Wireless Power Transmission System
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ELSSWAY LTD COMPANY
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing wireless power supply systems are limited to small, defined areas and require strict alignment between transmitter and receiver, making them unsuitable for powering mobile platforms in motion or over large areas.
A novel near-field spatial wireless power transfer (WPT) system that covers a large area and volume with continuous, high coupling and efficient energy transfer, using a predefined resonant frequency for both the transmitting and receiving antennas, allowing for flexible positioning of mobile platforms.
The system enables constant and continuous wireless power delivery to mobile platforms over a large area without the need for strict alignment, maintaining high coupling and energy transfer efficiency.
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of antennas for electromagnetic or electric field coupling between a transmitting unit and a receiving unit in a wireless power supply system. [Background technology]
[0002] Wireless charging techniques and systems for different types of energy sources are well known in the art. For techniques and systems such as magnetic induction, magnetic resonance, capacitive coupling, RF power transmission, ultrasound, light, etc., all of the above techniques and systems required proximity and alignment between the transmitter and receiver to maintain efficient power transmission within a known, limited, defined and restricted area or volume. Although the above techniques and systems can be used to wirelessly charge and power stationary devices, these techniques and systems are not suitable for powering or charging on the move mobile platforms characterized by the ability to move or provide any form of transportation, such as vehicles configured to operate either on land, sea, air or space. Furthermore, the solutions provide punctured and discontinuous charging by using multiple charging pads, which require strict and perfect alignment since physical constraints limit them to emitting electric or magnetic fields only within the dimensional boundaries of the charging pads.
[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a wireless power supply and charging system that can cover a large area and volume while maintaining high, strong and stable coupling and highly efficient power transfer between a transmitter and at least one receiver. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present invention provides a novel wireless power transfer (WPT) system configured to cover a relatively large area and volume while maintaining continuity, constant, high coupling, and efficient energy transfer between the transmitter and receiver of an operational wireless power supply and charging system. In contrast to the above-mentioned prior art, where both the transmitting antenna or coil and the receiving antenna or coil are designed to have self-resonance at the same frequency to achieve high energy transfer efficiency with or without a complementary (second) antenna or coil, the disclosed spatial WPT system for wireless power transfer has a predefined resonant frequency that can be designed, determined, and occurs by both the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna.
[0005] The present invention provides a novel near-field spatial WPT and conductor system and method configured to cover relatively large areas and volumes while maintaining high electromagnetic (EM) coupling and high power transfer efficiency between transmitters and receivers as part of a mobile wireless power and charging system.
[0006] The system provides constant and continuous EM coupling between the signal and ground conductors (both connected to the same AC power source) and the receiving antenna, enabling the mobile platform to receive a substantially constant flow of power along and across the path of the array of conductors, without intervals of resonance and coupling.
[0007] A further advantage of the present invention is that the relationship between the receiving antenna and the transmitting conductor allows for such uninterrupted, substantially constant flow of power without resonance and coupling intervals to wirelessly power or charge a mobile platform (which may be any type of locomotor / vehicle configured to be autonomous or controlled, operable on or under ground, on or under water, in air, in space, etc.). The configuration is also configurable to be flexible, such that the location and proximity of the mobile platform relative to the transmitting conductor does not require strict alignment or overlap with the WPT system components.
[0008] A further advantage of the present invention is that multiple mobile platforms can be powered simultaneously by the same WPT system using the same transmitting antenna and conductor assembly without substantial degradation in system performance.
[0009] In contrast to the prior art, both the transmitting antenna or coil and the receiving antenna or coil are designed to have self-resonance at the same frequency to achieve high energy transmission efficiency, and the spatially resonant system for wireless power transmission introduced here is determined by both the transmitting antenna (continuous conductor) and the receiving antenna (receiving conductor) to determine the resulting resonant frequency.
[0010] According to one aspect, a near-field power system is provided, the system comprising: at least one AC power signal source; at least one signal conductor configured to receive an electrical signal from the power signal source and further configured to be extended along a path; at least one ground conductor configured to communicate with a ground of the power signal source and further configured to be extended along the path; and at least one receiving antenna connected to a receiving unit configured to be mounted to at least one mobile platform, the signal conductor configured to be positioned a predetermined distance from the ground conductor, whereby a designated charging volume is formed and resonance occurs within the charging volume.
[0011] According to some embodiments, the WPT system includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna and maintains high coupling and energy transmission efficiency within a relatively large covered area and volume regardless of the position, location, rotation, orientation, alignment, overlap, etc. of the receiving antenna relative to the transmitting antenna.
[0012] According to some embodiments, resonance within the charging volume indicates a constant and continuous EM coupling between the signal and ground conductors and the receiving antenna.
[0013] According to some embodiments, the at least one AC power signal source is a transmitter configured to generate such a signal.
[0014] According to some embodiments, at least one AC power signal source is in communication with the receiving antenna, whereby the function of the other conductors is modified accordingly.
[0015] According to some embodiments, a specified distance separating the signal and ground conductors along a path determines the size of the charging volume.
[0016] According to some embodiments, at least one mobile platform is configured to be charged through a receiving antenna connected to a receiving unit by a certain EM coupling creating a wireless charging volume.
[0017] According to some embodiments, the at least one mobile platform is stationary within the charging volume.
[0018] According to some embodiments, at least one signal conductor is configured to be disposed between at least two ground conductors, said conductors being configured to be spaced apart a specified distance along the path.
[0019] According to some embodiments, the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are configured to be mounted above a ground level.
[0020] According to some embodiments, the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are configured to be mounted below the ground level.
[0021] According to some embodiments, the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are configured to be mounted on a vertical surface.
[0022] According to some embodiments, the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are configured to be attached to a moving object.
[0023] According to some embodiments, the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are configured to be made of a conductive material having a thickness of between 50 and 150 microns.
[0024] According to some embodiments, at least one signal conductor and / or at least one ground conductor are in the form of an elongated sheet.
[0025] According to some embodiments, at least one signal conductor and / or the at least one ground conductor has a circular cross-section.
[0026] According to some embodiments, a receiving antenna connected to the receiving unit is mounted on a mobile platform, the receiving antenna configured to maintain continuous EM coupling with at least one signal conductor and at least one ground conductor during operation or movement along or across said path.
[0027] According to some embodiments, the receiving antenna is mounted on a mobile platform and maintains constant and continuous EM coupling with at least one signal conductor and at least one ground conductor while moving near the path, although not necessarily aligned with the path.
[0028] According to some embodiments, the receiving antenna is configured to maintain a constant and continuous EM coupling with at least one signal conductor and at least one ground conductor when remaining within the charging volume.
[0029] According to some embodiments, constant and continuous EM coupling of the motion is maintained with at least one signal conductor and at least one ground conductor by height control means.
[0030] According to some embodiments, the at least one receiving antenna may be mounted on any section of the mobile platform.
[0031] According to some embodiments, the mobile platform is an autonomous vehicle configured to move along or across a path.
[0032] According to some embodiments, the autonomous vehicle is a logistics vehicle configured to move within an operating environment.
[0033] According to some embodiments, the mobile platform is an electric vehicle (EV) configured to maintain full operability while charging.
[0034] According to some embodiments, at least one signal conductor or at least one ground conductor is configured to have different dimensions along its length to provide adaptive resonance and EM coupling capabilities.
[0035] According to some embodiments, the different dimension is at least one non-parallel section forming part of at least one signal conductor and / or at least one ground conductor.
[0036] According to some embodiments, multiple sections of signal and ground conductors are disposed consecutively along the path.
[0037] According to some embodiments, the sections of signal and ground conductors are arranged contiguously across the width of the pathway.
[0038] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the WPT system resonates only at a predetermined frequency when the receiving antenna is present within the charging volume of a given frequency. To achieve such a resonant condition, the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna must have a mutual electromagnetic influence that leads to such resonance.
[0039] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna of the novel WPT system maintain a similar resonant state when the receiving antenna is present within the charging volume without any restriction or requirement on the position, orientation, rotation, alignment, overlap, location, etc., with respect to the transmitting antenna. In other words, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the novel WPT system maintains a spatially resonant state at a given frequency between the transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna for any location, position, orientation, rotation, alignment, overlap, etc., while the receiving antenna is located within a given charging volume.
[0040] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the resonant condition of the novel WPT system reflected a high coupling coefficient and efficient wireless power transfer between the transmitting and receiving antennas for any placement, location, orientation, rotation, overlap, alignment, etc. while the receiving antenna is located within a predetermined charging volume.
[0041] According to some embodiments, EM resonance can be generated only when a mobile platform having a receiving antenna is present within a designated charging volume.
[0042] According to some embodiments, multiple EM resonances are generated for each of at least two mobile platforms having a receiving antenna and moving along a path.
[0043] According to some embodiments, the transmitting antenna can be coupled to one or more receiving antennas of the WPT system, so that multiple wireless consumers can be powered. In such a scenario, according to some embodiments, multiple EM resonances are generated for each of at least two receiving antennas located within a designated charging volume of the WPT system, which means that the transmitting antenna is electromagnetically coupled to the at least two receiving antennas, such that power is wirelessly transferred from the transmitting antenna to the at least two receiving antennas, and the WPT system functions as a wireless power splitter.
[0044] According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for using a near field power system, the method comprising the steps of: providing an AC power signal generated by at least one transmitter; communicating the AC power signal to at least one signal conductor while at least one ground conductor is in communication with a transmitting ground, both conductors being configured to be stretched along a path and positioned at a predetermined distance from each other; providing wireless power to at least one receiving antenna connected to at least one receiving unit (rectifier) mounted on at least one mobile platform and configured to power or charge, forming an electromagnetic (EM) resonance between the at least one signal conductor together with the at least one ground conductor and the receiving antenna, generating a constant and continuous EM coupling between the signal together with the ground conductor and the receiving antenna. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0045] Examples illustrating embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings attached hereto. In the drawings, identical structures, elements, or parts that appear in multiple figures are generally labeled with the same numerals in all figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features shown in the drawings are generally selected for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Many of the presented figures are in the form of schematic diagrams, and therefore some elements may be greatly simplified or drawn out of scale for clarity of illustration. The drawings are not intended to be manufacturing drawings. The drawings are listed below.
[0046] [Figure 1] A top view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna is shown. [Diagram 2] 1 illustrates at least one embodiment of WPT system transmit antenna dimensional parameters. [Figure 3A] A schematic rear view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna is shown. [Figure 3B]A schematic rear view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna is shown. [Figure 3C] A schematic rear view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna is shown. [Figure 3D] A schematic rear view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna is shown. [Figure 4A] A top view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 200 having transmitting antennas 100 of various lengths is shown. [Figure 4B] A top view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 200 having transmitting antennas 100 of various lengths is shown. [Figure 5A] A side view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 200 coupling and wireless power transmission with transmitting antennas 100 of various lengths is shown. [Figure 5B] A side view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 200 coupling and wireless power transmission with transmitting antennas 100 of various lengths is shown. [Figure 6] A top view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 200 having a transmitting antenna 100 of length L2 is shown. [Figure 7] A side view of at least one embodiment of a coupling and wireless power transmission WPT system 200 having a transmitting antenna 100 of length L2 is shown. [Figure 8A] A top view of at least one embodiment of coupling and wireless power transmission of a novel WPT system 300 having a transmitting antenna 200 of length L2 is shown. [Figure 8B] A top view of at least one embodiment of coupling and wireless power transmission of a novel WPT system 300 having a transmitting antenna 200 of length L2 is shown. [Figure 9] A side view of at least one embodiment of the coupling and wireless power transmission of the novel WPT system 300 of a transmitting antenna 2000 of length L2 is shown. [Figure 10] A top view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna 100 having a length L1 is shown. [Figure 11A] A side view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna 100 having a field distribution and phase of length L1 is shown. [Figure 11B] A side view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna 100 having a field distribution and phase of length L1 is shown. [Figure 12] A top view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna 100 having a length L2 is shown. [Figure 13A] A side view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna 100 having a field distribution and phase of length L2 is shown. [Figure 13B] A side view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system transmitting antenna 100 having a field distribution and phase of length L2 is shown. [Figure 14] A side view of at least one embodiment of the novel WPT system described in Figures 13A-13B is shown. [Figure 15A] A top view of at least one embodiment of a novel WPT system transmitting antenna 3000 is shown. [Figure 15B] A top view of at least one embodiment of a novel WPT system transmitting antenna 3000 is shown. [Figure 16A] A side view of at least one embodiment of a novel WPT system transmitting antenna 3000 having a field distribution and phase of length L2 is shown. [Figure 16B] A side view of at least one embodiment of a novel WPT system transmitting antenna 3000 having a field distribution and phase of length L2 is shown. [Figure 17A] A top view of at least one embodiment of a novel WPT system 400 is shown. [Figure 17B] A top view of at least one embodiment of a novel WPT system 400 is shown. [Figure 18] A side view of at least one embodiment of a novel WPT system 400 is shown. [Figure 19A] A bottom view of at least one embodiment of a novel receiving antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 19B] A side view of at least one embodiment of a novel receiving antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 20A] A bottom view of at least one embodiment of parameters of a novel receive antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 20B] A side view of at least one embodiment of parameters of a novel receive antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 20C] A bottom view of at least one embodiment of parameters of a novel receive antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 20D] A bottom view of at least one embodiment of parameters of a novel receive antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 20E] A side view of at least one embodiment of parameters of a novel receive antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 20F] A side view of at least one embodiment of parameters of a novel receive antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 21A] A bottom view of at least one embodiment of a variation of a novel receiving antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 21B] A bottom view of at least one embodiment of a variation of a novel receiving antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 21C] A bottom view of at least one embodiment of a variation of a novel receiving antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 21D] A side view of at least one embodiment of a variation of a novel receiving antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 21E] A side view of at least one embodiment of a variation of a novel receiving antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 21F] A bottom view of at least one embodiment of a variation of a novel receiving antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 21G] A bottom view of at least one embodiment of a variation of a novel receiving antenna 210 of a WPT system is shown. [Figure 22A] A top view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 500 having transmitting antennas 100 of various lengths and identical receiving antennas 210 is shown. [Figure 22B] A top view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 500 having transmitting antennas 100 of various lengths and identical receiving antennas 210 is shown. [Figure 23A] A side view of at least one embodiment of a coupling and wireless power transfer WPT system 500 having transmitting antennas 100 of various lengths and the same receiving antenna 210 is shown. [Figure 23B] A side view of at least one embodiment of a coupling and wireless power transfer WPT system 500 having transmitting antennas 100 of various lengths and the same receiving antenna 210 is shown. [Figure 24A] A side view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 500 that exhibits simultaneous coupling and wireless power transmission with transmitting antennas 100 and receiving antennas 210-240 of various lengths is shown. [Figure 24B] A side view of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 500 that exhibits simultaneous coupling and wireless power transmission with transmitting antennas 100 and receiving antennas 210-240 of various lengths is shown.
[0047] It should be clear that the description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings described herein are only useful for better understanding of the present invention, without limiting the scope of the present invention. It should also be clear that after reading this specification, a person skilled in the art can adjust or modify the accompanying drawings and the above embodiments, which will still be covered by the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] The present invention provides a near-field spatial WPT system for maintaining high continuity and constant coupling and energy transmission efficiency between the transmitter and receiver of a moving or stationary wireless power supply and charging system with a relatively large area and volume coverage, regardless of the length of the transmitting antenna and the designated charging volume. The transmitting antenna length is proportional to the resonant frequency and wavelength of the WPT system. In order to maintain the same coupling condition for any various length of transmitting antenna, it is necessary to maintain the same coupling coefficient and power transmission condition of the WPT system.
[0049] In other words, the WPT system should resonate at the same predetermined frequency, regardless of the number or order of quarter wavelengths of the resonant frequency, using the same receiving antenna, by maintaining the same coupling and power transfer efficiency for any transmitting antenna length.
[0050] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention provides a WPT system that provides constant and continuous charging / power within a variety of predefined, relatively large charging areas or volumes to mobile platforms, whether moving or stationary.
[0051] A mobile platform may be any type of locomotive / vehicle configured to be autonomous or controlled, operable on or under ground, on or under water, in the air, in space, etc.
[0052] Embodiments of the present invention provide greater power for one antenna coverage area and volume than existing coil or other technology antennas.
[0053] An embodiment of the present invention provides power for battery-less devices or any other charging device or limits battery use in mobile or locomotor devices. In at least one embodiment, the conductor of the transmitting antenna of the novel near field spatial WPT system may be serpentine or partially serpentine.
[0054] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a signal conductor 101, a ground conductor 102A, and a ground conductor 102B of a novel WPT system transmitting antenna 100.
[0055] 2 shows at least one embodiment of the dimension parameters of the novel spatial WPT system transmitting antenna 100. The dimension parameters of the antenna conductor 101 and the ground conductors 102A and 102B determine the charging and powering cover area, charging and powering cover volume, field line distribution, etc. for a given frequency, and vice versa. The parameters are as follows:
[0056] Wf - width of signal conductor 101 Lf - length of signal conductor 101 Tf-Thickness of signal conductor 101 Wg1 - width of ground conductor 102A Lg1 - Length of ground conductor 102A Tg1 - Thickness of ground conductor 102A Wg2 - width of ground conductor 102B Lg2 - length of ground conductor 102B Tg2 - thickness of ground conductor 102B D1.1; D1.N - distance between signal conductor 101 and ground conductor 102A D2.1;D2.N - distance between signal conductor 101 and ground conductor 102B Hrel1.1; Hrel1.N - the relative height between signal conductor 101 and ground conductor 102A Hrel2.1; Hrel2.N - the relative height between the signal conductor 101 and the ground conductor 102B Z1.1;Z1.N--Impedance between signal conductor 101 and ground conductor 102A Z1.1;Z1.N - Impedance between signal conductor 101 and ground conductor 102B
[0057] 3A-3D show rear views of at least one embodiment of a transmitting antenna 100 of the novel spatial WPT system, the transmitting antenna 100 having a flat signal conductor 101 and flat ground conductors 102A and 102B as shown in FIG. 2A, and a wire signal conductor 101 and wire and ground conductors 102A, 102B as shown in FIG. 2B. In at least one embodiment, the transmitting antenna 100 of the novel spatial WPT system includes a flat or wire signal conductor 101 and only one flat or wire ground conductor 102 as shown in FIG. 2C and FIG. 2D. In at least one embodiment, the connector of the transmitting antenna 100 of the novel spatial WPT system is a combination of flat, wire, circular, or other cross-sectional shapes.
[0058] 4A-4B show top views of the signal conductor 101, conductor ground 102, and receiving antenna 110 of the transmitting antenna 100 of the novel WPT system, with Fig. 4A showing a transmitting antenna of length L1 and Fig. 4B showing a transmitting antenna 100 of length L3. The receiving antenna 110 of the WPT systems shown in both Figs. 4-9 is the same antenna.
[0059] 5A-5B show side views of a WPT system 200 that resonates at a predetermined frequency and transfers power. Resonance occurs only when the receiving antenna 110 is present within the charging volume. As a result, high coupling and high efficiency power transfer 2101 occurs between the transmitting antenna 100 and the receiving antenna 110 of the WPT system 200. In some embodiments of the present invention, in FIG. 5A-5B, the system 200 resonates at the same frequency and maintains the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transfer efficiency for both transmitting antennas with lengths L1 and L3 when the same receiving antenna 110 is present within the predetermined charging volume along direction P and across direction P. In some embodiments of the present invention, the WPT system resonates at the same frequency and maintains the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transfer efficiency for any transmitting antenna with a length of Nλ / 4m, where λ is the wavelength of the predefined resonant frequency of the system 200, and N=1, 3, ... is the number of quarter wavelengths, which is an odd number.
[0060] In other words, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the resonant condition and the wireless power transfer efficiency between the receiving antenna 110 and the transmitting antenna remain the same when the antenna has the same dimensional parameters as described in FIG. 2, with only the difference in the length parameter, and the length L of the antenna is about Nλ / 4, where N=1, 3, ...
[0061] In some embodiments of the present invention, the WPT system maintains the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transfer efficiency for any transmitting antenna that resonates at the same frequency and has a length of about Mλ / 4, where λ is the wavelength of the wireless power transfer system and predefines the resonant frequency, and M=2, 4, ... is the number of quarter wavelengths, which is an even number. In other words, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the resonant condition and wireless power transfer efficiency between the receiving antenna 110 and the transmitting antenna that have the same dimensional parameters as described in Fig. 2 remain the same when the antenna length L is about Mλ / 4 and M=2, 4, ..., only with the difference in the length parameter. For example, Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B show that the length L1 of the transmitting antenna 100 is equal to 1λ / 4 and L3 is equal to 3λ / 4.
[0062] Figure 6 shows a top view of the signal conductor 101, conductor ground 102 and receiving antenna 110 of the transmitting antenna 100 of the WPT system, which is the same as the antenna shown in the previous figures. Figure 6 shows a transmitting antenna of length with the same dimensional parameters as described in Figures 4-5, only the length parameter is different, L2 is equal to 2λ / 4.
[0063] 7 shows a side view of the resonance and power transfer of the WPT system 200 at a given frequency, where the length of the transmitting antenna 100 is L2. As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the WPT system shown in FIG. 4-FIG. 5 does not resonate when the length of the transmitting antenna 100 is in the range of Mλ / 4, where λ is the wavelength of the resonant frequency of the system 200, and M=2, 4, ..., a number of quarter wavelengths λ / 4, which is an even number. As a result, the condition for the generation of coupling and wireless power transfer between the transmitting antenna 100 and the receiving antenna 110 does not exist.
[0064] 8A-8B present some embodiments of the present invention and show top views of the signal conductor 201 and conductor ground 202 of the transmitting antenna 2000 of the spatial WPT system 300 and the receiving antenna 110, which is the same as the antenna present in the previous figures, and the length of the transmitting antenna is L2 as shown in the previous figures.
[0065] FIG. 8A shows some embodiments of the present invention of a novel spatial WPT system with a transmitting antenna 2000. As shown, the signal conductor 201 and the ground conductor 202 are designed to maintain, on the one hand, the conductor length Lcond required for the WPT system to resonate at a given frequency, and on the other hand, the transmitting antenna length Lant=L2 is shorter, which in this example is Lcond=L3. As shown in FIG. 8A, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the length Lcond of the signal conductor 201 and the ground conductor 202 is equal to the transmitting antenna length Lant and the length Les of the conductor stub. This means that Lcond201=Lant+Lcs2011 and Lcond202=Lant+Lcs2021. According to this example, if Lant=L2 and Lcond=L3, then Les=L3-L2. According to some embodiments of the present invention, Lcs2011 and Lcs2021 have the same length. According to some embodiments of the present invention, Lcs2011 and Lcs2021 have different lengths. In other words, according to some embodiments of the present invention, a transmitting antenna 2000 of any length can be used, regardless of the number or order of quarter wavelengths λ / 4 of the resonant frequency, while the WPT system 300 maintains the same resonant condition at a given frequency. According to some embodiments of the present invention, by using the transmitting antenna 2000, the WPT system 300 maintains the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transfer efficiency along and across the direction P, regardless of the length of the transmitting antenna 2000, when the same receiving antenna 110 is present within a given charging volume.
[0066] In contrast to the scenario described in Figures 4-5, where the system 200 resonates only at antenna lengths L1 and L3 and not at L2, the novel WPT system 300 maintains the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transmission efficiency for a given resonant frequency for any various antenna lengths Lant along and across the direction P in Figures 8A and 8B, and if the same receiving antenna 110 is present within a given charging volume, continuing with the previous example, the WPT system 300 can now resonate at antenna lengths L1, L2, and L3. Figure 8B shows some embodiments of the present invention, where the transmitting antenna 2000 of the novel WPT system 300 may be any desired length, regardless of the number or order of quarter wavelengths (λ / 4), by maintaining the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transmission efficiency for a given resonant frequency for various actual transmitting antenna 2000 lengths along and across the direction P.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 8B, the signal conductor 201 and the ground conductor 202 are designed to maintain the conductor length Lcond required for the WPT system to resonate at a given frequency on the one hand, and to shorten the transmission antenna length Lant=L2, which is Lcond=L3 in this example. As shown in FIG. 8B, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the length Lcond of the signal conductor 201 and the ground conductor 202 is equal to the transmission antenna length Lant and the electrical length LIcc of the conductor LG circuit. This means that Lcond201=Lant+Llcc2111 and Lcond202=Lant+Llcc2121. In this example, if Lant=L2 and Lcond=L3, the electrical length Llcc=L3-L2 of the conductor LC circuit. According to some embodiments of the present invention, Llcc2111 and Llcc2121 have the same electrical length.
[0068] According to some embodiments of the present invention, Llcc21111 and Llcc2121 have different electrical lengths. As shown in FIG. 8B, the length Lant of the transmitting antenna 2000 is L2, and the signal conductor 201, the LC circuit 211 and the ground conductor 202 connect to another LC circuit 2121. By changing the parameters of the LC circuits 211 and 2121 with respect to the respective lengths of the signal conductor 201 and the ground conductor 202. For example, the electrical length Lcond of the signal conductor 201 and the electrical length Lcond of the signal conductor 202 are equal to L3, in which case the length of the actual transmitting antenna 2000 is L2. In some embodiments of the present invention, each of the conductors of the transmitting antenna may have a different L length.
[0069] In some embodiments of the present invention, each conductor of the transmit antenna 2000 may have different parameters set for each LC circuit. In some embodiments of the present invention, each LC circuit end may be open, shorted, LC2111 connected to LC2121, or a combination thereof.
[0070] FIG. 9 illustrates some embodiments of the present invention, showing a side view of the novel WPT system 300 shown in FIG. 8A-8B, illustrating the resonant condition and power transfer at a given frequency for a transmitting antenna of length Lant=L2. Resonance occurs only when the receiving antenna 110 is present within the charging volume. As shown in FIG. 9, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the resonant condition of the novel WPT system remains the same for any length of the transmitting antenna 2000 along and across direction P for the same receiving antenna 110, regardless of the number or order of quarter wavelengths of the resonant frequency.
[0071] FIG. 10 is a top view of the signal conductor 101 and conductor ground 102 of the transmitting antenna 100 of the novel WPT system, showing the phase and designated volume length L1 in the direction of movement P on the antenna.
[0072] 11A-11B show side views of the signal conductor 101 and conductor ground 102 of a transmitting antenna 100 of a WPT system, along with phase and field distribution in the antenna and designated volume length L1 of travel in a direction P, where L1 is less than or equal to the resonant frequency λ / 4. As shown, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, the phase and field distribution 1011 across the signal conductor 101 is maintained across the transmitting antenna or designated volume length L1 along and across the travel in the P direction, and an opposite field distribution and phase 1012 is maintained across the transmitting antenna ground conductor 102 across the transmitting antenna or designated volume length along and across the P direction.
[0073] 12 shows a top view of the signal conductor 101 and conductor ground 102 of a transmitting antenna 100 of a WPT system, along with a direction of travel P in the antenna and a designated volume length L2. L2 is approximately equal to 3λ / 4. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 12 and subsequent FIGS. 13A-13B, the phase and field distribution conditions are similar in the direction P along and across the transmitting antenna and in the designated volume length L, as follows: For n=1,3,... and m=2,4,..., the phase and field conditions on the signal conductor 101 in section nλ / 4 are the same as section mλ / 4 across the ground conductor 102. Also, for n=1,3,... and m=2,4,..., the phase and field conditions on the signal conductor 101 in section mλ / 4 are the same as section nλ / 4 across the ground conductor 102.
[0074] 13A-13B show side views of the signal conductor 101 and conductor ground 102 of a transmitting antenna 100 of a WPT system along with the phase distribution in the direction of travel P in the antenna and the designated volume length L2. L2 is equal to 3 / 4 of the resonant frequency wavelength. As shown, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention, the phase and field distribution across the signal conductor 101 changes only for travel in the P direction and across the transmitting antenna or designated volume length L2, and the opposite field distribution and phase changes across the transmitting antenna ground conductor 102 and the transmitting antenna or designated volume length in the P direction.
[0075] 13A, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the phase and field distribution across the signal conductor 101 varies according to λ / 4. As can be seen, in sections L21 and L23, where L21 is a section from 0 to λ / 4 m and L23 is a section from 2λ / 4 to 3λ / 4, the phase and field distributions 10111 and 10113 are similar across the signal conductor 101 and are maintained along the transmit antenna or designated volume length L2 in sections L21 and L23 only for movements along and across the P direction.
[0076] The opposite field distribution and phase 10112 on the signal conductor 101 is also presented in FIG. 13A and is maintained along and across the P-direction travel over the specified volume length L2, λ / 4m to 2λ / 4m of the transmitting antenna or section L22.
[0077] 13B, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the phase and field distribution across the ground conductor 102 is opposite to the phase and field distribution across the signal conductor 101 and is also changed according to λ / 4. As can be seen, in sections L21 and L23, where L21 is a section from 0 to λ / 4 m and L23 is a section from 2λ / 4 to 3λ / 4 m, the phase and field distributions 10211 and 10213 are similar across the signal conductor 101 and are maintained across the transmit antenna or designated volume length L2 in sections L21 and L23 along and across the movement in the P direction.
[0078] The opposing field distribution and phase 10212 on the signal conductor 102 is also shown in FIG. 13B and is maintained along and across the designated volume length L2, λ / 4m to 2λ / 4m, of the transmitting antenna or section L22. The result of such phase and field distribution is that along the movement in the P direction, the transmitting antenna or designated volume length L2 changes, leading to mismatched coupling conditions along L2, and as a result, the wireless power transfer efficiency changes accordingly. This means that the coupling and resonance conditions represented by the phase and field distribution 2101 are changing along the direction P within the designated charging volume, as shown in FIG. 14.
[0079] As shown in Figures 12-13, according to some embodiments of the present invention, in order to maintain the same phase and coupling conditions, movement in the P direction requires nonlinear movement in the P direction, which means that the receiving antenna (not shown) needs to be shifted on the signal conductor 101 and ground conductor 102 for every λ / 4 m (of the resonant frequency wavelength).
[0080] In other words, the mobile platform (including the receiving antenna, not shown) must move in a repeated curved motion (slalom) in the P direction to receive constant, continuous wireless energy from the transmitting antenna of the WPT system.
[0081] 15A-15B show some embodiments of the present invention, illustrating a top view of the signal conductor 301 and ground conductor 302 of a transmitting antenna 3000 along with a direction of movement P on the antenna and a designated volume length L2, where L2 is approximately equal to 3λ / 4. As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the signal conductor 301 and ground conductor 302 of the transmitting antenna 3000 are repeatedly physically shifted by a quarter wavelength of the resonant frequency along the movement in the P direction across the transmitting antenna or the designated volume length L2.
[0082] Angles a and b indicate the shift angles of the signal conductor 301 and the ground conductor 302 of the transmitting antenna 3000, where angle a represents the turn shift angle and angle b represents the return shift angle. In some embodiments of the present invention, the turn shift angle and the return shift angle may be similar. In some embodiments of the present invention, the turn shift angle a and the return shift angle b of the signal conductor 301 and the ground conductor 302 may be similar.
[0083] 16A-16B present several embodiments of the present invention and show side views of the phase field distribution of the signal conductor 301 and ground conductor 302 of a transmitting antenna 3000 in a moving direction P across the antenna and a specified volume length L2, where L2 is equal to 3λ / 4m of the resonant frequency wavelength.
[0084] As shown in Figures 15A-15B, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a physical shift repeated every quarter wavelength along the transmitting antenna 3000 results in the phase and field distribution across the transmitting antenna 3000 being maintained across the transmitting antenna or designated volume length L2 along movement in the P direction, as shown in Figures 16A-16B.
[0085] As shown in FIGS. 16A-16B, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the phase and field distribution across the transmitting antenna 300 in the P direction no longer varies according to λ / 4.
[0086] As can be seen, in sections L21, L22, and L23, the phase and field distributions 20111, 20112, and 20113 of the signal conductor 301 and 20211, 20212, and 20213 of the ground conductor 302 are similar and are maintained along the P-direction movement of the transmitting antenna 3000 or the specified volume length L2.
[0087] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the result of such phase and field distribution being maintained across the transmitting antenna 3000 or specified volume length L2 along the P-direction movement leads to a constant and continuous coupling condition along L2, such that the wireless power transfer efficiency remains high and stable, as presented in subsequent figures.
[0088] 17A-17B illustrate some embodiments of the present invention and show top views of a WPT system 400. As shown, the WPT 400 includes a transmitting antenna 3000 and a receiving antenna 110. When the receiving antenna 110 is present within a designated charging volume, the system 400 resonates at a predetermined frequency due to a strong coupling condition that occurs between the transmitting antenna 3000 and the receiving antenna 110. In contrast to the conditions described in FIGS. 12-14, where the resonance and coupling conditions change with respect to the position of the receiving antenna 110 in a direction P within the designated charging volume, the resonance and coupling conditions of the WPT system 400 shown in FIGS. 17A-17B do not change and remain stable within the charging volume along the direction P.
[0089] FIG. 18 illustrates at least one embodiment of the present invention, showing a side view of a WPT system 400. The receiving antenna 110 is placed within the designated charging volume. As a result, the WPT system 400 begins to resonate at a predetermined frequency due to the strong coupling condition that occurs between the transmitting antenna 3000 and the receiving antenna 110. As shown in FIG. 18, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the coupling and resonance condition of the WPT system 400, represented by the phase and field distribution 3101, does not change along and across the direction P within the designated charging volume. This means that the same amount of wireless energy is constantly, continuously, and efficiently delivered from the transmitting antenna 3000 to the receiving antenna 110.
[0090] 19-21 show examples of receiving antennas for a novel WPT system. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the receiving antenna of the WPT system can have any shape, configuration, and size that creates a resonant condition at a predetermined frequency with the transmitting antenna of the WPT system while present within a specified predetermined charging volume.
[0091] 19A-19B show bottom and side views of a receiving antenna 210 of a novel WPT system having a signal conductor 211 and a ground conductor 212. Fig. 19A shows the bottom view, and Fig. 19B shows the side view.
[0092] 20A-20E show side and bottom views of at least one embodiment of the receive antenna 210 parameters. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the WPT system resonates at a predetermined frequency only when the receive antenna 210 is within a predetermined charging volume. To achieve such a resonant condition, the receive antenna 210 and the transmit antenna need to have a mutual electromagnetic influence that leads to such resonance.
[0093] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the receiving antenna 210 and the transmitting antenna of the novel WPT system maintain a similar resonant state when the receiving antenna 210 is present within the charging volume, without any restrictions or requirements on the position, orientation, rotation, alignment, overlap, placement, etc., of the transmitting antenna. In other words, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the novel WPT system maintains a spatial resonance state between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna at a given frequency, regardless of placement, position, orientation, rotation, overlap, placement, etc., while the receiving antenna 210 is located within a given charging volume.
[0094] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the resonant condition of the novel WPT system reflects a high coupling coefficient and efficient wireless power transfer between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna 210, regardless of placement, location, orientation, rotation, overlap, alignment, etc., while the receiving antenna 210 is located within a predetermined charging volume.
[0095] 20A-20B show dimensions and parameters established for the receiving antenna 210 and the signal conductor 211. The parameters include the length, width, and thickness (Ln, Wn, Tn) of each conductor segment, and the relative angle (αm), height (DcpZn), and distance (Dacp) of adjacent conductor segments.
[0096] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the resonant state of the WPT system for a given frequency can be changed, tuned, set, etc. by changing the length, width, and thickness (Ln, Wn, Tn) of each conductor segment of the signal conductor 211, and the relative angle (αm), height distance (DcpZn) and distance (Dacp) of adjacent conductor segments.
[0097] 20C-20F show the dimensions and parameters of the ground conductor 212 of the receiving antenna 210 and the relative positioning of the antenna conductor 211 with respect to the ground conductor 212. The parameters include the length, width and thickness (Lg, Wg, Tg) of the ground conductor 212, and the relative angle (β), height (DagZ) and planar distance (DagX and DagY) with respect to the signal conductor 211.
[0098] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the resonant state of the WPT system for a given frequency can be changed, adjusted, set, etc. by changing the length, width, and thickness (Lg, Wg, Tg) parameters of the receiving antenna 210 and the ground conductor 212. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the resonant state of the WPT system for a given frequency can be changed, adjusted, set, etc. by changing the relative angle (β), height (DagZ), and planar distance (DagX and DagY) of the receiving antenna 210 and the ground conductor 212 with respect to the signal conductor 211.
[0099] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the resonant state of the WPT system for a given frequency can be changed, tuned, set, etc. by changing the length, width and thickness (Lg, Wg, Tg) parameters, as well as the relative angle (β), height (DagZ) and planar distance (DagX and DagY) of the receiving antenna 210 and ground conductor 212 to the signal conductor 211.
[0100] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the resonant state of the WPT system for a given frequency can be changed, adjusted, set, etc. by changing the length, width and thickness (Ln, Wn, Tn) of each conductor segment of the signal conductor 211 and conductor segment parameters such as the relative angle (αm), height distance (DcpZn) and distance (Dacp) of adjacent conductor segments, by changing the length, width and thickness (Lg, Wg, Tg) parameters of the ground conductor 212 of the receiving antenna 210, by changing the relative angle (β), height (DagZ) and planar distance (DagX and DagY) between the signal conductor 211 and the ground conductor 212 of the receiving antenna 210.
[0101] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the input RF power port that transmits received power from the receiving antenna 210 to a receiving unit and rectifier (not shown) may be connected anywhere on any conductor segment of the signal conductor 211 and ground conductor 212 of the receiving antenna 210.
[0102] Reference is now made to Figures 21A-21G, which illustrate several variations of the receiving antenna 210 of the novel WPT system. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the conductor segments of the signal conductor 211 can have any shape, configuration and size, thus creating a resonant condition with the transmitting antenna at a predetermined frequency while remaining within a designated predetermined charging volume.
[0103] As shown in FIG. 21A, the configuration of conductor segments can be set in any sequential order to create any type of configuration of signal conductor 211.
[0104] 21B-21C show several embodiments of two narrow configurations of receive antenna 210, FIG. 21B narrow in the X direction and FIG. 21C narrow in the Y direction.
[0105] 21D-21E show yet another embodiment in which the relative position between the signal conductor 211 and the ground conductor 212 of the receiving antenna 210 can be changed, adjusted, set, etc., to create a resonant condition at a predetermined frequency with the transmitting antenna while remaining within a specified predetermined charging volume of the WPT system.
[0106] 21F-21G show yet another embodiment of the present invention, in which the structure of the receiving antenna 210 and the ground conductor 212 can be of any shape, size, configuration, and form, thus creating a resonant condition at a predetermined frequency with the transmitting antenna while existing within a specified predetermined charging volume. As shown in FIG. 21F, the ground conductor 212 may have a frame shape in which the ground conductor 212 does not completely cover the signal conductor 211 of the receiving antenna 210. FIG. 21G shows yet another embodiment of the present invention, in which the ground conductor 212 of the receiving antenna 210 is much smaller than the area covered by the signal conductor 211 and does not completely cover the signal conductor 211 of the receiving antenna 210. In some embodiments of the present invention, the ground conductor 212 of the receiving antenna 210 may not completely cover, may have a larger dimension, and may be aligned, overlapped, or parallel with the signal conductor 211 of the receiving antenna 210, thus creating a resonant condition at a predetermined frequency with the transmitting antenna while existing within a specified predetermined charging volume.
[0107] 22A-22B show top views of a novel WPT system 500, a transmitting antenna 100, a signal conductor 101, a conductor ground 102, and a receiving antenna 210. Fig. 22A shows a transmitting antenna 100 with a length L1, and Fig. 22B shows a transmitting antenna 100 with a length L2. The receiving antenna 210 of the WPT systems 500 in Figs. 22A and 22B is the same.
[0108] 23A-23B show side views of a WPT system 500 that resonates and transfers power at a predetermined frequency. Resonance occurs only when the receiving antenna 210 is present within the charging volume. As a result, according to some embodiments of the present invention, high coupling and high efficiency power transfer occurs between the transmitting antenna 100 and the receiving antenna 210 along and across direction P within the charging volume of the WPT system 500.
[0109] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system 500 shown in Figures 23A-23B resonates at the same frequency and maintains the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transfer efficiency for both transmit antenna lengths L1 and L3 along direction P within the charging volume and with the same receive antenna 210 across direction P.
[0110] 24A-24B show side views of at least one embodiment of a WPT system 500 illustrating simultaneous coupling and wireless power transfer with transmitting antenna 100 and receiving antennas 210-240 of various lengths. According to one embodiment of the present invention, resonance occurs only when at least one receiving antenna 210 is present within the charging volume. As seen in FIG. 24A, the WPT system 500 resonates when the receiving antennas 210 and 220 are present within the varying volume, resulting in strong simultaneous coupling and efficient wireless power transfer between the transmitting antenna 100 and receiving antennas 210 and 220 along and across direction P within the charging volume.
[0111] In some embodiments of the invention, the creation of such simultaneous coupling between the transmitting antenna 100 and at least two receiving antennas 210 and 220 acts as a wireless power divider, where the power transmitted from the transmitting antenna is divided equally by the at least two receiving antennas present within the charging volume. Figure 24B shows an equivalent wireless power divider for system 500, where four receiving antennas are present within the charging volume, and power is efficiently wirelessly transmitted from the transmitting antenna 100 and divided equally between the receiving antennas 210, 220, 230 and 240.
[0112] In some embodiments of the present invention, simultaneous coupling and wireless power transmission between the transmitting antenna and the at least two receiving antennas is maintained while the at least two receiving antennas are located within the charging volume, regardless of whether the at least two receiving antennas are stationary, moving, at least one stationary and at least one moving, different in location, different orientation, different rotation and positioning within the charging volume.
[0113] In some embodiments, the receiving antenna of the novel spatial WPT system may be formed in various shapes and sizes or may include various inner / outer conductors. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the transmitting antenna of the novel spatial WPT system is composed of a conductive wire or strip next to or between one or more ground conductive wires or strips.
[0114] Certain transmit antenna dimensional parameters, such as the length, width, thickness or radius of the signal and ground conductors, the distance between the signal and ground conductors, the relative height between the signal and ground conductors, etc., affect the covered charging and powering area, the covered charging and powering volume, the field distribution, etc., for a given frequency, and vice versa.
[0115] In one embodiment, the transmitting antenna of the WPT system conductor cross-section is circular, rectangular, or any other geometric shape, or combination thereof.
[0116] In one embodiment, the WPT system maintains high coupling and energy transfer efficiency within, across and along the relatively large area and volume covered. In one embodiment, the transmitting antenna is configured to be attached to the receiving unit of the wireless charging system or the transmitting unit of the wireless charging system.
[0117] In one embodiment, a transmitting antenna is configured to be attached to a transmitting unit and a transmitting antenna having different dimensional parameters is configured to be attached to a receiving unit of a WPT system, or vice versa.
[0118] In some embodiments of the present invention, WPT systems with the same receiving antenna resonate at the same frequency and maintain the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transfer efficiency for a given transmitting antenna, conductor of length Nλ / 4m, where λ is the wavelength of a given resonant frequency and N=1, 3, ... is the number of quarter wavelengths.
[0119] In some embodiments of the present invention, a WPT system with the same receiving antenna resonates at the same frequency and maintains the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transfer efficiency for any transmitting antenna with a length of Nλ / 4m, where λ is the wavelength of the given resonant frequency and N=2, 4, ... is the number of quarter wavelengths.
[0120] In some embodiments of the present invention, the WPT system resonates at the same frequency and maintains the same coupling coefficient and wireless power transfer efficiency for any transmitting antenna length, regardless of the number or order of quarter wavelengths of a given resonant frequency.
[0121] In one embodiment, the resonant frequency of the WPT system is determined by both the transmitting and receiving antennas.
[0122] In one embodiment, the resonant frequency of the WPT system is determined by both the transmitting and receiving antennas, and may be modified by changing parameters of the transmitting antenna, the receiving antenna, or both.
[0123] In one embodiment, the presence or absence of a receive antenna affects the return loss of the transmit antenna of the WPT system at the desired resonant frequency.
[0124] In one embodiment, the presence or absence of a transmit antenna affects the return loss of a receive antenna of a WPT system at a desired resonant frequency.
[0125] In one embodiment, the charging and powering area and volume of the WPT system is determined by both the transmitting and receiving antennas.
[0126] In one embodiment, the charging and powering area and volume of the WPT system is determined by both the transmitting and receiving antennas, and may be modified by changing parameters of the transmitting antenna, the receiving antenna, or both.
[0127] In one embodiment, the WPT system includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna and maintains high coupling and energy transfer efficiency within, along, and across a relatively large covered area and volume.
[0128] In one embodiment, the WPT system includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna, and maintains high coupling and energy transmission efficiency within a relatively large covered area and volume when the transmitting antenna or the designated charging volume length is greater than ¼ wavelength λ / 4m of the resonant frequency.
[0129] In one embodiment, the WPT system includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna and maintains coupling efficiency and energy transfer efficiency within a relatively large covered area and volume regardless of the position, location, rotation, orientation, overlap, alignment, etc. of the receiving antenna relative to the transmitting antenna.
[0130] In one embodiment, a transmitting antenna may be coupled to one or more receiving antennas of a WPT system, meaning that the multi-mobile platform is wirelessly powered.
[0131] In one embodiment, at least one transmitting antenna may be attached to the transmitting unit.
[0132] In one embodiment, multiple transmitters and transmit antennas may be used to increase coverage of a desired charging and powering area, volume, field distribution, etc.
[0133] In one embodiment, the WPT system may eliminate the need for a stationary charging system to charge and power an in-motion mobile platform while it is in motion.
[0134] In one embodiment, the receiving antenna of the WPT system is connected to a receiving unit. The receiving unit is mounted / assembled / integrated on / in / within the mobile platform. The receiving unit rectifies and converts the wirelessly received electromagnetic power or electrical power into DC power. The DC power charges or powers the mobile platform while it is located within the charging volume.
[0135] In one embodiment, the WPT system may eliminate the need for or reduce the size of a mobile platform battery while in motion.
[0136] In one embodiment, the transmitting antenna of the WPT system may be constructed on, within, or under asphalt roads, paths, walkways, warehouses, corridors, indoor and outdoor floors, and the like.
[0137] In one embodiment, the WPT system may be used as a fixed wireless charging system for at least one receiving antenna connected to a receiving unit, with no or few alignment, overlap, and proximity constraints.
[0138] In one embodiment, the transmitting antenna of the WPT system may be mounted vertically on a wall, storage shelf, interior structure, exterior structure, and the like.
[0139] In one embodiment, the novel WPT system may be implemented to charge and power one or more moving mobile platforms. Some non-limiting examples are locomotor devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, robots, smart warehouse robots, agricultural robots, smart warehouse vehicles, buses, public transportation, aircraft, electric scooters, and any type of autonomous or controllable locomotor / vehicle configured to operate on land, under or above ground, on or below water, in the air, in space, etc.
Claims
1. A near-field spatial wireless power transmission (WPT) system for wireless power transmission between a transmitter and a receiver of a wireless power transfer and charging system, - At least one AC power signal source, - At least one transmitting antenna, - At least one signal conductor configured to receive an electrical signal from the power signal source and further configured to extend along a path, - At least one grounding conductor configured to communicate with the ground of the power signal source and further configured to extend along the path A transmitting antenna comprising, - At least one receiving antenna, - At least one receiving unit and Equipped with, Resonance within the charging volume occurs between the signal conductor and the ground conductor of the transmitting antenna, both of which are connected to the AC power signal source, and the receiving antenna enables constant and continuous electromagnetic (EM) coupling between the at least one transmitting antenna and the at least one receiving antenna. The signal conductor is configured to be positioned at a predetermined distance from the ground conductor, thereby forming the charging volume regardless of the number or order of quarter wavelengths of a predetermined resonant frequency. A system in which constant and continuous wireless charging / power supply is provided to a receiving antenna connected to a receiving unit while it is placed within a predetermined charging area and is in motion or stationary.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one AC power signal source communicates with the receiving antenna, thereby modifying the function of the other conductors accordingly.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance between the signal conductor and the ground conductor along the aforementioned path determines the dimensions of the charging volume.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile platform is configured to be charged through the receiving antenna connected to a receiving unit by a constant EM coupling that generates a wireless charging volume, and the at least one mobile platform is stationary within the charging volume.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signal conductor is configured to be positioned between at least two ground conductors, and the conductors are configured to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance along the path.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are configured to be mounted above the ground level.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are configured to be mounted below the ground level.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are configured to be attached to a vertical surface or a moving object.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are configured to be made of a conductive material having a thickness of 50 to 150 microns.
10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor are in the shape of an elongated sheet or have a circular cross-section.
11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving antenna is mounted on a mobile platform or any section thereof, and the receiving antenna is configured to maintain a continuous EM coupling between the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor while operating or moving along or across the path, or when the mobile platform is an autonomous vehicle configured to move along the path, or while moving near the path, but not necessarily aligned with the path, or by height control means.
12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving antenna is configured to maintain a constant and continuous EM coupling with the at least one signal conductor and the at least one ground conductor when it remains within the charging volume.
13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductor of the transmitting antenna is at least partially meandering.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the signal conductor and the ground conductor is configured to have different dimensions along its length to provide adaptive resonance and EM coupling capability.
15. The system according to claim 1, wherein multiple sections of the signal conductor and ground conductor are arranged continuously along the path or continuously in the width direction of the path.
16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna have mutual electromagnetic influence, and as a result, the system resonates at a predetermined frequency when the receiving antenna is located within a predetermined charging volume.
17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting antenna is coupled to one or more receiving antennas of the system so that it can supply power to multiple wireless consumers, and multiple EM resonances are generated for each of the at least two receiving antennas located within the designated charging volume of the system so that the transmitting antenna is electromagnetically coupled to the at least two receiving antennas so that power is wirelessly transmitted from the transmitting antenna to the at least two receiving antennas, and the system functions as a wireless power divider.
18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the resonance state for a predetermined frequency is adjustable by changing one or more receiving antenna conductor segment parameters selected from a list consisting of the length, width, and thickness of each conductor segment of the signal conductor, and the relative angle (αm), height distance (DcpZn), and distance (Dacp) between adjacent conductor segments.
19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the resonance state for a given frequency is adjustable by changing one or more parameters of a receiving antenna ground conductor selected from a list consisting of length, width, thickness, size, and shape.
20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the resonance state for a predetermined frequency is adjustable by changing one or more of the position, angle, alignment, overlap, tilt, and rotational area size ratio of the receiving antenna signal conductor with respect to the receiving antenna ground conductor.
21. The system according to claim 1, wherein an input RF power port for transmitting received power from the receiving antenna to the receiving unit and rectifier is connected to one of the conductor segments of the receiving antenna, namely the signal conductor and the ground conductor.
22. The system according to claim 1, wherein the simultaneous coupling and wireless power transmission between the transmitting antenna and at least two receiving antennas are maintained as long as at least two receiving antennas are located within the charging volume, regardless of whether the at least two receiving antennas are stationary or moving, whether at least one is stationary and at least one is moving, whether they are geographically different, oriented differently, or rotated and positioned differently within the charging volume.
23. The system according to claim 1, wherein the charging area for a given frequency is defined by at least one of the length of the transmitting antenna, the width of the transmitting antenna, the thickness of the transmitting antenna, the radius of the ground conductor, the distance between the signal conductor and the ground conductor, and the relative height between the signal conductor and the ground conductor.
24. A method for using a near-field power system, The steps include supplying an AC power signal generated by at least one transmitter, The step of communicating the AC power signal to at least one signal conductor while at least one ground conductor is communicating with the transmitting ground, Both conductors are configured to extend along the path and be positioned at a predetermined distance from each other, in steps and The steps include providing at least one receiving antenna configured to be attached to at least one mobile platform, The steps include forming an electromagnetic (EM) resonance between the at least one signal conductor coupled with at least one ground conductor and the receiving antenna, thereby generating a constant and continuous EM coupling between the signal coupled with the ground conductor and the receiving antenna, Methods that include...