitled "WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER FROM MOUSE PAD TO MOUSE", each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for wireless transmission of power and / or electrical data signals, and more particularly to wireless power transfer systems configured for substantial uniformity of the electromagnetic field over a large charging area. [Background technology]

[0003] Wireless connection systems are used in a variety of applications for the wireless transmission of electrical energy, power, electromagnetic energy, and electrical data signals, among other known wirelessly transmittable signals. Such systems often use inductive and / or resonant inductive wireless power transfer, which occurs when a magnetic field generated by a transmitting element induces an electric field, and therefore a current, in a receiving element. These transmitting and receiving elements often take the form of coiled conductors (wires) and / or antennas.

[0004] The transmission of one or more of electrical energy, power, electromagnetic energy, and / or electrical data signals from one such coil-type antenna to another typically operates at an operating frequency and / or an operating frequency range. The operating frequency may be selected for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, power transfer characteristics, power level characteristics, self-resonant frequency constraints, design requirements, regulatory compliance, required characteristics of the structure (e.g., electromagnetic interference (EMI) requirements, specific absorption rate (SAR) requirements, among others), bill of materials (BOM), and / or form factor constraints. Note that the term "self-resonant frequency," as known to those skilled in the art, generally refers to the resonant frequency of a passive component (e.g., an inductor) resulting from the parasitic characteristics of the passive component.

[0005] As such systems wirelessly transmit power from a transmitting system to a receiving system via coils and / or antennas, it is often desirable to simultaneously or intermittently communicate electronic data from one system to the other. To this end, a variety of communication systems, methods, and / or devices have been utilized to combine wireless power and wireless data transmission. In some example systems, wireless power transmission-related communications (e.g., verification procedures, electronic characteristic data communications, voltage data, current data, device type data, among other possible data communications) are performed using other circuitry, such as any Bluetooth chipset and / or antenna for data communications, among other known communication circuitry and / or antennas.

[0006] Furthermore, when wireless power and data transmission is desired over a large charging or powering area, variations in the strength of the electromagnetic fields emitted by the transmitting devices may limit operation in such charging or powering areas. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 735342 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 9,941,743 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 9,960,628 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 9,948,129 [Patent Document 5] U.S. Patent No. 10063100 [Patent Document 6] U.S. Patent No. 9,941,590 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Patent No. 9,960,629 [Patent Document 8] US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0040107 [Patent Document 9] US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0040105 [Patent Document 10] US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0040688 [Patent Document 11] U.S. Patent No. 8,610,530 [Patent Document 12] U.S. Patent No. 8,653,927 [Patent Document 13] U.S. Patent No. 8,680,960 [Patent Document 14] U.S. Patent No. 8,692,641 [Patent Document 15] U.S. Patent No. 8,692,642 [Patent Document 16] U.S. Patent No. 8,698,590 [Patent Document 17] U.S. Patent No. 8,698,591 [Patent Document 18] U.S. Patent No. 8,707,546 [Patent Document 19] U.S. Patent No. 8,710,948 [Patent Document 20] U.S. Patent No. 8,803,649 [Patent Document 21] U.S. Patent No. 8,823,481 [Patent Document 22] U.S. Patent No. 8,823,482 [Patent Document 23] U.S. Pat. No. 8,855,786 [Patent Document 24] U.S. Patent No. 8,898,885 [Patent Document 25] U.S. Patent No. 9,208,942 [Patent Document 26] U.S. Patent No. 9,232,893 [Patent Document 27] U.S. Patent No. 9,300,046 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Thus, a wireless power transmission system that can be substantially uniform or has improved uniformity over a large charging area is desirable. Such a system may be particularly advantageous in charging scenarios where the receiving device, or a device associated with the receiving device, moves or moves regularly during a charging cycle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In some examples, a wireless power transmission system can be configured to transmit power over a large charging area, where a wireless receiving system can receive the power. A "large area" can be an area associated with and proximate to a wireless power transmission system and / or a transmitting antenna, where a wireless receiving device can couple with the transmitting system or transmitting antenna at multiple points within the charging area. To this end, it is advantageous for both functionality and user experience that the multiple points for coupling within the large area include as many points as possible and have a correspondingly consistent ability to couple with a receiving system within a given charging area. It is advantageous for a large area power transmission device to be designed with maximum uniformity of power transmission in mind. Thus, it can be advantageous to design such a transmitting antenna with uniformity in mind. "Uniformity" as defined herein refers to the ratio of the maximum coupling between a wireless transmitting system and a wireless receiving system to the minimum coupling between such systems, and these coupling values ​​are determined by measuring or determining the coupling between these systems at multiple points where the wireless receiving system or receiving antenna is located within the charging area of ​​the transmitting antenna.

[0010] Additionally, uniformity can be increased by using more turns, coils, and / or other resonators in the antenna, but maximizing uniformity by increasing the amount of conductive metal used in this manner may raise cost concerns, bill of materials concerns, environmental concerns, and / or sustainability concerns, among other known drawbacks of including more conductive materials. To this end, the following transmit antennas can be designed by balancing uniformity considerations with cost, environmental, and / or sustainability considerations. In other words, the following transmit antennas can be configured to achieve increased uniformity (e.g., maximized) while reducing (e.g., minimizing) the amount or length of wires or conductive traces used.

[0011] The large area power transmission system can further be configured to have maximum metallic elasticity. As defined herein, "metallic elasticity" refers to the ability of the transmitting antenna and / or the wireless transmission system itself to avoid degradation of wireless power transmission performance when metals or metallic materials are present in the environment in which the wireless transmission system operates. For example, metallic elasticity can refer to the ability of the wireless transmission system to maintain its inductance for power transmission when a metallic object is present in close proximity to the transmitting antenna. Additionally or alternatively, eddy currents generated by the presence of a metallic object in close proximity to the wireless transmission system can degrade wireless power transmission performance, and thus, induction of such currents should be avoided.

[0012] Molecular-based large charge area transmitting antennas, such as those disclosed below, are particularly beneficial in reducing manufacturing complexity, since the number of cable crossovers is greatly limited. Furthermore, modularity of design for a given size is provided, since the number of antenna molecules can be easily changed during the design process. Furthermore, by specifically forming the antenna molecules as puzzle-shaped antenna molecules, the crossing of the conductors of each molecule is greatly limited. Eliminating and / or reducing the crossings helps to speed up the production or manufacturing of the antenna molecules, and reduces the cost required for insulation between the conductors at the crossings, thus reducing the cost of producing the antenna.

[0013] Utilizing a source-repeater configuration in a large charging area antenna can provide manufacturing advantages since a larger antenna can be manufactured at a different location or by a different means than the overall system and / or source coil. A series connection configuration of antenna molecules can provide one or more of the following advantages: a larger magnitude of mutual inductance across the antenna, increased metallic elasticity of the antenna, among others.

[0014] The methods of fabricating molecule-based antennas disclosed herein can avoid the complexity of placing small insulators between overlapping successive antenna molecules and / or their coil atoms. By utilizing sheets of insulators rather than small insulators, fabrication time can be significantly reduced and manufacturing complexity can be drastically reduced. Such methods allow for fast and efficient mass production of antennas.

[0015] A large charging area antenna may utilize an internal repeater to extend the charging area. An "internal repeater" as defined herein is a repeater coil or antenna that is utilized as part of the general antenna for the system, and not utilized as a repeater outside the boundaries of such antenna (e.g., a peripheral antenna to spread the signal outside the boundaries of the charging area of ​​the transmitting antenna). For example, a user of a wireless power transfer system would not know the difference between a system with an internal repeater and a system in which the entire coil is hardwired to the electrical components of the transmitting device, as long as both systems are contained within an opaque mechanical housing. Internal repeaters may be beneficial for use in a single wireless transmitting antenna, as they allow longer conductors for the coils without introducing the electromagnetic interference (EMI) associated with longer conductors connected to a common wired signal source. Additionally or alternatively, the use of an internal repeater may be beneficial in improving metal elasticity and / or uniformity for wireless transmitting antennas.

[0016] Some antennas with internal repeaters can be constructed so that the current direction alternates between the inner and outer turns. Thus, when looking at the antenna from left to right and from top to bottom, the current direction reverses every turn. By reversing the current direction every turn, both laterally (side to side) and up and down, optimal electromagnetic field uniformity can be maintained. By reversing the current direction between the inner and outer turns, a receiving antenna traveling across the charging area of ​​the antenna, both laterally and up and down, will more likely be positioned closer to perpendicular to the magnetic field emanating from the antenna. Thus, because the receiving antenna is best coupled to the transmitting antenna at a point perpendicular to the magnetic field, the charging area created by the antenna will have greater uniformity than if all the turns carried current in a common direction.

[0017] By using an internal repeater coil rather than one large source coil, EMI benefits can be realized since the shorter the conductor wire connected to the source, the less EMI problems can be caused. In addition, by using an internal repeater coil, the aforementioned current reversal can be better achieved, which enhances uniformity and metallic elasticity in the transmitting antenna.

[0018] In some examples, the repeater tuning system is located within or adjacent to the internal repeater coil, rather than by routing long conductors to the circuit board. By eliminating these long conductors, manufacturing complexity can be reduced. Additionally or alternatively, EMI concerns associated with long connecting conductors can be mitigated by shortening the connections to the tuning system by keeping the tuning system close to the internal repeater coil.

[0019] Some internal repeater-based antennas may utilize inter-turn capacitors. The use of inter-turn capacitors in an antenna may reduce the antenna's sensitivity to parasitic capacitances, or capacitances outside the range of wireless power transmission (e.g., the natural capacitance of a human limb or body). Thus, the antenna may be less susceptible to such parasitic capacitances when introduced into the electromagnetic fields generated by the antenna, as compared to antennas that do not include inter-turn capacitors. The inter-turn capacitors may also be adjusted to maintain the phase of an alternating current (AC) signal throughout each coil, and thus the value of the inter-turn capacitor may be based on one or more of the operating frequency of the system, the inductance of each turn of the coil, and / or the length of continuous conductor of each coil. Maintaining phase throughout the coils with inter-turn capacitors may reduce excessive or undesirable electric field radiation, since there is less voltage variation across the coils.

[0020] The inter-turn capacitors can be tuned to prevent electric field radiation, allowing the wireless power transfer system to operate properly within statutory or standards body based guidelines. For example, the inter-turn capacitors can be tuned to reduce electric field radiation, allowing the wireless power transfer system to operate properly within the radiation limits set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

[0021] By including a filter circuit associated with the internal repeater, additional impedance can be introduced into the system, which can further reduce sensitivity to parasitic capacitances within the charging area of ​​the antenna.

[0022] Traditionally, wireless power transfer systems have used ferrite or other magnetic shielding materials to shield antennas from adverse performance effects caused by metal structures within close proximity to the antenna. However, ferrite materials can be expensive and / or have a significant environmental impact when included in the bill of materials for a wireless power transfer system. Thus, metal mesh structures can be utilized as a more cost-effective, more space-efficient, and / or more environmentally conscious alternative to ferrite or magnetic shielding materials.

[0023] A highly sensitive demodulation circuit is desired that allows fast and accurate in-band communication regardless of the relative positions of the transmitter and receiver within the power transmission range. The demodulation circuit of the wireless power transmitter disclosed herein is a circuit that is utilized, at least in part, to decode or demodulate an amplitude shift keying (ASK) signal into an alert of the rising and falling edges of a data signal. As long as the transmit controller is programmed to properly process the encoding scheme of the ASK modulation, the transmit controller will deploy fewer computational resources than would be required to decode the rising and falling edges directly from a current or voltage sense signal from a sensing system. To this end, the computational resources required by the transmit controller to decode a wireless data signal are significantly reduced by including the demodulation circuit.

[0024] This can significantly reduce the BOM for the demodulation circuitry, and the entire wireless transmission system, by allowing cheaper, less powerful processors to be used for or along with the transmit controller.

[0025] However, the performance and accuracy of edge detection coding schemes depends in large part on the ability of the system to quickly and accurately detect changes in signal slope. Furthermore, in an environment where the distance between the transmitting and receiving devices and the orientation of these devices may change dynamically, the magnitude of the received power signal and the embedded data signal may also change dynamically. These conditions may make previously readable signals unclear to discern or may saturate previously readable signals.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for wireless power transmission is disclosed. The system includes a wireless transmission system and a wireless reception system. The wireless transmission system includes one or more transmitting electrical components, the one or more transmitting electrical components including a transmission control system, a transmission tuning system, a transmission power adjustment system, a transmission sensing system, or one or more components thereof. The transmission system further includes a transmission antenna, the transmission antenna configured to transmit one or both of a wireless power signal and a wireless data signal within a large charging area, the large charging area having a length within a range of 50 millimeters (mm) to 300 mm and a width within a range of 150 to 500 mm. The wireless reception system includes one or more receiving electrical components, the one or more receiving electrical components including a reception control system, a reception tuning system, a reception power adjustment system, a reception sensing system, or one or more components thereof. The wireless reception system further includes a reception antenna, the reception antenna includes a plurality of receiving coils, each of the plurality of receiving coils configured to receive one or both of a wireless power signal and a wireless data signal within the large charging area.

[0027] In one refinement, the transmitting antenna comprises a plurality of antenna molecules.

[0028] In another refinement, each of the antenna molecules is a linearly configured antenna molecule.

[0029] In yet another refinement, each of the antenna molecules is a puzzle-shaped antenna molecule.

[0030] In yet another refinement, multiple antenna molecules are electrically connected in series with each other and with one or more transmitting electrical components.

[0031] In yet another refinement, the transmitting antenna further includes a source coil, the antenna molecules being connected in series with each other, and the antenna molecules being configured as a repeater for repeating the wireless power signal and the wireless data signal received from the source coil.

[0032] In yet another refinement, the antenna molecule includes a source antenna molecule and one or more repeater antenna molecules, the source antenna molecule directly connected to one or more transmitting electrical components, and the repeater antenna molecule configured as a repeater for repeating wireless power or data signals received from the source antenna molecule.

[0033] In yet another refinement, the plurality of antenna molecules includes a first number of antenna molecules and a second number of antenna molecules, the first number of antenna molecules being insulated from the second number of antenna molecules using an insulator between the first number of antenna molecules and the second number of antenna molecules.

[0034] In one refinement, the transmitting antenna includes a source coil and an internal repeater coil.

[0035] In another refinement, the internal repeater coil includes a repeater tuning system within the internal repeater coil.

[0036] In yet another refinement, the source coil includes a first inter-turn capacitor and the internal repeater coil includes a second inter-turn capacitor.

[0037] In yet another refinement, the inner repeater coil includes a repeater filter disposed between the inner and outer turns of the inner repeater coil.

[0038] In yet another improvement, the transmission system includes at least one sensor and demodulation circuitry, the at least one sensor configured to measure electrical information associated with one or both of the wireless power signal or the wireless data signal at the internal repeater coil.

[0039] In yet another improvement, the transmission system further includes a first sensor, a first demodulation circuit associated with the first sensor, a second sensor, a second demodulation circuit associated with the second sensor, and a summing amplifier, where the first sensor is configured to measure electrical information associated with one or both of the wireless power signal or the wireless data signal at the source coil, the second sensor is configured to measure electrical information associated with one or both of the wireless power signal or the wireless data signal at the internal repeater coil, and the summing amplifier sums an output of the first demodulation circuit and an output of the second demodulation circuit.

[0040] In one refinement, the transmission system further includes a metal mesh structure disposed beneath the transmitting antenna.

[0041] In one refinement, the multiple receive coils include an internal repeater coil.

[0042] In one refinement, the plurality of receive coils is a plurality of polygonal receive coils.

[0043] In one refinement, the receiving system includes a plurality of rectifiers, each of the plurality of rectifiers operatively associated with one of the plurality of receiving coils.

[0044] In one refinement, the receiving system further includes a plurality of modulation circuits, each of the plurality of modulation circuits operatively associated with one of the plurality of receiving coils.

[0045] According to another aspect of the present invention, an antenna configured for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a first antenna molecule, the first antenna molecule formed of a first continuous conductor, the first continuous conductor extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including a first source coil atom and one or more first connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atom being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, each of the first source coil atom and the one or more first connecting coil atoms partially overlapping one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms.

[0046] In one refinement, the antenna further includes a second antenna molecule, the second antenna molecule being formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atom being electrically connected to the third starting molecular terminal and the second ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the second source coil atom and the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlapping one of the second source coil atom or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms.

[0047] In another refinement, the first and second antenna molecules partially overlap.

[0048] In yet another refinement, the first source coil atoms and the second source coil atoms partially overlap, and each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms partially overlaps one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms.

[0049] In yet another refinement, the antenna further comprises a third antenna molecule, the third antenna molecule being formed of a third continuous conductor, the third continuous conductor extending from a third beginning molecular terminal to a third end molecular terminal, the third continuous conductor being configured to define a third number of coil atoms, the third number of coil atoms including a third source coil atom and one or more third connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the third source coil atom, each of the one or more third connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the third source coil atom and the one or more third connecting coil atoms partially overlapping one of the third source coil atom or one of the one or more third connecting coil atoms.

[0050] In yet another refinement, the second antenna molecule partially overlaps the third antenna molecule.

[0051] In yet another refinement, the second source coil atoms partially overlap the third source coil atoms, and each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlaps one of the one or more third connecting coil atoms.

[0052] In yet another refinement, the first and third antenna molecules do not overlap.

[0053] In one refinement, each of the first source coil atoms and the one or more first connecting coil atoms has an innermost turn and an outermost turn.

[0054] In another refinement, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms includes a pivot axis that connects an innermost turn of one of the one or more connecting coil atoms to an outermost turn of either the first coil atom or another one of the one or more connecting coil atoms.

[0055] In one refinement, the conductor includes a substantially continuous straight portion on the first outer portion of each of the first coil atoms and the one or more connecting coil atoms.

[0056] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmission system is disclosed. The system includes a transmit controller, a power conditioning system, a transmit tuning system, and a transmit antenna. The transmit antenna is operatively associated with the transmit controller, the power conditioning system, and the transmit tuning system, and includes a plurality of antenna molecules, each antenna molecule formed of a continuous conductor, the continuous conductor extending from an origin molecular terminal to an end molecular terminal, the continuous conductor formed to define a plurality of coil atoms. The plurality of coil atoms includes a source coil atom and one or more connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the source coil atom, the source coil atom being electrically connected to the origin molecular terminal and the end molecular terminal, each of the one or more connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn. Each of the source coil atom and the one or more connecting coil atoms partially overlaps one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms.

[0057] In one refinement, each of the plurality of coil molecules partially overlaps at least one other of the plurality of coil molecules.

[0058] In one refinement, each source coil atom and each of the one or more connecting coil atoms includes an innermost turn and an outermost turn.

[0059] In a further refinement, each of the one or more connecting coil atoms includes a pivot axis that connects the innermost turn of one of the one or more connecting coil atoms to the outermost turn of either the source coil atom or another one of the one or more connecting coil atoms.

[0060] In one refinement, the conductor includes a substantially continuous straight portion on a first outer portion of each of the source coil atoms and the one or more connecting coil atoms.

[0061] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna configured for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a first antenna molecule and a second antenna molecule, the first antenna molecule being formed of a first continuous conductor extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including a first source coil atom and one or more first connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atom being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, the first source coil atom and each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms partially overlapping one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms. The second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atom being electrically connected to the third starting molecular terminal and the second ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlapping either the second source coil atom or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms. Each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms and each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms includes at least an innermost turn, an outermost turn, and a pivot axis that connects the innermost turn of one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms to the outermost turn of the other coil atom.

[0062] In one refinement, the first and second antenna molecules partially overlap.

[0063] In one refinement, the antenna has a width in the range of about 150 mm to about 500 mm.

[0064] In another refinement, the antenna has a length within the range of about 50 mm to about 350 mm.

[0065] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna configured for wireless power transmission is disclosed. The antenna includes a first antenna molecule and a second antenna molecule. The first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor, the first continuous conductor extending from a first molecular terminal to a second molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms. The first number of coil atoms includes first and second coil atoms, the second coil atoms being disposed approximately on a diagonal extension of the first coil atoms. The second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor, the second continuous conductor extending from a third molecular terminal to a fourth molecular terminal, the second conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms. The second number of coil atoms includes third and fourth coil atoms, the fourth coil atoms being disposed approximately on a diagonal extension of the third coil atoms. The first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule overlap to form a first atomic row and a second atomic row, and a first atomic column and a second atomic column. The first atomic row includes a first coil atom and a fourth coil atom. The second atomic row includes a third coil atom and a second coil atom. The first atomic column includes a first coil atom and a third coil atom. The second atomic column includes a fourth coil atom and a second coil atom.

[0066] In one refinement, the first coil atoms and the fourth coil atoms partially overlap.

[0067] In one refinement, the third coil atoms partially overlap with the second coil atoms.

[0068] In one refinement, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the third coil atoms.

[0069] In one refinement, the second coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms.

[0070] In one refinement, the first coil atoms include a first innermost turn and a first outermost turn, the second coil atoms include a second innermost turn and a second outermost turn, and a first conductor wire originates at the first terminal, extends along the first and second outermost turns, and then extends to form the first and second innermost turns.

[0071] In another refinement, the third coil atom includes a third innermost turn and a third outermost turn, the fourth coil atom includes a fourth innermost turn and a fourth outermost turn, and the second conductor extends from the first terminal along the third and fourth outermost turns and then to form the third and fourth innermost turns.

[0072] In yet another refinement, the first coil atoms and the fourth coil atoms partially overlap, the second coil atoms and the third coil atoms partially overlap, the first coil atoms and the third coil atoms partially overlap, and the second coil atoms and the fourth coil atoms partially overlap.

[0073] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmission system is disclosed. The wireless power transmission system includes a transmission controller, a power adjustment system, a transmission tuning system, and a transmission antenna. The transmission antenna includes a first antenna molecule and a second antenna molecule. The first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor, the first continuous conductor extending from a first molecular terminal to a second molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms. The first number of coil atoms includes first coil atoms and second coil atoms, the second coil atoms being arranged on a substantially extended line of a diagonal of the first coil atoms. The second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor, the second continuous conductor extending from a third molecular terminal to a fourth molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms. The second number of coil atoms includes third coil atoms and fourth coil atoms, the fourth coil atoms being arranged on a substantially extended line of a diagonal of the third coil atoms. The first and second antenna molecules overlap to form a first and second atomic row and a first and second atomic column, the first atomic row including a first coil atom and a fourth coil atom, the second atomic row including a third coil atom and a second coil atom, the first atomic column including a first coil atom and a third coil atom, and the second atomic column including a fourth coil atom and a second coil atom.

[0074] In one refinement, the first coil atoms and the fourth coil atoms partially overlap.

[0075] In one refinement, the third coil atoms partially overlap with the second coil atoms.

[0076] In one refinement, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the third coil atoms.

[0077] In one refinement, the second coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms.

[0078] In one refinement, the first coil atoms include a first innermost turn and a first outermost turn, the second coil atoms include a second innermost turn and a second outermost turn, and a first conductor wire originates at the first terminal, extends along the first and second outermost turns, and then extends to form the first and second innermost turns.

[0079] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna configured for wireless power transmission is disclosed. The antenna includes a plurality of first antenna molecules and a plurality of second antenna molecules. Each of the plurality of first antenna molecules is formed of a first continuous conductor, the first continuous conductor extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms. The first number of coil atoms includes a first source coil atom and one or more first connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atom being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn. Each of the first source coil atom and the one or more first connecting coil atoms partially overlaps one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms. Each of the plurality of second antenna molecules is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atom being electrically connected to the third starting molecular terminal and the second ending molecular terminal, the one or more second connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the second source coil atom and the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlapping one of the second source coil atom or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms. Each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms and each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms includes at least an innermost turn, an outermost turn, and a pivot axis that connects the innermost turn of one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms to the outermost turn of the other coil atom.

[0080] In one refinement, each of the plurality of first antenna molecules and each of the plurality of second antenna molecules is a puzzle-shaped molecule.

[0081] In one refinement, the plurality of first antenna molecules includes X first antenna molecules and the plurality of second antenna molecules includes Y second antenna molecules, where X and Y are equal integers.

[0082] In one refinement, each first atom includes a first innermost turn and a first outermost turn, each second atom includes a second innermost turn and a second outermost turn, and each of the first conductors begins at the first terminal, extends along the first and second outermost turns, and then extends to form the first and second innermost turns.

[0083] In one refinement, the antenna has a width in the range of about 150 mm to about 500 mm.

[0084] In another refinement, the antenna has a length within a range of about 50 mm to about 350 mm.

[0085] According to yet another improvement of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a source antenna molecule configured for wired electrical connection to one or more electrical components of a wireless power transmission system, the antenna further including one or more connecting antenna molecules connected to the source antenna molecule and to each other by a wired, serial electrical connection, the source antenna molecule and each of the one or more connecting antenna molecules at least partially overlapping other of the source antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules.

[0086] In one refinement, the antenna further comprises at least one capacitor connected in series between the source antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules, the at least one capacitor configured to maintain a balance between the source antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules.

[0087] In another refinement, the at least one capacitor includes a plurality of capacitors, each of the plurality of capacitors being electrically disposed in series between two of the source antenna molecule and one of the one or more connecting antenna molecules.

[0088] In one refinement, the source antenna molecule is a first antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules comprises a second antenna molecule, and the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule are linearly arranged antenna molecules.

[0089] In another refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms. The first number of coil atoms includes a first source coil atom and one or more first connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atom being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn. Each of the first source coil atom and the one or more connecting coil atoms partially overlaps one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms. The second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms. The second number of coil atoms includes a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atom being electrically connected to the third beginning molecular terminal and the second ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the second source coil atom and the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlapping either the second source coil atom or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms.

[0090] In yet another improvement, the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule are electrically connected in series via a first starting molecular terminal, a first ending molecular terminal, a second starting molecular terminal, and a second ending molecular terminal.

[0091] In one refinement, the source antenna molecule is a first antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules comprises a second antenna molecule, and the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule have a puzzle-shaped configuration relative to one another.

[0092] In another refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor, the first continuous conductor extending from a first molecular terminal to a second molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including first and second coil atoms, the second coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal extension of the first coil atoms and the second antenna molecule, and the second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor, the second continuous conductor extending from a third molecular terminal to a fourth molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including third and fourth coil atoms, the fourth coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal extension of the third coil atoms. The first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule overlap to form a first atomic row and a second atomic row, and a first atomic column and a second atomic column, the first atomic row including a first coil atom and a fourth coil atom, the second atomic row including a third coil atom and a second coil atom, the first atomic column including the first coil atom and the third coil atom, and the second atomic column including the fourth coil atom and the second coil atom.

[0093] In another refinement, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms, the third coil atoms partially overlap with the second coil atoms, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the third coil atoms, and the second coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms.

[0094] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmission system is disclosed. The system includes one or more electrical components configured to generate signals for one or both of wireless power transmission and wireless data transmission. The system further includes a source antenna molecule, the source antenna molecule configured for wired electrical connection to one or more electrical components of the wireless power transmission system. The system further includes one or more connecting antenna molecules, the connecting antenna molecules connected to the source antenna molecule and to each other by a wired, serial electrical connection, and each of the source antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules at least partially overlapping another of the source antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules.

[0095] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a transmission control system.

[0096] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a power conditioning system.

[0097] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a transmit tuning system.

[0098] In one improvement, the system further includes at least one capacitor connected in series between the source antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules, the at least one capacitor configured to maintain a phase balance between the source antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules.

[0099] In another refinement, the at least one capacitor includes a plurality of capacitors, each of the plurality of capacitors being electrically disposed in series between the source antenna molecule and one of the one or more connecting antenna molecules.

[0100] In one refinement, the source antenna molecule is a first antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules comprises a second antenna molecule, and the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule are linearly arranged antenna molecules.

[0101] In another refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms. The first number of coil atoms includes a first source coil atom and one or more first connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atom being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn. The first source coil atom and each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms partially overlap one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms. The second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms. The second number of coil atoms includes a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atom being electrically connected to the third beginning molecular terminal and the second ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the second source coil atom and the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlapping either the second source coil atom or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms.

[0102] In one refinement, the source antenna molecule is a first antenna molecule and the one or more connecting antenna molecules comprises a second antenna molecule, and the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule have a puzzle-shaped configuration relative to one another.

[0103] In another refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor, the first continuous conductor extending from a first molecular terminal to a second molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including first and second coil atoms, the second coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal extension of the first coil atoms and the second antenna molecule, and the second molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor, the second continuous conductor extending from a third molecular terminal to a fourth molecular terminal, the second conductor formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including third and fourth coil atoms, the fourth coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal extension of the third coil atoms. The first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule overlap to form a first atomic row and a second atomic row, and a first atomic column and a second atomic column, the first atomic row including a first coil atom and a fourth coil atom, the second atomic row including a third coil atom and a second coil atom, the first atomic column including the first coil atom and the third coil atom, and the second atomic column including the fourth coil atom and the second coil atom.

[0104] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna includes a source antenna coil, the source antenna coil configured to be electrically connected to one or more electrical components of a wireless power transmission system, the antenna further includes at least one antenna molecule, the antenna molecule being independent of the source antenna coil and the one or more electrical components of the wireless power transmission system, the at least one antenna molecule being configured as a repeater for wireless power transmission, the at least one antenna molecule being configured to receive a wireless power signal from the source coil and transmit a repeater wireless power signal.

[0105] In one refinement, at least one antenna element is configured to transmit wireless power by relaying wireless power signals to a wireless receiving system.

[0106] In one refinement, the at least one antenna molecule includes a first antenna molecule and a second antenna molecule, the first antenna molecule being connected to the second antenna molecule by a wire connection, the wire connection being a parallel electrical connection.

[0107] In another refinement, the first and second antenna molecules are linearly arranged antenna molecules.

[0108] In yet another refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including a first source coil atom and one or more first connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atom being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, each of the first source coil atom and the one or more first connecting coil atoms partially overlapping one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms, the second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms. The second number of coil atoms includes a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atom being electrically connected to the third starting molecular terminal and the second ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms including at least an outermost turn, and each of the second source coil atom and the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlapping either the second source coil atom or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms.

[0109] In yet another refinement, the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule are electrically connected in parallel through the first starting molecular terminal, the first ending molecular terminal, the second starting molecular terminal, and the second ending molecular terminal.

[0110] In yet another refinement, the first and second antenna molecules have a puzzle-shaped configuration relative to one another.

[0111] In yet another refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor extending from a first molecular terminal to a second molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including first coil atoms and second coil atoms, the second coil atoms being disposed generally in a continuation of a diagonal of the first coil atoms and the second antenna molecule, and the second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a third molecular terminal to a fourth molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the fourth coil atoms being disposed generally in a continuation of a diagonal of the third coil atoms. The first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule overlap to form a first atomic row and a second atomic row, and a first atomic column and a second atomic column, the first atomic row including a first coil atom and a fourth coil atom, the second atomic row including a third coil atom and a second coil atom, the first atomic column including the first coil atom and the third coil atom, and the second atomic column including the fourth coil atom and the second coil atom.

[0112] In yet another refinement, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms, the third coil atoms partially overlap with the second coil atoms, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the third coil atoms, and the second coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms.

[0113] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmission system is disclosed. The system includes one or more electrical components, the electrical components including one or more electrical components configured to generate signals for one or both of wireless power transmission and wireless data transmission. The system further includes a source antenna coil, the source antenna coil being electrically connected by wires to at least one of the one or more electrical components. The system further includes at least one antenna molecule, the antenna molecule being independent of the source antenna coil and the one or more electrical components of the wireless power transmission system, the at least one antenna molecule being configured as a repeater for wireless power transmission, the at least one antenna molecule being configured to receive a wireless power signal from the source coil and transmit a repeated wireless power signal.

[0114] In one refinement, the system further includes a substrate on which the one or more electrical components and the source antenna coil are disposed.

[0115] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a transmission control system.

[0116] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a power conditioning system.

[0117] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a transmit tuning system.

[0118] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a wireless power transmission system is disclosed, the method includes the steps of fabricating a plurality of electrical components of the wireless power transmission system on a substrate and connecting the plurality of electrical components by connecting a source antenna coil to the electrical components, the method further includes the steps of disposing the source antenna coil in proximity to at least one antenna molecule such that the source antenna coil and the at least one antenna molecule can be wirelessly electrically connected by near-field magnetic induction, the at least one antenna molecule being independent of the source antenna coil and the electrical components of the wireless power transmission system, the at least one antenna molecule being configured as a repeater for wireless power transmission, the at least one antenna molecule being configured to receive a wireless power signal from the source coil and transmit a repeater wireless power signal.

[0119] In one refinement, the method further comprises the step of disposing the source antenna coil on a substrate, and the step of connecting the source antenna coil to the electrical component is achieved by electrical connections on the substrate.

[0120] In one refinement, the method further includes forming a first mechanical housing for housing the plurality of electrical components and the source antenna coil, and forming a second mechanical housing for housing the at least one antenna molecule.

[0121] In another refinement, the step of disposing the source antenna coil proximate to the at least one antenna molecule includes mechanically connecting the first mechanical housing and the second mechanical housing to enable wireless electrical connection of the at least one antenna molecule via near-field magnetic induction.

[0122] In one refinement, the method includes forming at least one antenna molecule.

[0123] In another aspect, the steps of connecting a plurality of electrical components and connecting the source antenna coil to the electrical components are performed at a first location, the step of forming at least one antenna molecule is performed at a second location, and the step of disposing the source antenna coil proximate to the at least one antenna molecule is performed at a third location.

[0124] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a source antenna molecule configured for wired electrical connection to one or more electrical components of a wireless power transmission system, the antenna further including two or more repeater antenna molecules separate from the source antenna molecule, the two or more antenna molecules connected to each other by a wired parallel electrical connection, the two or more antenna molecules configured as a repeater for wireless power transmission, configured to receive a wireless power signal from a source coil and transmit a relayed wireless power signal.

[0125] In one refinement, at least one antenna element is configured to transmit wireless power to a wireless receiving system by said relaying wireless power signal.

[0126] In one refinement, the two or more antenna molecules include a first antenna molecule and a second antenna molecule, and the first and second antenna molecules are linearly arranged antenna molecules.

[0127] In one refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including a first source coil atom and one or more first connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atom being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, each of the first source coil atom and the one or more first connecting coil atoms partially overlapping one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms, the second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms. The second number of coil atoms includes a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atom being electrically connected to a third starting molecular terminal and a second ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn. Each of the second source coil atom and the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlaps one of the second source coil atom and one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms. In yet another refinement, the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule are electrically connected in series through the first starting molecular terminal, the first ending molecular terminal, the second starting molecular terminal, and the second ending molecular terminal.

[0128] In one refinement, the two or more antenna molecules include a first antenna molecule and a second antenna molecule, the first and second antenna molecules having a puzzle-shaped configuration relative to one another.

[0129] In another refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor extending from a first molecular terminal to a second molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including first and second coil atoms, the second coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal extension of the first coil atoms and the second antenna molecule, and the second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a third molecular terminal to a fourth molecular terminal, the second conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including third and fourth coil atoms, the fourth coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal extension of the third coil atoms. The first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule overlap to form a first atomic row and a second atomic row, and a first atomic column and a second atomic column, the first atomic row including a first coil atom and a fourth coil atom, the second atomic row including a third coil atom and a second coil atom, the first atomic column including the first coil atom and the third coil atom, and the second atomic column including the fourth coil atom and the second coil atom.

[0130] In yet another refinement, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms, the third coil atoms partially overlap with the second coil atoms, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the third coil atoms, and the second coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms.

[0131] In one refinement, a combination of a source antenna molecule and two or more repeater antenna molecules are combined to have a length of about 50 mm to about 350 mm and a width of about 150 mm to about 500 mm.

[0132] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmission system is disclosed, the system includes one or more electrical components configured to generate signals for one or both of wireless power transmission and wireless data transmission, the system includes two or more repeater antenna molecules independent of a source antenna molecule, the two or more repeater antenna molecules are connected to each other by a wired parallel electrical connection, the two or more repeater antenna molecules are configured as a repeater for wireless power transmission, and are configured to receive a wireless power signal from a source coil and transmit a repeater wireless power signal.

[0133] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a transmission control system.

[0134] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a power conditioning system.

[0135] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a transmit tuning system.

[0136] In one refinement, at least one antenna element is configured to transmit wireless power by relaying wireless power signals to a wireless receiving system.

[0137] In one refinement, the two or more antenna molecules include a first antenna molecule and a second antenna molecule, and the first and second antenna molecules are linearly arranged antenna molecules.

[0138] In another refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor being formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including a first source coil atom and one or more first connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atom being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, each of the first source coil atom and the one or more first connecting coil atoms partially overlapping either the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms. The second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor being formed to define a second number of coil atoms. The second number of coil atoms includes a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atom being electrically connected to the third beginning molecular terminal and the second ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the second source coil atom and the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlapping either the second source coil atom or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms.

[0139] In another refinement, the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule are electrically connected in series through the first starting molecular terminal, the first ending molecular terminal, the second starting molecular terminal, and the second ending molecular terminal.

[0140] In one refinement, the two or more antenna molecules include a first antenna molecule and a second antenna molecule, the first and second antenna molecules having a puzzle-shaped configuration relative to one another.

[0141] In one refinement, the first antenna molecule is formed of a first continuous conductor extending from a first molecular terminal to a second molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including first and second coil atoms, the second coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal extension of the first coil atoms and the second antenna molecule, and the second antenna molecule is formed of a second continuous conductor extending from a third molecular terminal to a fourth molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including third and fourth coil atoms, the fourth coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal extension of the third coil atoms. The first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule overlap to form a first atomic row and a second atomic row, and a first atomic column and a second atomic column, the first atomic row including a first coil atom and a fourth coil atom, the second atomic row including a third coil atom and a second coil atom, the first atomic column including the first coil atom and the third coil atom, and the second atomic column including the fourth coil atom and the second coil atom.

[0142] In another refinement, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms, the third coil atoms partially overlap with the second coil atoms, the first coil atoms partially overlap with the third coil atoms, and the second coil atoms partially overlap with the fourth coil atoms.

[0143] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an antenna for transmitting or receiving wireless power is disclosed. The method includes disposing a first antenna molecule on a first surface, the first surface comprising a dielectric material, and disposing a second antenna molecule on a second surface. The method further includes disposing the first surface and the second surface such that the dielectric material is disposed between the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule and the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule partially overlap.

[0144] In one refinement, the dielectric material is a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet.

[0145] In one refinement, the second surface comprises a second dielectric material.

[0146] In another refinement, a first antenna molecule is disposed within the first dielectric material and a second antenna molecule is disposed within the second dielectric material.

[0147] In one refinement, the step of disposing the first antenna molecule includes disposing a first continuous conductor by winding the first continuous conductor proximate to the first surface, and disposing a second continuous conductor by winding the second continuous conductor proximate to the second surface.

[0148] In another refinement, the winding of the first continuous conductor is performed by a material placement machine configured to place the first continuous conductor proximate the first surface, and the winding of the second continuous conductor is performed by a material placement machine configured to place the second continuous conductor proximate the second surface.

[0149] In one refinement, the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule are arranged in a linear fashion.

[0150] In another refinement, the step of disposing the first antenna molecule includes disposing a first continuous conductor, the first continuous conductor extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including a first source coil atom and one or more first continuous coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atoms being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the first source coil atom and the one or more first coil atoms partially overlapping one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms. The step of disposing the second antenna molecule includes disposing a second continuous conductor, the second continuous conductor extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atoms electrically connected to the third starting molecular terminal and the second ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the second source coil atom and the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlapping either the second source coil atom or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms.

[0151] In one refinement, the first and second antenna molecules have a puzzle-shaped configuration relative to one another.

[0152] In another refinement, the step of disposing the first antenna molecule includes disposing a first continuous conductor, the first continuous conductor extending from a first molecular terminal to a second molecular terminal, the first continuous conductor formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including first and second coil atoms, the second coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal of the first coil atoms, and the step of disposing the second antenna molecule includes disposing a second continuous conductor, the second continuous conductor extending from a third molecular terminal to a fourth molecular terminal, the second continuous conductor formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including third and fourth coil atoms, the fourth coil atoms being disposed approximately in a diagonal of the third coil atoms. The step of arranging the first and second surfaces is performed such that the first antenna molecule and the second antenna molecule overlap to form a first atomic row and a second atomic row, and a first atomic column and a second atomic column, the first atomic row including a first coil atom and a fourth coil atom, the second atomic row including a third coil atom and a second coil atom, the first atomic column including the first coil atom and the third coil atom, and the second atomic column including the fourth coil atom and the second coil atom.

[0153] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless power is disclosed. The method includes disposing a first number of antenna molecules on a first surface and disposing a second number of antenna molecules on a second surface, the first surface comprising a dielectric material. The method further includes disposing the first surface and the second surface such that the dielectric material is disposed between the first number of antenna molecules and the second number of antenna molecules, and each of the first number of antenna molecules overlaps at least one of the second number of antenna molecules.

[0154] In one refinement, the dielectric material is a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet.

[0155] In one refinement, the second surface comprises a second dielectric material.

[0156] In another refinement, a first number of antenna molecules are disposed within a first dielectric material and a second number of antenna molecules are disposed within a second dielectric material.

[0157] In one refinement, the step of disposing the first number of antenna molecules includes disposing the first number of continuous conductors by winding the first number of continuous conductors proximate the first surface, and the step of disposing the second number of antenna molecules includes disposing the second number of continuous conductors by disposing the second number of continuous conductors proximate the second surface.

[0158] In another refinement, the winding of the first number of continuous conductors is performed by a material placement machine configured to place the first number of continuous conductors proximate the first surface, and the winding of the second number of continuous conductors is performed by a material placement machine configured to place the second number of continuous conductors proximate the second surface.

[0159] In one refinement, the first number of antenna molecules and the second number of antenna molecules are linearly arranged antenna molecules.

[0160] In another refinement, the step of disposing the first number of antenna molecules includes disposing a first number of continuous conductors, each of the first number of continuous conductors extending from a first starting molecular terminal to a first ending molecular terminal, each of the first continuous conductors formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including a first source coil atom and one or more first connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the first source coil atom, the first source coil atoms being electrically connected to the first starting molecular terminal and the first ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more first connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the first source coil atom and the one or more first connecting coil atoms partially overlapping one of the first source coil atom or one of the one or more first connecting coil atoms. The step of disposing the second number of antenna molecules includes disposing a second number of continuous conductors, each of the second number of continuous conductors extending from a second starting molecular terminal to a second ending molecular terminal, each of the second continuous conductors formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including a second source coil atom and one or more second connecting coil atoms electrically connected to the second source coil atom, the second source coil atoms being electrically connected to a third starting molecular terminal and to the second ending molecular terminal, each of the one or more second connecting coil atoms having at least an outermost turn, and each of the second source coil atom and the one or more second connecting coil atoms partially overlapping either the second source coil atom or one of the one or more second connecting coil atoms.

[0161] In one refinement, the first number of antenna molecules and the second number of antenna molecules have a puzzle-shaped configuration relative to one another.

[0162] In another refinement, the step of disposing the first number of antenna molecules includes disposing a first number of continuous conductors, each of the first number of continuous conductors extending from a first molecular terminal to a second molecular terminal, each of the first continuous conductors formed to define a first number of coil atoms, the first number of coil atoms including first and second coil atoms, the second coil atoms being disposed approximately along a diagonal of the first coil atoms, and the step of disposing the second number of antenna molecules includes disposing a second number of continuous conductors, each of the second number of continuous conductors extending from a third molecular terminal to a fourth molecular terminal, each of the second continuous conductors formed to define a second number of coil atoms, the second number of coil atoms including third and fourth coil atoms, the fourth coil atoms being disposed approximately along a diagonal of the third coil atoms. The step of arranging the first and second surfaces is performed such that each of the first number of antenna molecules and each of the second number of antenna molecules overlap to form a first atomic row and a second atomic row, and a first atomic column and a second atomic column, the first atomic row including a first coil atom and a fourth coil atom, the second atomic row including a third coil atom and a second coil atom, the first atomic column including the first coil atom and the third coil atom, and the second atomic column including the fourth coil atom and the second coil atom.

[0163] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first outer turn and a first inner turn, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transmission, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first outer turn, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first inner turn, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first outer turn and in a second source direction through the first inner turn, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The antenna further includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductor, the internal repeater coil including a second outer turn and a second inner turn, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second outer turn and in the second inner turn, the second conductor arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second outer turn and in a second repeater direction through the second inner turn, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction.

[0164] In one refinement, each of the first source direction and the first repeater direction is one of clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0165] In one refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are combined to form a single transmitting antenna.

[0166] In another refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are configured to be contained within a common mechanical housing.

[0167] In one refinement, the antenna further comprises a repeater tuning system, the repeater tuning system comprising a repeater tuning capacitor.

[0168] In one refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil combine to form a generally rectangular shape.

[0169] In another refinement, the generally rectangular shape includes rounded edges.

[0170] In yet another refinement, the source coils and the internal repeater coils are oriented in the row direction.

[0171] In yet another refinement, the source coils and the internal repeater coils are oriented in a column direction.

[0172] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transfer system is disclosed, the system including one or more electrical components configured to generate a signal for one or both of wireless power transfer and wireless data transfer, the system further including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first outer turn and a first inner turn, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first outer turn, the first conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first inner turn, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first outer turn and in a second source direction through the first inner turn, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The system further includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductor, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second outer turn and in the second inner turn, the second conductor arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second outer turn and in a second repeater direction through the second inner turn, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction. The source coil is configured to wirelessly transmit a wireless power signal generated by the one or more electrical components to the internal repeater coil and to the wireless receiving system, the internal repeater coil configured to receive the wireless power signal and transmit a relayed wireless power signal to the wireless receiving system, the relayed wireless power signal being based on the received wireless power signal.

[0173] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a transmission control system.

[0174] In one refinement, the one or more electrical components include a power conditioning system.

[0175] In one refinement, the first source direction and the second source direction are one of clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0176] In one refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are combined to form a single transmitting antenna.

[0177] In another refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are configured to be contained within a common mechanical housing.

[0178] In another refinement, the system further includes a repeater tuning system, the repeater tuning system including a repeater tuning capacitor.

[0179] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first number of outer turns and a first number of inner turns, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transmission, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first number of outer turns, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first number of inner turns, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first number of outer turns and in a second source direction through the first number of inner turns, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The antenna further includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductor, the internal repeater coil including a second number of outer turns and a second number of inner turns, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second number of outer turns and in the second number of inner turns, the second conductor arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second number of outer turns and in a second repeater direction through the second number of inner turns, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction.

[0180] In one refinement, the first number of outer turns includes two turns and the second number of inner turns includes two turns.

[0181] In another refinement, the first number of inner turns includes three turns and the second number of inner turns includes three turns.

[0182] In yet another refinement, the first number of turns includes a first turn, a second turn, and a third turn, a first gap width between the first turn and the second turn, a second gap width between the second turn and the third turn, the second gap width being greater than the first gap width, and the second number of turns includes a fourth turn, a fifth turn, and a sixth turn, a third gap width between the fourth turn and the fifth turn, and a fourth gap width between the fifth turn and the sixth turn, the fourth gap width being greater than the third gap width.

[0183] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first outer turn and a first inner turn, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transmission, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first outer turn, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first inner turn, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first outer turn and in a second source direction through the first inner turn, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The antenna includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductor, the internal repeater coil including a second outer turn and a second inner turn, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second outer turn and in the second inner turn, the second conductor arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second outer turn and in a second repeater direction through the second inner turn, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction. The antenna further includes a repeater tuning system electrically connected to a start of the second outer turn and an end of the second inner turn, the repeater tuning system disposed inside the second outer turn.

[0184] In one refinement, the repeater tuning system includes at least one capacitor for tuning the internal repeater coil.

[0185] In another refinement, at least one capacitor is disposed on a substrate separate from the one or more electronic components, the substrate being disposed inside the second outer turn.

[0186] In yet another refinement, at least one capacitor is an interdigitated capacitor.

[0187] In yet another refinement, the interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a substrate separate from the one or more electronic components, the substrate being disposed within the second outer turn.

[0188] In yet another refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are configured to be contained within a common mechanical housing, and the interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a dielectric surface of the mechanical housing within a perimeter defined by the second outer turn.

[0189] In another refinement, the at least one capacitor is disposed radially inside the second outer turn and radially outside the second inner turn.

[0190] In yet another refinement, the at least one capacitor is disposed radially inside the second inner turn.

[0191] In one refinement, the first source direction and the first repeater direction are one of clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0192] In one refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are combined to form a single transmitting antenna.

[0193] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmission system is disclosed, the system including one or more electrical components configured to generate a signal for one or both of wireless power transmission and wireless data transmission, the system further including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first outer turn and a first inner turn, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transmission, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first outer turn, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with the first inner turn, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first outer turn and in a second source direction through the first inner turn, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The system further includes an internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second outer turn and the second inner turn, the second conductor arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second outer turn and a second repeater direction through the second inner turn, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction. The system further includes a repeater tuning system electrically connected to a start of the second outer turn and an end of the second inner turn, the repeater tuning system being arranged inside the second outer turn. The source coil is configured to wirelessly transmit a wireless power signal generated by the one or more electrical components to the internal repeater coil and a wireless receiving system, the internal repeater coil being configured to receive the wireless power signal and transmit a relayed wireless power signal to the wireless receiving system, the relayed wireless power signal being based on the received wireless power signal.

[0194] In one refinement, the repeater tuning system includes at least one capacitor for tuning the internal repeater coil.

[0195] In another refinement, at least one capacitor is disposed on a substrate separate from the one or more electronic components, the substrate being disposed inside the second outer turn.

[0196] In another refinement, at least one capacitor is an interdigitated capacitor.

[0197] In yet another refinement, the interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a substrate separate from the one or more electronic components, the substrate being disposed within the second outer turn.

[0198] In yet another refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are configured to be contained within a common mechanical housing, and the interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a dielectric surface of the mechanical housing within a perimeter defined by the second outer turn.

[0199] In one refinement, the at least one capacitor is disposed radially inside the second outer turn and radially outside the second inner turn.

[0200] In one refinement, the at least one capacitor is disposed radially inside the second inner turn.

[0201] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first number of outer turns and a first number of inner turns, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transmission, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first number of outer turns, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first number of inner turns, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first number of outer turns and in a second source direction through the first number of inner turns, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The antenna includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductor, the internal repeater coil including a second number of outer turns and a second number of inner turns, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a current in the second number of outer turns and in the second number of inner turns, the second conductor arranged such that a repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second number of outer turns and in a second repeater direction through the second number of inner turns, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction. The antenna includes a repeater tuning system electrically connected to a start of the second number of outer turns and an end of the second number of inner turns, the repeater tuning system being arranged inside the second number of outer turns.

[0202] In one refinement, the first number of outer turns includes two turns, the second number of outer turns includes two turns, the first number of inner turns includes three turns, and the second number of inner turns includes three turns.

[0203] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first outer turn and a first inner turn, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transmission, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first outer turn, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first inner turn, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first outer turn and in a second source direction through the first inner turn, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The antenna includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductor, the internal repeater coil including a second outer turn and a second inner turn, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second outer turn and the second inner turn, the second conductor arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second outer turn and in a second repeater direction through the second inner turn, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction. The antenna further includes a source-to-turn capacitor electrically connected between the first outer turn and the first inner turn, and a repeater-to-turn capacitor electrically connected between the second outer turn and the second inner turn.

[0204] In one refinement, the source-turn capacitor is located on a substrate separate from the one or more electronic components.

[0205] In another refinement, the substrate is disposed inside the first outer turn.

[0206] In one refinement, the repeater inter-turn capacitor is located on a substrate separate from the one or more electronic components.

[0207] In another refinement, the substrate is disposed inside the second outer turn.

[0208] In one refinement, the source-turn capacitor is a first interdigitated capacitor and the repeater-turn capacitor is a second interdigitated capacitor.

[0209] In another refinement, a first interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a first substrate separate from the one or more electronic components, and a second interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a second substrate separate from the one or more electronic components.

[0210] In yet another refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are configured to be contained within a common mechanical housing, with a first interdigitated capacitor disposed on a first dielectric surface of the mechanical housing within a perimeter defined by a first outer turn, and a second interdigitated capacitor disposed on a second dielectric surface of the mechanical housing within a perimeter defined by a second outer turn.

[0211] In one refinement, the first source direction and the first repeater direction are one of clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0212] In one refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are combined to form a single transmitting antenna.

[0213] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transfer system is disclosed, the system including one or more electrical components configured to generate a signal for one or both of wireless power transfer and wireless data transfer, the system further including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first outer turn and a first inner turn, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transfer, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first outer turn, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first inner turn, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first outer turn and in a second source direction through the first inner turn. The system further includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductor, the internal repeater coil including a second outer turn and a second inner turn, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second outer turn and the second inner turn, the second conductor arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second outer turn and in a second repeater direction through the second inner turn, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction. The system further includes a source-to-turn capacitor electrically connected between the first outer turn and the first inner turn, and a repeater-to-turn capacitor electrically connected between the second outer turn and the second inner turn. The source coil is configured to transmit a wireless power signal generated by the one or more electrical components to the internal repeater coil and a wireless receiving system, the internal repeater coil configured to receive the wireless power signal and transmit a relayed wireless power signal to the wireless receiving system, the relayed wireless power signal being based on the received wireless power signal.

[0214] In one refinement, the source-to-turn capacitor is located on a first substrate separate from the one or more electronic components, and the repeater-to-turn capacitor is located on a second substrate separate from the one or more electronic components.

[0215] In another refinement, the first substrate is disposed inside the first outer turn and the second substrate is disposed inside the second outer turn.

[0216] In one refinement, the source-turn capacitor is a first interdigitated capacitor and the repeater-turn capacitor is a second interdigitated capacitor.

[0217] In another refinement, a first interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a first substrate separate from the one or more electronic components, and a second interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a second substrate separate from the one or more electronic components.

[0218] In yet another refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are configured to be contained within a common mechanical housing, with a first interdigitated capacitor disposed on a first dielectric surface of the mechanical housing within a perimeter defined by a first outer turn, and a second interdigitated capacitor disposed on a second dielectric surface of the mechanical housing within a perimeter defined by a second outer turn.

[0219] In one refinement, the first source direction and the first repeater direction are one of clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0220] In one refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are combined to form a single transmitting antenna.

[0221] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first number of outer turns and a first number of inner turns, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transmission, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first outer turn, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first number of inner turns, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first number of outer turns and in a second source direction through the first number of inner turns, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The antenna further includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductive wire, the internal repeater coil including a second number of outer turns and a second number of inner turns, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second number of outer turns and in the second number of inner turns, the second conductive wire arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second number of outer turns and in a second repeater direction through the second number of inner turns, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction. The antenna further includes a source-to-turn capacitor electrically connected between the first number of outer turns and the first number of inner turns, and a repeater-to-turn capacitor electrically connected between the second number of outer turns and the second number of inner turns.

[0222] In one refinement, the first number of outer turns includes two turns, the second number of outer turns includes two turns, the first number of inner turns includes three turns, and the second number of inner turns includes three turns.

[0223] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first outer turn and a first inner turn, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transmission, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first outer turn, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first inner turn, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first outer turn and in a second source direction through the first inner turn, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The antenna further includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductor, the internal repeater coil including a second outer turn and a second inner turn, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second outer turn and in the second inner turn, the second conductor arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second outer turn and in a second repeater direction through the second inner turn, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction. The antenna further includes a repeater filter circuit connected between a start of the second outer turn and an end of the second inner turn, the repeater filter circuit including an LC filter to introduce a filter impedance into the internal repeater coil.

[0224] In one refinement, the repeater filter circuit includes an inductor and a capacitor.

[0225] In another improvement, the repeater filter circuit is configured to filter out electromagnetic interference (EMI).

[0226] In one refinement, the antenna further includes a repeater tuning system, the repeater filter circuit being connected in series with the repeater tuning system between the start of the second outer turn and the end of the second inner turn.

[0227] In one improvement, the filter impedance of the repeater filter circuit is set to reduce the sensitivity of the internal repeater coil to parasitic capacitances.

[0228] In one refinement, the antenna further includes a source inter-turn capacitor electrically connected between the first outer turn and the first inner turn, and a repeater inter-turn capacitor electrically connected between the second outer turn and the second inner turn.

[0229] In yet another refinement, the source-turn capacitor is a first interdigitated capacitor and the repeater-turn capacitor is a second interdigitated capacitor.

[0230] In yet another refinement, a first interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a first substrate separate from the one or more electronic components, and a second interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a second substrate separate from the one or more electronic components.

[0231] In one refinement, the first source direction and the first repeater direction are one of clockwise and counterclockwise.

[0232] In one refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are combined to form a single transmitting antenna.

[0233] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transfer system is disclosed, the system including one or more electrical components for one or both of wireless power transfer and wireless data transfer, the system further including a source coil comprised of a first conductor, the source coil including a first outer turn and a first inner turn, the source coil configured to be connected to one or more electronic components for wireless power transfer, the first conductor originating from a first source terminal associated with a beginning of the first outer turn, the conductor terminating at a second source terminal associated with an end of the first inner turn, the first conductor arranged such that a source current flows in a first source direction through the first outer turn and in a second source direction through the first inner turn, the second source direction being substantially opposite to the first source direction. The system further includes an internal repeater coil comprised of a second conductor, the internal repeater coil including a second outer turn and a second inner turn, the internal repeater coil configured to induce a repeater current in the second outer turn and in the second inner turn, the second conductor arranged such that the repeater current flows in a first repeater direction through the second outer turn and in a second repeater direction through the second inner turn, the second repeater direction being substantially opposite to the first repeater direction. The system further includes a repeater filter circuit connected between a start of the second outer turn and an end of the second inner turn, the repeater filter circuit including an LC filter to introduce a filter impedance into the internal repeater coil.

[0234] In one refinement, the repeater filter circuit includes an inductor and a capacitor.

[0235] In another improvement, the repeater filter circuit is configured to filter out electromagnetic interference (EMI).

[0236] In one refinement, the system further includes a repeater adjustment system, the repeater filter circuit being connected in series with the repeater adjustment system between a start point of the second outer turn and an end point of the second inner turn.

[0237] In one improvement, the filter impedance of the repeater filter circuit is set to reduce the sensitivity of the internal repeater coil to parasitic capacitances.

[0238] In one refinement, the system further includes a source inter-turn capacitor electrically connected between the first outer turn and the first inner turn, and a repeater inter-turn capacitor electrically connected between the second outer turn and the second inner turn.

[0239] In one refinement, the source-turn capacitor is a first interdigitated capacitor and the repeater-turn capacitor is a second interdigitated capacitor.

[0240] In another refinement, a first interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a first substrate separate from the one or more electronic components, and a second interdigitated capacitor is disposed on a second substrate separate from the one or more electronic components.

[0241] In one refinement, the first source direction and the first repeater direction are one of clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0242] In one refinement, the source coil and the internal repeater coil are combined to form a single transmitting antenna.

[0243] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmission system is disclosed. The system includes one or more electrical components configured to generate a signal for one or both of wireless power transmission and wireless data transmission. The system further includes a wireless power transmission antenna, the wireless power transmission antenna including one or more conductors, each of the one or more conductors being configured to include one or more coils of the wireless power transmission antenna. The system further includes a metal mesh structure, the metal mesh structure being disposed beneath the wireless power transmission antenna and separated from the wireless power transmission antenna by a mesh gap, the mesh gap having a width of 5 mm or less. The system further includes a housing, the housing comprising a dielectric material and housing at least the wireless power transmission antenna.

[0244] In one refinement, the housing includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the wireless power transmitting antenna being disposed proximate the upper surface and the metal mesh structure being disposed proximate the lower surface.

[0245] In another refinement, the housing includes an interior dielectric material disposed between the upper and lower surfaces.

[0246] In yet another refinement, the housing defines a space between the lower surface and the upper surface.

[0247] In another refinement, a metal mesh structure is disposed on the exterior of the lower surface.

[0248] In yet another refinement, a metal mesh structure is disposed on the exterior of the underside as a printed metal material.

[0249] In yet another refinement, the metal mesh structure includes a stylized design.

[0250] In one refinement, the metal mesh structure has a generally rectangular hatched (reticulated) design with each section of the metal mesh connected.

[0251] In one refinement, the wireless power transmitting antenna is a molecular-based transmitting antenna, and each of the one or more conductive wires is formed in the shape of an antenna molecule.

[0252] In another refinement, the antenna molecules are linearly arranged antenna molecules.

[0253] In yet another refinement, the antenna molecules are arranged in a puzzle configuration.

[0254] In one improvement, the wireless power transmitting antenna is of a source-repeater type, and the one or more conductors include a first conductor formed into a source coil and a second conductor formed into an internal repeater coil.

[0255] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power transmission is disclosed, the antenna comprising one or more conductors, a metal mesh structure, and a housing, each of the one or more conductors being formed with one or more coils, the metal mesh structure being disposed beneath the one or more conductors and separated from the wireless power transmission antenna by a mesh gap, the mesh gap having a width of 5 mm or less, the housing comprising a dielectric material and configured to house at least the one or more conductors.

[0256] In one refinement, the housing has an upper surface and a lower surface, the one or more conductive wires are disposed proximate the upper surface and the metal mesh structure is disposed proximate the lower surface.

[0257] In one refinement, the housing includes an inner dielectric material disposed between the upper and lower surfaces.

[0258] In one refinement, the housing defines a space between the upper surface and the lower surface.

[0259] In one refinement, a metal mesh structure is disposed on the exterior of the underside.

[0260] In another refinement, a metal mesh structure is disposed as a printed metal material on the exterior of the lower surface.

[0261] In yet another refinement, the metal mesh structure has a stylized design.

[0262] In one refinement, the metal mesh structure has a generally rectangular hatched design, with each section of the metal mesh being connected.

[0263] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless transmission system is disclosed, the system includes a transmitting antenna configured to couple with at least one other antenna of at least one other system to transmit alternating current (AC) wireless signals to the at least one antenna, the AC wireless signals including a wireless power signal and a wireless data signal, the wireless data signal being generated by changing an electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal in the at least one other system, the transmitting antenna including a source coil and an internal repeater coil, the system further includes at least one sensor configured to detect electrical information related to the electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal in the internal repeater coil, the electrical information including one or more of a current of the AC wireless signal, a voltage of the AC wireless signal, a power level of the AC wireless signal, or a combination thereof. The system further includes a demodulation circuit configured to (i) receive electrical information from at least one sensor in the internal repeater coil, (ii) detect a change in the electrical information, (iii) determine whether the change in the electrical information meets or exceeds one of an ascending threshold or a descending threshold, (iv) generate an alert if the change meets one of the ascending threshold or the descending threshold, and (v) output a plurality of data alerts. The system further includes a transmit controller configured to (i) receive the plurality of data alerts from the demodulation circuit and (ii) decode the plurality of data alerts into a wireless data signal.

[0264] In one refinement, the at least one other system encodes the wireless data signal as a high threshold voltage and a low threshold voltage of an AC wireless signal.

[0265] In another refinement, the rising threshold is associated with a high threshold voltage and the falling threshold is associated with a low threshold voltage.

[0266] In yet another refinement, the wireless data signal is encoded as a pulse width coded wireless data signal.

[0267] In one refinement, the wireless data signal is encoded as a pulse width coded wireless data signal, and the demodulation circuit includes a slope detection circuit configured to measure a voltage rate of change of a voltage of the wireless power signal.

[0268] In another improvement, the demodulation circuit includes a comparison (comparator) circuit configured to (i) receive the rate of voltage change, (ii) compare the rate of voltage change with the rate of change of rise, (iii) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds an up threshold if the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the up rate of change, (iv) compare the rate of voltage change with the rate of change of fall, and (v) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds the down threshold if the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the down rate of change.

[0269] In yet another refinement, the demodulation circuit includes a set / reset (SR) latch in operative communication with the comparison circuit.

[0270] In one refinement, the transmitting antenna is configured to operate based on an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz.

[0271] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless transmission system is disclosed, the system includes a transmitting antenna configured to couple with at least one other antenna of at least one other system to transmit alternating current (AC) wireless signals to the at least one antenna, the AC wireless signals including a wireless power signal and a wireless data signal, the wireless data signal being generated by changing an electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal in the at least one other system, the transmitting antenna including a source coil and an internal repeater coil, the system further includes at least one sensor configured to detect electrical information related to the electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal at the source coil, the electrical information including one or more of a current of the AC wireless signal, a voltage of the AC wireless signal, a power level of the AC wireless signal, or a combination thereof. The system further includes a demodulation circuit configured to (i) receive electrical information from the at least one sensor in the source coil, (ii) detect a change in the electrical information, (iii) determine whether the change in the electrical information meets or exceeds one of an ascending threshold or a descending threshold, (iv) generate an alert if the change meets one of the ascending threshold or the descending threshold, and (v) output a plurality of data alerts. The system further includes a transmit controller configured to (i) receive the plurality of data alerts from the demodulation circuit and (ii) decode the plurality of data alerts into a wireless data signal.

[0272] In one refinement, the at least one other system encodes the wireless data signal as a high threshold voltage and a low threshold voltage of an AC wireless signal.

[0273] In another refinement, the rising threshold is associated with a high threshold voltage and the falling threshold is associated with a low threshold voltage.

[0274] In yet another refinement, the wireless data signal is encoded as a pulse width coded wireless data signal.

[0275] In one refinement, the wireless data signal is encoded as a pulse width coded wireless data signal and the demodulation circuit includes a slope detection circuit that measures a voltage rate of change of the voltage of the wireless power signal.

[0276] In another improvement, the demodulation circuit includes a comparison circuit configured to (i) receive the rate of voltage change, (ii) compare the rate of voltage change to the rate of change of rise, (iii) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds an ascending threshold if the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the rate of change of rise, (iv) compare the rate of voltage change to the rate of change of fall, and (v) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds the descending threshold if the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the rate of change of fall.

[0277] In yet another refinement, the demodulation circuit includes a set / reset (SR) latch in operative communication with the comparison circuit.

[0278] In one refinement, the transmitting antenna is configured to operate based on an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz.

[0279] According to another aspect of the present invention, a wireless transmission system is disclosed, the system includes a transmitting antenna configured to couple with at least one other antenna of at least one other system to transmit alternating current (AC) wireless signals to the at least one antenna, the AC wireless signals including a wireless power signal and a wireless data signal, the wireless data signal being generated by changing an electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal in the at least one other system, the transmitting antenna including a source coil and an internal repeater coil, the system further includes at least one sensor configured to detect electrical information related to the electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal, the electrical information including one or more of a current of the AC wireless signal, a voltage of the AC wireless signal, and a power level of the AC wireless signal. The system further includes a demodulation circuit configured to (i) receive the electrical information from the at least one sensor, (ii) apply automatic bias and gain controls to the electrical information to generate a modified electrical information signal, (iii) detect a change in the modified electrical information signal, (iv) determine whether the change in the modified electrical information signal meets or exceeds one of an ascending threshold or a descending threshold, (v) generate an alert if the change meets one of the ascending threshold or the descending threshold, and (vi) output a plurality of data alerts. The system further includes a transmit controller configured to (i) receive the plurality of data alerts from the demodulation circuit, and (ii) decode the plurality of data alerts into a wireless data signal.

[0280] In one refinement, the at least one sensor is configured to detect electrical information in a source coil of the transmitting antenna.

[0281] In one refinement, the at least one sensor is configured to detect electrical information in an internal repeater coil of the transmitting antenna.

[0282] In one refinement, the transmitting antenna is configured to operate based on an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz.

[0283] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless transmission system is disclosed. The system includes a transmitting antenna configured to couple with at least one other antenna of at least one other system to transmit alternating current (AC) wireless signals to the at least one antenna, the AC wireless signals including a wireless power signal and a wireless data signal, the wireless data signal being generated by changing an electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal in the at least one other system, the transmitting antenna including a source coil and an internal repeater coil. The system further includes a first sensor configured to detect first electrical information related to the electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal at the source coil, the electrical information including one or more of a first current of the AC wireless signal, a first voltage of the AC wireless signal, a first power level of the AC wireless signal, or a combination thereof. The system further includes a second sensor configured to detect second electrical information related to the electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal at the internal repeater coil, the electrical information including one or more of a second current of the AC wireless signal, a second voltage of the AC wireless signal, a second power level of the AC wireless signal, or a combination thereof. The system further includes a first demodulation circuit configured to (i) receive the first electrical information from the first sensor, (ii) detect a change in the first electrical information, (iii) determine whether the change in the first electrical information meets or exceeds one of an ascending threshold or a descending threshold, (iv) generate an alarm if the change meets one of the ascending threshold or the descending threshold, and (v) output a plurality of data alarms. The system further includes a second demodulation circuit configured to (i) receive the second electrical information from the second sensor, (ii) detect a change in the second electrical information, (iii) determine whether the change in the second electrical information meets or exceeds one of the ascending threshold or the descending threshold, (iv) generate an alarm if the change meets one of the ascending threshold or the descending threshold, and (v) output a plurality of data alarms.The system further includes a summing amplifier configured to (i) receive the first number of data alerts and the second number of data alerts, (ii) sum the first number of data alerts and the second number of data alerts to generate a plurality of summed data alerts, and (iii) output the plurality of summed data alerts. The system further includes a transmit controller configured to (i) receive the plurality of summed data alerts from the summing amplifier and (ii) decode the plurality of data alerts into a wireless data signal.

[0284] In one refinement, the at least one other system encodes the wireless data signal as a high threshold voltage and a low threshold voltage of an AC wireless signal.

[0285] In another refinement, the rising threshold is associated with a high threshold voltage and the falling threshold is associated with a low threshold voltage.

[0286] In yet another refinement, the wireless data signal is encoded as a pulse width coded wireless data signal.

[0287] In one improvement, the electrical characteristic includes a voltage of the wireless power signal, and each of the first and second demodulation circuits includes a slope detection circuit, the slope detection circuit configured to measure a voltage rate of change of the voltage of the wireless power signal.

[0288] In another refinement, each of the first and second demodulation circuits includes a comparison circuit configured to (i) receive the rate of voltage change, (ii) compare the rate of voltage change with the rate of change of rise, (iii) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds an ascending threshold if the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the ascending rate of change, (iv) compare the rate of voltage change with the rate of change of fall, and (v) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds the descending threshold if the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the descending rate of change.

[0289] In yet another refinement, the first and second demodulation circuits include a set / reset (SR) latch in operative communication with the comparison circuit.

[0290] In one refinement, the transmitting antenna is configured to operate based on an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz.

[0291] In one refinement, the system further includes a phase detector configured to receive the first number of data alerts and the second number of data alerts and determine whether one or both of the first number of data alerts and the second number of data alerts are out of phase.

[0292] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmission system is disclosed. The system includes a transmitting antenna configured to couple with at least one other antenna of at least one other system and transmit alternating current (AC) wireless signals to the at least one antenna, the AC wireless signals including a wireless power signal and a wireless data signal, the wireless data signal being generated by changing an electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal in the at least one other system. The system further includes a first sensor configured to detect first electrical information related to an electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal at a source coil, the electrical information including one or more of a first current of the AC wireless signal, a first voltage of the AC wireless signal, a first power level of the AC wireless signal, or a combination thereof. The system further includes a second sensor configured to detect second electrical information related to an electrical characteristic of the AC wireless signal at an internal repeater coil, the electrical information including one or more of a second current of the AC wireless signal, a second voltage of the AC wireless signal, a second power level of the AC wireless signal, or a combination thereof. The system further includes a first demodulation circuit configured to (i) receive first electrical information from the first sensor, (ii) apply automatic bias control and gain control to the first electrical information to generate a first modified electrical information signal, (iii) detect a first change in the first modified electrical information, (iv) determine whether the change in the first modified electrical information signal meets or exceeds one of an ascending threshold or a descending threshold, (v) generate an alarm if the change meets one of the ascending threshold or the descending threshold, and (vi) output a first number of data alarms.The system further includes a second demodulation circuit configured to (i) receive the second electrical information from the second sensor, (ii) apply automatic bias and gain control to the second electrical information to generate a second modified electrical information signal, (iii) detect a second change in the second modified electrical information signal, (iv) determine whether the second change in the second modified electrical information signal meets or exceeds one of an ascending threshold or a descending threshold, (v) generate an alarm if the second change meets one of the ascending threshold or the descending threshold, and (vi) output a second number of data alarms. The system further includes a summing amplifier configured to (i) receive the first number of data alarms and the second number of data alarms, (ii) sum the first number of data alarms and the second number of data alarms to generate a plurality of summed data alarms, and (iii) output a plurality of summed data alarms. The system further includes a transmit controller configured to (i) receive the plurality of summed data alerts from the summing amplifier and (ii) decode the plurality of data alerts into a wireless data signal.

[0293] In one refinement, each of the first and second demodulation circuits includes a slope detection circuit having a first op-amp (operational amplifier) ​​for slope detection to generate a slope detection signal and a second op-amp for amplifying the slope detection signal to generate an amplified slope detection signal.

[0294] In another refinement, an offset voltage signal is provided to a first operational amplifier, the offset voltage signal being controlled by a first digital potentiometer in a first voltage divider, and an amplification control signal is provided to a second operational amplifier, the amplification control signal being controlled by a second digital potentiometer in a second voltage divider.

[0295] In yet another refinement, the resistance values ​​of the first digital potentiometer and the second digital potentiometer are set by the transmit controller.

[0296] In yet another refinement, the transmit controller sets respective resistance values ​​of the first digital potentiometer and the second digital potentiometer based on a detected current associated with the wireless data signal and a detected coupling strength between the transmit antenna and the at least one other antenna.

[0297] In yet another refinement, the electrical characteristic includes a voltage of the wireless power signal, and each of the first and second demodulation circuits is configured to detect a change in the modified electrical information signal by measuring a voltage rate of change of the voltage of the modified electrical information.

[0298] In yet another refinement, each of the first and second demodulation circuits includes a comparison circuit configured to (i) receive the rate of voltage change, (ii) compare the rate of voltage change to the rate of change of rise, and (iii) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds a rise threshold when the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the rate of change of rise.

[0299] In yet another refinement, the first and second demodulation circuits include a comparison circuit configured to (i) receive the rate of voltage change, (ii) compare the rate of voltage change to the rate of decline, and (iii) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds a decline threshold when the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the rate of decline.

[0300] In yet another refinement, each of the first and second demodulation circuits includes a comparison circuit configured to (i) receive the rate of voltage change, (ii) compare the rate of voltage change with the rate of change of rise, (iii) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds an ascending threshold if the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the ascending rate of change, (iv) compare the rate of voltage change with the rate of change of fall, and (v) determine that the change in the electrical characteristic meets or exceeds the descending threshold if the rate of voltage change meets or exceeds the descending rate of change.

[0301] In yet another refinement, each of the first and second demodulation circuits includes a set / reset (SR) latch in operative communication with the output of the comparison circuit.

[0302] In one refinement, the transmitting antenna is configured to operate based on an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz.

[0303] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for a wireless power receiving system is disclosed, the antenna including a receive coil configured to receive one or both of a wireless power signal or a relayed wireless power signal and provide the wireless power signal to a rectifier of the wireless power receiving system, the antenna further including an internal repeater coil configured to receive the wireless power signal and transmit the wireless power signal to the receive coil as a relayed wireless power signal.

[0304] In one refinement, the receive coil and the internal repeater coil are separated by a repeater isolation gap.

[0305] In another refinement, the repeater separation gap has a gap width within a range of about 0.5 millimeters (mm) to about 3 mm.

[0306] In one refinement, the internal repeater coil includes one turn.

[0307] In one refinement, the receive coil is a multi-layer, multi-turn receive coil.

[0308] In another refinement, the receive coil includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a plurality of turns and the second layer including a plurality of turns.

[0309] In yet another refinement, the first layer and the second layer are electrically connected in parallel.

[0310] In yet another improvement, the first layer, the second layer, and the internal repeater coil are disposed on a substrate, the substrate including a first insulating layer between the internal repeater coil and the first layer, and a second insulating layer between the first layer and the second layer.

[0311] In yet another refinement, the receive coil further includes a via, the via electrically connecting the first layer and the second layer in parallel.

[0312] According to another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power receiving system is disclosed. The system includes a rectifier and a receiving antenna. The receiving antenna includes a receiving coil configured to receive one or both of a wireless power signal and a relayed wireless power signal and provide the wireless power signal to a rectifier of the wireless power receiving system. The receiving antenna further includes an internal repeater coil configured to receive the wireless power signal and transmit the wireless power signal to the receiving coil as a relayed wireless power signal.

[0313] In one refinement, the receive coil and the internal repeater coil are separated by a repeater isolation gap.

[0314] In another refinement, the repeater separation gap has a gap width within a range of about 0.5 millimeters (mm) to about 3 mm.

[0315] In one refinement, the internal repeater coil includes one turn.

[0316] In one refinement, the receive coil is a multi-layer, multi-turn receive coil.

[0317] In another refinement, the receive coil includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a plurality of turns and the second layer including a plurality of turns.

[0318] In yet another refinement, the first layer and the second layer are electrically connected in parallel.

[0319] In yet another improvement, the first layer, the second layer, and the internal repeater coil are disposed on a substrate, the substrate including a first insulating layer between the internal repeater coil and the first layer, and a second insulating layer between the first layer and the second layer.

[0320] In yet another refinement, the receive coil further includes a via, the via electrically connecting the first layer and the second layer in parallel.

[0321] In one refinement, the system further includes a receiver control system.

[0322] In one refinement, the system further includes a receive tuning system, the receive tuning system operatively associated with the receive antenna.

[0323] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for a wireless power receiving system is disclosed. The antenna includes a first polygonal receiving coil, the first polygonal receiving coil including three or more first sides and at least one first turn disposed along each of the three or more first sides. The antenna further includes a second polygonal receiving coil, the second polygonal receiving coil including three or more second sides and at least one second turn disposed along each of the three or more second sides. The antenna further includes a third polygonal receiving coil, the third polygonal receiving coil including three or more third sides and at least one third turn disposed along each of the three or more third sides. The first, second, and third polygonal receiving coils are arranged relative to one another to form a combined polygon, the combined polygon having at least three combined sides.

[0324] In one refinement, the first polygonal receive coil partially overlaps one or both of the second polygonal receive coil and the third polygonal receive coil.

[0325] In one refinement, the second polygonal receive coil partially overlaps one or both of the first polygonal receive coil and the third polygonal receive coil.

[0326] In one refinement, the third polygonal receive coil partially overlaps one or both of the first polygonal receive coil and the second polygonal receive coil.

[0327] In one refinement, the first polygonal receive coil is a first multi-layer, multi-turn polygonal receive coil, the second polygonal receive coil is a second multi-layer, multi-turn polygonal receive coil, and the third polygonal receive coil is a third multi-layer, multi-turn polygonal receive coil.

[0328] In another refinement, the first receive coil includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a first number of turns and the second layer including a second number of turns, the second receive coil includes a third layer and a fourth layer, the third layer including a third number of turns and the fourth layer including a fourth number of turns, the third receive coil includes a fifth layer and a sixth layer, the fifth layer including a fifth number of turns and the sixth layer including a sixth number of turns.

[0329] In yet another refinement, the first layer and the second layer are electrically connected in parallel, the third layer and the fourth layer are electrically connected in parallel, and the fifth layer and the sixth layer are electrically connected in parallel.

[0330] In one refinement, the connecting polygon is generally rectangular in shape.

[0331] In another refinement, the generally rectangular shape has a width and a height, the width and height being of approximately equal value.

[0332] In yet another refinement, the width and height are within a range of about 15 millimeters (mm) to about 40 mm.

[0333] According to another aspect of the present invention, an antenna for wireless power reception is disclosed, the antenna including a plurality of polygonal receive coils, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils including three or more sides and at least one turn disposed along each of the three or more sides, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils arranged relative to one another to form a coupling polygon, the coupling polygon having at least three coupling sides.

[0334] In one refinement, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils partially overlaps one or more other of the plurality of receive coils.

[0335] In one refinement, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils is a multi-layer multi-turn receive coil.

[0336] In another refinement, each of the plurality of receive coils includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a first number of turns and the second layer including a second number of turns.

[0337] In yet another refinement, each of the first layers is electrically connected in parallel to one of the second layers.

[0338] In one refinement, the connecting polygon is generally rectangular in shape.

[0339] In another refinement, the generally rectangular shape has a width and a height, the width and height being of approximately equal value.

[0340] In yet another refinement, the width and height are within a range of about 15 millimeters (mm) to about 40 mm.

[0341] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power receiving system is disclosed. The system includes a rectifier and a receiving antenna. The receiving antenna includes a plurality of polygonal receiving coils, each of the plurality of polygonal receiving coils including three or more sides and at least one turn disposed along each of the three or more sides. Each of the plurality of polygonal coils is disposed relative to one another to form a coupling polygon, the coupling polygon having at least three coupling sides.

[0342] In one refinement, the connecting polygon is generally rectangular in shape and has a width and a height, the width and height being of approximately similar value.

[0343] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power receiving system is disclosed. The system includes a receiving antenna, the receiving antenna including a plurality of receiving coils, each of the plurality of receiving coils configured to receive an alternating current (AC) wireless power signal from a wireless power transmitting system. The system includes a plurality of rectifiers, each of the plurality of rectifiers configured to receive an AC wireless power signal from one of the plurality of receiving coils and convert the AC wireless power signal into a partial direct current (DC) power signal. The system further includes a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator receives each of the partial DC power signals and generates a DC power signal to supply to a load associated with the wireless power receiving system.

[0344] In one refinement, each of the rectifiers is a full-wave rectifier.

[0345] In another refinement, each of the rectifiers is a bridge rectifier.

[0346] In one refinement, the plurality of receive coils are a plurality of polygonal receive coils, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils including three or more sides and at least one turn disposed along each of the three or more sides, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils arranged relative to one another to form a coupling polygon, the coupling polygon having at least three coupling sides.

[0347] In another refinement, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils partially overlaps one or more others of the plurality of receive coils.

[0348] In yet another refinement, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils is a multi-layer, multi-turn receive coil.

[0349] In yet another refinement, each of the plurality of receive coils includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a first number of turns and the second layer including a second number of turns.

[0350] In yet another refinement, each of the first layers is electrically connected in parallel to one of the second layers.

[0351] In another refinement, the connecting polygon is generally rectangular in shape.

[0352] In another refinement, the generally rectangular shape has a width and a height, the width and height being of approximately equal value.

[0353] In yet another refinement, the width and height are within a range of about 15 millimeters (mm) to about 40 mm.

[0354] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a load and a wireless power receiving system. The system includes a receiving antenna, the receiving antenna includes a plurality of receiving coils, each of the plurality of receiving coils configured to receive an alternating current (AC) wireless power signal from the wireless power transmitting system. The system further includes a plurality of rectifiers, each of the plurality of rectifiers configured to receive an AC wireless power signal from one of the plurality of receiving coils and convert the AC wireless power signal into a partial DC power signal. The system further includes a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator receives each of the partial DC power signals and generates a DC power signal to supply to a load associated with the wireless power receiving system.

[0355] In one refinement, each of the rectifiers is a full-wave rectifier.

[0356] In another refinement, each of the rectifiers is a bridge rectifier.

[0357] In one refinement, the plurality of receive coils are a plurality of polygonal receive coils, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils including three or more sides and at least one turn disposed along each of the three or more sides, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils arranged relative to one another to form a coupling polygon, the coupling polygon having at least three coupling sides.

[0358] In another refinement, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils partially overlaps one or more others of the plurality of receive coils.

[0359] In yet another refinement, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils is a multi-layer, multi-turn receive coil.

[0360] In yet another refinement, each of the plurality of receive coils includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a first number of turns and the second layer including a second number of turns.

[0361] In yet another refinement, each of the first layers is electrically connected in parallel to one of the second layers.

[0362] In another refinement, the connecting polygon is generally rectangular in shape.

[0363] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a wireless power receiving system is disclosed, the system includes a receiving antenna, the receiving antenna includes a plurality of receiving coils, each of the plurality of receiving coils configured to receive an alternating current (AC) wireless power signal from a wireless power transmitting system, the system further includes a receiving controller, the receiving controller configured to generate a communication signal, the system further includes a plurality of modulation circuits, each of the plurality of modulation circuits operatively associated with one of the plurality of receiving coils and the receiving controller, each of the plurality of modulation circuits configured to partially weaken a magnetic field to couple the wireless power receiving system to the wireless power transmitting system based on the communication signal provided by the receiving controller to each of the plurality of modulation circuits.

[0364] In one refinement, the communication signal is encoded using pulse width coding.

[0365] In another refinement, generating the communication signal by the receiving controller includes determining a message signal, the message signal including one or more message words, and encoding the one or more message words into one or more coded message words of a coded message signal based on the coding format.

[0366] In yet another refinement, the encoding format correlates each of a plurality of correlation ratios with a respective one of a plurality of format words, each of the plurality of correlation ratios corresponding to one of the plurality of format words.

[0367] In yet another refinement, each of a plurality of correlation ratios is a ratio of the duty cycle of the pulse to a respective period associated with the duty cycle and / or the pulse.

[0368] In yet another refinement, each of the one or more coded message words is coded as one of a plurality of correlation ratios.

[0369] In yet another refinement, generating the communication signal further includes determining a coded message signal based on a plurality of coded message words.

[0370] In yet another refinement, the plurality of format words includes a start word, the plurality of correlation ratios includes a start correlation ratio, the start correlation ratio corresponds to the start word, the encoded message signal includes an encoded start word, the encoded start word indicates the beginning of the encoded message signal, and the encoded start word is encoded as a start % ratio.

[0371] In yet another refinement, the period is an undefined asynchronous period.

[0372] In another refinement, the message signal is based, at least in part, on an input data source associated with one or both of the wireless receiving system, the controller, and any combination thereof.

[0373] In yet another refinement, the system further includes a rectifier circuit configured to receive the electrical energy signal from the antenna and condition the electrical energy signal for output to the load, and the electrical characteristic information includes an output voltage at an output terminal of the rectifier.

[0374] In one refinement, the plurality of receive coils are a plurality of polygonal receive coils, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils including three or more sides and at least one turn disposed along each of the three or more sides, each of the plurality of polygonal coils being arranged relative to one another to form a coupling polygon, the coupling polygon having at least three coupling sides.

[0375] In another refinement, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils partially overlaps one or more others of the plurality of receive coils.

[0376] In yet another refinement, each of the plurality of polygonal receive coils is a multi-layer, multi-turn receive coil.

[0377] In yet another refinement, each of the plurality of receive coils includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a first number of turns and the second layer including a second number of turns.

[0378] In yet another refinement, each of the first layers is electrically connected in parallel to one of the second layers.

[0379] In another refinement, the connecting polygon is generally rectangular in shape.

[0380] In yet another refinement, the generally rectangular shape has a width and a height, the width and height being of approximately equal value.

[0381] In yet another refinement, the width and height are within a range of about 15 millimeters (mm) to about 40 mm.

[0382] In one refinement, the modulation circuit includes a transistor and a resistor.

[0383] According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for wireless power transmission is disclosed. The system includes a wireless transmitting system and a wireless receiving system. The wireless transmitting system is operatively associated with the mouse pad and includes one or more transmitting electrical components, the one or more transmitting electrical components including one or more of a transmitting control system, a transmitting tuning system, a transmitting power adjustment system, a transmitting sensing system, or components thereof. The transmitting system further includes a transmitting antenna, the transmitting antenna configured to transmit one or both of a wireless power signal and a wireless data signal within a large charging area, the large charging area having a length within a range of 50 millimeters (mm) to 300 mm and a width within a range of 150 to 500 mm. The wireless receiving system is configured to provide electrical energy to a load associated with the computer mouse and includes one or more receiving electrical components, the one or more receiving electrical components including one or more of a receiving control system, a receiving tuning system, a receiving power adjustment system, a receiving sensing system, or components thereof. The wireless receiving system further includes a receiving antenna, the receiving antenna including a plurality of receiving coils, each of the plurality of receiving coils configured to receive one or both of wireless power signals and wireless data signals within the large charging area.

[0384] In one refinement, the transmitting antenna comprises a plurality of antenna molecules.

[0385] In another refinement, each of the antenna molecules is a linear shaped antenna molecule.

[0386] In yet another refinement, each of the antenna molecules is a puzzle-shaped antenna molecule.

[0387] In yet another refinement, multiple antenna molecules are electrically connected to one another and one or more transmitting electrical components are electrically in series.

[0388] In yet another refinement, the transmitting antenna further includes a source coil, the antenna molecules being electrically connected to each other in series, and the antenna molecules being configured as a repeater for repeating the wireless power signal or wireless data signal received from the source coil.

[0389] In yet another refinement, the antenna molecule includes a source antenna molecule and one or more repeater antenna molecules, the source antenna molecule directly connected to one or more transmitting electrical components, and the repeater antenna molecule configured as a repeater for repeating wireless power or data signals received from the source antenna molecule.

[0390] In yet another refinement, the plurality of antenna molecules includes a first number of antenna molecules and a second number of antenna molecules, the first number of antenna molecules being insulated from the second number of antenna molecules with an insulator between the first number of antenna molecules and the second number of antenna molecules.

[0391] In one refinement, the transmitting antenna includes a source coil and an internal repeater coil.

[0392] In another refinement, the internal repeater coil includes a repeater tuning system within the internal repeater coil.

[0393] In yet another refinement, the source coil includes a first internal turn capacitor and the internal repeater coil includes a second internal turn capacitor.

[0394] In another refinement, the inner repeater coil includes a repeater filter disposed between the inner and outer turns of the inner repeater coil.

[0395] In yet another refinement, the transmission system further includes at least one sensor and demodulation circuitry, the at least one sensor configured to measure electrical information associated with one or both of the wireless power signal or the wireless data signal in the internal repeater coil.

[0396] In yet another refinement, the transmission system further includes a first sensor, a first demodulation circuit associated with the first sensor, a second sensor, a second demodulation circuit associated with the second sensor, and a summing amplifier, where the first sensor is configured to measure electrical information associated with one or both of the wireless power signal or the wireless data signal at the source coil, the second sensor is configured to measure electrical information associated with one or both of the wireless power signal or the wireless data signal at the repeater coil, and the summing amplifier sums the outputs of the first and second demodulation circuits.

[0397] In one refinement, the transmission system further includes a metal mesh structure disposed beneath the transmitting antenna.

[0398] In one refinement, the plurality of receive coils includes an internal repeater coil.

[0399] In one refinement, the plurality of receive coils includes a plurality of polygonal receive coils.

[0400] In one refinement, the receiving system further includes a plurality of rectifiers, each of the plurality of rectifiers operatively associated with one of the plurality of receiving coils.

[0401] In one refinement, the receiving system further includes a plurality of modulation circuits, each of the plurality of modulation circuits operatively associated with one of the plurality of receiving coils.

[0402] These and other aspects and features of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0403] While the present invention is directed to a system that can overcome certain shortcomings described or made apparent from this Background section, it should be understood that such advantages are not limitations on the scope of the disclosed principles, nor on the scope of the appended claims, except as expressly set forth in the claims. Additionally, the description of the technology in this Background section reflects the inventors' own observations, considerations, and ideas, and is in no way intended to catalogue precisely or comprehensively summarize the technology currently in the public domain. For this reason, the inventors expressly disclaim this section as admitted or postulated prior art. Moreover, the identification of desirable activities herein reflects the inventors' own observations and ideas, and should not be considered as indicating an acknowledged desire in the art. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0404] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system for wirelessly transmitting one or more of electrical energy, electrical power signals, electrical power, electromagnetic energy, electronic data, and combinations thereof in accordance with the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram showing components of the wireless transmit system of FIG. 1 and the wireless receive system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing components of FIGS. 1, 2 and a transmission control system of the wireless transmission system of FIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing components of a sensing system of FIGS. 1-3 and the transmission control system of FIG. 3 according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example of a low pass filter of the sensing system of FIGS. 1-4 and of FIG. 4 according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing components of a demodulation circuit for the wireless transmission system of FIGS. 1-5 and of FIG. 2 according to the present invention. [Figure 7]Figure 7A shows a first portion of a schematic circuit diagram for the demodulation circuit of Figure 6, according to one embodiment. Figure 7B shows a second portion of the schematic circuit diagram for the demodulation circuit of Figures 6 and 7A, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a timing diagram for the voltage of an electrical signal as it travels through a demodulation circuit in accordance with FIGS. 1-7 and the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating components of a power adjustment system for the wireless transmission system of FIG. 2 and in accordance with the present invention; [Figure 10] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing components of a reception control system and a reception power adjustment system of the wireless reception system of FIG. 2 according to FIGS. 1-2 and the present invention. [Figure 11] Figure 11A is a top view of an exemplary transmit antenna comprising multiple antenna molecules according to Figures 1-9 and the present invention. Figure 11B is a top view of an exemplary antenna molecule of the antenna of Figure 11A according to Figures 1-9, 11A and the present invention. Figure 11C is a top view of an exemplary source coil atom of the antenna molecule of Figures 11A, 11B according to Figures 1-9, 11A-B and the present invention. Figure 11D is a top view of an exemplary connecting coil atom of the antenna molecule of Figures 11A-C according to Figures 1-9, 11A-C and the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 12A is a top view of another exemplary transmit antenna comprising multiple antenna molecules according to Figures 1-9, 11A-D and the present invention. Figure 12B is a top view of an exemplary antenna molecule of the antenna of Figure 12A according to Figures 1-9, 11-12A and the present invention. Figure 12C is a top view of an exemplary source coil atom of the antenna molecule of Figures 12A, 12B according to Figures 1-9, 11-12B and the present invention. Figure 12D is a top view of an exemplary connecting coil atom of the antenna molecule of Figures 12A-C according to Figures 1-9, 11-12C and the present invention. [Figure 13]Figure 13A is a top view of another exemplary transmit antenna including multiple antenna molecules according to Figures 1-9, 11-12D, and in accordance with the present invention. Figure 13B is a top view of a first puzzle-shaped antenna molecule of the antenna of Figure 13A according to Figures 1-9, 11-13A, and in accordance with the present invention. Figure 13C is a top view of an exemplary second puzzle-shaped antenna molecule of the antenna of Figure 13A according to Figures 1-9, 11-13B, and in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 14] Figure 14A is a top view of another exemplary transmit antenna including multiple antenna molecules according to Figures 1-9, 11-13D, and in accordance with the present invention. Figure 14B is a top view of a first puzzle-shaped antenna molecule of the antenna of Figure 14A according to Figures 1-9, 11-14A, and in accordance with the present invention. Figure 14C is a top view of an exemplary second puzzle-shaped antenna molecule of the antenna of Figure 14A according to Figures 1-9, 11-14B, and in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 15] Figure 15A is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary source-parallel electrical connection of a molecule-based wireless power transmitting antenna such as that of Figures 11-14 in accordance with the present invention. Figure 15B is a top view of an exemplary transmitting antenna including multiple antenna molecules, a source coil, and the source-parallel electrical connection of Figure 15A in accordance with the present invention. Figure 15C is a top view of another exemplary transmitting antenna including multiple antenna molecules, a source coil, and the source-parallel electrical connection of Figure 15A in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 16] 1-9, 11-15C and a block diagram of an exemplary method for manufacturing one or more of the wireless power transmitting antennas of FIGS. 15A-C in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 17] Fig. 17A is an exemplary top view of one or more of the wireless power transmitting antennas of Figs. 1-9, 11-16, and Figs. 15A-16 including at least one housing in accordance with the present invention, and Fig. 17B is an exemplary top view of one or more of the wireless power transmitting antennas of Figs. 1-9, 11-16, and Figs. 15A-16 including two housings shown separately in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 18]Figure 18A is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary source-parallel electrical connection of a molecule-based wireless power transmitting antenna such as that of Figures 11-17B in accordance with the present invention. Figure 18B is a top view of an exemplary transmitting antenna including multiple antenna molecules, a source coil, and the source-parallel electrical connection of Figure 18A in accordance with the present invention. Figure 18C is a top view of another exemplary transmitting antenna including multiple antenna molecules, a source coil, and the source-parallel electrical connection of Figure 18A in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 19] Fig. 19A is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary series connection of molecule-based wireless power transmitting antennas such as those of Fig. 11-18C in accordance with Figs. 1-9, 11-18C, and the present invention. Fig. 19B is a top view of an exemplary transmitting antenna including multiple antenna molecules and the source parallel electrical connection of Fig. 18B in accordance with Figs. 1-9, 11-18B, and the present invention. Fig. 19C is a top view of another exemplary transmitting antenna including multiple antenna molecules, a source coil, and the source parallel electrical connection of Fig. 18A in accordance with Figs. 1-9, 11-18B, and the present invention. [Figure 20] 1-9, 11-19C and a block diagram of a method for fabricating a molecular-based wireless power transmitting antenna in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 21A is a top view of a first number of antenna molecules for a wireless power transmitting antenna manufactured by the method of FIG. 20 according to the present invention, in accordance with FIGS. 1-9, 11-20, and the present invention. FIG. 21B is a top view of a second number of antenna molecules for a wireless power transmitting antenna manufactured by the method of FIG. 20 according to the present invention, in accordance with FIGS. 1-9, 11-20, and the present invention. FIG. 21C is a perspective view of the first and second number of antenna molecules of FIG. 21A-B according to FIGS. 1-9, 11-21B, and the present invention. FIG. 21D is a perspective view of a wireless power transmitting antenna manufactured by the method of FIG. 20 according to FIGS. 1-9, 11-21D, and the present invention. [Figure 22]FIG. 22A is a top view of a wireless power transmitting antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil according to FIGS. 1-9 and the present invention. FIG. 22B is a top view of another wireless power transmitting antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil according to FIGS. 1-9, 22, and the present invention. FIG. 22C is a top view of a wireless power transmitting antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil according to FIGS. 1-9, 22A-B, and the present invention, with a tuning capacitor inside the internal repeater coil. FIG. 22D is a top view of another wireless power transmitting antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil according to FIGS. 1-9, 22A-C, and the present invention, with a tuning capacitor inside the internal repeater coil. FIG. 22E is a top view of a wireless power transmitting antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil according to FIGS. 1-9, 22A-D, and the present invention, with the internal repeater coil having an inter-turn capacitor. FIG. 22F is a top view of another wireless power transmitting antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil in accordance with FIGS. 1-9, 22A-E, and the present invention, the internal repeater coil having an inter-turn capacitor. FIG. 22G is a top view of another wireless power transmitting antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil in accordance with FIGS. 1-9, 22A-F, and the present invention, the internal repeater coil having a repeater filter. FIG. 22H is a top view of another wireless power transmitting antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil in accordance with FIGS. 1-9, 22A-G, and the present invention, each coil having multiple turns. [Diagram 23] Figure 23A shows a first arrangement for connecting the communications circuit of Figures 1 to 9 to a wireless transmit antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil in accordance with Figures 1 to 9, 22A to H and the present invention, and Figure 23B shows a second arrangement for connecting the communications circuit of Figures 1 to 9 to a wireless transmit antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil in accordance with Figures 1 to 9, 22 to 23A and the present invention. [Figure 24] 1-9, 22-23B and in accordance with the present invention, shows alternative configurations for connecting the communications circuit of FIGS. 1-9 to a wireless transmit antenna having a source coil and an internal repeater coil and including a summing amplifier. [Diagram 25]FIG. 25A is a top view of a metal mesh structure for improving metal elasticity in a wireless transmission antenna according to FIGS. 1-9, 11-24, and the present invention. FIG. 25B is a top view of the metal mesh structure of FIG. 25A arranged with respect to an example of a wireless power transmission antenna according to FIGS. 1-9, 11-25B, and the present invention. FIG. 25C is a top view of the metal mesh structure of FIG. 25A-B arranged with respect to an example of a wireless power transmission antenna and a housing structure according to FIGS. 1-9, 11-25B, and the present invention. FIG. 25D is a side cross-sectional view of an example of a wireless power transmission antenna, the metal mesh structure of FIG. 25A-C, and a housing according to FIGS. 1-9, 11-25C, and the present invention. FIG. 25E is a side cross-sectional view of another example of a wireless power transmission antenna, the metal mesh structure of FIG. 25A-D, and a housing according to FIGS. 1-9, 11-25D, and the present invention. Fig. 25F is a side cross-sectional view of still another example of a wireless power transmitting antenna, the metal mesh structure of Fig. 25A-E, and a housing according to Figs. 1-9, 11-25E, and the present invention. Fig. 25G is a bottom view of an example of a housing and the metal mesh structure of Fig. 25A-F according to Figs. 1-9, 11-25F, and the present invention, where the metal mesh structure is disposed on the outside of the housing. Fig. 25H is a bottom view of an example of a housing and the metal mesh structure of Fig. 28 according to Figs. 1-9, 11-25G, and the present invention, where the metal mesh structure is disposed on the outer surface of the housing. [Figure 26] FIG. 1 is a top view of a non-limiting exemplary antenna for use as a receiving antenna in the system of FIGS. 1-10 and / or any other system, method, or apparatus disclosed herein, in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 27]FIG. 27A is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a receiving antenna for the wireless receiving system of FIG. 10 according to FIGS. 1-2, 10, 26 and the present invention. FIG. 27B is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a receiving antenna for the wireless receiving system of FIG. 10 according to FIGS. 1-2, 10, 26-27A and the present invention. FIG. 27C is a top view of a receiving coil of the antenna of FIGS. 27A-B according to FIGS. 1-2, 10, 26-27B and the present invention. FIG. 27D is a top view of a repeater coil of the antenna of FIGS. 27A-C according to FIGS. 1-2, 10, 26-27C and the present invention. FIG. 27E is a top view of a repeater coil of the antenna of FIGS. 27A-C according to FIGS. 1-2, 10, 26-27C. [Figure 28] FIG. 28A is a top view of a polygonal receive antenna for the wireless receive system of FIG. 10, of FIGS. 1-2, 10, and in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 28B is a top view of another polygonal receive antenna for the wireless receive system of FIG. 10, of FIGS. 1-2, 10, 28A, and in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 28C is a top view of one of the polygonal coils of the polygonal receive antenna of FIG. 14B, of FIGS. 1-2, 10, 28A-B, and in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 28D is a top view of a first layer of another polygonal receive antenna of FIGS. 1-2, 10, 28A-C, and in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 28E is a top view of a second layer of the polygonal receive antenna of FIG. 28D, of FIGS. 1-2, 10, 28A-D, and in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a configuration of a wireless receiving system according to FIGS. 1-2, 10, 28A-E and the present invention, in which the receiving antenna of the system includes multiple receiving coils. [Diagram 30] 1-2, 10, 28A-E, and in accordance with the present invention, is a block diagram of an alternative configuration of the wireless receiving system of FIG. 10, in which the receiving antenna of the system includes multiple receiving coils. [Diagram 31] 1-30 and in accordance with the present invention, are side perspective views of an exemplary mouse and mouse pad into which the systems disclosed herein may be integrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0405] Although the following detailed description is given with respect to certain exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated as schematic and partial views. In addition, in certain examples, details that are not necessarily for the understanding of the disclosed subject matter or that make it unduly difficult to perceive other details may be omitted. Therefore, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated herein. Additional, different, or fewer components and methods may be included in these systems and methods.

[0406] Detailed Description In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of example to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and / or circuits have been described at a relatively high level and without detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

[0407] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figure 1, there is illustrated a wireless power transfer system 10. The wireless power transfer system 10 provides for the wireless transmission of electrical signals, such as, but not limited to, electrical energy, power, power signals, electromagnetic energy, and electronically transmittable data (electronic data). As used herein, "power signals" refer to electrical signals that are transmitted specifically to provide meaningful electrical energy for charging a load and / or directly powering a load, whereas "electronic data signals" refer to electrical signals that are utilized to convey data across a medium.

[0408] The wireless power transmission system 10 provides wireless transmission of an electric signal by near-field magnetic coupling. As shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the wireless power transmission system 10 includes one or more wireless transmission systems 20 and one or more wireless receiving systems 30. The wireless receiving systems 30 are configured to receive at least the electric signal from the wireless transmission systems 20.

[0409] As shown, wireless transmitting system 20 and wireless receiving system 30 are configured to transmit electrical signals across at least a separation distance or gap 17. A separation distance or gap, such as gap 17, in the context of a wireless power transmission system, such as system 10, does not include a physical connection, such as a wired connection. There may be intermediaries located within the separation distance or gap, such as, but not limited to, air, countertops, casings for electronic devices, plastic filaments, insulation, mechanical barriers, among others; however, no physical or electrical connection exists across such separation distance or gap.

[0410] Thus, the combination of two or more wireless transmitting systems 20 and a wireless receiving system 30 creates an electrical connection without the need for a physical connection. As used herein, "electrical connection" refers to any facilitation of transmission of current, voltage, and / or power from a first location, device, component, and / or source to a second location, device, component, and / or destination. An "electrical connection" can be a physical connection connecting a first location, device, component, and / or source to a second location, device, component, and / or destination, such as, but not limited to, wires, traces, vias, among other physical electrical connections. Additionally or alternatively, an "electrical connection" can be a wireless power and / or data transmission connecting a first location, device, component, and / or source to a second location, device, component, and / or destination, such as, but not limited to, magnetic fields, electromagnetic fields, resonant fields, and / or induction fields, among other wireless power and / or data transmission.

[0411] 1-2 may show wireless power and data signals transmitted from only one antenna (e.g., transmitting antenna 21) to only one other antenna (e.g., receiving antenna 31 and / or transmitting antenna 21), it is certainly possible for transmitting antenna 21 to transmit electrical signals to and / or couple with one or more other antennas and to transmit, at least in part, components of the output signal or magnetic field of transmitting antenna 21. Such transmission may include secondary coupling and / or coupling, or signal transmission, to multiple antennas of system 10.

[0412] In some cases, gap 17 may be referred to as the "Z distance" because the distance separating antennas 21, 31 is a gap in the "Z" or "depth" direction when antennas 21, 31 are positioned generally along each of a common XY plane. However, embodiments of the present invention certainly contemplate flexible and / or non-planar coils and thus contemplate that gap 17 may not be uniform throughout the envelope of connection distance between antennas 21, 31. It is contemplated that various adjustments, settings, and / or other parameters may vary the maximum possible distance of gap 17 while still allowing electrical transmission from wireless transmitting system 20 to wireless receiving system 30. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the characteristics of gap 17 may be changed during use, for example, by increasing or decreasing the distance and / or changing the relative device orientation.

[0413] The wireless power transfer system 10 operates when the wireless transmission system 20 and the wireless receiving system 30 are coupled. As used herein, "couple", "coupled" and "coupling" generally refer to magnetic field coupling, which occurs when a transmitter and / or any of its components and a receiver and / or any of its components are coupled to each other through a magnetic field. Such coupling may include coupling represented by a coupling coefficient (k) that is at least sufficient for the receiver to utilize the power signal induced from the transmitter. The coupling between the wireless transmission system 20 and the wireless receiving system 30 in the system 10 may be represented by a resonant coupling coefficient of the system 10, and for purposes of wireless power transfer, the coupling coefficient of the system 10 may be in the range of about 0.01 to 0.9.

[0414] As shown, at least one wireless transmission system 20 is associated with an input power source 12. The input power source 12 may be operatively associated with a host device, which may be any electrically operated device, a circuit board, an electronic assembly, a dedicated charging device, or any other conceivable electronic device. Examples of host devices with which the wireless transmission system 20 may be associated may include, but are not limited to, devices including integrated circuits, portable computing devices, power storage media for electronic devices, charging devices for one or more electronic devices, among other conceivable electronic devices.

[0415] The input power source 12 can be or include electrochemical cells, battery packs, and / or capacitors, among other power storage devices. Additionally or alternatively, the input power source 12 can be any electrical input source (e.g., any alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power distribution port) and can include connection devices from the electrical input source to the wireless transmission system 20 (e.g., transformers, regulators, conduits, traces, conductors, or other electrical device connection ports and / or adapters, such as, but not limited to, USB (universal serial bus) ports and / or adapters, among other possible electrical components).

[0416] Thus, the electrical energy received by the wireless transmission system 20 is used for at least two purposes: to power the internal components of the wireless transmission system 20 and to power the transmitting antenna 21. The transmitting antenna 21 is configured to wirelessly transmit conditioned and modified electrical signals for wireless transmission by the wireless transmission system 20 via near-field magnetic coupling (NFMC). The near-field magnetic coupling enables wireless transmission of signals between the transmitting antenna 21 and one or more of the receiving antennas 31 of or associated with the wireless receiving system 30, other transmitting antennas 21, or combinations thereof, by magnetic induction. Near-field magnetic coupling may be and / or may be referred to as "inductive coupling" and is a wireless power transmission technique that utilizes alternating electromagnetic fields to transfer electrical energy between two antennas. Such inductive coupling is the near-field wireless transmission of magnetic energy between two magnetically coupled coils tuned to resonate at similar frequencies. Thus, such near-field magnetic coupling may enable efficient wireless power transmission by resonant transmission of confined magnetic fields. Moreover, such near-field magnetic coupling can provide a connection through "mutual inductance," which is defined herein as the generation of an electromotive force in a first circuit due to a change in current in a second circuit that is magnetically coupled to the first circuit.

[0417] In one or more embodiments, the induction coil of either the transmitting antenna 21 or the receiving antenna 31 is strategically positioned to facilitate reception and / or transmission of electrical signals wirelessly transmitted by near-field magnetic induction. The antenna's operating frequency can include a relatively high operating frequency range, examples of which can include 6.78 MHz (e.g., per the Rezence and / or Airfuel interface standards, and / or other proprietary interface standards operating at 6.78 MHz), 13.56 MHz (e.g., per the near-field communication (NFC) standard defined by ISO / IEC (International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission) standard 18092), 27 MHz, and / or other proprietary operating modes. The operating frequency of the antennas 21, 31 may be an operating frequency designated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) within the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band, including, but not limited to, 6.78 MHz, 13.56 MHz, and 27 MHz, which are designated for use in wireless power transmission.

[0418] The transmitting and receiving antennas of the present invention can be configured to transmit and / or receive power having a magnitude within a range of about 10 milliwatts (mW) to about 500 watts (W). In one or more embodiments, the inductive coil of the transmitting antenna 21 is configured to resonate at the resonant frequency of the transmitting antenna or within the resonant frequency band of the transmitting antenna. The "coil" of a wireless power antenna (e.g., transmitting antenna 21, receiving antenna 31), as defined herein, is any conductor, wire, or other current-carrying material configured to resonate for the purposes of wireless power transmission and any wireless data transmission.

[0419] As known to those skilled in the art, a "resonant frequency" or "resonant frequency band" refers to the frequency or frequencies at which the amplitude response of an antenna is relatively maximized, and additionally or alternatively, to the frequency or frequency band at which the capacitive reactance has approximately the same magnitude as the inductive reactance. In one or more embodiments, the resonant frequency of the transmitting antenna is a high frequency, as known to those skilled in the art of wireless power transfer.

[0420] The wireless receiving system 30 may be associated with at least one electronic device 14, which may be any device that requires power for any function and / or for power storage (through batteries and / or capacitors). Additionally, the electronic device 14 may be any device capable of receiving electronically transmittable data. For example, the device may be, but is not limited to, a handheld computing device, a mobile device, a portable appliance, a computer peripheral, an integrated circuit, an identification tag, a cooking appliance, an electronic tool, an electric vehicle, a gaming console, a robotic device, a wearable electronic device (e.g., an electronic watch, electronic adjustable glasses, augmented reality (AR) glasses, virtual reality (VR) glasses, a mobile scanning device, a mobile identification device, a sporting item, an embedded sensor, an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor, an IoT-enabled garment, an IoT-enabled recreational item, an industrial equipment, a medical device, a medical device, a tablet computing device, a mobile control device, a remote controller for an electronic device, a game controller, among others.

[0421] For purposes of illustrating the features and characteristics of the embodiments disclosed in Figures 1-10, arrow-tipped lines are used to indicate transmittable and / or communicable signals, and various patterns are used to indicate electrical signals intended for power transmission, and electrical signals intended for transmission of data and / or control instructions. Solid lines indicate signal transmission of electrical energy in the form of power signals by physical and / or wireless power transmission, which are ultimately utilized in wireless power transmission from the wireless transmission system 20 to the wireless receiving system 30. Furthermore, dotted lines are used to indicate electronically transmittable data signals, which can ultimately be wirelessly transmitted from the wireless transmission system 20 to the wireless receiving system 30.

[0422] Although the systems and methods herein show the transmission of wirelessly transmitted energy, wireless power signals, wirelessly transmitted power, wirelessly transmitted electromagnetic energy, and / or electronically transmittable data, it is certainly contemplated that the systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein may be utilized in the transmission of only one signal, various combinations of two signals, or more than two signals, and it is further contemplated that the systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein may be utilized for the wireless transmission of other electrical signals in addition to or in unique combination with one or more of the above signals. In some instances, the solid or dotted signal paths may represent functional signal paths, whereas in actual applications, the actual signals are routed through additional components on the way to their indicated destinations. For example, a data signal may be shown to follow a path from a communication device to another communication device; however, in actual applications, the data signal may be routed through an amplifier and then through a transmit antenna to a receive antenna at the receiver end, where the data signal is decoded by the receiver's respective communication device.

[0423] 2-3, a wireless power transfer system 10 is illustrated as a block diagram that includes example subsystems of both a wireless transmit system 20 and a wireless receive system 30. The wireless transmit system 20 may include at least a power conditioning system 40, a transmit control system 26, a demodulation circuit 70, a transmit tuning system 24, and a transmit antenna 21. A first portion of the electrical energy input from an input power source 12 may be configured to power components of the wireless transmit system 20, such as, but not limited to, the transmit control system 26.

[0424] A second portion of the electrical energy input from input power source 12 is conditioned and / or modified for wireless power transmission through transmit antenna 21 to wireless receive system 30. Accordingly, the second portion of the input energy is modified and / or conditioned by power conditioning system 40. Although not shown, it is certainly contemplated that either or both of the first and second portions of the input electrical energy may be modified, conditioned, altered, and / or otherwise changed by further possible subsystems (e.g., voltage regulators, current regulators, switching systems, fault systems, safety regulators, among others) prior to receipt by power conditioning system 40 and / or power control system 26.

[0425] 1 and 2, and with more specific reference to FIGURE 3, there is illustrated subcomponents and / or systems of transmit control system 26. Transmit control system 26 may include a sensing system 50, a transmit controller 28, a driver 48, a memory 27, and a demodulation circuit 70.

[0426] The transmit controller 28 may be any electronic controller or computer system that includes at least a processor to perform calculations, execute control algorithms, store data, read data, collect data, communicate with other components and / or subsystems associated with the wireless transmission system 20, and / or perform any other desired computational or control tasks. The transmit controller 28 may be a single controller or may include two or more controllers arranged to control various functions and / or features of the wireless transmission system 20. The functionality of the transmit controller 28 may be implemented in hardware and / or software and may rely on one or more data maps related to the operation of the wireless transmission system 20. To this end, the transmit controller 28 may be operatively associated with the memory 27.

[0427] The memory may include one or more of internal memory, external memory, and / or remote memory (e.g., a database and / or a server operatively connected to the transmit controller 28 via a network, such as, but not limited to, the Internet). The internal memory and / or external memory may include, but is not limited to, one or more of read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, portable memory, etc., where ROM includes programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM, sometimes but rarely EROM), electrically erasable read only memory (EEPROM), and RAM includes dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), single data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (SDR SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4), and graphics double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (GDDR SDRAM). Such memory media are examples of non-transitory machine-readable and / or computer-readable memory media.

[0428] Although certain elements of the transmit control system 26 are illustrated as separate components and / or circuits of the transmit control system 26 (e.g., the driver 48, the memory 27, the sensing system 50, among other possible elements), such components may be integrated with the transmit controller 28. In some examples, the transmit controller 28 may be an integrated circuit that is generally configured to include the functional elements of one or both of the transmit controller 28 and the wireless transmit system 20.

[0429] As shown, the transmit controller 28 is operatively associated with at least the memory 27, the power conditioning system 40, the driver 48, and the sensing system 50 for purposes of data transmission, reception, and / or communication. The driver 48 may be implemented to at least partially control the operation of the power conditioning system 40. In some examples, the driver 48 may receive instructions from the transmit controller 28 to generate a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal and / or output the generated PWM signal to the power conditioning system 40. In some such examples, the PWM signal may be configured to drive the power conditioning system 40 to output power as an alternating current signal having an operating frequency defined by the PWM signal. In some examples, the PWM signal may be configured to generate a duty cycle for the AC power signal output by the power conditioning system 40. In some such examples, the duty cycle may be configured to be approximately 50% of a given period of the AC power signal.

[0430] The sensing system may include one or more sensors, each of which may be operatively associated with one or more components of the wireless transmission system 20 and may be configured to provide information and / or data. "Sensor" is used in its broadest sense to define one or more components operatively associated with the wireless transmission system 20 and operable to sense a function, condition, electrical characteristic, and / or operational characteristic of one or more of the wireless transmission system 20, the wireless receiving system 30, the input power source 12, the host device 11, the transmitting antenna 21, and the receiving antenna 31, along with any other components and / or subcomponents.

[0431] As shown in the embodiment of Figure 4, the sensing system 50 can include, but is not limited to, a temperature sensing system 52, an object sensing system 54, a receiver sensing system 56, a current sensor 57, and / or any other sensor 58. Within these systems, there can be any additional or alternative sensing systems more specific to the particular sensing aspects required by an application, such as, but not limited to, a condition-based maintenance sensing system, a performance optimization sensing system, a state-of-charge sensing system, a thermal management sensing system, a component heating sensing system, an IoT sensing system, an energy and / or power management sensing system, an impact detection sensing system, a speed detection sensing system, a device health sensing system, among others. The object sensing system 54 can be a foreign object detection (FOD) system.

[0432] The temperature sensing system 52, the object sensing system 54, the receiver sensing system 56, the current sensor 57, and / or other sensors 58, including any additional or alternative systems, are operatively and / or communicatively connected to the transmit controller 28. The temperature sensing system 52 is configured to monitor the ambient temperature and / or the temperature of components within or other elements near the wireless transmission system 20. The temperature sensing system 52 may be configured to detect a temperature within the wireless transmission system 20, and if the detected temperature exceeds a threshold temperature, the transmit controller 28 prevents the wireless transmission system 20 from operating. Such a threshold temperature may be set based on considerations of safety, operation, efficiency, and / or any combination thereof. In one non-limiting example, if the transmit controller 28 determines, via input from the temperature sensing system 52, that the temperature within the wireless transmit system 20 has increased from an acceptable operating temperature to an undesirable operating temperature (e.g., in one non-limiting example, the internal temperature has increased from approximately 20 degrees (°C) to approximately 50°C), the transmit controller 28 prevents operation of the wireless transmit system 20 and / or reduces the level of power output from the wireless transmit system 20. In some non-limiting examples, the temperature sensing system 52 can include a thermocouple, a thermistor, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor, a resistance temperature detector (RTD), and / or any combination thereof.

[0433] As shown in FIG. 4 , the transmit sensing system 50 can include an object sensing system 54. The object sensing system 54 can be configured to detect one or more of the wireless receive system 30 and / or the receive antenna 31, thereby indicating to the transmit controller 28 that the receive system 30 is in proximity to the wireless transmit system 20. Additionally or alternatively, the object sensing system 54 can be configured to detect the presence of an unwanted object in contact with or in proximity to the wireless transmit system 20. In some examples, the object sensing system 54 is configured to detect the presence of an unwanted object. In some such examples, if the transmit controller 28 detects the presence of an unwanted object via information provided by the object sensing system 54, the transmit controller 28 prevents or otherwise modifies operation of the wireless transmit system 20. In some examples, the object sensing system 54 utilizes an impedance change detection scheme, in which the transmit controller 28 analyzes changes in the electrical impedance observed by the transmit antenna 21 against a known, acceptable electrical impedance value or range of electrical impedance values.

[0434] Additionally or alternatively, the object sensing system 54 utilizes a quality factor (Q) change detection scheme in which the transmit controller 28 analyzes the change of a detected object, such as the receive antenna 31, from a known quality factor value or range of quality factor values. The "quality factor" or "Q" of an inductor can be defined as (frequency (Hz) x inductance (H)) / resistance (ohms), where frequency is the operating frequency of the circuit, inductance is the inductance output of the inductor, and resistance is a combination of the inductor's internal radiation resistance and reactive resistance. The "quality factor" defined herein is a commonly accepted metric (figure of merit) that measures the efficiency of a device such as an antenna, circuit, or resistor. In some examples, the object sensing system can include optical sensors, electro-optical sensors, Hall effect sensors, proximity sensors, and / or any combination thereof. In some examples, the quality factor measurements described above can be performed while the wireless power transfer system 10 is performing in-band communication.

[0435] The receiving sensing system 56 is any sensor, circuit, and / or combination thereof configured to detect the presence of any wireless receiving system that may be capable of being coupled to the wireless transmission system 20. In some examples, the receiving sensing system 56 and the object sensing system may be combined, may share components, and / or may be embodied by one or more common components. In some examples, upon detecting the presence of any such wireless receiving system, the receiving sensing system 56 enables wireless transmission of electrical energy, power, electromagnetic energy, and / or data by the wireless transmission system 20. In some examples, upon not detecting the presence of a wireless receiving system, the receiving sensing system 56 prevents continued wireless transmission of electrical energy, power, electromagnetic energy, and / or data from occurring. Thus, the receiving sensing system 56 may include and / or be operatively associated with one or more sensors configured to analyze electrical characteristics within the environment of or in proximity to the wireless transmission system 20 and determine the presence of the wireless receiving system 30 based on those electrical characteristics.

[0436] The current sensor 57 may be any sensor configured to determine electrical information from an electrical signal, such as a voltage or a current, based on a current reading at the current sensor 57. Components of an example current sensor 57 are further illustrated in FIG. 5, which is a block diagram of the current sensor 57. The current sensor 57 may include a transformer 51, a rectifier 53, and / or a low pass filter 55 to process the AC radio signal transmitted by the combination of the wireless transmission system 20 and the wireless receiving system 30 to determine the current (I Tx ) or voltage (V Tx) in the transmit antenna 21. The transformer 51 may receive the AC radio signal and either step up or step down the voltage of the AC radio signal so that it can be appropriately processed by the current sensor. The rectifier 53 may receive the transformed AC radio signal and rectify the signal so that any negative voltage remaining in the transformed AC radio signal is either removed or converted to a positive voltage with reversed polarity. The low pass filter 55 is configured to receive the rectified AC radio signal and filter out AC components of the rectified AC radio signal (e.g., the operating frequency or carrier frequency of the AC radio signal) so as to reduce the current (I Tx ) or voltage (V Tx ) DC voltage is output for

[0437] 6 is a block diagram of a demodulation circuit 70 for the wireless transmission system 20 that uses the demodulation circuit 70 to simplify or decode a wireless data signal component of an alternating current (AC) wireless signal before transmitting the wireless data signal to the transmission controller 28. The demodulation circuit includes at least a slope detector 72 and a comparator 74. In some examples, the demodulation circuit 70 includes a set / reset (SR) latch 76.

[0438] In some examples, the demodulation circuit 70 may be an analog circuit that is comprised of one or more passive components (e.g., resistors, capacitors, among other passive components) and / or one or more active components (e.g., operational amplifiers, logic gates, among other active components). Alternatively, it is contemplated that the demodulation circuit 70, and some or all of its components, may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC). Whether an analog circuit or an IC, the demodulation circuit may be external to the transmit controller 28 and is contemplated to be configured to provide information related to a wireless data signal transmitted from the wireless receive system 30 to the wireless transmit system 20.

[0439] The demodulation circuit 70 receives electrical information (e.g., I Tx , V Tx ) from at least one sensor (e.g., a sensor of sensing system 50) and determines whether a change in the electrical information meets or exceeds one of an ascending threshold or a descending threshold. If the change exceeds one of the ascending threshold or the descending threshold, demodulation circuit 70 generates an output signal and also generates and outputs one or more data alerts. Transmit controller 28 receives these data alerts and determines the wireless data signal.

[0440] In other words, in one embodiment, demodulation circuitry 70 is configured to monitor the slope of the electrical signal (e.g., the slope of the voltage signal at power conditioning system 32 of wireless receiving system 30) and output an indication when the slope exceeds a maximum slope threshold or falls short of a minimum slope threshold. Such slope monitoring and / or slope detection by communication system 70 is particularly useful in decoding amplitude shift keying (ASK) signals that encode wireless data signals within the band of the wireless power signal (oscillating at the operating frequency).

[0441] In the ASK signal, as described above, the wireless data signal is encoded by decaying the voltage in the magnetic field between the wireless transmitting system 20 and the wireless receiving system 30. This decay and subsequent re-rise of the voltage in the magnetic field is performed based on the underlying encoding scheme of the wireless data signal (e.g., binary encoding, Manchester encoding, pulse width modulation encoding, among other known or new encoding systems and methods). The receiver of the wireless data signal (e.g., the wireless transmitting system 20 in this example) then detects the rising and falling edges of the voltage in the magnetic field and decodes these rising and falling edges to demodulate the wireless data signal.

[0442] Ideally, the ASK signal would rise and fall instantaneously, with no discernible slope between the high and low voltages of the ASK modulation; however, in reality, there is a finite amount of time that elapses as the ASK signal transitions from a "high" voltage to a "low" voltage and vice versa. Thus, the voltage or current sensed by the demodulation circuit 70 will have some voltage slope or rate of change as it transitions. By configuring the demodulation circuit 70 to identify when such slopes meet, exceed, and / or fail such rise and fall thresholds established based on known maximum / minimum slopes of the carrier signal at the operating frequency, the demodulation circuit can accurately detect the rising and falling edges of the ASK signal.

[0443] Thus, relatively inexpensive and / or simplified circuitry may be utilized to at least partially decode the ASK signal into an instant notification or alert of a rising or falling slope. As long as the transmit controller 28 is programmed to understand the encoding scheme of the ASK modulation, the transmit controller 28 expends much less computational resources than would be required to decode the rising and falling edges directly from the current or voltage sense signal from the sensing system 50. To this end, the demodulation circuit 70 may significantly reduce the BOM of the wireless transmit system 20 by allowing a less expensive and less computationally powerful processor to be used for or in conjunction with the transmit controller 28, since the computational resources required by the transmit controller 28 to decode the wireless data signal have been significantly reduced by the inclusion of the demodulation circuit 70.

[0444] The demodulation circuit 70 may be particularly useful in reducing the computational burden of decoding the data signal at the transmit controller 28 when a pulse-width coded ASK signal is used to code / decode an ASK wireless data signal within the band of the wireless power signal. A pulse-width coded ASK signal is a signal that codes data as a percentage of the period of the signal. For example, a two-bit pulse-width coded signal may code a start bit as 20% of the period between high edges of the signal, a "1" as 40% of the period between high edges of the signal, and a "0" as 60% of the period between high edges of the signal to create a binary coding format in the pulse-width coding scheme.

[0445] Thus, because pulse width coding relies solely on monitoring the rising and falling edges of the ASK signal, the period between rising times does not need to be constant and the data signal can be asynchronous or "unclocked." Examples of pulse width coding and systems and methods for performing such pulse width coding are described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 735,342, entitled "Systems and Methods for Wireless Power transfer including pulse Width Encoded Data Communications," to Michael Katz, which is commonly owned by the present application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety without excluding any portion thereof, notwithstanding any teaching therein.

[0446] As mentioned above, gradient detection, and therefore in-band transmission of data, can become ineffective or inefficient when signal strength changes due to parameters relied upon during design. For example, when the relative positions of the data sender and data receiver change significantly during use of the system, the electromagnetic coupling between the transmitting coil or antenna and the receiving coil or antenna also changes. Data detection and decoding optimized for a particular coupling will not work or will perform poorly with other couplings. Therefore, a sensitive and non-saturating detection system is needed to enable the system to operate in an environment where the coupling changes dynamically.

[0447] For example, referring to FIG. 7, the signal generated by high pass filter 71 of slope detector 72 is SD fluctuates as a result of varying coupling before being amplified by OP (like the power signal, but this time these fluctuations have been filtered out at this point for the purposes of describing the in-band data). Thus the difference in the amplitude of the amplified signals varies even more. At the high end, the greatly improved coupling is sufficient to reduce the OP SD saturation of the receiver. Similarly, significantly degraded coupling can result in undetectable signals when the system is tuned for high, good, and / or moderate coupling. Furthermore, a preamplifier (pre-amplification) signal with a positive offset can result in a clipped (topped, e.g., saturated) positive signal after amplification unless the gain is reduced; however, reduced gain can make negative signals undetectable. Additionally, varying the load at the receiver can impart a poor signal fill, forcing amplification of the data signal at the slope detector 72.

[0448] For this reason, coupling instabilities are generally not well tolerated by inductive charging systems, as they would cause the filtered and amplified signal to fluctuate too excessively. For example, a phone placed in a compatible dock will remain in a specific position relative to the dock, and any coupling between them will remain relatively constant. However, a phone placed on a desktop with an inductive charging station below the desktop may not maintain a fixed relative position, nor may it maintain a fixed relative orientation, and thus the range of coupling between the transmitter and receiver of the phone may change during the charging process. Consider further a system configured to directly power and / or charge a medical device while the medical device is present within a human body. Due to natural displacements and / or internal movements of organ elements of the human body, the medical device may not maintain a constant position relative to an associated charger located on the body and / or outside the body, and thus the transmitter and receiver may couple over a wide range, ranging from high, good, moderate, low, and / or poor levels. Consider still further a computer peripheral device that is charged by a charging mat on a user's desk. It may be desirable to charge such peripherals, such as a mouse or other input device, while the device is in use, and the usage of such peripherals necessarily changes coupling during use as the peripherals are regularly moved relative to the placement of the transmitting charging mat.

[0449] The effect of differences in the coupling coefficient k can be illustrated by a few non-limiting examples. Consider the case k=0.041, which represents a fairly strong coupling. In this case, the induced voltage delta (V delta ) may be about 160 mV. The corresponding amplified signal fluctuates between a peak of 3.15 V and a minimum of 0.45 V, with a swing of about 2.70 V centered on a DC offset of 1.86 V (i.e., 1.35 V above and below the DC offset value).

[0450] Now consider the same system exhibiting a coupling value of 0.01, which represents a much weaker coupling. Such weakening could be caused by relative motion, intervening materials, or other circumstances. Now consider Vdelta can be about 15 mV. The corresponding amplified signal fluctuates between a peak of 1.94 V and a minimum of 1.77 V, with a swing of about 140 mV centered on a DC offset of 1.86 V (i.e., about 70 mV above and below the DC offset value).

[0451] As can be seen from this example, strong coupling produces a robust signal, while weak coupling produces a very small signal over a fairly large offset. While perhaps largely detectable, these signal levels pose a significant risk of data errors and consequently degraded performance. Furthermore, while there is room to increase the amplification, the level of amplification is constrained by the saturation level of available economical operational amplifier circuits, especially given a DC offset, which in some instances may be around 4.0V.

[0452] However, in one embodiment, automatic gain control in the amplification, combined with a voltage offset in the slope detection, allows the system to adapt to changing degrees of coupling, which is particularly useful in situations where the physical location of the coupled devices is not severely constrained during coupling.

[0453] Next, in the circuit 72 shown in the example of FIG. 7A, the bias voltage V' for gradient detection is Bias (linked resistor R B1 , R B2 , R B3 The voltage divider 77 is supplied with a control voltage V HB Based on V in This connection provides a voltage between the resistors, e.g., R B3 is a digitally adjustable potentiometer-like variable resistor, and the adaptive bias and gain protocols described below allow for a specific resistance, e.g., R bias occurs.

[0454] Similarly, in the illustrated circuit 72, the control voltage V HA Based on this, the output voltage V SDFirst, (linked resistor R A1 , R A2 , R A3 ) to a level set by a voltage divider 80, SD (amplified gradient detection signal) V' SD V to generate SD The amplification of is similarly achieved by a variable potentiometer in the voltage divider, e.g. R A1 and specific values ​​generated by the adaptive bias and gain protocol described below, e.g., R gain Set to.

[0455] For the non-limiting example given above, automatic gain and bias in slope detection allows the circuit to achieve a V range of 400mV to 2.2V. amp slope delta , and offset V of 1.8V to 2.2V amp DC To determine the appropriate offset and gain, the system can use the beacon sequence state. The beacon sequence ensures that the transmitter is generally able to detect the receiver in all possible coupling positions and orientations.

[0456] 7A-B, the slope detector 72 includes a high-pass filter 71 and an optional stabilization circuit 73. The high-pass filter 71 is configured to monitor the relatively high frequency components of the AC radio signal and includes at least a filter capacitor (C HF ) and filter resistor (R HF ) is included. HF and R HFThe value of is selected and / or adjusted for a desired cutoff frequency for the high pass filter 71. In some examples, when the operating frequency of the system 10 is on the order of MHz (e.g., an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz), the cutoff frequency for the high pass filter 71 can be selected as a value of about 1-2 kHz or higher to ensure proper and fast slope detection by the slope detector 72. In some examples, the high pass filter 71 is configured such that harmonic components of the detected slope are not filtered. Considering the current sensor of FIG. 5, the high pass filter 71 and the low pass filter 55 can in combination function as a band pass filter for the demodulation circuit 70.

[0457] OP SD V Tx Any operational amplifier suitable for an appropriate signal response to output the slope of the input signal, but having a bandwidth low enough to attenuate components of the signal that are based on the operating frequency and / or harmonics of the operating frequency. SD V Tx can be selected to have a small input voltage range for SD V Tx This can avoid unnecessary errors or clipping during large voltage changes in the OP SD Input bias voltage for (V Bias ) is a boundary condition (e.g., steepest gradient, V Tx (maximum change in OP SD Note that, as shown in plot B of FIG. 8, when no slope is detected, the output of slope detector 72 is V Bias It is.

[0458] Since the passive components of the slope detector 72 set the endpoints and zeros of the transfer function of the slope detector 72, these passive components must be selected to ensure stability. HF and R HFIf the desired and / or available components selected for the transfer function do not adequately set the endpoints and zeros of the transfer function, an additional, optional stabilization capacitor C ST R HF It can be placed in parallel with a ballast resistor R ST OP SD can be placed in the input path of

[0459] The output of the slope detector 72 (V SD The plot B) can be approximated by the following equation:

number

[0460] Therefore, when no voltage change (gradient) is detected, V SD is V Bias and the output of the slope detector 72, V SD is represented by plot B. As shown in the figure, when no voltage change (gradient) is detected, V SD The value of V Bias is approximated by V Tx As V rises and falls between the high and low voltages of the ASK modulation, SD outputs the change in voltage (dV / dt) scaled by a high pass filter 71. The output of the slope detector 72 can be a pulse, as shown in plot B, and V Tx The slope of the rise and fall of

[0461] V SD is output to the comparison circuit 74, which in turn outputs V SD Receive V SD , the voltage (V SUp ) and the rate of change of voltage (V SLo ) to compare the rate of decline of the V SD V Sup If the voltage exceeds or is satisfied, the comparator Tx A change in V satisfies the rising threshold and indicates a rising edge in the ASK modulation. SD V SLowIf the voltage falls below or meets the V Tx The change in V satisfies the falling threshold and indicates the falling edge of the ASK modulation. Sup and V SLo can be selected to ensure symmetric triggering.

[0462] 8 is an exemplary timing diagram illustrating the signal shapes or waveforms at various stages or subcircuits of demodulation circuit 70. The input signal to demodulation circuit 70 is shown in FIG. 8 as plot A, and corresponds to the "high" voltage (V High ) to a "low" voltage (VLow) perturbation. The voltage signal in plot A illustrates the rising and falling edges of a current (I Tx ) can be derived from such V High From V Low The rise and fall to V may be caused by load modulation performed in the wireless receiving system 30 that modulates the wireless power signal to include a wireless data signal using ASK modulation. As shown, the voltage in plot A does not rise and fall appreciably when performing ASK modulation; rather, the slope, which indicates the rate of change, increases with increasing load modulation from V High From V Low occurs during the transition to and vice versa.

[0463] As shown in FIG. 7A, the gradient detector 72 includes a high-pass filter 71, an operational amplifier (OpAmp) OP SD , and optional ballast circuit 73. High-pass filter 71 is configured to monitor the high-frequency components of the AC radio signal and includes at least a filter capacitor (C HF ) and filter resistor (R HF ) can be included. HF and R HFThe value of can be selected and / or adjusted for a desired cutoff frequency for the high pass filter 71. In some examples, when the operating frequency of the system 10 is on the order of MHz (e.g., an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz), the cutoff frequency for the high pass filter 71 can be selected as a value of about 1-2 kHz or higher to ensure fast slope detection by the slope detector 72. In some examples, the high pass filter 71 is configured such that harmonic components of the detected slope are not filtered. Considering the current sensor 57 of FIG. 5, the high pass filter 71 and the low pass filter 55 can function in combination as a band pass filter for the demodulation circuit 70.

[0464] OP SD V Tx Any operational amplifier suitable for an appropriate signal response to output the slope of the input signal, but having a bandwidth low enough to attenuate components of the signal that are based on the operating frequency and / or harmonics of the operating frequency. SD V Tx can be selected to have a small input voltage range for SD V Tx This can avoid unnecessary errors or clipping during large voltage changes in the OP SD Input bias voltage for (V Bias ) is a boundary condition (e.g., steepest gradient, V Tx (maximum change in OP SD Note that, as shown in plot B of FIG. 8, when no slope is detected, the output of slope detector 72 is V Bias It is.

[0465] Since the passive components of the slope detector 72 set the endpoints and zeros of the transfer function of the slope detector 72, these passive components must be selected to ensure stability. HF and R HFIf the desired and / or available components selected for the transfer function do not adequately set the endpoints and zeros of the transfer function, an additional, optional stabilization capacitor C ST R HF It can be placed in parallel with a ballast resistor R ST OP SD can be placed in the input path of

[0466] The output of the slope detector 72 (V SD The plot B) can be approximated by the following equation:

number

[0467] Therefore, when no voltage change (gradient) is detected, V SD is V Bias and the output of the slope detector 72, V SD is represented by plot B. As shown in the figure, when no voltage change (gradient) is detected, V SD The value of V Bias is approximated by V Tx As V rises and falls between the high and low voltages of the ASK modulation, SD outputs the change in voltage (dV / dt) scaled by a high pass filter 71. The output of the slope detector 72 can be a pulse, as shown in plot B, and V Tx The slope of the rise and fall of

[0468] V SD is output to the comparison circuit 74, which in turn outputs V SD Receive V SD , the voltage (V SUp ) and the rate of change of voltage (V SLo ) to compare the rate of decline of the V SD V Sup If the voltage exceeds or is satisfied, the comparator Tx A change in V satisfies the rising threshold and indicates a rising edge in the ASK modulation. SD V SLowIf the voltage falls below or meets the V Tx The change in V satisfies the falling threshold and indicates the falling edge of the ASK modulation. Sup and V SLo can be selected to ensure symmetric triggering.

[0469] In some examples, such as the comparison circuit 74 shown in FIG. 6, the comparison circuit 74 may include a window comparison circuit. Sup and V SLo may be set as a portion of the power supply determined by the resistance of the comparison circuit 74. In some such examples, the resistance in the comparison circuit may be set as follows:

number

[0470] Additionally, the output signal of the comparator circuit 74 can be output to the transmit controller 28 and used to decode the wireless data signal by signaling the rising and falling edges of the ASK modulation, while in some examples, a noise reduction and / or filter mechanism can be added for the slope detector 72, including an SR latch 76. The SR latch 76 can be configured to latch the signal at steady state (plot C) until a reset is performed for the transmit controller 28 to read. In some examples, the SR latch 76 can perform the function of latching the comparator signal and function as an inverter to generate an active high alarm output signal. Thus, the SR latch 76 can be any SR latch known in the art that is configured to be continuously energized when the system detects the excitation of a slope or other modulation. As shown, the SR latch 76 can include a NOR gate, which can be configured to have a propagation delay suitable for the signal. For example, the SR latch 76 can be configured to include two NOR gates (NOR Up , NOR Lo ), each NOR gate operatively associated with an upper voltage output of comparator 74 and a lower voltage output of comparator 74.

[0471] In some cases, such as that shown in plot C, the comparator circuit 74 is V Sup (solid line on plot C) triggers a reset of the SR latch 76, causing the comparator circuit 74 to SLo (dashed line on plot C) triggers the setting of the SR latch 76. Thus, a reset of the SR latch 76 indicates a falling edge of the ASK modulation, and a set of the SR latch 76 indicates a rising edge of the ASK modulation. Thus, as shown in plot D, the rising and falling edges indicated by the modulation circuit 70 are input as alerts to the transmit controller 28, which decodes these alerts and decodes the received wireless data signal transmitted by the wireless receiving system 30 using ASK modulation.

[0472] The incoming signal V shown in the plot of Figure 8 Tx does not lead to excessive bias or saturation, because V Bias and V G This is because the value of V is at an appropriate level, although the binding environment may change (e.g., from strong to weak binding). Bias and V G is no longer adequate and no longer allows for accurate signal detection. However, automatic gain and bias as described herein can be applied to continuously evaluate the system behavior and adjust V Bias and V G , which provides accurate signal detection over the entire range of acceptable coupling strengths.

[0473] 9 and with continued reference to FIGS. 1-4, a block diagram of one embodiment of a power conditioning system 40 is shown. The power conditioning system 40 receives power as a DC power source from the input power source 12 itself or through an intervening power converter that converts the AC power source to a DC power source (not shown). A voltage regulator 46 is configured to receive power from the input power source 12 and provide power for wireless transmission by the antenna 21. The voltage regulator 46 thus converts the received power into at least two power signals: a first power signal for powering any component of the wireless transmission system 20, and a second portion that is conditioned and modified for wireless transmission to the wireless receiving system 30, each power signal being at a voltage suitable for operation of a respective one of the downstream components. As shown in FIG. 3, such first portion is routed to at least the sensing system 50, the transmit controller 28, and the communication system 29; however, the first portion is not limited to being routed to only these components and may be routed to any electrical component of the wireless transmission system.

[0474] A second portion of the power is provided to an amplifier 42 of the power conditioning system 40, which is configured to condition the power for wireless transmission by the antenna 21. The amplifier can function as an inverter that receives an input DC power signal from a voltage regulator 46 and generates an AC output based, at least in part, on a PWM input from the transmission control system 26. The amplifier 42 can be or include, for example, a one-power stage inverter, such as a single field effect transistor (FET), a two-field effect transistor power stage inverter, or a four-field effect transistor power stage inverter. The use of the amplifier 42 in the power conditioning system 40, as well as in the wireless transmission system 20, allows for wireless transmission of electrical signals having much larger amplitudes than would be possible without such an amplifier. For example, the addition of the amplifier 42 allows the wireless transmission system 20 to transmit electrical energy as a power signal having a power from about 10 mV to about 500 W. In some examples, the amplifier 42 can be or include one or more class E power amplifiers. Class E power amplifiers are efficient regulated switching power amplifiers designed for use at high frequencies (e.g., frequencies from about 1 MHz to about 1 GHz). In general, single-ended class E amplifiers use a single-terminal switching element and a regulated reactive network between the switch and the output load (e.g., antenna 21). Class E amplifiers achieve high efficiency at high frequencies by operating the switching element only at zero current (e.g., switching from on to off) or zero voltage (switching from off to on). These switching characteristics can minimize power loss in the switch even when the switching time of the device is long compared to the frequency of operation.However, amplifier 42 is not necessarily limited to being a class E amplifier, and may be or include one or more of a class D amplifier, a class EF amplifier, an H-inverter amplifier, and / or a push-pull inverter, among other amplifiers that may be included as part of amplifier 42.

[0475] 10, with continued reference to at least FIGS. 1 and 2, the wireless receiving system 30 is shown in more detail. The wireless receiving system 30 is configured to receive at least electrical energy, power, electromagnetic energy, and / or electrically transmissible data from the wireless transmitting system 20 via the transmitting antenna 21 by near-field magnetic coupling. As shown in FIG. 9, the wireless receiving system 30 includes at least a receiving antenna 31, a receiving tuning and filtering system 34, a power conditioning system 32, a receiving control system 36, and a voltage isolation circuit 70. The receiving tuning and filtering system 34 may be configured to approximately match the electrical impedance of the wireless transmitting system 20. In some examples, the receiving tuning and filtering system 34 may be configured to dynamically adjust the electrical impedance of the receiving antenna 31 to approximately match the characteristic impedance of a power generator or load at the driving frequency of the transmitting antenna 21.

[0476] As shown, the power conditioning system 32 includes a rectifier 33 and a voltage regulator 35. In some examples, the rectifier 33 is electrically connected to a receiving tuning and filtering system 34. The rectifier 33 is configured to change the received electrical energy from an AC electrical energy signal to a DC electrical energy signal. In some examples, the rectifier 33 is configured with at least one diode. Some non-limiting configurations of the rectifier 33 include, but are not limited to, a full-wave rectifier, a half-wave rectifier, a bridge rectifier, an isolated rectifier, a single-phase rectifier, a three-phase rectifier, a voltage doubler, a synchronous voltage rectifier, a controlled rectifier, an uncontrolled rectifier, and a half-controlled rectifier, where the full-wave rectifier includes a center-tapped full-wave rectifier and a filtered full-wave rectifier, the half-ended rectifier includes a filtered half-wave rectifier, and the bridge rectifier includes a filtered bridge rectifier. Because electronic devices may be voltage sensitive, additional protection of the electronic devices may be provided by a clipper circuit or device. In this regard, the rectifier 33 may further include a clipper circuit or device that removes either the positive portion (upper half) or the negative portion (lower half), or both the positive and negative portions, of the input AC signal. In other words, a clipper is a circuit or device that limits the positive amplitude, the negative amplitude, or both the positive and negative amplitudes of the input AC signal.

[0477] Non-limiting examples of the voltage regulator 35 include, but are not limited to, a series linear voltage regulator, a buck converter, a low dropout (LDO) regulator, a shunt linear voltage regulator, a step-up switching voltage regulator, a step-down switching voltage regulator, an inverter voltage regulator, a Zener controlled transistor series voltage regulator, a charge pump regulator, and an emitter follower voltage regulator. The voltage regulator 35 may further include a voltage multiplier, which is an electronic circuit or device that provides an output voltage having an amplitude (peak value) that is two, three, or a greater multiple than the amplitude (peak value) of an input voltage. The voltage regulator 35 is electrically connected to the rectifier 33 and configured to adjust the amplitude of the voltage of the wirelessly received electrical energy signal after conversion to AC by the rectifier 33. In some examples, the voltage regulator 35 may be an LDO linear voltage regulator; however, other voltage regulation circuits and / or systems are also contemplated. As shown, the DC energy signal output by the voltage regulator 35 is received at the load 16 of the electronic device 14. In some examples, a portion of the DC power signal may be used to power the receiving control system 36 and its components; however, the receiving control system 36, and any of its components, may certainly be capable of being powered and / or receiving signals from the load 16 (e.g., when the load 16 is a battery and / or other power source) and / or from other components of the electronic device 14.

[0478] The receive control system 36 may include, but is not limited to, a receive controller 38, a communication system 39, and a memory 37. The receive controller 38 may be any electronic controller or computer system including at least a processor that performs calculations, executes control algorithms, stores data, reads data, collects data, controls and / or communicates with other components or subsystems associated with the wireless receive system 30. The receive controller 38 may be a single controller or may include two or more controllers arranged to control various functions and / or features of the wireless receive system 30. The functions of the receive controller 38 may be implemented in hardware and / or software and may rely on one or more data maps related to the operation of the wireless receive system 30. To this end, the receive controller 38 may be operatively associated with the memory 37. The memory may include one or both of an internal memory, an external memory, and / or a remote memory (e.g., a database and / or a server operatively connected to the receive controller 38 via a network such as, but not limited to, the Internet). The internal memory and / or external memory may include, but are not limited to, one or more of read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, portable memory, etc., where ROM includes programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM, sometimes but rarely EROM), electrically erasable read only memory (EEPROM), and RAM includes dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), single data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (SDR SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4), and graphics double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (GDDR SDRAM, GDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4, GDDR5).Such memory media are examples of non-transitory computer-readable memory media.

[0479] Additionally, although certain elements of the receive control system 36 are illustrated as subcomponents and / or circuits of the receive control system 36 (e.g., memory 37, communication system 39, among other possible elements), such components may be external to the receive controller 38. In some examples, the receive controller 38 may be and / or may include one or more integrated circuits configured to include functional elements of either or both the receive controller 38 and the overall wireless receive system 30. As used herein, an "integrated circuit" generally refers to a circuit in which all or a portion of the circuit elements are closely related and electrically interconnected and thus considered to be inseparable for manufacturing and commercial purposes. Such integrated circuits include, but are not limited to, thin film transistor, thick film technology, and / or hybrid integrated circuits.

[0480] In some examples, the wireless power transmission system 20 can be configured to transmit power throughout a large charging area within which the wireless power receiving system 30 can receive the power. A "charging area" can be an area associated with and proximate to the wireless power transmission system 20 and / or the transmitting antenna 21, within which the wireless power receiver 30 can couple with the transmitting system 20 or the transmitting antenna 21 at multiple points within the charging area. To this end, it is advantageous for both functionality and user experience that the multiple points for coupling within the charging area include as many points as possible within a given charging area, as well as a consistent ability to couple with the receiving system 30. In some examples, a "large charging area" can be a charging area with spatial degrees of freedom in the XY axes within an area bounded by a width (width across the area, or width along the "X" axis) of about 150 mm to about 500 mm, and a length (height of the area, or length along the "Y" axis) of about 50 mm to about 350 mm. The antenna 21 disclosed below is applicable to "large area" or "large charging area" wireless power transmitting antennas, however the teachings disclosed herein may also be applicable to transmitting or receiving antennas having smaller or larger charging areas than those described above.

[0481] It is advantageous to design large area power transfer with maximum uniformity of power transfer in mind. Thus, such a transmitting antenna 21 may be advantageously designed with uniformity in mind. "Uniformity" as defined herein refers to the ratio of the maximum coupling between the wireless transmitting system 20 and the wireless receiving system 30 to the minimum coupling between the systems 20, 30, and this coupling value is determined by measuring or determining the coupling between the systems 20, 30 at multiple points where the wireless receiving system 30 and / or antenna 31 are located within the charging area of ​​the transmitting antenna 21. In other words, uniformity is the ratio of the minimum coupling (C MIN ) to the area of ​​the transmitting antenna 21. MAX) is the ratio of bonds when placed at a point that provides the uniformity of the charging area (U AREA ) can be defined as follows: U AREA =C MAX / C MIN For this purpose, a perfectly uniform charging area has a uniformity of 1, since for a perfectly uniform charging area, C MAX =C MIN Because that is the case.

[0482] Additionally, uniformity can be increased by using a greater number of turns, coils, and / or other resonators in the antenna, but maximizing uniformity by increasing the amount of conductive metal used in this manner may raise cost concerns, bill of materials concerns, environmental concerns, and / or sustainability concerns, among other known drawbacks of including more conductive material. To this end, the following transmit antenna 21 may be designed by balancing uniformity considerations with cost, environmental, and / or sustainability considerations. In other words, the following transmit antenna 21 may be configured to achieve increased uniformity (e.g., maximized) while reducing (e.g., minimizing) the amount or length of wires or conductive traces used.

[0483] Additionally, the antenna 21 below may be embodied by a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible PCB, although in some examples the antenna 21 below may be a wound antenna that foregoes the use of any standard PCB substrate. By reducing or perhaps eliminating the use of PCB substrates, costs and / or environmental concerns associated with PCB substrates may be reduced and / or eliminated.

[0484] 11A, an embodiment of a wireless power transmitting antenna 121 is illustrated, which can be utilized as a transmitting antenna 21 for a wireless transmission system 20. The antenna 121 can be formed of antenna molecules 123, each of which can define or include a plurality of coil atoms. An "antenna molecule" as defined herein refers to an antenna coil formed of a continuous conductor and formed (e.g., wound) to include a plurality of coil atoms. A "coil atom" as defined herein refers to a portion of an antenna molecule that substantially forms a shape having a loop-like footprint, whether the loop structure is a closed loop (e.g., as shown in FIG. 11D) or a loop with one or more openings (e.g., as shown in FIG. 11C). Thus, as an analogy based on organic structures, a plurality of "coil atoms" combine to form an "antenna molecule," which in turn combine to form an "organism," which is the transmitting antenna 121.

[0485] A "continuous conductor," as defined herein, refers to a conductor line or deposition of conductive material that begins at one point and continues to a second point without interruption in the signal path. A continuous conductor can include wound conductive wires or leads, wires or conductive traces on a printed circuit board, conductive material deposited on a substrate, conductive material arranged in a pattern by additive manufacturing processes, among other known conductors arranged as conductors.

[0486] 11B, an example antenna molecule 123 may be formed of a continuous conductor 124 beginning at an origin molecular terminal 126 and terminating at an end molecular terminal 128. The origin and end terminals 126, 128 may be directly connected to electronic components of the wireless transmission system 20 or may be connected to other antenna molecules 123 that receive signals to drive the molecules 123. Collectively, driving each of the molecules 123 of the antenna 121 results in driving the antenna 121.

[0487] 11B illustrates an example of a current path (also referred to as current flow) through wire 124 of molecule 123 using lettered leads with circular endpoints to indicate points on wire 124. Point A is proximate the beginning of wire 124 and indicates the current input point on wire 124. Current then flows to point B, then to point C, and to point D; however, as the current flows from point C to point D, it does not flow through point B again because wire 124 is routed either below or above point B, and in some instances, insulation is placed between the wires that cross at point B. From point D, the current flows to point E, loops to point F, then flows upward and to the right to point G; similar to the relationship between points B and D, the current does not flow back through point E because the conductor 124 is routed either below or above point E, and in some instances, an insulator is placed between the conductor 124 that crosses at point E. The current then flows from point G to point H, and flows back upward through point I to point J; the current does not flow back through point H because the conductor 124 is routed either below or above point H, and in some instances, an insulator is placed between the conductors that cross at point H. From point J, the current then flows to point K, and then flows through a substantially straight portion located at the bottom of the antenna molecule 123 as shown, from point K to point L, to point M, to point N, and finally from point N to point O, which is located adjacent to the terminal molecule terminal 128. In some examples, points on substantially linear portion 129 may be routed below or above points C, F, and I, and insulators may be disposed between points C, F, and I and substantially linear portion 129. In some alternative examples, substantially linear portion 129 may be disposed with gaps between it and points C, F, and I. Such gaps are configured to provide sufficient spacing between points C, F, and I and substantially linear portion 129.

[0488] Based on the structure of molecule 123 in Figure 11B described above, molecule 123 can be segmented into closed coil atoms 125 or unclosed coil atoms 125. The first coil atom 125A (shown separately in Figure 11C) is the source coil atom and includes start and end terminals 126, 128 and is where current enters and leaves antenna molecule 125. One or more connected coil atoms 125B-N (shown separately in Figure 11D) are electrically connected together to source coil atom 125A and / or one or more other coil atoms 125B-N for any number "N" of coil atoms 125 because they are all part of a continuous conductor 124.

[0489] Returning now to FIG. 11A, as shown, each of the antenna molecules 123A-N partially overlaps at least one other antenna molecule 123A-N. Furthermore, as configured in the structure of the conductor 124, each of the coil atoms 125 partially overlaps one other coil atom 125. Each of the overlaps between the respective antenna molecules 123 and each of the coil atoms 125 can be set to appropriately position each portion of the conductor 124 to achieve improved uniformity, given the amount of conductive material in the conductor 124. For example, the molecular overlaps 141A and 141B can be set to maintain or improve longitudinal uniformity (e.g., optimizing uniformity for a receive antenna 31 that moves longitudinally relative to the transmit antenna 121). Additionally or alternatively, the atomic overlap 143A, 143B, 143N can be set to maintain or improve lateral uniformity (e.g., optimizing uniformity for a receive antenna 31 moving laterally relative to the transmit antenna 121).

[0490] 11A-D are "linearly arranged" antenna molecules 123, meaning that the coil atoms 125 of the antenna molecule 123 are arranged in a substantially linear fashion from coil atom 125A to coil atom 125N, as defined herein. In some linearly arranged antenna molecules 123, a substantially linear portion 129 of the continuous conductor 124 extends from the substantially linearly arranged source coil atom 125A to the last connected coil atom 125N.

[0491] Another example of a transmitting antenna 221 is shown in Figure 12A, which also has antenna molecules 223, each of which has a substantially linear arrangement of coil atoms 225. The transmitting antenna 221 can be used as the transmitting antenna 21 in conjunction with the wireless transmission system 20.

[0492] 12B, one example antenna molecule 223 may be formed of a continuous conductor 224 beginning at an origin molecular terminal 226 and terminating at an end molecular terminal 228. The origin and end terminals 226, 228 may be directly connected to electronic components of the wireless transmission system 20 or may be connected to other antenna molecules 223 that receive signals to drive the molecules 223. Collectively, driving each of the molecules 223 results in driving the antenna 221.

[0493] Each of the coil atoms 225 of the antenna molecule 223 includes at least an inner turn and an outer turn; however, the coil atoms 225 may include additional turns (not shown). Figure 12B illustrates an example of a current path (also referred to as current flow) through the conductor 224 of the molecule 223 using an alphabetic leader with circular endpoints to indicate points on the conductor 224. Point A is adjacent to the beginning of the conductor 224 and indicates the input point of current at the conductor 224. The current then flows around the inner turn 251A of the source coil atom 225A in a clockwise direction and then into the outer turn of the source coil atom 225A. The current then flows from point B through the outer turn 253A to point C, then down to point D, which is adjacent to the pivot 252B, which represents a pivot point in the conductor 224 where the current flow pivots from a portion of the outer turn of the source coil atom 225A to the inner coil of the second coil atom 225B. The current then flows in a clockwise direction through the entire inner turn 251B of the second coil atom 225B and to point E, where the current then flows to a portion of the outer turn 253B of the second coil atom 225B. The current continues to flow through the outer turn 253B to point F; however, as the current flows from point E to point F, the current does not flow through point C again because the conductor 124 is routed either below or above point C, and in some instances, insulation is placed between the conductors that cross at point C. The current then flows from point F to point G, and then from point G to point H, where the current turns from the outer turn 253B to the inner turn 251C of the third coil atom 225C. The current then flows from point H to point L in a path similar to the current flow from point D to point H, except that it flows from the inner turn 251C of the third coil atom 225C (point H) to the inner turn 251D of the fourth coil atom 225D (point L). Similarly, the current then flows from point L to point P in a path similar to the current flow from point D to point H, except that it flows from the inner turn 251D of the fourth coil atom 225D (point L) to the inner turn 251E of the fifth coil atom 225E (point P).The current then flows from point P to point T in a path similar to the current flow from point D to point H, except that it flows from the inner turn 251E (point P) of the fifth coil atom 225E to the inner turn 251N (point T) of the nth coil atom 225N.

[0494] At point T, the current then flows in a clockwise direction through the inner turn 251N, then from point U to point V, and then to point W, which continues through the majority of the outer turn 253N. The current then flows from point W to point X through a generally straight portion located at the bottom of the antenna molecule 223 as shown. The current then flows to point Y, which is located proximate to the terminal molecule terminal 228.

[0495] The substantially straight portion may be considered to form a portion of each outer turn 253A-N of each of the coil atoms 225A-N. As shown, the substantially straight portion 229 may be disposed with a gap between it and other portions of the outer turn 253 of the conductor 224. Such a gap is configured to provide sufficient spacing between the substantially straight portion 229 and other portions of the outer turn 253. Such a configuration of the substantially straight portion 229 may reduce or eliminate the need to place insulation between portions of the continuous conductor 224, which aids in the manufacturability of the antenna 221.

[0496] The first coil atom 225A (shown separately in FIG. 12C) is the source coil atom and includes start and end terminals 226, 228 and is where current enters and leaves the antenna molecule 223. One or more connected coil atoms 225B-N (shown separately in FIG. 12D) are electrically connected together to the source coil atom 225A and / or to one or more other coil atoms 225B-N for any number "N" of coil atoms 225, since they are all part of the continuous conductor 124.

[0497] Molecular-based large charging area transmitting antennas such as those in Figures 11-12 and Figures 13-14 below are particularly useful for reducing manufacturing complexity since the number of cable crossings is greatly limited. Furthermore, modularity of design for a given size is provided since the number of antenna molecules can be easily changed during the design process.

[0498] 13A-13C, an antenna 321 is shown that utilizes antenna molecules 323. In contrast to the linear arrangement of antenna molecules of antennas 121, 221, each of the antenna molecules 323 of antenna 321 has a "puzzle-shaped arrangement". As defined herein, a "puzzle-shaped arrangement" of antenna molecules refers to an antenna molecule having multiple coil atoms, each coil atom being arranged opposite at least one other coil atom of the same antenna molecule along a diagonal extension of the coil atom. As shown in FIGS. 13A-C, a first puzzle-shaped antenna molecule 232A is shown in solid lines, whereas a second puzzle-shaped antenna molecule 323B is shown in dashed lines. As seen in FIGS. 13B and 13C, the coil atoms 325 of a given puzzle-shaped antenna molecule 323 are arranged opposite each other along a diagonal extension of the coil atoms, meaning, for example, that the second coil atom 325B is arranged below and to the right of the first coil atom 325A along said line. In some instances, another coil atom 325 (e.g., coil atom 325D) of a different antenna molecule 323B is positioned to "fit" or "fill" the space to the right of coil atom 325A and above the other coil atom 325B of antenna molecule 323A, and similarly, another coil atom 325 (e.g., coil atom 325C) of a different antenna molecule 323B is positioned to "fit" or "fill" the space to the left of the second coil atom 325B and below the coil atom 325A of antenna molecule 323A, thus forming a "puzzle shape" of the antenna molecules 323, such that when they overlap, they combine to form a complete transmitting antenna 321.

[0499] 13B, the current flow through the first antenna molecule 323A is illustrated by lettered points A through D. The current flow through the puzzle-shaped antenna molecule 323A, which is comprised of a continuous conductor 324A, begins at point A, where the current enters the antenna molecule 323A at the source terminal 326A of the antenna molecule 3232A, flows through a portion of the first coil atom 325A to point B, then flows through the entirety of the second coil atom 325B to point C, and then flows through the remainder of the first coil atom 325A to the end terminal 328A at point D. The current flow through the second antenna molecule 323B, comprised of a second continuous conductor 324B, is shown in FIG. 13C, and follows a generally similar path as the current flow through the first antenna molecule 323A (albeit illustrating the inverted arrangement of the two coil atoms 325), where the current begins at point A, where the current enters the antenna molecule 323B at source terminal 326B of the antenna molecule 323B, flows through a portion of the third coil atom 325C to point B, then flows through the entirety of the fourth coil atom 325D to point C, and then flows through the remainder of the third coil atom 325C to the end terminal 328B at point D.

[0500] FIG. 14A illustrates another example of an antenna 421 that can be used as a transmitting antenna, where the antenna 421 includes a first and a second number of puzzle-shaped antenna molecules 423. Similar to the antenna 321 of FIG. 13, each of the first number of puzzle-shaped antenna molecules 423 (e.g., antenna molecules 423A, 423C, 423E) is shown with a solid line, while the second number of puzzle-shaped antenna molecules 423 (e.g., antenna molecules 423B, 423D, 423N) is shown with a dashed line. Although six antenna molecules are illustrated, the antenna 421 can include any number "N" of antenna molecules 423. Additionally, although two-turn antenna molecules 423 are shown, each antenna molecule 423 having an inner turn and an outer turn, the antenna molecule for the antenna 421 can include any number of turns, where the current path through these turns follows a similar current path through two turns as described below.

[0501] 14B and 14C, each coil atom 425 of each antenna molecule 423 includes at least an innermost turn 451 and an outermost turn 453. Additionally, each of the antenna molecules 423 is comprised of a continuous conductor 424.

[0502] 14B, the current flow through a first example antenna molecule 423A having a continuous conductor 424A is illustrated by a series of lettered points A through I. The current enters the antenna molecule 423A at the source terminal 426 (point A), flows through a portion of the outermost turns 453A-E of the coil atoms 453A-E to point B, then flows through the entire outermost turn of coil atom 425F to point C, then flows through the remainder of the outermost turn 453E of coil atom 425E to the remainder of the outermost turn 453D of coil atom 425D, to the remainder of the outermost turn 453C of coil atom 425C, to the remainder of the outermost turn 453C of coil atom 425B, and to the remainder of the outermost turn 453A of coil atom 425A (point D). Next, from point D to point E, the continuous conductor 424A continues to form the innermost turn 451 of the coil atom 425, and the current then flows from point E through a portion of each of the innermost turns 451A-E of each of the coil atoms 425A-E to point F. The current then flows from point F through the entire innermost turn 451F of the coil atom 425F to point G. Next, from point G to point H, the current flows through the remaining portions of each of the coil atoms 451A-E, i.e., from the innermost turn 451E to the innermost turn 451D, to the innermost turn 451C, to the innermost turn 451B, to the innermost turn 451A, and terminates at the end terminal at point I.

[0503] The current flow through a second example antenna molecule 423B having a continuous conductor 424B is shown in Figure 14C, and follows a current path that is generally similar to the current flow of Figure 14B described above; the antenna molecule 423B is simply the inversion of the first antenna molecule 423A, so that when superimposed, the antenna molecules form two rows of coil atoms 425 and six columns of coil atoms 425.

[0504] By forming the antenna molecules as puzzle-shaped antenna molecules 423, the crossing of the wires 424 of each molecule is greatly limited; for example, as shown in Figure 14B, wire 424A crosses itself at only one point in antenna molecule 423A, between points H and I. Eliminating and / or reducing the crossings can help speed up production or manufacturing of antenna molecules 423 and reduce the cost required to place insulation between the wire crossings, thus reducing the cost of production of antenna 421.

[0505] Returning to Figure 14A, after each of the puzzle-shaped antenna molecules 423 are produced, a first number (solid lines) and a second number (dashed lines) are overlapped to form a row of coil atoms 425 and a column of coil atoms 425 as shown. Because the puzzle-shaped antenna molecules 423 can partially overlap, insulation (not shown) can be placed between the points where one antenna molecule 423 crosses over another, or a global insulating layer can be placed between the antenna molecules. As shown, two antenna molecules 423 can overlap by an overlap gap 441, which can be configured to increase (and perhaps maximize) the uniformity in the antenna 421.

[0506] 15A, a block diagram is shown to illustrate the electrical connections for an antenna 521, which may be utilized as a transmitting antenna 21 and includes multiple antenna molecules (e.g., any of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, and / or 423). The block diagram of FIG. 15A shows the electrical connections from one or more electrical components 120 of the wireless transmission system 20 to the antenna 521, 21, and between the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, and / or 423 of the antenna 521, each of which may take the form of any of the antenna molecules disclosed herein, such as the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 described above.

[0507] The antenna 521 includes antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 and a source antenna coil 529. The source antenna coil 529 can be any coil placed on a PCB or wound from a conductor and receives an electrical signal directly via a physical (or wired) electrical connection to one or more components 120 of the wireless transmission system 20. As shown, each of the antenna molecules is electrically connected in parallel with each other. However, the antenna molecules are not physically (or wired) electrically connected to either the one or more components 120 or the source coil 529; rather, the antenna molecules are configured as a repeater for wireless power transmission, where the antenna molecules receive a wireless power signal from the source coil and transmit a repeater wireless power signal based on the wireless power signal.

[0508] As defined herein, a "repeater" is an antenna or coil configured to repeat a magnetic field generated between a transmitting antenna (e.g., source coil 529) and one or both of a receiving antenna 31 and one or more other antennas or coils (e.g., antenna molecules of FIG. 15A), provided that such subsequent coils or antennas are configured as repeaters. Thus, one or more repeater antennas (e.g., antenna molecules of FIG. 15A) repeat electrical energy or data from an initial transmitting antenna (e.g., source coil 529) to a receiving antenna 31 or other repeating antennas or coils by NMFC. In one or more embodiments, such repeating coils or antennas (e.g., antenna molecules of FIG. 15A) comprise an inductor coil capable of resonating at approximately the same frequency as the resonant frequency of the initial transmitting antenna (source coil 529) and the receiving antenna 31. Moreover, it is certainly possible that the initial transmitting antenna may transmit an electrical signal and / or may couple with one or more other antennas (repeaters or receivers) to transmit at least partially a component of the transmitting antenna's output signal or magnetic field, including secondary and / or stray coupling with or signal transmission to multiple antennas of the system 10, 20, 30.

[0509] In some examples, the antenna molecules in FIG. 15A can be considered as internal repeaters to either the transmitting antennas 521, 21 and / or the wireless transmitting system 20. An "internal repeater" as defined herein is a repeater coil or antenna that is used as part of a common antenna for the system, and is not used as a repeater outside the boundaries of such antenna (e.g., a peripheral antenna to spread the signal outside the boundaries of the charging area of ​​the transmitting antenna 21). For example, a user of the wireless power transmitting system 20 would not know the difference between a system 20 with an internal repeater coil and one with the entire coil wired to the electrical component 120, as long as both systems are housed in an opaque mechanical housing. Internal repeaters can be beneficial for use in a single wireless transmitting antenna, as they allow longer conductors for the coils without introducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) associated with longer conductors connected to a common wired signal source. Additionally or alternatively, the use of internal repeaters can be beneficial in improving metal elasticity and / or uniformity for wireless transmitting antennas.

[0510] FIG. 15B shows an example of a transmitting antenna 521 where the antenna molecules are linearly arranged antenna molecules 223, with similar or similar components and / or configurations to those of FIGS. 11A-12D. FIG. 15C shows an example of a transmitting antenna 521 where the antenna molecules are puzzle-shaped antenna molecules 423, with similar or similar components and / or configurations to those of FIGS. 14A-14C. As shown, the source coil 529 can be positioned with an insulator (not shown) that prevents wired conduction between the source coil 529 and the antenna molecules 223, 423, so that the source coil can transmit a signal to the antenna molecules 223, 423 for relay to the wireless receiving system 30.

[0511] Utilizing a source-repeater configuration of antenna 521 can provide manufacturing benefits because larger antennas (e.g., molecules 123, 223, 323, 423) can be manufactured at a different location or by a different means than the overall system 20 and / or source coil 529. To this end, Figure 16 is an example flow chart of a method 570 of manufacturing a wireless transmission system 20 by utilizing a source-repeater configuration of antenna 521.

[0512] The method 570 begins at block 572, where the electrical components of the wireless transmission system 20 are connected together on a substrate, such as a PCB. Next, at block 574, the source coil 529 is fabricated. In some examples, the source antenna coil 529 is fabricated on the same substrate as the electrical components 120, on a substrate associated with the electrical components 120, and / or on a PCB connectable to the electrical components 120. Thus, in some examples, fabricating the source coil at block 574 may include disposing the source coil 529 on one or more electrical components 120. After or during the formation of the source coil 529, the source coil 529 is connected to the one or more electrical components 120 (block 576). Next, as shown in block 578, a first mechanical housing 560 (FIG. 17) may be formed to house the electrical components 120 and the source coil 529. The first mechanical housing may be constructed, at least in part, with a dielectric to prevent undesired electrical connections or environmental degradation from objects or environments external to the wireless transmission system 20.

[0513] At block 580, the method includes forming or fabricating an antenna molecule (e.g., the molecule takes the form of any of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, and / or 423). Next, the method 570 includes forming a second mechanical housing for containing the antenna molecule. The second mechanical housing 565 can be constructed, at least in part, with a dielectric to prevent undesired electrical connections or environmental degradation from objects or environments external to the antenna molecule.

[0514] In some examples, steps 572, 574, 576, 578 can be performed at a first location 591, and steps 580, 582 can be performed at a second location 592. In such examples, the method of manufacturing the electrical component 120 and / or the source coil 529 can be very different from the method of manufacturing the antenna molecule. For example, one or more of the electrical components 120 and the source coil 529 can be formed by PCB manufacturing, and the antenna molecule can be formed by manual or machine-based wire winding; cost or availability limitations may dictate that the PCB manufacturing and the winding manufacturing be performed at different locations or facilities. Thus, the repeater configuration and mechanical housing 560, 565 can improve or simplify a seemingly complex program execution in manufacturing by having electrical and mechanical connections that can be manufactured at different locations and easily manufactured.

[0515] In some examples, the method 570 then includes mechanically connecting the first housing 560 and the second housing 565 to provide a wireless electrical connection between the source coil 529 and the antenna molecule in a source-repeater configuration. Such a connection can occur at a third location. In some examples, the third location can be a common location with one of the first location 591 or the second location 592.

[0516] 17A shows the housings 560, 565 combined into the wireless transmission system housing 520, and FIG. 17B shows the housings 560, 565 separated prior to forming the wireless transmission system housing 520. In some examples, the first housing 560 includes a first mechanical feature 562 configured to accommodate a source coil 529 and to enable wireless power transfer from the source coil 529 to the antenna molecule 123, 223, 323, 423. In some such examples, the second housing 565 includes a second mechanical feature 567 configured to enable wireless power transfer from the source coil 529 to the antenna molecule 123, 223, 323, 423. The first mechanical feature portion 562 and the second mechanical feature portion 567 can be configured to fit together such that a connection via the mechanical feature portions 562, 567 aligns the source coil 529 with the antenna molecule 123, 223, 323, 423 for the transmission of power from the source coil 529 to the antenna molecule 123, 223, 323, 423.

[0517] 18, there is shown a block diagram illustrating the electrical connections for an antenna 621, which may be utilized as a transmitting antenna 21 and includes a plurality of antenna molecules (each of which may take the form of any of the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, and / or 423). The block diagram of FIG. 18A illustrates the electrical connections from one or more electrical components 120 of the wireless transmission system 20 to the antennas 621, 21, and between the antenna molecules of the antenna 521, each of which may take the form of any of the antenna molecules disclosed herein, such as the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 described above.

[0518] The antenna 621 includes a first antenna molecule 123A, 223A, 323A, 423A as a source antenna molecule 123A, 223A, 323A, 423A and includes two or more ("N") other antenna molecules as parallel repeater antenna molecules 123B-N, 223B-N, 323B-N, 423B-N (where "N" is the number of antenna molecules). The source antenna molecule 123A, 223A, 323A, 423A is an antenna molecule 123, 223, 323, 423 that directly receives an electrical signal via a physical (or wired) electrical connection to one or more electrical components 120 of the wireless transmission system 20. As shown, each of the repeater antenna molecules 123B-N, 223B-N, 323B-N, 423B-N are electrically connected in parallel with each other. However, the antenna molecules 123B~N, 223B~N, 323B~N are not physically (or wired) electrically connected to one or more components 120 or to the source antenna coil 123A, 223A, 323A, 423A; rather, the repeater antenna molecules 123B~N, 223B~N, 323B~N, 423B~N are configured as repeaters for wireless power transmission, and the repeater antenna molecules 123B~N, 223B~N, 323B~N, 423B~N receive a wireless power signal from the source antenna molecule 123A, 223A, 323A, 423A and transmit a relay wireless power signal based on this wireless power signal.

[0519] FIG. 18B illustrates an example of a transmitting antenna 621A, where the antenna molecules 223 are linearly arranged antenna molecules with similar or similar components and / or configurations to those of FIGS. 11A-12D. FIG. 18C illustrates an example of a transmitting antenna 621B, where the antenna molecules 423 are puzzle-shaped antenna molecules with similar or similar components to those of FIGS. 13A-14C. As shown, the source antenna molecules 223A, 423A can be arranged with an insulator (not shown) that prevents wired conduction between the source antenna molecules 223A, 423A and the repeater antenna molecules 223B-N, 423B-N, so that the source antenna molecules 223A, 423A can transmit signals to the repeater antenna molecules 223B-N, 423B-N for relay to the wireless receiving system 30.

[0520] Utilizing a source-repeater configuration for antenna 621 can provide manufacturing benefits because larger antennas (e.g., molecules 123B-N, 223B-N, 323B-N, 423B-N) can be manufactured at a different location or by a different means than the overall system 20 and / or source coil 529.

[0521] 19A illustrates a block diagram showing the electrical connections for an antenna 721, which can be utilized as a transmitting antenna 21 and includes multiple antenna molecules. The block diagram of FIG. 19A shows the electrical connections from one or more electrical components of the wireless transmission system 20 to the antennas 721, 21, and between the antenna molecules of the antenna 721, each of which can take the form of any of the antenna molecules disclosed herein, such as the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 described above.

[0522] The source antenna molecules 123A, 223A, 323A, 423A are electrically connected directly to one or more electrical components 120, and the other connected antenna molecules 123B-N, 223B-N, 323B-N, 423B-N are electrically connected in series. In some examples, one or more tuning capacitors 723A are connected in series between pairs of antenna molecules 123A-N, 223A-N, 323A-N, 423A-N, as shown in FIG. 19A. The tuning capacitors 723 can be used for any tuning application of the antenna 721, such as, but not limited to, maintaining phase balance between the molecules 123, 223, 323, 423.

[0523] As shown in Figure 19B, the series connection of Figure 19A can be used to connect multiple linearly arranged antenna molecules 223. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 19C, the direct connection configuration of Figure 19A can be used to connect multiple puzzle-shaped antenna molecules 423. The series connection configuration of Figure 19 can provide one or more of the following advantages: a larger magnitude of mutual inductance throughout the antenna 721; an increase in the metallic elasticity of the antenna 721; among others.

[0524] 20 is a flow chart of a method 800 for fabricating any of the antennas 121, 221, 321, 421, 521, 621, 721, which includes two or more antenna molecules (each of which can take the form of any of the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423). The method begins at block 802, which includes disposing a first number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 on a first surface, the first surface including at least a first dielectric material. The dielectric material insulates the first number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 from electrical connection with a conductor disposed proximate the first surface. The first dielectric material can be, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet, which is commonly used for electrical insulation of conductors. In some examples, the first number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 can be disposed within or between portions of a first dielectric material such that the first dielectric material covers all sides of the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423. In some examples, the first number of antenna molecules are disposed by winding the continuous conductor 124, 224, 324, 424 of each antenna molecule 123, 223, 323, 423 of the first number of antenna molecules adjacent to, on, or within a first surface. Such winding of the continuous conductor 124, 224, 324, 424 can be performed by a material deposition machine, by manual winding of the conductor by a technician, by chemical etching, by a lamination process, or any combination thereof.

[0525] In block 804, the method includes disposing a second number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 on a second surface, the second surface including at least a second dielectric material. The dielectric material can be, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet commonly used for electrical insulation of conductors. In some examples, the second number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 can be disposed within or between portions of a first dielectric material such that the first dielectric material covers all sides of the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423. In some examples, the second number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 can be disposed within or between portions of a second dielectric material such that the second dielectric material covers all sides of the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423. In some examples, the second number of antenna molecules are arranged by winding the continuous conductor 124, 224, 324, 424 of each antenna molecule 123, 223, 323, 423 of the second number of antenna molecules adjacent to, on, or within the second surface. Such winding of the continuous conductor 124, 224, 324, 424 can be performed by a material deposition machine, by manual winding of the conductor by a technician, by chemical etching, by a lamination process, or any combination thereof.

[0526] With the first and second numbers of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 formed on the first and second faces, the method proceeds to block 806, where the first and second faces are arranged such that at least a portion of the first and / or second dielectric material is disposed between the first number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 and the second number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423. Such an arrangement may cause each member of the first number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 to partially overlap at least one of the second number of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423, or vice versa. Such an arrangement in block 806 may then be fixed by attaching or bonding the first and second faces to one another to ultimately form the antenna 121, 221, 321, 421, 521, 621, 721.

[0527] 21A-D, portions of an antenna 821 are illustrated that may comprise characteristic portions of any of the antennas 121, 221, 321, 421, 521, 621, 721, and may have any of the antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423, at various stages of the method 800. Although the illustrations of Figures 21A-D include antenna molecules arranged in a generally linear fashion, such as those of Figures 12A-D, method 800 is certainly not limited to the production of antennas having linearly arranged molecules, and may include the production of antennas having other configurations of linearly arranged molecules and / or puzzle-shaped antenna molecules.

[0528] Beginning with Figure 21A, a first number 811 of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 are shown disposed on a first surface 815, which surface 815 includes a dielectric material as described above, and thus Figure 21A illustrates an example of the result of block 802 of method 802. Figure 21B illustrates a second number 812 of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 disposed on a second surface 816, which surface 816 includes a dielectric material as described above; thereby illustrating an example of the result of block 804 of method 800. Figure 21C shows an exploded view of the positioning of the first surface 815 relative to the second surface 816 such that when 815, 816 are brought into proximity, a first number 811 of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 and a second number 812 of antenna molecules 123, 223, 323, 423 at least partially overlap (Block 806). Figure 21D shows the first and second surfaces 815, 816 attached to one another, showing the first number 811 and second number 812 of antenna molecules overlapping, thus resulting in the formation of an antenna 821 (Block 808).

[0529] Method 800 can be beneficial in manufacturing molecular-based transmitting antennas because it allows manufacturers to avoid the complexity of placing small insulators between overlapping successive antenna molecules and / or their coil atoms. By utilizing sheets of insulators rather than small insulators, manufacturing time can be significantly reduced and manufacturing complexity can be dramatically reduced. Such a method allows for fast and efficient mass production of antennas.

[0530] 22A, another example of a wireless power transmitting antenna 921A is illustrated, which transmits wireless power to a receiving system 30 over a large charging area. The antenna 921A can be utilized as a transmitting antenna 21 in any of the wireless transmission systems 20 described above. The transmitting antenna 921A includes multiple transmitting coils 925, at least one of which is a source coil 925A, and at least one of which is an internal repeater coil 925B. The source coil 925A is constructed of a first continuous conductor 924A and includes a first outer turn 953A and a first inner turn 951A. Although only one outer turn 953A and one inner turn 951A are illustrated, it is certainly contemplated that the antenna 921A can include multiple outer turns 953A and inner turns 951A. The source coil 925A is configured to connect to one or more electronic components 120 of the wireless transmission system 20. The first conductor begins at a first source terminal 926 and ends at a second source terminal, the first source terminal 926 leading to or being part of the start of the first outer turn 953A, and the second source terminal associated with or being part of the end point 928 of the first inner turn 951A.

[0531] The internal repeater coil 925B may be shaped similarly to the shape of the source coil 925A, but is electrically connected, but not directly, to one or more electrical components of the wireless transmission system 20. Rather, the internal repeater coil 925B is a repeater configured such that a repeater current is induced in it by the source coil 925A.

[0532] The arrangement of the inner turn 951 and the outer turn 953 of the coil 925 relative to each other is designed to control the direction of current flow through each of the coils 925. The direction of current flow is shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 22A. As shown, current can enter the source coil 925A from one or more electrical components 10 at a first source terminal at the beginning of the first outer turn 953A and then flow through the first outer turn in a first source coil direction. This source coil direction can be, for example, a clockwise direction as shown. Then, at the end of the first outer turn 953A where the first outer turn 953A changes into the first inner turn 951A, the current changes to a second source direction, which is substantially the opposite of the first source direction. In some examples, the second source direction can be a counterclockwise direction as shown, which is substantially the opposite of the clockwise direction of current flow through the first outer turn 953A.

[0533] The internal repeater coil 925B is configured such that a current is induced in it by the source coil 925A, the direction of the current induced in the internal repeater coil 925B being shown by the dotted line in FIG. 22A. The induced current in the internal repeater coil 925B can have a first repeater direction and flows through the second outer turn 953B of the internal repeater coil 925B. The first repeater direction can be, for example, a counterclockwise direction as shown. Then, at the end of the second outer turn 953B where the second outer turn 953B turns into the second inner turn 951B, the current changes to a second repeater direction, the second repeater direction being substantially the opposite of the first repeater direction. In some examples, the second repeater direction can be a clockwise direction, as shown, which is substantially the opposite of the counterclockwise direction of the current flow through the second outer turn 953B.

[0534] As shown and described, the first repeater direction (counterclockwise) is substantially opposite to the first source direction (clockwise). Thus, when looking at the antenna 921 from left to right and from right to left, the current direction reverses every turn. By reversing the current direction every turn, both laterally (side to side) and top to bottom, optimal field uniformity can be maintained. By reversing the current direction between the inner turn 951 and the outer turn 953, the receiving antenna 31 traveling across the charging area of ​​the antenna 21, both laterally and top to bottom, is more likely to be located closer to perpendicular to the magnetic field emanating from the antenna 921. Thus, because the receiving antenna 31 best couples with the transmitting antenna 921 at a point perpendicular to the magnetic field, the charging area created by the antenna 921 has greater uniformity than if all of the turns 951, 953 carried current in a common direction.

[0535] As shown, the source coil 925A and the internal repeater coil 925B can be configured to be commonly housed in a single housing 960. By utilizing the internal repeater coil 925B rather than one larger source coil, EMI benefits can be realized since the shorter conductors connected to the source can reduce EMI issues. In addition, by utilizing the internal repeater coil 925B, the previously mentioned current reversal can be better achieved, which enhances uniformity and metallic elasticity in the transmitting antenna 921.

[0536] In some examples, the internal repeater coil 925B is a "passive" inductor (e.g., not directly connected to a power source using a conductor), but may still be connected to one or more components of the repeater tuning system 923A. The repeater tuning system 923A may include one or more components, such as a tuning capacitor, configured to tune the internal repeater coil 925B so that the internal repeater coil 925B is tuned to operate at an operating frequency similar to the operating frequency of the source coil 925A and / or any receive antenna 31 to which the repeater coil is intended to transmit wireless power. The repeater tuning system 923A may be disposed in the signal path of the internal repeater coil 925B to connect the start of the second outer turn 953B and the end of the second inner turn 951B, as shown.

[0537] One or more of the source coil 925A, the internal repeater coil 925B, and combinations thereof may form a generally rectangular shape as shown, or may combine to form a generally rectangular shape. In some examples, such generally rectangular shapes of one or more of the source coil 925A, the internal repeater coil 925B, and combinations thereof may additionally have circular edges as shown in FIG. 22A. In some such examples, the shapes of the coils 925A, 925B may be oriented together in a "column" type rectangular structure, where, from a top view perspective, the coils 925A, B are arranged in a single row from top to bottom. Instead, as shown in FIG. 22B, the coils 925C, D of FIG. 22B are arranged in a "row" type structure, where the coils 925C, D are arranged next to each other in a "side-to-side" lateral manner, including elements similar and / or similar to those of FIG. 22A as indicated by like reference numbers. Any of the antennas 921 having a source-internal repeater structure, described later, can have either a "row structure" or a "column structure".

[0538] FIG. 22C is another example of a transmitting antenna 921C, which has a source-internal repeater configuration similar to that of FIG. 22A, 22B and therefore includes similar or similar elements to those of FIG. 22A, 22B, which share common reference numbers and descriptions herein. The antenna 921C includes a repeater adjustment system 923B, which is functionally equivalent to the repeater adjustment system 923A of FIG. 22A, 22B, but is located within the boundaries of the internal repeater coil 925B. For example, the repeater adjustment system 923B is located on a substrate 962 that is separate from one or more electrical components 120 of the wireless transmission system 20. In such an example, the substrate 962 and / or the substrate-free adjustment system 923B can be located radially inward of the second outer turn 953B as shown in FIG. 22C. Alternatively, as shown in antenna 921D of FIG. 22D, adjustment system 923B can be similarly connected to the outer and inner turns 953B, 951B, except that adjustment system 923B and / or associated substrate 962 can be positioned radially inward of the second inner turn 951B, and antenna 921D can include similar or similar elements to FIGS. 22A-C, which elements share common reference numbers and descriptions herein.

[0539] In some examples where the repeater tuning system 923B is disposed radially inward of the second outer turn 953B, one or more capacitors of the repeater tuning system 923B may be interdigitated capacitors. An interdigitated capacitor is an element that creates a capacitor-like characteristic by using microstrip lines and may be disposed as a conductive material on a substrate or other surface. To this end, the capacitors of the repeater tuning system 923B may be interdigitated capacitors disposed on the substrate 962. Additionally or alternatively, the interdigitated capacitors of the repeater tuning system 923B may be disposed on other surfaces, such as the dielectric surface of the housing 960.

[0540] By locating the repeater tuning system within or in close proximity to the internal repeater coil 925B, long wires extending to circuit boards such as those associated with one or more components 120 can be eliminated. Eliminating such long wires can reduce manufacturing complexity. Additionally or alternatively, keeping the tuning system 923B in close proximity to the internal repeater coil 925B can reduce EMI concerns associated with long connecting wires by shortening the connecting wires to the tuning system 923B.

[0541] 22E, another example of an antenna 921E is illustrated, which has a source-internal repeater configuration similar to that of FIGS. 22A-D and therefore includes similar or similar elements to those of FIGS. 22A-D, which elements share reference numbers and descriptions herein. In contrast to the antenna 921 of FIGS. 22A-D, the source coil 925A and the internal repeater coil 925B of FIG. 22E include inter-turn capacitors 957A, 957B, respectively. The inter-turn capacitors can be any capacitors disposed between the inner turn 951 and the outer turn 953 of either the source coil 925A or the internal repeater coil 925B. The inter-turn capacitors 957 can be configured to mitigate electric field (or E-field) radiation generated by one or both of the antenna 921 and the one or more electrical components 120.

[0542] The use of the inter-turn capacitor 957 in the antenna 921E can reduce the sensitivity of the antenna 921E to parasitic capacitances or capacitances outside the range of wireless power transmission (e.g., the natural capacitance of the human upper and lower limbs or body). Thus, the antenna 921E is less susceptible to such parasitic capacitances when introduced into the electromagnetic field generated by the antenna 921E than the antenna 21 that does not include the inter-turn capacitor 957. The inter-turn capacitor 957 can further be adjusted to maintain the phase of the AC signal throughout each coil 925, and thus the value of the inter-turn capacitor 957 can be based on one or more of the operating frequency of the system 10, 20, 30, the impedance of each turn of the coil 925, and / or the length of the continuous conductor 924 of each coil 925. By maintaining the phase throughout the coil 925 with the inter-turn capacitor 957, excessive or undesired radiation can be mitigated because there is less variance in the voltage across the coil 925.

[0543] The inter-turn capacitor 957 may be tuned to prevent electric field radiation, thereby allowing the wireless transmission system 20 to operate properly within statutory or standards body guidelines. For example, the inter-turn capacitor may be tuned to reduce electric field radiation, thereby allowing the wireless transmission system 20 to operate properly within the emissions limits set forth by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

[0544] Still further, the inter-turn capacitor 957 may be disposed within the confines of the outer turn 953 of the coil 925, as best shown in antenna 921F of FIG. 22F, with antenna 921E having a source-interior repeater configuration similar to that of FIG. 22A-D and thus including similar elements as FIG. 22A-E, which share common reference numbers and descriptions herein. In some such examples, the inter-turn capacitor 957 is disposed on a substrate 959, which is disposed radially inward of the outer turn 9595. In some such examples, the inter-turn capacitor 957 may be an interdigitated capacitor. Still further, in some such examples, the interdigitated inter-turn capacitor 957 may be disposed on a dielectric surface of the housing 960.

[0545] FIG. 22G is another example of an ant...

Claims

1. 1. A system for wireless power transmission, comprising: a wireless transmission system; a wireless receiving system configured to power a load, The wireless transmission system includes: a transmitter circuit configured to generate an AC signal; a transmitting antenna configured to transmit a wireless power signal within the charging area; The transmitting antenna is A source coil and an internal repeater coil; the source coil comprises one or more first outer turns and one or more first inner turns, the source coil is electrically connected to the transmitter circuit, the transmitter circuit supplies the generated AC signal to the source coil, thereby causing the source coil to transmit the wireless power signal, the source coil is arranged such that a source current flows in a first direction through the one or more first outer turns and in a second direction through the one or more first inner turns, the second direction being substantially opposite to the first direction; the internal repeater coil is disposed adjacent to the source coil and configured to relay the wireless power signal from the source coil, the internal repeater coil comprising one or more second outer turns and one or more second inner turns, the internal repeater coil being disposed such that a repeater current flows in a third direction through the one or more second outer turns and in a fourth direction through the one or more second inner turns, the fourth direction being substantially opposite to the third direction; The wireless receiving system includes: A receiving antenna; a receiving circuit, the receiving antenna includes a plurality of receiving coils, each of the plurality of receiving coils configured to receive the wireless power signal within the charging area; the receiving circuit is electrically connected to the receiving antenna; (i) receiving an induced AC signal based on the received wireless power signal; (ii) generating direct current (DC) power based on the induced AC signal; It is configured as follows: system.

2. The system described in claim 1, wherein the source coil comprises a first conductive trace, the first conductive trace forming a first multi-layer multi-turn inductor structure having two layers, the one or more first outer turns consisting of at least two first outer turns, and the one or more first inner turns consisting of at least three first inner turns.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the internal repeater coil includes a repeater adjustment system internal to the internal repeater coil.

4. the source coil includes a first inter-turn capacitor; the internal repeater coil including a second inter-turn capacitor; The system of claim 1 .

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the internal repeater coil includes a repeater filter disposed between an inner turn and an outer turn of the internal repeater coil.

6. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission system further includes at least one sensor and a demodulation circuit, the at least one sensor configured to measure electrical information associated with the wireless power signal in one or both of the source coil and the internal repeater coil.

7. The system described in claim 2, wherein the internal repeater coil comprises a second conductive trace, the second conductive trace forming a second multi-layer multi-turn inductor structure having two layers, the one or more second outer turns consisting of at least two second outer turns, and the one or more second inner turns consisting of at least three second inner turns.

8. The system described in claim 1, wherein the internal repeater coil includes a repeater adjustment system within the internal repeater coil.

9. The system described in claim 4, wherein the first inter-turn capacitor is external to the source coil and the second inter-turn capacitor is external to the internal repeater coil.

10. The source coil and the internal repeater coil combine to form a single transmitting antenna; The system of claim 1 , wherein the source coil and the internal repeater coil are configured to be contained within a common mechanical housing.

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