Systems and methods for wireless power networking - Patents.com

Abstract

A system for wireless power networking preferably includes one or more nodes, such as a transmitting node, a receiving node, a relay node, and / or a hybrid node. The system may function to form a power network (e.g., a mesh network) configured to wirelessly transfer power between the nodes of the system. A method for wireless power networking preferably includes transmitting power, controlling relay nodes, and / or receiving power, and optionally optimizing the operation of the power network. The method is preferably performed in the system (e.g., one or more nodes thereof), but may additionally or alternatively be performed in any other suitable system or systems.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless power, and more particularly to novel and useful systems and methods for wireless power networking.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 174,992, filed April 14, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 319,226, filed March 11, 2022, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0003] Statement of government support This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. FA8650-21-C-C314 awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The Government has certain rights in this invention. [Background technology]

[0004] Typical point-to-point wireless power links are limited in the range over which power can be efficiently transmitted and require and / or benefit from an unobstructed (e.g., line-of-sight) transmission path. Thus, a need exists in the wireless power field to create new and useful systems and methods for wireless power networking. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1] 1A-1H are schematic diagrams of various examples of an embodiment of a system for wireless power networking. [Diagram 2] 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of an embodiment and an example of a method for wireless power networking. [Diagram 3] 3A and 3B are isometric and detailed isometric views of one embodiment of a metasurface for a system. [Figure 4]Figure 4A shows an isometric view of one embodiment of a metasurface impedance sheet. Figure 4B shows a plan view of a particular example of an impedance sheet. Figure 4C shows a detailed plan view of a reactive cell of the impedance sheet shown in Figure 4B. Figure 4D shows a schematic diagram of an equivalent network corresponding to the reactive cell shown in Figure 4C. [Diagram 5] Figures 5A-5C are schematic diagrams of first, second and third specific examples of reactive cells, respectively. Figure 5D is a schematic diagram of a specific example of a three impedance sheet reactive cell. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are a front view and a side view, respectively, of an example of a relay node of the system, and FIG 6C is a side view of a variation of the example of the relay node. [Figure 7] Figures 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams of some example methods, and Figure 7C is a schematic diagram of one example method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0006] The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to those preferred embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention.

[0007] 1. Overview A system 10 for wireless power networking preferably includes one or more nodes 11 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1A-1E). The system preferably functions to form a power network (e.g., a mesh network) configured to wirelessly transfer power between the nodes of the system via transmission (e.g., transmission at one or more transmitting nodes) and reception (e.g., reception at one or more receiving nodes) of propagating electromagnetic radiation (e.g., a propagating radio frequency (RF) mode).

[0008] Method 20 for wireless power networking preferably includes a step S210 of transmitting power, a step S220 of controlling relay nodes, and / or a step S230 of receiving power (e.g., as shown in Figures 2A and 2B and / or 7C), and optionally a step S240 of optimizing power network operation. Method 20 is preferably performed in system 10 (e.g., by one or more nodes thereof), but may additionally or alternatively be performed by any other suitable system or systems.

[0009] In some examples, system 10 and / or method 20 may be implemented using any of the methods disclosed herein, including, but not limited to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 028,408, filed Sep. 23, 2020 and entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS POWER DELIVERY," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 015,473, filed Sep. 9, 2020 and entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS POWER RECEPTION," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 006,242, filed Aug. 28, 2020 and entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS POWER DELIVERY," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 706,131, filed Dec. 6, 2019 and entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS POWER DELIVERY," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 706,131, filed Aug. 13, 2019 and entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS POWER RECEPTION," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 539,288, entitled "METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION AND / OR WIRELESS POWER DELIVERY," filed June 11, 2020, and / or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 899,473, entitled "METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION AND / OR WIRELESS POWER DELIVERY," each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.For example, system 10 may include one or more “transmitters” and / or “receivers” as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 028,408 (e.g., each “transmitter” or “receiver” as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 028,408 is a different node 11 of system 10 or is included in a different node of the system), and / or method 20 may include a step of transmitting power and / or one or more elements thereof as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 028,408 for “method for wireless power delivery” (e.g., transmitting power step S210 may include “determining transceiver proximity step S100”, “determining transmission parameter values ​​step S200”, and / or “transmitting power based on the transmission parameter values ​​step S300” as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 028,408).

[0010] 2. System As mentioned above, the system preferably includes one or more nodes 11. The nodes may include one or more of: a transmitting node 11a, a receiving node 11b and / or a relay node 11c (and / or any other suitable nodes). The transmitting node 11a preferably functions to transmit power to other nodes of the system via transmission of propagating electromagnetic radiation (e.g., transmission of RF power). The receiving node 11b preferably functions to receive power via reception of propagating electromagnetic radiation (e.g., reception of RF power) from other nodes of the system. The relay node 11c preferably functions to relay power transmissions between other nodes of the system.

[0011] In some examples, some or all of the nodes 11 in the system may be hybrid nodes configured to perform multiple functions, such as transmitting, receiving, and / or relaying. For example, a relay node may additionally or alternatively be configured to transmit and / or receive simultaneously with and / or at different times than when performing a relay function. A first particular example may include splitting the incident power into a portion that is relayed (e.g., a portion that is redirected, as described in more detail with respect to relay node 11c) and a portion that is received (e.g., a portion that is converted to power at the node, as described in more detail with respect to receiving node 11b), as shown by way of example in FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C. A second particular example may include relaying the incident power while transmitting additional power (e.g., both redirecting the incident power to a desired output beam and adding more power to a desired output beam, as shown by way of example in FIG. 7A). In some examples, a node may be configured to either transmit or receive power (e.g., optionally while relaying power), but not both, while in other examples, a node may have bidirectional capability (e.g., may be configured to transmit or receive power, optionally while relaying power).

[0012] In some examples, one or more nodes of the system (e.g., a transmitting node and / or a relay node) are operable to generate beam-like RF modes (e.g., Gaussian beams, Bessel beams, hybrids thereof, and / or approximations thereof, etc.) as described in more detail below with respect to method 20.

[0013] Some or all of the nodes may optionally include a wireless communication module, but may additionally or alternatively include a wired communication module or any other suitable communication module, or may omit the communication module. The wireless communication module preferably supports (e.g., enables communication using) one or more wireless communication protocols (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, BLE, NFC, RF, IR, Zigbee, Z-wave, etc.).

[0014] Each node (or a subset thereof) may include one or more controllers configured to control operation of the node (e.g., set node operating modes, such as controlling the node between transmit, receive, relay, and / or hybrid operating modes, set node parameters such as power transmission, modulation and / or receive parameters, and control communications with other nodes and / or other elements of the system). However, receiving nodes may additionally or alternatively be controlled in any other suitable manner and / or may be uncontrolled or substantially uncontrolled.

[0015] However, the transmitter and receiver may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements.

[0016] In a first example, the system may include one transmitting node 11a, one receiving node 11b, and one or more relay nodes 11c arranged between the transmitting node and the receiving node (for example, as shown in FIG. 1F to FIG. 1H). In a second example, the system may include one transmitting node 11a, multiple receiving nodes 11b, and one or more relay nodes 11c arranged between the transmitting node and the receiving node (for example, as shown in FIG. 1C). In a third example, the system may include multiple transmitting nodes 11a, one or more receiving nodes 11b, and one or more relay nodes 11c arranged between some or all of the transmitting node and the receiving node (for example, as shown in FIG. 1D).

[0017] In some examples, the nodes can have arbitrary and / or dynamic arrangements with respect to each other. In one example, a system includes one or more transmitting nodes (e.g., fixed location), one or more receiving nodes whose positions and orientations vary greatly over time (e.g., relative to the transmitter and relative to each other), and one or more relay nodes with fixed or varying positions. The system may optionally be arranged in a setting where other nearby objects (e.g., obstacles to wireless power transmission) may also have arbitrary and / or dynamic arrangements with respect to the elements of the system. However, the system may define any other suitable arrangements.

[0018] However, the system may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable number of nodes of any suitable type having any suitable arrangement.

[0019] 2.1 Sending Node As mentioned above, the transmitting node 11a preferably functions to transmit RF power to one or more other nodes in the system.

[0020] In some embodiments, a transmitting node of the system may include one or more antennas (e.g., configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation, such as RF and / or microwave power), preferably defining a controllable (e.g., adaptive) antenna array (e.g., linear array, planar array, 3D array, etc.; phased array, electronically controllable array, etc.).

[0021] The antenna array may preferably include multiple active antennas (e.g., antennas configured to be actively driven by a power feed), more preferably independently controllable active antennas (e.g., each active antenna is individually controllable independent of all other active antennas of the system; groups of active antennas are controllable together, each group being controllable independently of all other groups). In a first embodiment, the amplitude and / or phase at which each active antenna is driven may be independently controlled (e.g., via a separate IQ modulator or phase shifter for each active antenna). In a second embodiment, the active antennas are separated into one or more antenna groups, and the antennas of a group are controlled together (e.g., via a single IQ modulator or phase shifter for each group). For example, the antennas of a group may have a fixed phase offset relative to each other (e.g., a zero offset such that all antennas of a group have the same phase with each other; a non-zero offset, etc.) (e.g., a fixed phase offset is defined by the difference in trace length between the IQ modulator or phase shifter and each antenna). However, the active antennas may additionally or alternatively be configured in any other suitable manner.

[0022] The antenna array may additionally or alternatively include one or more passive antennas (e.g., configured to be electrically and / or resonantly coupled to one or more of the active antennas, thereby modifying the transmission characteristics of the antenna array). In one example, the system is configured to control (e.g., via switches, such as software-controlled switches; via elements having variable electrical characteristics, such as variable capacitors; etc.) the electrical coupling (e.g., connection, resonant coupling, etc.) and / or isolation of one or more of the passive antennas to one or more electrical components (e.g., passive components, such as resistors, capacitors and / or inductors; antennas, such as one or more of the active antennas and / or other passive antennas, etc.). In a first example, multiple passive antennas may be electrically connected to one another and / or isolated from one another (e.g., via switches operable to electrically connect two or more such antennas). In a second example, variable capacitors (e.g., varactors) and / or other variable (e.g., continuously variable) elements are electrically coupled (e.g., electrically connected) to one or more passive antennas to allow control of the coupling and / or feeding of the passive antennas to the load and / or other antennas (e.g., other passive antennas, active antennas) in the array (e.g., can function to control the net pattern of the array by varying one or more characteristics of the variable elements coupled to the antennas). In a particular embodiment of this second example, the adaptive antenna array includes a single active antenna and multiple passive antennas, one or more of the passive antennas are electrically coupled to one or more variable components.

[0023] Each transmitting node is preferably electrically connected (e.g., via a wired connection, inductive coupling, etc.) to one or more power sources (e.g., power storage elements such as batteries and / or supercapacitors, generators such as internal combustion engine-based generators and / or steam turbines, utility-wide power grids, etc.) and is preferably operable to draw power from the one or more power sources to power the transmitting node. However, the transmitting node may additionally or alternatively have any other suitable power connections.

[0024] Each transmitting node preferably includes one or more controllers configured to control the operation of the transmitting node (e.g., control transmission, such as controlling a phased array to transmit propagating radiation in one or more desired modes, control communication with other nodes and / or other elements of the system, etc.). However, the transmitting nodes may additionally or alternatively be controlled in any other suitable manner.

[0025] In some examples, each transmitting node 11a (or a subset thereof) may include one or more elements as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 028,408, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS POWER DELIVERY,” filed Sep. 23, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. For example, transmitting node 11a may include (or may be) a “transmitter” (or one or more elements thereof, such as one or more antennas) as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 028,408.

[0026] However, the system may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable transmitting node having any other suitable elements.

[0027] 2.2 Receiving Node As mentioned above, the receiving node 11b is preferably operable to receive RF power from one or more other nodes in the system.

[0028] In some embodiments, a receiving node of the system may include one or more antennas (e.g., configured to receive electromagnetic radiation transmitted by a transmitter). The receiver may optionally include and / or be electrically coupled to (e.g., configured to provide power to) one or more client devices (e.g., batteries and / or battery-containing devices such as electrical and / or electronic user devices). Each receiving node may optionally include one or more buffer energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, capacitors such as supercapacitors, etc.), such as batteries, electrically coupled between the one or more antennas and the client devices (e.g., between the one or more antennas and a power output configured to be connected to the client devices), and may act as a buffer between the antennas (antennas that may provide power at non-uniform rates and / or with non-uniform characteristics) and the client devices (client devices that need to and / or can benefit from being powered at a substantially constant rate and / or with substantially constant characteristics and that may be temporarily disconnected from the receiving node).

[0029] Each receiving node may optionally include one or more controllers configured to control the operation of the receiving node (e.g., control the reception and / or processing of power, such as controlling antenna tuning, impedance matching, rectification, etc.; control communications with other nodes and / or other elements of the system, etc.). However, a receiving node may additionally or alternatively be controlled in any other suitable manner and / or may be uncontrolled or substantially uncontrolled.

[0030] In some examples, each receiving node 11b (or a subset thereof) may include one or more elements as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 028,408, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS POWER DELIVERY,” filed Sep. 23, 2020, and / or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 015,473, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS POWER RECEPTION,” filed Sep. 9, 2020, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For example, the receiving node 11b may include (or may be) a "receiver" (or one or more elements thereof, such as one or more antennas and / or a client device) as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 028,408, and / or may include (or may be) a "system for wireless power reception 100" (or one or more elements thereof, such as "antenna 110", "dynamic impedance matching 120", "RF-DC converter 130", "DC impedance converter 140", and / or "DC power output 150") as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 015,473.

[0031] However, the system may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable receiving node having any other suitable elements.

[0032] 2.3 Relay Node As mentioned above, the relay node 11c preferably functions to relay power transmissions between other nodes in the system. For example, an RF power transmission from a transmitting node (or an upstream relay node) may be relayed by the relay node to a receiving node (or a downstream relay node).

[0033] In a first embodiment, the relay nodes may function to receive (e.g., absorb) and retransmit RF power. In this embodiment, each relay node may include one or more phased arrays (e.g., the relay node absorbs the received power and uses it to drive a phased array to retransmit the power).

[0034] In a second embodiment, the relay nodes may function to modulate (e.g., redirect, refocus, etc.) RF power transmissions incident on them (e.g., without absorbing RF power aside from parasitic absorption). In this embodiment, the relay nodes may include one or more phase shifting surfaces, such as transmit arrays, reflector arrays, and / or hybrids thereof. In some examples, the phase shifting surfaces may include one or more metasurfaces 100 (and / or any other suitable metamaterial elements), as described in further detail below.

[0035] Each relay node preferably includes one or more configurable elements (e.g., the configurable elements may be actively controlled to change the characteristics of the outgoing RF power). However, a relay node may alternatively include only fixed and / or passive elements, such that the characteristics of the outgoing RF power do not change substantially during use of the relay node (or change substantially only depending on the characteristics of the input RF power incident on the relay node). However, a relay node may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements having any other suitable functionality.

[0036] As mentioned above, a relay node operable to modulate RF power transmissions can include one or more metasurfaces 100 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3A). The metasurface (e.g., a metamaterial slab, preferably of sub-wavelength thickness, including a plurality of polarizable meta-atoms of sub-wavelength size) can function to modulate RF power transmissions (e.g., of a particular wavelength or range of wavelengths) incident on the metasurface, e.g., redirecting and / or refocusing the incident RF power (e.g., into one or more beam-like modes) and preferably directing this power to another mesh node (or multiple other mesh nodes) of the system. The metasurface can be a Huygens metasurface (e.g., a biisotropic Huygens metasurface), but can additionally or alternatively be any other suitable metasurface. In one example where a beam-like mode (e.g., a Gaussian beam) is directed to the relay node by an upstream node, the metasurface can function to redirect and refocus the beam-like mode toward the downstream node (e.g., into a Gaussian beam having different properties than the Gaussian beam incident on the relay node).

[0037] The metasurface 100 preferably includes multiple impedance sheets 101. In some embodiments, the metasurface includes three or more impedance sheets 101, such as three or more substantially parallel impedance sheets. The impedance sheets are preferably spatially separated from one another (e.g., by air, a dielectric, an insulator, etc.), as shown by way of example in FIG. 3B. The distance between the impedance sheets may be uniform or non-uniform, or the impedance sheets may be arranged in any other suitable manner.

[0038] The impedance sheets can function to allow modulation of the incident RF power. In some examples, metasurfaces with three or more impedance sheets can allow for virtually any modulation (or an approximation thereof, such as an approximation limited by the in-plane spatial discretization of the impedance sheets). For example, controlling the impedance of three impedance sheets can similarly correspond to controlling three material properties of the metasurface, such as the magnetic surface admittance, the electric surface impedance, and the magnetoelectric coupling coefficient. In examples where a metasurface includes more than three impedance sheets, the additional impedance sheets can provide additional degrees of freedom, which can allow a range of “degenerate” tuning configurations for any desired modulation characteristic (e.g., a desired phase shift imposed on the incident RF power), as opposed to a situation where exactly three impedance sheets may lead to exactly one tuning configuration corresponding to a desired characteristic (e.g., an imposed phase shift). In contrast, metasurfaces including fewer than three impedance sheets (e.g., one impedance sheet or two impedance sheets) may not be able to achieve any modulation, but may still be able to achieve some degree of control over the modulation of the incident RF power.

[0039] Each sheet preferably includes a number of reactive cells 110 (e.g., as shown in Figures 4A and 4B). The reactive cells preferably function to present a specific (e.g., arbitrary and / or tunable) electromagnetic reactance to incident RF power (e.g., of a particular frequency). Each reactive cell preferably includes one or more electromagnetic resonator networks, such as an inductor-capacitor (LC) network including at least one inductive element and at least one capacitive element. In one embodiment, each cell includes a parallel LC network as exemplarily shown in Figures 4B-4D, which show exemplary cell structures and corresponding equivalent network diagrams. A parallel LC network can provide advantageous tunability characteristics because (in the ideal case) its reactance (as a function of inductance and / or capacitance) includes a pole and two zeros (one approached from the negative side and the other from the positive side), which allows tunability over a wide range of reactances. In an alternative embodiment, one or more cells (e.g., all cells) can include one or more series LC networks and / or series-parallel LC networks. However, the cell may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable resonator network.

[0040] Each resonator network is preferably tunable (e.g., configured to be actively controlled). For example, each resonator network may include one or more variable components (e.g., one or more variable components disposed in the inductive and / or capacitive paths of an LC network, such as a parallel LC network), such as a biased variable capacitor (e.g., the bias of the variable capacitor is electrically controlled), a reactive element connected to a switch bank, and / or any other suitable tunable lumped element. The variable components are preferably disposed at locations of high voltage and / or current (e.g., locations where the voltage and / or current induced by the incident RF power is high, such as locations where it is at a maximum or within a maximum threshold portion) and may function to increase the effect of those components on the resonant characteristics of the network, but may additionally or alternatively have any other suitable arrangement. In one example, each resonator network is a parallel LC network including a variable component (e.g., a varicap and / or other component operable to change its capacitance) connected along its inductive path.

[0041] In some embodiments, the variable components may include tunable capacitive elements and / or components operable to tune any other suitable electromagnetic properties, switch between different operating modes, and / or otherwise affect the resonant properties of the resonator network. For example, the components may include one or more of: diode varactors, MEMS varactors, liquid crystal-based components, liquid metal-based components, liquid dielectric-based components, phase-change material-based components, PIN diodes, MEMS switches, dielectric actuator-based components, ferrite-based components, piezoelectric-based components, components based on one or more electrically and / or magnetically polarizable structures, and / or any other suitable component types. For example, the effective dielectric constant of the substrate may be tuned by one or more of a piezoelectric structure, a liquid crystal, an electrically and / or magnetically polarizable structure, and / or any other suitable structure.

[0042] Diode varactors can be controlled by application of a bias voltage, which can act to control the varactor capacitance (e.g., continuous control of the applied voltage leads to continuous control of the resulting capacitance). In some cases, the inherent diode resistance can result in high losses.

[0043] MEMS varactors can be controlled by a control signal that serves to select between discrete capacitance values ​​(e.g., fine-grained control between many such values ​​can be achieved) and are often low loss. Some examples of these components are relatively expensive, which may make them undesirable for use in cost-sensitive applications.

[0044] Liquid crystal-based components can be controlled by applying a (quasi-static) electric field that changes the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal (e.g., and thus the capacitance of the component). They typically allow very low losses (e.g., even at high frequencies such as RF) and continuous tunability (e.g., continuous control of the applied electric field strength leads to continuous control of the dielectric constant and thus the capacitance). In some instances, they may be expensive and / or complex to incorporate into standard PCB assemblies.

[0045] Liquid metal-based and liquid dielectric-based components can be controlled by using applied electric fields and / or other microfluidic techniques to controllably reconfigure the metal and dielectric structures, respectively, thereby altering one or more of the electrical properties (e.g., capacitance) of the components. They generally enable low loss and continuous tunability. In some instances, they may be complex to incorporate into standard PCB assemblies.

[0046] Phase-change material-based components can be controlled by inducing a phase change in the material by applying or removing heat, thereby changing its electromagnetic material properties (e.g., conductivity, dielectric constant, etc.) and thus the electrical properties of the component. They generally enable high frequency operation. In some instances, they may incur high losses (e.g., several dB of loss), may be complex to incorporate into standard PCB assemblies, and / or may have limited tunability (e.g., only offering binary on / off control).

[0047] A switch component (e.g., a PIN diode, a MEMS switch, etc.) can function to change a network impedance, such as by switching a switch state (e.g., by switching the switch closed or open, one or more other circuit elements and / or conductive regions are electrically coupled to or decoupled from the network via the switch). A PIN diode can operate as a switch, where a bias voltage can control the diode to switch between a closed state (e.g., the diode is conductive) and an open state (e.g., the network is substantially open via the diode). In some examples, PIN diodes can cause high losses (e.g., losses of several dB) and / or typically have limited tunability (e.g., only provide binary on / off control). A MEMS switch can be controlled by a control signal that functions to select between an open state and a closed state. Some examples of MEMS switches are relatively expensive, which may make them undesirable for use in cost-sensitive applications, and also typically have limited tunability (e.g., only provide binary on / off control).

[0048] Dielectric actuator-based components (e.g., including one or more dielectric elastomers) can change the dimensions of the dielectric by applying a (quasi-static) electric field, thereby changing the capacitance of the component (e.g., by changing the distance between conductive parts). They can enable low loss and / or continuous tunability (e.g., continuous control of the applied electric field strength leads to continuous control of the dielectric dimensions and therefore the capacitance). In some instances, they may be complex to incorporate into standard PCB assemblies.

[0049] Ferrite-based components can be controlled by applying a (quasi-static) magnetic field to control the saturation of the ferrite and therefore the magnetic permeability of the ferrite. Thus, the application of a magnetic field can control the properties of the component, such as controlling the inductance. Although continuous control of the applied magnetic field strength can lead to continuous control of the ferrite permeability and therefore the inductance of the component, many ferrite-based components offer only limited tunability (e.g., only binary on / off control). In some instances, the components can incur high losses (e.g., losses of several dB) and / or require a non-negligible amount of power to control (e.g., due to the power requirements associated with generating the applied magnetic field).

[0050] However, the resonator network may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable variable components, and / or some or all of the resonator network may alternatively include only fixed components.

[0051] In some embodiments, the resonator network can be configured to meet one or more tunability objectives. First, in some examples, the resonator network can be configured to maximize the achievable range of reachable reactance (imaginary component of impedance) (and / or exceed a threshold of achievable range) through tuning of the resonator network (e.g., over a range of tunability provided by one or more variable components of the resonator network). For example, the reactance as a function of a variable component parameter (e.g., capacitance) can include and / or approach one or more poles and zeros, thereby sweeping from (or near) zero to (or toward) both positive and negative infinity. Over this range of achievable reactance values ​​(or over a subset thereof, such as a subset corresponding to a likely operating range), the resonator network can be configured to enable minimization (and / or reduction below a threshold) of the resistance (real component of impedance). For example, the parameters of the resonator network can be selected to minimize (or reduce) the integral over a range of achievable or desired reactances (or a weighted integral, weighted based on likely or expected frequent operating ranges). In some examples where the resonator network includes multiple tunable components, the increased degrees of freedom afforded by the multiple components can result in "degenerate" reactances (e.g., a particular reactance value can be achieved through multiple tuning configurations, and different "degenerate" tuning configurations can correspond to different resistance values). In such examples, the system can be configured to operate using tuning parameters that result in the lowest resistance of all configurations that correspond to the desired reactance (or a reactance value that is sufficiently close to the desired value, such as within a tolerance threshold from the desired value). However, the reactance cells can additionally or alternatively be configured in any other suitable manner.

[0052] In a first embodiment of a reactive cell including a parallel LC network, the reactive cell has a metal structure as shown by way of example in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C. In this embodiment, the structure preferably includes two metal regions with a thin non-conductive strip separating them, thereby defining the capacitive path of the parallel LC network. Furthermore, the structure preferably includes a metal strip (e.g., a thin metal strip) arranged orthogonally (or substantially orthogonally) to the non-conductive strip of the capacitive path, which defines an inductive path in parallel with the capacitive path. In some examples, the structure may include a tunable capacitive element (e.g., a varicap, such as a surface mount technology varicap) arranged along (e.g., in series with) the metal strip of the inductive path. The tunable element is preferably voltage controlled (but may additionally or alternatively be controlled in any other suitable manner). For example, the structure may include a thin bias conductor running substantially orthogonally to the inductive path, thereby allowing the tunable element to be controlled while reducing the interaction of the bias conductor with the RF power present at the node.

[0053] In a second embodiment, the reactive cell can be a Babinet equivalent of the structure described above with respect to the first embodiment (e.g., as shown in Figures 5A-5C). In this embodiment, the structure is a complement of that of the first embodiment, with the metal regions of the first embodiment replaced with non-conductive regions and the non-conductive regions of the first embodiment replaced with metal regions. In this embodiment, the tunable capacitive element is preferably rotated 90° (relative to its orientation in the first embodiment) so as to capacitively connect two parallel metal strips adjacent to the non-conductive strip in which the tunable element is located. In aspects of this embodiment (e.g., as shown in Figures 5A and / or 5C), the tunable capacitive element is positioned along a single metal strip that extends between the parallel metal strips, rather than bridging the non-conductive strip between those two parallel metal strips.

[0054] In a third embodiment, the reactive cell has a dielectric structure. For example, the cell may include one or more dielectric resonators (e.g., dielectric disks) coupled to a transmission line that includes a tunable capacitive element.

[0055] However, the impedance sheet may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable reactive cells having any suitable structure and / or arrangement.

[0056] Each impedance sheet may include a regular array (e.g., a rectangular array) of substantially identical reactive cells 110 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4B). Alternatively, the reactive cells of the sheets may differ from one another and / or have any other suitable arrangement relative to one another. Furthermore, the sheets may have the same cells and / or arrangement of cells as one another, or each sheet (or a subset thereof) may have different cells and / or arrangement of cells from the other sheets.

[0057] In a first example, each sheet includes a rectangular array of reactive cells, with the unit cell dimensions of the arrays on each sheet being identical (or substantially identical). The reactive cells of the three sheets (or a subset thereof) can be substantially aligned with one another along a reference axis (the "normal axis") perpendicular to the three sheets, with features of each cell (e.g., capacitive elements such as the distance between conductive pads, inductive elements such as conductive strips, etc.) aligned with corresponding features of cells on the other sheets along the reference axis (e.g., capacitive elements on the first sheet align with corresponding capacitive elements on the other sheets, and inductive elements on the first sheet align with corresponding inductive elements on the other sheets). Additionally or alternatively, the cells of one or more sheets may be offset laterally (e.g., in the plane of the sheets, orthogonal to a reference axis) from the cells of one or more other sheets, e.g., offset (along one or more lateral axes, such as an axis defined by the rectangular array and / or an axis substantially parallel and / or orthogonal to a feature of the reactive cells, such as the boundary between conductive and non-conductive regions), e.g., by a fraction (e.g., ½, ¼, ⅛, ⅓, ⅙, etc.) of a unit cell dimension (e.g., the unit cell dimension corresponding to the lateral axis along which the offset is defined). In a particular example (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5D ), the reactive cells of the first sheet and the third sheet are substantially aligned with each other, while the reactive cells of the second sheet (disposed between the first sheet and the third sheet) are offset by half a unit cell dimension along one of the lateral axes of the array (e.g., an axis orthogonal to the long axis defined by the inductive elements of the reactive cells).

[0058] In embodiments where the metasurface (or one or more of its impedance sheets, etc.) is not actively tunable (e.g., does not include tunable elements), the reactive cells of the metasurface may differ from one another to achieve desired (fixed) modulation characteristics (fixed lens behavior), such as, for example, refocusing an incident Gaussian beam received from a first node (e.g., a transmitting node or an upstream relay node) into a different Gaussian beam directed to a third node (e.g., a receiving node or a downstream relay node). For example, the aspect ratios and / or dimensions of the reactive cells and / or their elements may differ between different reactive cells of the impedance sheets and / or metasurface, and additionally or alternatively, the structure and / or equivalent circuit of some reactive cells may differ from others.

[0059] In aspects of those embodiments in which the metasurface (or one or more elements thereof) is actively tunable, reactive cells of the metasurface can be different from one another and the tunable elements can be used to control the modulation characteristics (e.g., control in a property space around the baseline, such as changing one or more properties of the lens behavior) to achieve a desired baseline modulation characteristic (e.g., lens behavior as described above). For example, such control can be used to adapt to (e.g., optimize based on) changing circumstances, such as changes in the position and / or modulation characteristics of one or more upstream and / or downstream nodes, changes in the environment (e.g., introduction, change in position, and / or removal of one or more obstacles, changes in environmental conditions such as temperature and / or humidity), changes in the desired behavior (e.g., reversal of beam delivery direction, changes in upstream and / or downstream targets, etc.), and / or any other suitable changes. In a particular example in which the baseline characteristic is configured to refocus an incident Gaussian beam received from a first node into a different Gaussian beam directed towards a third node, the modulation characteristic may be controlled to change the characteristics of the Gaussian beam in response to a change in the position of the third node such that the Gaussian beam is steered towards the new position of the third node, and similarly, in response to a change in the position of the first node, the modulation characteristic may be controlled such that the Gaussian beam is still steered towards the third node despite a change in the characteristics of the incident Gaussian beam (resulting from the change in the position of the first node). However, the modulation characteristic may additionally or alternatively be controlled in any other suitable manner.

[0060] However, the metasurface may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements in any suitable arrangement.

[0061] In some examples (e.g., examples in which the relay node can additionally function as a transmitting node and / or a receiving node), the relay node can optionally include one or more feeding structures 1101 (e.g., structures as shown in FIGS. 6A-6C ), such as structures operable to provide power to the metasurface (with transmitted power, optionally along with redirected power incident on the relay node) and / or receive power from the metasurface (e.g., power incident on the metasurface that the metasurface redirects towards the feeding structure). The one or more feeding structures can be connected to the metasurface (but may alternatively not be connected to the metasurface) by one or more mechanical supports 1102 and / or by any other suitable elements. In such examples, the relay node can optionally include one or more elements as described above with respect to the transmitting node and / or receiving node (e.g., to enable and / or facilitate the transmission and / or reception of power), such as one or more power sources and / or storage devices.

[0062] In some such instances, it may be preferable to include multiple feed structures at each such relay node, which can increase the efficiency of power coupling to and / or from the feed structures (e.g., depending on the characteristics of the incident power and / or the desired characteristics of the transmitted output power). For example, by including a feed structure on either side of the metasurface, power incident on the metasurface can be reflected to the feed structure on the same side of the metasurface rather than transmitted through it, thereby avoiding ohmic losses associated with transmission through the metasurface (and similarly, power transmitted in a particular direction can be sourced from a feed structure positioned to enable reflection rather than transmission). Furthermore, additional feed structures positioned at various locations can enable further reduction of such losses in a similar manner.

[0063] Each relay node may optionally include one or more controllers configured to control operation of the relay node (e.g., to control modulation of incident radiation, such as controlling one or more tunable elements of one or more metasurfaces to provide a desired modulation; to control operation of a feeding structure, such as controlling power input to and / or reception from the metasurface; to control communication with other nodes and / or other elements of the system). However, relay nodes may additionally or alternatively be controlled in any other suitable manner or even uncontrolled or substantially uncontrolled (e.g., in the case of non-tunable metasurfaces).

[0064] However, the system may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements having any suitable functionality.

[0065] 3. Method As described above, the method 20 for wireless power networking preferably includes the steps of transmitting power S210, controlling relay nodes S220, and / or receiving power S230. The method may optionally include optimizing power network operation S240. The method preferably functions to efficiently transfer power wirelessly through a network of nodes (e.g., a mesh network), such as the network defined by the system 10 described above.

[0066] 3.1 Power transmission The step S210 of transmitting power preferably functions to generate one or more RF power transmissions in the network. S210 is preferably performed in one or more transmitting nodes. Each transmitting node preferably transmits power toward one or more other nodes (e.g., relay nodes, receiving nodes, etc.) of the network. The transmitting nodes preferably transmit beam-like modes (e.g., Gaussian beams, Bessel beams, hybrids thereof, etc.) toward downstream nodes. Optionally, the transmitting nodes can generate multiple beam-like modes and / or any other suitable modes (e.g., modes for transmissions directed toward multiple nodes). However, S210 can additionally or alternatively include transmitting power in any other suitable manner.

[0067] 3.2 Relay node control The step S220 of controlling relay nodes preferably functions to control one or more relay nodes to relay power transmission from an upstream node to a downstream node. S220 preferably includes controlling each relay node that receives RF power during execution of the method (e.g., power transmitted towards the node in S210, power directed towards the node by one or more other relay nodes in S220, etc.). However, S220 may additionally or alternatively include controlling any other set of one or more relay nodes.

[0068] S220 preferably includes controlling the relay node to relay RF power to a downstream node (or nodes) along a desired transmission path (e.g., from one or more transmitting nodes through one or more relay nodes to one or more receiving nodes). The relay node is preferably controlled to modulate RF power incident thereon to define a beam-like mode that is directed toward the next node downstream of the controlled relay node. For example, the beam-like mode may include Gaussian beams, Bessel beams, hybrids thereof, and / or any other suitable beam-like mode. Optionally, the relay node may be controlled to modulate the incident RF power into multiple beam-like modes and / or any other suitable mode (e.g., to relay power to multiple downstream nodes simultaneously).

[0069] The relay nodes are preferably controlled based on known incident power characteristics (e.g., input phase characteristics and / or beam-like mode characteristics), the position of the downstream node (e.g., relative position to the controlled relay node), characteristics of the controlled relay node and the downstream node, such as characteristics related to the size (e.g., aperture radius, width area, etc.) of the node's electromagnetic elements (e.g., phase shifting surfaces, phased arrays, receivers, etc.), and / or any other suitable information.

[0070] In some examples, the relay node may be controlled further based on one or more goals regarding link efficiency between the relay node and the downstream node. For example, for a given desired RF mode, each node in the link may be associated with a respective area coverage ratio (e.g., corresponding to the fraction of power associated with the mode that intersects with the aperture of the electromagnetic element of the respective node). To achieve a particular link efficiency goal η, the two area coverage ratios (ε r , and ε corresponding to the downstream node d ) must be greater than the target (ε r ε d ≧η).

[0071] In one such example, S220 includes controlling the relay node to steer a Gaussian beam to a downstream node. In this example (as well as several others), it is beneficial to have a large beam waist because the larger the beam waist, the smaller the derivative of phase with respect to change in position (e.g., the radial position r outward from the beam axis is the phase derivative: TIFF0007652928000001.tif12170, but additionally or alternatively corresponding to axial position z along the beam axis and / or other suitable spatial parameter(s). This smaller phase differential value can enable a more accurate discretized approximation of the desired mode to be realized at the relay node, where the discretization is used to map the desired mode onto a set of discrete reactive cells that define the metasurface. To this end, S220 preferably includes controlling the relay node to generate a beam-like mode having a larger beam waist.

[0072] In this example, S220 preferably includes determining one or more desired characteristics of the Gaussian beam, such as focal position (e.g., distance from the relay node along a line connecting the relay node and the downstream node), beam waist, Rayleigh length (or equivalently, confocal parameter / depth of focus), beam divergence, and / or any other suitable beam characteristic. The characteristics may optionally be determined using a constrained optimization approach. For example, the characteristics may be determined such that the beam waist is maximized, subject to the constraint that the product of two area coverage ratios is greater than the target link efficiency. In the particular example where the aperture i is approximately circular and oriented approximately perpendicular to the beam, the associated area coverage ratio ε i of, TIFF0007652928000002.tif14170(in the formula, r i is the radius of aperture i), the aperture w(Z i ) can be related to the beam radius at

[0073] Note that this constraint generally corresponds to a maximum distance between two nodes, and for nodes farther apart than this maximum distance, no Gaussian beam approximation can meet or exceed the target link efficiency. Thus, for links between nodes farther apart than this maximum distance, the constraint may need to be relaxed (e.g., by allowing the beam radius of the downstream node to exceed the aperture size of that node by more than would normally be allowed) and / or the target link efficiency may need to be revised downward.

[0074] Those skilled in the art will recognize that this determination of Gaussian beam characteristics may additionally or alternatively be applied in a similar manner in performing S210 (e.g., the transmitting node generates a beam-like mode having characteristics determined based on a similar constrained optimization).

[0075] Additionally or alternatively, S220 may include controlling one or more relay nodes to generate one or more other beam-like modes (e.g., Bessel beams, Bessel Gaussian beams, multi-beam modes, etc.). For example, characteristics of the other beam-like modes may be determined in a manner similar to the Gaussian beam example described above. Further, S220 may include controlling one or more relay nodes to generate any other suitable RF modes and / or controlling one or more relay nodes in any other suitable manner.

[0076] 3.3 Receiving power The step S230 of receiving power preferably functions to receive power relayed through the network of nodes. S230 is preferably performed at one or more receiving nodes, but may additionally or alternatively be performed at any other suitable element. In some embodiments, the method may include using the power received at S230 to power one or more electric devices (e.g., electric devices electrically coupled to the receiving node). For example, the received power may be converted to DC and used to charge an energy storage device (e.g., a battery) connected to the receiving node, or to power a client device connected to the receiving node, and / or used in any other suitable manner. However, S230 may additionally or alternatively include receiving power in any other suitable manner.

[0077] 3.4 Optimizing Power Network Operation Optimizing power network operation S240 can function to improve performance (e.g., efficiency, speed, etc.) of the wireless power network. For example, S240 can include determining and / or modifying operating parameters related to the performance of other elements of the method (e.g., S210, S220 and / or S230).

[0078] In some examples, S240 may include optimizing operation of the transmitting node and / or relay node based on power reception metrics (e.g., sampled by a receiving node receiving the power). For example, S240 may include performing one or more optimum searches over a parameter space defined by tunable elements (e.g., phased array elements, tunable metasurface elements, etc.) of the one or more transmitting nodes and / or relay nodes using one or more objective functions defined based on power received by one or more downstream nodes (e.g., receiving nodes). In some examples, a communication module (e.g., a wireless communication module) of the node may be used to communicate the power reception metrics, optimum search information, and / or any other suitable information used to perform the optimum search.

[0079] For example, S240 may include performing one or more optimum searches (e.g., a local search, a global search, such as a probabilistic global search) across one or more parameter spaces (e.g., a parameter space associated with one or more transmitting nodes, e.g., a parameter space associated with phased array parameters, a parameter space associated with one or more relay nodes, e.g., a parameter space associated with metasurface tuning parameters), such as by controlling one or more nodes based on a parameter value set in the parameter space while transmitting RF power, quantifying the efficiency of RF power transmission to one or more destinations (e.g., a receiving node, a relay node, etc.), and adjusting the parameter value set based on the quantification.

[0080] In some such examples, S240 may include optimizing (simultaneously, sequentially, and / or with any other suitable relative timing) each inter-node link (or subset thereof) and / or multi-hop segment of the transmission path. In a first such example, S240 may include first optimizing the transmission parameters of the transmitting node to maximize the power incident on the (first) relay node (e.g., on its metasurface), then optimizing the modulation parameters of that relay node to maximize the power incident on the subsequent node (e.g., downstream relay node, receiving node, etc.), etc. In variations thereof (e.g., where the relay node is not operable to quantify and / or communicate the power incident on its metasurface), S240 may include first optimizing the transmission parameters of the transmitting node to maximize the power received at the receiving node (e.g., while keeping the relay node parameters fixed, while varying the relay node parameters by an amount sufficient to achieve some power transfer to the receiving node), then optimizing the modulation parameters of the (first) relay node to maximize the power incident on the receiving node, etc. Additionally or alternatively (e.g., in examples where the relay node is not operable to quantify and / or communicate the power incident on its metasurface), S240 may include jointly optimizing parameters of multiple nodes (e.g., a transmitting node and one or more relay nodes defining a transmission path), e.g., to maximize power received at one or more receiving nodes. However, S240 may additionally or alternatively include performing any other suitable optimization based on any suitable information and at any suitable time.

[0081] In some examples, S240 can include determining and / or operating based on one or more charging plans, such as a plan that defines a duty cycle of power supply to various receiving nodes of the system. For example, S240 can include determining a charging plan that defines two or more power transmission paths (e.g., a first power transmission path for transmitting power to a first set of receiving nodes, a second power transmission path for transmitting power to a second set of receiving nodes, etc.) and a duty cycle of each power transmission path (e.g., the method includes transmitting, relaying, and receiving power based on the charging plan, where a first power transmission path is utilized for its associated duty cycle and a second power transmission path is utilized for its associated duty cycle).

[0082] In some examples, S240 may include performing one or more elements as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 006,242, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS POWER DELIVERY,” filed Aug. 28, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0083] However, S240 may additionally or alternatively include optimizing power network operation in any other suitable manner.

[0084] Further, the method 20 may additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements performed in any suitable manner.

[0085] The drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to preferred embodiments, exemplary configurations, and aspects thereof. In this regard, each block of a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, step, or part of code, including one or more executable instructions for implementing one or more specified logical functions. It should also be noted that in some alternative aspects, the functions described in the blocks may occur out of the order described in the drawings. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially simultaneously, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order depending on the functionality involved. It should also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, may be executed by a dedicated hardware-based system that executes the specified functions or operations, or a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0086] As can be seen from the above detailed description, and from the drawings and claims, those skilled in the art can make modifications and variations to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A system for wireless power networking, comprising: A receiving node configured to receive power via reception of propagating radio frequency (RF) radiation; a relay node including a tunable metasurface and a controller, the tunable metasurface operable to modulate propagating RF radiation incident on the tunable metasurface; The tunable metasurface includes a plurality of impedance sheets; Each of the plurality of impedance sheets is A plurality of electromagnetic resonator networks; a plurality of variable electromagnetic components, each of the plurality of variable electromagnetic components electromagnetically coupled to a different one of the plurality of electromagnetic resonator networks and operable in a plurality of operational modes, at least one resonance characteristic of the electromagnetic resonator network being altered by transition of the variable electromagnetic component between the operational modes; the controller is configured to control each of the plurality of variable electromagnetic components to transition between operational modes of the plurality of operational modes; A system, characterized in that the system further comprises a transmitting node configured to transfer power to the receiving node via transmission of propagating RF radiation directed towards the relay node.

2. 2. The system of claim 1, 11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the transmitting node comprises a phased array configured to control transmission of the propagating RF radiation.

3. 2. The system of claim 1, The system, wherein the tunable metasurface is a bianotropic Huygens metasurface.

4. 2. The system of claim 1, the plurality of impedance sheets includes a first impedance sheet, the plurality of electromagnetic resonator networks of the first impedance sheet defining a substantially regular array on the tunable metasurface.

5. 5. The system of claim 4, A system wherein each electromagnetic resonator network in the substantially regular array is substantially identical.

6. 2. The system of claim 1, The system, wherein the plurality of impedance sheets includes a first impedance sheet, each electromagnetic resonator network of the first impedance sheet defining a parallel LC network including an inductive element and a capacitive element.

7. 7. The system of claim 6, the plurality of variable electromagnetic components comprises a set of tunable capacitors, each electromagnetic resonator network of the first impedance sheet being electromagnetically coupled to a different tunable capacitor of the set.

8. 8. The system of claim 7, 11. The system of claim 10, wherein each electromagnetic resonator network of the first impedance sheet is electromagnetically coupled to an associated tunable capacitor via an inductive element of the electromagnetic resonator network.

9. 9. The system of claim 8, 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein for each electromagnetic resonator network of the first impedance sheet, the inductive element includes a conductive strip electrically connected to the associated tunable capacitor.

10. 2. The system of claim 1, The system, wherein each of the plurality of variable electromagnetic components comprises a tunable capacitor.

11. 11. The system of claim 10, The system, wherein the controller is configured to independently control a capacitance of each of the plurality of variable electromagnetic components.

12. 2. The system of claim 1, The system, wherein each of the plurality of variable electromagnetic components includes a switch operable to electrically connect a respective reactive element to an electromagnetic resonator network electromagnetically coupled to the variable electromagnetic component.

13. 2. The system of claim 1, The system, wherein the plurality of impedance sheets includes three impedance sheets.

14. 2. The system of claim 1, Further comprising a second relay node, the second relay node comprising a second metasurface. the controller is configured to control the tunable metasurface such that propagating RF radiation incident on the tunable metasurface is redirected towards the second metasurface; - The system, wherein the second relay node is configured such that propagating RF radiation incident on the second metasurface is redirected towards the receiving node.

15. 2. The system of claim 1, The system, wherein the relay node further comprises a feeding structure electromagnetically coupled to the tunable metasurface.

16. A method for wireless power networking, comprising: in a system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, - at a transmitting node, transmitting propagating radio frequency (RF) radiation towards the tunable metasurface such that a first portion of the propagating RF radiation is incident on the tunable metasurface; Controlling the tunable metasurface to the first portion is redirected from the tunable metasurface towards a target location; such that after the first portion is redirected from the tunable metasurface towards the target location, the first portion is incident on a receiving node; modulating a first portion of the propagating RF radiation; - receiving, at the receiving node, a first portion of the propagating RF radiation.

17. 17. The method of claim 16, The method, wherein the receiving node includes the target location.

18. 17. The method of claim 16, Transmitting propagating RF radiation toward the tunable metasurface includes transmitting a first Gaussian beam toward the tunable metasurface; A method, wherein modulating a first portion of the propagating RF radiation includes modulating the first Gaussian beam into a second Gaussian beam directed toward the target location.

19. 17. The method of claim 16, performing a modulation parameter optimum search over a modulation parameter space associated with the tunable metasurface based on a power reception metric associated with power reception at the receiving node while transmitting the propagating RF radiation from the transmitting node toward the tunable metasurface before the first portion is redirected from the tunable metasurface toward the target location, the performing the modulation parameter optimum search including, for each parameter value set of a series of parameter value sets in the modulation parameter space: Controlling the tunable metasurface based on the set of parameter values; - determining a value of the power reception metric associated with the set of parameter values; - determining a subsequent set of parameter values ​​based on the set of parameter values ​​and values; and in response to determining the subsequent set of parameter values, if a search convergence criterion is not met, adding the subsequent set of parameter values ​​to the series of parameter value sets.

20. 20. The method of claim 19, the transmitting node includes a phased array; the modulation parameter space is further associated with the phased array; - A method characterized in that performing the modulation parameter optimum search further includes, for each of the series of parameter value sets, controlling the phased array based on the parameter value set substantially simultaneously with controlling the tunable metasurface based on the parameter value set.

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